Hearing Aids and Insurance

There’s no way of overstating how vital hearing aids are for people with permanent hearing loss. To have the ability to hear with clarity once more – it’s just a beautiful thing. As a hearing instrument specialist, we’ve seen so many lives changed for the better thanks to them.

If you require hearing aids, then there are plenty of concerns that may be going through your head. At Integrity Hearing Aid Solutions, we’ve had numerous questions about these devices and how they need to be maintained, etc. One of the most common queries is how hearing aids are covered with regards to insurance. So, if this is something that’s playing on your mind, then this blog post will reveal everything you need to know:

Are hearing aids covered by insurance?

Typically, hearing aids aren’t covered by other types of insurance. Some insurance providers offer insurance explicitly made to cover these devices, but you aren’t required to take out a policy when you have hearing aids.

We know what you’re thinking; does this mean your hearing aids aren’t protected if they break or get stolen? Don’t worry, the reason hearing aid insurance is so rare is that it’s not necessary for most people. As a hearing instrument specialist, we can safely say that there are other ways of protecting your devices without needing to pay over the odds for insurance.

Hearing aid warranties

There are loads of different brands out there that make and distribute hearing aids. As part of their product, they will usually include warranties in the package. With a manufacturer’s warranty, this will essentially cover your hearing aid or a specific amount of time. If you’re fortunate, you’ll be given a lifetime warranty that extends over decades.

What does a warranty do? Well, it means that you can break or lose your hearing aid, and it won’t cost money to repair or replace. Provided that this happens during the warranty period. So, let’s say you visit a hearing instrument specialist and leave with a brand-new set of hearing aids that come with a three-year warranty. Within the next three years, you could break your hearing aid and get the repairs done at no cost to you.

There are other considerations here, such as voiding the warranty. Manufacturers will have a few rules that you have to follow or else the warranty becomes void. Usually, this revolves around tampering with the device and trying to fix things yourself. Just pay close attention to the fine print when you buy your hearing aids, so you know exactly what the warranty covers!

Proper hearing aid care/maintenance

The reason that a hearing instrument specialist is unlikely to recommend you buy insurance is that it’s so easy to take care of your hearing aids. Honestly, if you follow the correct maintenance routine, then your devices will work for as long as they’re supposed to with hardly any faults. It’s all about knowing when to use your hearing aids, how to clean them, as well as how frequently. Here are a few tips we tell our patients to ensure they keep their devices in top shape:

• Never wear hearing aids to bed: Every night, make sure you take off your hearing aids and place them in their case. Put them somewhere that’s hard for children or pets to reach, so there’s no danger of them being damaged while you sleep! Also, open up the battery chamber and take out the battery to let it breathe and prevent moisture from building up. This is a simple tip, but it increases the lifespan of your hearing aids quite substantially.
• Keep hearing aids away from any moisture: Don’t let any water or sweat get into your hearing aids as it will cause severe issues. Always remove them before swimming or taking a shower – and avoid wearing them while you exercise. Some devices are waterproof, but most of them shouldn’t come into contact with any moisture at all.
• Clean your device after every wear: Whenever you remove your device, it’s a good idea to wipe them down using a soft cleaning cloth. This can prevent a build-up or wax/dirt that can block tubes in the hearing aids that prevent it from working properly. It only takes a few seconds, but it will make a massive difference.

These are just three of the many hearing aid maintenance tips that we recommend – but they’re the most important! If you have any concerns about your hearing aids – or perhaps you want to book an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist – then contact us today. Call the Integrity team at one of our two locations, (717) 602-3899 for our Mechanicsburg office and (717) 245-2437 for our Carlisle practice, and we’ll help you with any problems you may have!