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From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Hearing aids and insurance
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Date: 27 Nov 90 21:32:50 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 BM> Alexander, my son, recently got two Opticon hearing aids for a
 BM> total cost of approximately $ 1400.  Our company insurance is
 BM> Aetna Insurance and apparently, there is a clause in the plan
 BM> that says that hearing aids are not covered.

I wish you all the best in getting Alexander's hearing aids covered
by your insurance, Bill.  But I cannot be very encouraging about the
prospect.  Some employer's plans will cover aids for the employee if
the hearing loss is work related, but not for dependents.  My own
insurance was with Metropolitan and later PA Blue Shield.  Neither
would cover hearing aids, but I didn't fight them on it because I
was able to get my aids from the Veteran's Administration.

Even Medicare doesn't cover them.  Medicaid DOES in some states but
not in others (one of the remarkable curiosities about a Federally
funded plan).  Others covering hearing aids are the VA (in my case
where hearing loss is service related) and state departments of
education and/or vocational rehabilitation.

 BM> (I also have the feeling that they will not be paying for
 BM> hearing tests so that will be the next fight.)

Coverage of hearing tests seems to depend on how the test is described
to the insurance carrier.  If the tests are for fitting of hearing aids
it is unlikely they will be covered.  But if the tests are to diagnose
a disorder, or to rule out a disorder, they often are covered.  This is
a fine distinction, and an experienced audiologist can often determine
whether testing will or will not be covered by how they write it up.
One of the problems is that cost of testing is often "bundled" into the
cost of the hearing aids.  Testing should be priced separately, with an
appropriate reduction in the price of the hardware.

If you were billed separately for Alexander's testing and also $1400
for two hearing aids, I think you were overcharged.  Price of hearing
aids is one of the more outrageous of healthcare ripoffs.

Please keep us posted on your progress.  This could develop into one
of the most valuable threads to hit the SilentTalk Echo.

Good luck.  Jack.

... Caveat Emptor!

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