Insurance Companies Cover Viagra, But Not Hearing Aids
"Hey honey, guess what?" I said to my other half. "If you need some Viagra down the road, don't worry, our insurance plan covers it!"
The hubby rolled his eyes at the thought-- but I guess it's a good thing to know that should he need a little help in the pleasure department, our insurance company would gladly pay for it. If I need a little assistance in the birth control department, I've got a couple of options that my insurance company will cover. What most insurance companies won't pay for is... hearing aids. Many people are shocked to discover the lack of insurance coverage and they often don't learn this fact until they're sitting in the audiologists office and they have to figure out how to cover a couple thousand dollars worth of ear technology.
Wouldn't it seem logical for insurance companies to cover a medical device that requires a doctor prescription to purchase it and an Audiologist (often an AuD.) to cover the complex programming? Insurance companies will cover bilateral cochlear implants which can cost up to $200,000, but they balk at hearing aids, going so far as to label them "cosmetic devices."
Patrick Hughes, owner of Inclusion Solutions, thinks it's absolutely crazy that insurance companies will cover Viagra, but not hearing aids. He sat down with Margaret from Elmhurst, who took a moment to share her own perception of the Viagra/hearing aid debacle:
It is time to change that in Illinois. A group of us have gotten together to introduce S. B. 2516 which would provide insurance coverage for Illinois residents of all ages. Other groups are trying to water down the bill, to change it to cover children only or to appease the insurance companies. Frankly, this bill is a very reasonable one: it would only cost a few cents to a few dollars to provide hearing aid coverage. A very big thanks goes to Senator Ira Silverstein who has been championing this bill since its inception.
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