According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), over 28 million Americans could benefit from wearing hearing aids. However, not all of these people can afford a hearing aid. That’s because the cost of a hearing aid can reach up to several thousand dollars. As a result, most people with hearing loss choose to get by without them.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can save money on your hearing aids. If your Helix Hearing Careaudiologist recommended hearing aid devices to treat your hearing problem, here are some great ways to lower your expenses:
1. Online Stores
Many online retailers offer hearing aids at reduced prices by eliminating intermediaries. This option allows you to undergo hearing screenings at a storefront location or remotely by your audiologist and send the results. Your chosen online retailer then sends you the hearing aids. You can pay for your hearing aid devices through a monthly subscription plan or a lower price in cash. The best online retailer will offer you professional audiological support throughout the entire process.
2. HSA or FSA Pre-tax Dollars
Another great way to save money on your hearing aids is by using the pre-tax dollars in your HSA or FSA account. Not all medical policies offer hearing aid coverage. However, if your health insurance plan has a health savings account (HAS) or flexible spending account (FSA), you can benefit from your account’s pre-tax dollars to pay for your hearing aids. With this option, you can save tons of cash on your hearing aid purchase, especially if your employer makes monthly contributions to your FSA or HSA account.
3. Your Insurance
Apart from your employer benefits, your private health insurance plan can also help you save on your hearing aids costs. However, the amount of money you save will depend on your insurer because coverage usually varies from plan to plan. Typically, the original Medicare plan doesn’t provide coverage for both hearing tests and hearing aids devices. However, some Medicare Advantage Plans cover part or the entire cost of your hearing aids, helping you save a lot of money.
Medicaid programs can also offer you these benefits, depending on your state. If you’re under 21 years, you can use a Medicaid plan to pay for your hearing tests and hearing aids. If you’re over 21 years old, Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit can help cover your hearing aids cost. You can also save on your hearing aids purchase if your employer or insurer includes a hearing health care program.
4. Look for Unbundled Option
The final price of your hearing aids often includes additional costs for services such as replacement batteries, checkups, and maintenance. Some audiologists require you to cover these costs while buying your hearing aids, whether you need them or not. Others offer hearing aids unbundled with these costs, meaning you can skip the services you don’t need. Ask your audiologist for an itemized breakdown of your hearing aids. This way, you can avoid buying items you don’t need. This can help you save hundreds of dollars when purchasing hearing aids.
Endnote
There are many ways to save on your hearing aids. Choose an option that enables you to buy high-quality hearing aids with more capabilities and performance features at an affordable price.
