Routine hearing exams and associated hearing aid services and supplies. Hearing - or lack of - impacts balance, walking, perception, and thinking.

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Cost
Copayment and coinsurance costs vary by service and device, see breakdown below.
Prior Authorization Required
No
Provider Referral or Order Required
No

How To Receive

Details on how to apply

For hearing exams

The plan covers 1 routine hearing exam every year.

  1. Schedule an appointment for a hearing exam with your loved one's hearing specialist.

    • Your loved one can schedule a hearing exam through TruHearing™ by calling 1-800-334-1807. The TruHearing Consultant will match your loved one with a local TruHearing provider and schedule an appointment for an initial exam. (Teleaudiology options are also available.)

    • -OR- Search for a network audiologist.

  2. Attend the appointment and complete the hearing exam.

  3. Engage in recommended follow-up treatment and/or referrals.


For hearing aids

  • Your loved one must see a TruHearing™ provider to use this benefit, and purchase TruHearing™-branded hearing aids.

  • Call 1-800-334-1807 to verify your loved one's insurance coverage and answer any questions you might have about your TruHearing benefit, products, and to schedule an appointment.

Plan coverage

  • Up to two TruHearing™-branded hearing aids every year (one per ear, per year). Hearing aid purchase includes:

    • First year of follow-up provider visits

    • 60-day trial period

    • 3-year extended warranty

    • 80 batteries per aid for non-rechargeable models

  • Benefit does not include or cover any of the following:

    • Additional cost for optional hearing aid rechargeability

    • Ear molds

    • Hearing aid accessories

    • Additional provider visits

    • Additional batteries; batteries when a rechargeable hearing aid is purchased

    • Hearing aids that are not TruHearing™-branded hearing aids

    • Costs associated with loss and damage warranty claims

Copayments and coinsurance

IN-NETWORK

  • $0 copayment for a routine hearing exam.

  • $25 copayment per visit for Medicare-covered diagnostic hearing services.

  • $699 copayment per aid for Advanced Aids.

  • $999 copayment per aid for Premium Aids.

OUT-OF-NETWORK

  • 40% coinsurance for Medicare-covered diagnostic hearing services.

  • 40% coinsurance for a routine hearing exam.

Availability
Annual routine hearing exam; Hearing aids every year (one per ear, per year)

Everything you need is all in one place

Helpful app simplifies family caregiving by combining your loved one’s insurance benefits and medical records into one user-friendly platform while enhancing your caregiving skills

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Hearing services and products are covered when medically necessary to alleviate disability caused by the loss or impairment of hearing.  Routine hearing exams help to identify early hearing loss, gauge progressive hearing loss and track changes to make needed adjustments, identify balance problems associated with the inner ear, and address any modifiable factors that may contribute to hearing loss.    

Many people believe that they hear just fine, and perhaps they do.  Most do not know, however, that they have actually lost their ability to hear high frequencies, and some come to accept that muffled sound is normal.

Issues in the inner ear, which can be detected during routine screening, also cause balance problems.  Sometimes what we think is a musculoskeletal cause of imbalance (pain or weakness) may be an inner ear disorder.

Finally, modifiable factors that contribute to hearing loss, such as certain medications and environmental factors, can be addressed.

Older adults are also susceptible to excessive wax build-up and even ear infections.

Diagnostic hearing and balance evaluations performed by a provider to determine if medical treatment is needed are covered as outpatient care when completed by a physician, audiologist, or another qualified provider.

The plan covers several hearing care needs:

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About us

Helpful is an app to make caregiving easier. We integrate your loved one’s insurance benefits, medical records and caregiving guides into an immediate, accessible and user-friendly experience. Helpful supports your care needs by eliminating administrative tasks and providing technology to support your caregiving experience.