Use Health Benefits and FSA Funds to Your Advantage

Hearing insurance, while only offered to about 15 percent of the workforce, can provide much greater relief in terms of cost. Regardless, these benefits run dry at the end of the year if they aren’t used, so be sure to contact your insurer for more information about your specific policy. If Affiliated Audiology Consultants is a preferred provider with your insurance company, we will directly bill your insurance for payment. Your employer may also offer an FSA or HSA (flexible spending account or health spending account) that pulls money from your paycheck pre-tax and sets it aside for future medical expenses. In this case, the costs would still come out of your pocket, but it would be untaxed. If you’ve already used your FSA funds for the year, please consider what your hearing needs will be next year when you sit down with your company’s benefits coordinator and decide how much of your paycheck you’d like to reserve tax-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Medicare pay for my hearing care needs?
When a medical necessity has been determined by your physician or audiologist, Medicare Part B will allow the office to submit a claim for diagnostic hearing exams, depending on your symptoms, conditions or complaints that would require medical treatment. It will be determined by the claim reviewer(s) whether Medicare will pay their 80% portion and pass it on to your Medicare supplement, if one exists, for the remaining 20%. Medicare does not currently cover routine hearing exams or treatment, including hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids.
Will Medicaid pay for my hearing care needs?
States must provide benefits to adults and children under the age of 21. This includes appropriate screenings, diagnostics, and medically necessary treatments—including hearing aids, hearing aid accessories, and related services. Coverage beyond the age of 21 is based on state regulations. Patients are encouraged to pursue information regarding their state’s coverage, which can be found on their state’s website.