Health insurance now more likely to cover hearing aids
By Valorie Brecht Approximately 29 million Americans have untreated hearing loss. That equals about 9% of the U.S. population.
Despite the large number of people who could benefit from hearing aids, various barriers can get in the way of achieving good hearing health, including the cost of hearing aids, especially if insurance doesn’t cover them. However, the industry is changing and people shouldn’t automatically assume that insurance won’t cover hearing aids, as more and more companies are starting to do so, said local hearing aid specialist Justin Schenck.
“I wanted to address an issue that I see on a regular basis in my line of work. That is, when I ask about a patient’s insurance, oftentimes they’ll tell me, ‘My insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids.’ And my response to that is, ‘When’s the last time you checked? You may be surprised,’” Schenck, who owns Sonal Hearing of Greenwood, wrote in an email.
“Not only do hearing aids not look like your grandparents’ or parents’ hearing aids, but also we’re seeing more insurance companies covering sometimes all or at least part of the cost of hearing aids and hearing care. I believe we will see even more insurance companies follow suit on this.
“In the few short months since I opened my practice, I’ve been able to credential with several insurance companies that help to lower the out-of-pocket cost to a patient to get the care that they need, more affordably. And I’ve already seen quite a few patients who were able to use their insurance to help pay for their hearing aids. The best part is we generally didn’t even have to submit a claim and wait for reimbursement. We were able to just pay the ‘after insurance’ price. I even had one patient whose hearing aids were covered in full. So not only are they covering more of the costs, but they’re making it easier too.”
Schenck said he believes there are several reasons more insurance companies are beginning to cover hearing aids and hearing care.
For one, untreated hearing loss can lead to far more serious – and thus more expensive – health conditions. Several studies have demonstrated that: – People with hearing loss are at least twice as likely to experience adult cognitive decline or dementia.
“Ultimately, we hear with the brain. If the brain gets misinformation, it’s going to interpret that incorrectly. We can’t expect the brain to remember things that it didn’t hear or didn’t hear correctly,” Schenck explained.
– In addition, with even a mild hearing loss, a person is three times more likely to suffer injury from falling and be admitted to the hospital for longer periods of time than people with normal hearing.
– The rate of depression in those with a hearing loss versus the general population is almost double. This has to do with people with hearing loss not always being able to understand or engage with others around them, particularly in noisy social settings. This can cause individuals to withdraw or self-isolate, negatively contributing to one’s overall mental health.
“So if you think of it as a cost analysis, hearing aids versus any of those (previously listed) options, I know which one I would choose. The national average for one month of memory care is around $6,000, in addition to the non-financial toll it takes on friends and family. You could get a really good set of prescription hearing aids for less than that and they should last you several years. Cost aside, I wouldn’t want to see my family or friends deal with any of those concerns,” Schenck wrote.
Every health insurance plan is different in terms of how much hearing aid coverage it provides, and some insurance companies only cover certain clinics. Schenck recommends people call and check with their insurance company, or he can check for them, as he works with several insurance companies, including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Security Health Plan and Medicare.
“I’ve been able to see patients save thousands of dollars on their hearing aids or even get them completely free,” he said.
He added that it’s been exciting to see the shift in insurance companies starting to prioritize hearing health more, including employer-based plans.
“At one point in time, employers didn’t offer eye or dental coverage either,” he said. “I think in the next five years it will become standard practice (to offer hearing aid coverage).”
For more information or to schedule a free hearing assessment, call Schenck at 715-267-4444.
