Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
An Important Aspect to Consider for Medicare is Having Hearing Issues
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Understanding Medicare Basics
Medicare is a national health insurance program that was created in 1965 by the federal government. It is administered through state agencies that regulate insurance. Anyone over 65 who lives in this country and has paid Social Security taxes for about 10 years can receive benefits under Medicare.
Medicare helps pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency services, X-rays, and lab tests; it also includes hospice care and some home health care services. However, the level of coverage you receive under Medicare can be confusing as there are certain treatments that are excluded. One of the most common questions people have is, “does Medicare cover hearing aids?”
If you have more specific questions about this, or other Medicare-related issues, please feel free to call us, for free, anytime at (888) 352-6672.
Are Hearing Aids Covered by Medicare?
No, unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids. If you see a doctor about hearing issues and they tell you that you need hearing aids, it’s up to you to cover the cost of the hearing aids themselves, and any maintenance or follow-up appointments too. This can leave people in a difficult financial position as some hearing aids are very expensive. However, if you speak with a qualified audiologist and explain your situation to them, they will work with you to find an affordable solution to your hearing issues.
The reason that hearing aids are not included is that they largely fall under the category of elective medical treatment. Medicare is designed to help individuals with serious health issues and not minor ones. When the legislation was first drafted, hearing loss was not considered a serious issue. Much like the prescription drug costs we see today, which frequently result in Part D Medicare penalties that seem to some as stemming from legislation that is a bit outdated.
Hearing aids were also a lot more basic than they are today, so the cost was much lower. Unfortunately, as the technology in hearing aids developed and the cost increased, the legislation did not change accordingly. Average life expectancy was also much lower when Medicare was first created, so there were fewer older adults suffering from hearing loss.
Hearing Aids & Medicare
Medicaid is often confused with Medicare but they are two different things. Medicaid is a federal program that is administered by the state and differs from state to state. It does not offer blanket coverage for people over a certain age as Medicare does. Instead, it is designed to help people with limited income who are struggling to afford their healthcare costs.
There are some cases in which Medicaid will cover hearing aids but it is completely dependent on which state you live in and the severity of your hearing issues. Although some states offer coverage, many do not and you will still have to cover the cost of hearing aids yourself.
However, the situation is different for children on Medicaid. If both of your parents are eligible for Medicaid and their income is under a certain limit, your child may be eligible to receive free or discounted care too. This includes hearing aids if they need them and this is the same in all states.
What About Hearing Tests?
So, the short answer to the question, does Medicare cover hearing tests is, no, it doesn’t. But what about other hearing-related treatments like hearing tests? Things are a little less straightforward here and you can sometimes get coverage for hearing tests with Medicare and Medicaid. However, this is only the case if it is recommended by your primary doctor.
This is one of the many reasons why it is so important to have regular checkups with your doctor. If you are found to be suffering from hearing loss, your doctor will refer you for a hearing test. This is considered a preventative measure and will be covered by your Medicare. However, if you go directly to a hearing clinic without a referral from your doctor, you cannot expect your Medicaid to cover the cost.
Will The Coverage Change In The Future?
Many people want to see a change in Medicare so it covers things like hearing aids as well as dental and vision care, but how likely is that to happen? It’s hard to say as many factors need to be considered, not least of which is the cost. It does seem likely that this situation will change in the future because hearing loss is such a common issue and it can have a huge impact on an individual’s quality of life. In fact, up to 75% of people on Medicare that need a hearing aid are living without one because they cannot afford it.
However, many people worry about overloading Medicare with additional issues and the potential impact this could have on healthcare costs for everyone else. This also needs to be taken into consideration and so any changes may well happen gradually and slowly.
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A licensed insurance agent from our team will contact you to discuss your Medicare options.
