Two-thirds of people 70+ need hearing aids but only 20 percent get them. Problems with hearing have been found to lead to increased risks of depression and dementia.
Unfortunately, people who need hearing aids often don’t get them because they are expensive and not covered by insurance. In the U.S. the average cost of a quality hearing aid is $4,700. Not even Medicare covers the cost of hearing aids.
The cost is high because in order to get a hearing aid, current law states that one must see a specialist or audiologist. Two-thirds of the cost is the doctor’s time, testing and follow up.
But new research has found that the many who have mild hearing loss can get a product that is more generic and one-tenth the cost. Recently Congress passed a law allowing companies such as Bose, Samsun, or Apple to sell these generic products “over-the-counter” directly to consumers at the same electronic stores that sell TVs, phones and more. The law goes into effect next August. This law creates a new class of hearing aids that are much less customized but also much less expensive.
The new products are called “Personal Sound Amplification Products” or PSAPs as they can’t be called hearing aids until next year when the law goes into effect. PSAPs are available now.
Johns Hopkins University has been testing these generic hearing aids that cost $300 – $500 and are noise cancelling. They have found that many of them work nearly as well as the $4,700 custom options.
We at The Seniors’ Answer provide patient advocacy and care management. We are experienced and adept at managing and representing our clients throughout the healthcare system. We work for you.
