What corrective glasses are to people with vision problems, hearing aids are to people suffering from hearing loss. An inability to hear clearly can not only affect your ability to communicate but can also cause social withdrawal. Hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors including genetics, trauma or injuries and illnesses. Whatever be the triggering factor, most types of hearing loss can be addressed with hearing aids. These hearing aids work by amplifying sounds to make them more audible.
Getting a hearing aid is not cheap and neither is the testing required to assess what type of hearing aid would suit you very budget friendly. This is where medicare hearing aids come in. While hearing aids themselves are not covered under the Original Medicare Plan, Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing tests that may be prescribed to assess hearing loss triggered by an injury or illness. To take advantage of this, it is necessary that your doctor takes part in the Medicare program. If your doctor is not a Medicare participant, you may have to pay for the entire cost of testing.
If you are enrolled in the Original Medicare plan, Part A and B, you could also choose to enroll in Medicare Part C or the Medicare Advantage Plan as it is also known. These plans are offered by private health insurance companies to provide for and coordinate the benefits of Part A and Part B. Medicare Advantage Plans may also include wellness programs that are not part of the original Medicare program. One such benefit is that some Medicare Advantage Plans cover both hearing exams and hearing aids. However, there is no standard format for these plans and hence you should read through it carefully before enrolling. Some plans may also put a fiscal limit to the amount they will pay for a Medicare hearing aid. For example, a Medicare Advantage Plan may offer to pay up to $500 or $700 for a hearing aid every 3 years. Since most hearing aids cost more than this, you may still have to pay the balance amount. They may also specify the process you need to follow to buy a hearing aid or the supplier you buy the hearing aid from.
To be eligible for Medicare Advantage plans, a person must first be eligible and enrolled in the Original Medicare Plan. You must also live in an area that can be serviced by the Medicare Advantage plan that offers to cover Medicare hearing aids. If you have any other type of health insurance through the company you are employed with or through your union, you must also check on the plan’s rules before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan.
