Financial status should not be a barrier to receiving the benefit of hearing aids. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, "Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wear one." There are many organizations with the ability to provide financial assistance. For the right applicant, some provide total coverage and others provide discounts or partial assistance. In addition, there are often benefits available through insurance companies and other resources. Even if you do not qualify for any of the resources listed, you may qualify for a loan through your own bank or through specific medical loan companies.
Total Coverage
National service organizations partner with local agencies to provide hearing aid coverage. Often they will recondition donated hearing aids and refer you to a local hearing health-care provider for fitting. Total coverage programs are typically need-based and will require you to fill out an application. There are significantly more programs available for hearing-impaired children than adults. Individual states may have their own service organizations. Lions Clubs International and Civitan are two nationwide organizations. Start by contacting the national organizations. They will refer you to local resources. There is a link to the Lions Clubs in the Resources section.
Partial Coverage
Some organizations assist the hearing-impaired by providing a sliding scale or partial coverage. A local non-profit speech and hearing clinic is a good place to start. It may have its own assistance plan or partner with other agencies. Two national programs that provide financial assistance to the hearing impaired are Audient and Hear Now. There is a link to Audient in the Resources section.
Insurance Coverage
Many people assume that their insurance company will not cover hearing aids. Check your benefits; sometimes hearing aids are classified under "Durable Medical Equipment" and are not specifically excluded. Many insurance companies have a list of partners that will provide a discount on hearing aids if you purchase through them. This is not the same as having insurance coverage for hearing aids; it just means you may get a discount. If your income level already qualifies you for Medicaid you may be eligible for a hearing aid. Eligibility depends upon the degree and type of hearing loss.
Untapped Resources
Many people realize they have a hearing loss but may not connect it to a direct source, such as noise exposure from work or military service. If it is determined that your hearing loss is at least 50 percent service connected, you are eligible for hearing aids through the Veterans Administration. Veterans of World War I are always eligible for hearing aids. If your hearing loss is related to an on-the-job injury or persistent work-related noise exposure, your state Department of Labor and Industries may provide hearing aids. If your hearing loss is interfering with your ability to find or maintain employment, a state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation can provide assistance.
Loans
With good credit, medical loan companies and your own bank are sources for loans for medical expenses. CareCredit specifically finances health-related expenses. In the future, there may be a hearing aid tax credit available. A bill was introduced in Congress in 2009 to provide a tax credit of $500 per hearing aid. Links to CareCredit and information about the Hearing Aid Tax Credit are listed in the Resources section. Finally, don't hesitate to ask your health care facility if it has a payment plan. Many places will work with you on your medical expenses. The links in both the References and the Resources section contain more complete lists of organizations that can provide financial assistance.
References
- "National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders"; Statistics
- "Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University";Devices: Where to Get Assistance
- "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association"; Funding Resources for Audiology Services and Hearing Aids
- Hearing Loss Association of America"; Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids and Personal Assistive Technology
