HEARING AIDS ARE NOT A ONE-SHOT DEAL
Most hearing aid users know that their hearing health, treatment, and their hearing aids are crucial. In fact, they probably see their doctor of Audiology more often than any other health care provider. They understand that their hearing capacity and their ability to understand and process speech is critical for effective communication and enjoyment.
First time hearing aid wearers do not realize that hearing aids can require multiple adjustments to obtain the best settings and the right sound for them. Custom hearing aids, especially the tiny, invisible ones, are often re-made several times for fit and comfort. Hearing aids require maintenance, regular cleaning and sometimes repairs. Hearing aids reside in a wax- filled, sweaty, oily and moist environment all day and expected to perform optimally all the time.
Hearing levels, processing ability, and prescriptions change. Yearly monitoring, reprogramming, and fine- tuning of your hearing aids are critical to your ability to communicate.
You are not “done” after you get your hearing aids. Just like with your internist, dentist, and ophthalmologist, your hearing care is ongoing and forever.
BENEFITS vs. DISCOUNTS
- Benefit (definition) – An advantage or profit gained. A payment or gift.
- Discount (definition) – A deduction from the usual cost of something.
“Benefits are far more reliable than perks or discounts and cover more basic needs. Perks are like bonuses that companies offer to make their offer seem better than the competition.”
Many insurance Companies and Medicare supplement policies lure new members by offering “hearing aid benefits.”
Are they really offering you a “benefit?” NO! The insurance Company is actually offering a perk that doesn’t cost them a penny. You, the member, get a discount on hearing aids if you call the 800-number to a 3rd party broker. The 3rd party broker rakes in a fortune from the referrals.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING YOUR HEARING AIDS FROM A BROKER
PROS
- You get a discount on the purchase of your hearing aids.
- You can sometimes get them from your provider of choice.
- You can save money upfront on the purchase of your hearing aids.
CONS
- You are not purchasing your hearing aids or hearing treatment from your provider.
- The broker pays your provider a set fee for your initial consultation, delivery and fitting your hearing aids, and one or two follow up visits, even one year.
- Restrictions and limitations – Number of visits or specified time are included in your purchase. Thereafter, you pay the provider every time you walk in the door for an office visit. Every 6-month cleaning, annual monitoring, in-office repair, fed-ex shipping and handling to the manufacturer, adjustment, reprogramming, and fine-tuning.
- All of the restrictions and limitations are included with your hearing aid purchase from your provider. One or two re-programming charges alone may exceed your initial savings.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING YOUR HEARING AIDS FROM A BROKER
Your insurance policy or supplement may have an agreement with any one of the numbers of 3rd party brokers of hearing aids. They all have different prices and limitations in the fine print.
We know them all. Before calling the 800 number and saying “yes,” call us and let us help you on your journey to better hearing.
Click here to schedule an appointment.