IF MEDICARE COVERAGE EXPANDS, IT MUST SUPPORT HEALTHY HEARING
30 states provide Medicaid coverage of hearing aids, another 23 states require insurance to cover some portion of hearing aid costs, and 80 percent of Medicare Advantage plans offer hearing, dental, or vision benefits. However, more can be done.
Medicare coverage for individuals aged 65 years or older and individuals with disabilities statutorily excludes dental, vision, and hearing benefits. While Medicare does cover certain hearing services – like diagnostic hearing and balance exams – the coverage does not extend to hearing evaluations for the purpose of obtaining a hearing aid. This coverage also excludes the hearing aids themselves, as well as services related to fitting or servicing hearing aids.
Though additional coverage options for hearing, dental, and vision services are increasingly offered through Medicare Advantage, an optional supplemental insurance program, America’s most vulnerable populations, should have guaranteed access to these benefits.
Legislation is In the Works
In the previous 116th Congress, the House of Representatives passed H.R.3 by bipartisan vote. The bill included provisions expanding Medicare coverage of hearing (H.R. 4618 Medicare Hearing Act). To ensure greater access to quality hearing care, it’s crucial decisionmakers get this right.
If Medicare coverage is expanded, it must include:
- Hearing aid coverage for diagnosed severe-to-profound hearing loss and hearing aid-related services.
- Reimbursement for practitioners, including otolaryngologists, audiologists and hearing instrument specialists, to receive fair and reasonable payment for services related to hearing aids.
- Classification of hearing aids as prosthetic devices, which allows devices to be considered for upgrades and adjustments as hearing health changes over time.
- Competitive bidding exemption for professional services and hearing aids provided by qualified hearing professionals.
Reach out to your legislator by filling out this form to demand they vote to include these vital hearing health provisions if Medicare coverage expands.
IF MEDICARE COVERAGE EXPANDS, IT MUST SUPPORT HEALTHY HEARING
30 states provide Medicaid coverage of hearing aids, another 23 states require insurance to cover some portion of hearing aid costs, and 80 percent of Medicare Advantage plans offer hearing, dental, or vision benefits. However, more can be done.
Medicare coverage for individuals aged 65 years or older and individuals with disabilities statutorily excludes dental, vision, and hearing benefits. While Medicare does cover certain hearing services – like diagnostic hearing and balance exams – the coverage does not extend to hearing evaluations for the purpose of obtaining a hearing aid. This coverage also excludes the hearing aids themselves, as well as services related to fitting or servicing hearing aids.
Though additional coverage options for hearing, dental, and vision services are increasingly offered through Medicare Advantage, an optional supplemental insurance program, America’s most vulnerable populations, should have guaranteed access to these benefits.
Legislation is In the Works
In the previous 116th Congress, the House of Representatives passed H.R.3 by bipartisan vote. The bill included provisions expanding Medicare coverage of hearing (H.R. 4618 Medicare Hearing Act). To ensure greater access to quality hearing care, it’s crucial decisionmakers get this right.
If Medicare coverage is expanded, it must include:
- Hearing aid coverage for diagnosed severe-to-profound hearing loss and hearing aid-related services.
- Reimbursement for practitioners, including otolaryngologists, audiologists and hearing instrument specialists, to receive fair and reasonable payment for services related to hearing aids.
- Classification of hearing aids as prosthetic devices, which allows devices to be considered for upgrades and adjustments as hearing health changes over time.
- Competitive bidding exemption for professional services and hearing aids provided by qualified hearing professionals.
Reach out to your legislator by filling out this form to demand they vote to include these vital hearing health provisions if Medicare coverage expands.