A common question we often get asked is, “Do you accept my health insurance?” Since the government does not require Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance companies to cover hearing aids, our answer is always specific to your insurance plan. Some health insurance plans do cover hearing devices or at least part of the devices and many fully cover children’s hearing devices.
Unfortunately there are still many people that could potentially be helped that are letting their hearing loss go untreated. A survey found that 68 percent of people with hearing loss cite financial constraints as a core reason they do not look into hearing aids. This is a very unfortunate statistic because untreated hearing loss can have detrimental and widespread effects at all ages. Children do not learn at their topmost level and can fall behind in school, adults may be faltering at work and seniors can lose their independence, become depressed and have a lesser quality of life.
However, there is something you can do to help! Currently there is legislation called the ‘Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act’ for people diagnosed with hearing loss. The Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act (H.R.1317) was introduced in March 2013. It would provide a $500 tax credit for the purchase of one hearing aid, or $1,000 if two are needed. Getting this piece of legislation passed would be a step in the right direction toward helping people with hearing loss. If you feel even more compelled to help, write a letter to your senator or representative and tell them how important this bill is to you or a loved one.
Until the day that all insurance plans are required to cover hearing devices, we are always available to look over and discuss your specific insurance policy. Please give us a call or reach out to us on our Contact Us page. Our number one concern is helping you to hear better.
