By Joshua Sevier
This article is a part of the November/December 2018, Volume 30, Number 6, Audiology Today issue.
While we pursue independence and autonomy for audiologists across the United States, it is of dire importance that we continue to do the same for our patients. Since the passing of the Medicare Act in 1965, health-care legislation has evolved to accommodate new advances in technology for the betterment of our patients. That vital piece of legislation, however, still has done nothing for those requiring hearing amplification. Luckily for children and low-income families qualifying for Medicaid, hearing aids are covered in some part, in every state across America. At the time of this article, 34 of the 50 states have adopted Medicaid expansion, increasing the availability for enrollees to have not only health care but hearing amplification as well. For those with private insurance, however, that isn’t always the case.
Most Americans with health insurance qualify through their employer. The benefits received through those insurers can vary for each and every plan. Some companies might offer more services for slightly increased premiums, and others stick to standard plans that do not include the option for added coverage. While it may be great to find an insurance plan that includes coverage for hearing aids, the reality is that the majority of private insurance plans (i.e., Blue Cross/Shield, Aetna, UHC, etc.) do not provide this benefit.
There are more than 20 states that have an insurance mandate requiring coverage for hearing aids in children. A select few of those states require that private insurers cover hearing aids for both children and adults. Two states require coverage for both hearing aids and cochlear implants. While it seems great that many states mandate coverage so their citizens receive care, that means that more than half of the states in America have no coverage for these necessities.
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