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February 15, 2006
Legislators seek lower costs for hearing aids
I received my first hearing aid as a young child. It was a small box tucked into a harness in the middle of my chest with wires running to the ear molds. I eventually graduated to behind-the-ear hearing aids that I preferred because they were smaller and had fewer wires. There are four types of aids from behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, in-the-canal to being completely in the canal.
The degree of hearing loss determines what style fits your needs.
An audiologist will help explore all options. A hearing aid will generally last five to seven years if kept in good condition, meaning that the aid is kept clean and dry.
Hearing aids can range in cost from $500 to $6,000, depending on the quality and style. Many hearing impaired people depend on two hearing aids to meet their hearing needs. There are also many other factors influencing the price of hearing aids such as aural rehabilitation, warranties, telephone coils and directional microphones.
Most insurance companies along with Medicare do not cover hearing aids. In some cases Medicaid will help with the cost of hearing aids. However, due to limited finances many people have difficulty in obtaining proper hearing aids for themselves.
On Jan. 27, I attended a public forum on the Hearing Aid Bill - state Senate Bill 566 - hosted by the Senior Resource Center in Springfield. The guest speakers were state Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield, along with state Rep. Gale Candaras, D-Wilbraham.
I found Sen. Buoniconti spoke with such passion on this issue from talking about his brother's hearing loss to how hearing aids help him. Both Sen. Buoniconti and Rep. Candaras feel strongly about making it easier for people to afford hearing aids.
I was very impressed with their dedication to keeping this bill alive and pushing for it to be passed.
Many people with hearing loss spoke about how important this bill is to them and the difficulties they have faced in obtaining hearing aids. People from agencies like Stavros, the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Hampden Hearing Center gave their support to the bill and expressed concerns about the cost of hearing aids.
Hearing Aid Bill 566 requires insurance companies offering health or accident insurance to cover 85 percent of the cost of hearing aids per hearing-impaired ear every four years. This is the "floor" set by the bill; companies may offer a greater percentage of coverage or at more frequent intervals if they desire.
Currently the bill is in the Financial Service Committee, hopefully to be passed this spring so that it will help many people. Carrie Barrepski, a native of Livonia, Mich., lives in Western Massachusetts. You can learn more about Carrie at her Web site, www.carriewrites.adalaw.net
Source: http://www.masslive.com/metroeastplus/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-1/11399065278710.xml&coll=1
Posted by 4HL on February 15, 2006 8:09 PM
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