HEARING AIDS & MEDICARE
The Short Answer.
The short answer, according to the Medicare Consumer Guide, is: “Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids because of the expense that comes with this avenue of coverage. Some hearing aid plans cost thousands of dollars, so covering them might have resulted in higher rates for all Medicare recipients.” But the problem is more intricate than this short answer.
The Long Answer.
Hearing loss affects 20% of Americans; in numbers, that is 48 million people who experience some degree of hearing loss. Furthermore, for older Americans over the age of 65, one in three people experience some degree of hearing loss. In fact, hearing loss is the third most prevalent physical condition affecting Americans, coming in after arthritis and heart disease.
At the same time, consider this: one in three older Americans over the age of 65 – or 46 million people – receives health care coverage by Medicare. From these statistics, we can estimate that 15 million older Americans, over the age of 65, are on Medicare and experience some degree of hearing loss.
And unfortunately, the costs of treating this hearing loss are not covered by Medicare.
Older Americans who receive coverage from Medicare generally receive Social Security benefits that average $1,500 a month. Hearing aids, depending on the style and features available, cost anywhere from $1,500 per device and can climb to several thousand dollars per device. Multiply this by two – one per ear – and one can see how prohibitive these costs can be for someone who wants to treat their hearing loss.
The consequences of untreated hearing loss.
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to many different health issues that go beyond difficulty hearing. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found potential links between untreated hearing loss and a higher risk of developing dementia, due to the cognitive load placed on the brain while it is struggles to make sense of sound. Other studies have found higher rates of hospitalization in people with untreated hearing loss, due to a higher frequency of falls.
Hearing loss extends to socio-emotional areas of life as well. For adults with untreated hearing, there is a higher rate of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as a sense of social isolation and withdrawal due to difficulties in recognizing speech. These issues lead to greater implications; yet another study found that people with untreated hearing have lower earning power than those who have treated their hearing issues.
If Medicare, established 50 years ago, is meant to provide accessibility to healthcare for those who otherwise do not have access, it is a misstep that hearing aids are not covered. Several public servants, hearing loss organizations, and legislators have begun to tackle this problem. In the summer of 2015, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) supported the Help Extend Auditory Relief (HEAR) Act, which was introduced to Congress by US Representative Matt Cartwright.
According to the HLAA,
“The HEAR Act would provide Medicare coverage for hearing rehabilitation services, including comprehensive audiology assessment to determine if a hearing aid is appropriate. This bill would also extend Medicare coverage to hearing aids.”
With hope, Medicare coverage of hearing aids is on the horizon.