Why do Hearing Aid Shoppers Need Help and Advice?
There are many advantages to seeing a doctor, not a salesman.
Two things are challenging the profit and growth of hearing aid retailers. Legislation approving the sale of non-prescription hearing aids (OTC) has disrupted the hearing care industry. The implementation of new hearing aid benefits from Insurances and Medicare Advantage plans has also affected the industry. Before Medicare Advantage plans offered hearing aid benefits most people paid for hearing aids with private funds. I’m sad to say that there are many hearing aid providers and their corporate owners who are holding on to the old ways. They will try anything to bypass your insurance benefits and have you pay with your own money. These commissioned sales professionals earn more money that way.
What is the best Brand of Hearing Aid?
Our Audiology doctors work with all the major makes and models of hearing aids. I feel all the major manufacturers have quality technology and comparable products.
The major brands include Starkey, Phonak, Resound, Oticon, Signia, Widex. Unitron is a major brand owned by Sonova which also owns Phonak.
Some retail chains and big box stores have private-labeled hearing aids built by these big manufacturers. However, some of these retailers have locked the devices so you can only get the aids adjusted by them. For instance, Audibel hearing aids are very good quality aids built by Starkey but any providers outside of Audibel are unable to help adjust or modify your prescription. When you are offered a different brand other than the ones I listed above, ask your provider if their aids are locked in such a way that no competitors can adjust them.
Who you see is definitely more important than the brand of aid that you buy. If your provider acts like a car salesman instead of a hearing healthcare professional, get a second opinion.
Advice to Shoppers with No Insurance.
Who You See is More Important Than the Brand of Hearing Aid You Buy
Who you see for your hearing aid evaluation is more important than the brand of hearing aid you buy. There are two professionals who are licensed to sell prescription hearing aids. One is a Doctor of Audiology (AuD). They have earned a doctorate degree in the hearing sciences. They can be credentialed by Medicare to perform diagnostic hearing and vestibular evaluations as well as fit prescription hearing aids. The other professional is a Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS). Typically, they need to obtain on-the-job training and pass a test. They can only test your hearing for the purpose of selling you a hearing aid.
When you schedule an appointment, ask if you will be seeing a Doctor of Audiology or a Hearing Instrument Specialist. At Gardner Audiology, we have both Doctors of Audiology and HIS on staff. We work together as a team.
What is a Fair Price to Pay for Hearing Aids Without Insurance?
Local competition in your area will affect retail prices. In Florida, consumers have a lot more options to find a good hearing aid value. When you contact an audiology practice or hearing aid store:
- Ask them for their prices and technology levels.
- Ask them what manufacturers they support.
Florida has a legislative rule that Doctors of Audiology and hearing aid retail stores must provide a list of products and their prices when the consumer asks for it. This is a good way for shoppers to compare values. It makes sense that trustworthy hearing healthcare professionals would be transparent.
Our doctors have heard from patients that have been persuaded to pay as much as $8000 for a pair of hearing aids. That is unfortunate in my opinion. We sell top-of-the-line hearing aids for as little as $4300 per pair. Entry level prescription hearing aids start at $545 each. At Gardner Audiology, we publish our prices online.
Beware of Bait and Switch Advertising
Be wary when hearing aid ads show a very low price asterisked with small print that says, “for up to 40 dB hearing loss.” You can assume that the advertiser has very little intention of selling you that. Instead, these ads bait you to make an appointment. During the appointment, they will try to upsell you because you have more than a mild 40 decibel hearing loss. I hate that some in our industry will promise you something, but they are not motivated to sell it.
How to Negotiate a Trial Period
Many of our patients have shared that it was much easier to pay for hearing aids than it was to get a refund. The state of Florida requires a 30-day trial period with a partial refund available if the hearing aids are returned. I recommend that you read your purchase contract very carefully about the trial and refund for return. Make sure to track your trial period so that you return them within 30 days if you are not satisfied. We have heard from patients with prior experience where they were not satisfied with hearing aids on trial and returned to a provider who continued to attempt adjustments that stretched them a day or two over their 30-day trial period and then refused a refund. Some providers, including Gardner Audiology, offer a free demo of hearing aids. This free demo may be performed in-office, but for a true measure of benefit you will want to experience the hearing aids in your home and other frequently visited environments. Negotiate a risk-free demo period before paying.
Advice for Those with Hearing Aid Insurance Benefits
Some employers give hearing aid benefits through their health plan. The value of that benefit differs depending on the plan. Medicare Advantage plans all have different procedures to access your benefits.
Some Medicare advantage plans are true benefits with free hearing aids. Others just provide token discount plans. Some discount plans are a poor value compared to competitive street prices. An experienced provider should know the difference.
A big problem for consumers is that most hearing aid providers don’t want to deal with your Medicare Advantage plan. They may try to persuade you to bypass your benefits and pay out of pocket for a supposedly equivocal value. I know it sounds crazy, but it is a sales model of more hearing providers than you realize.
If you call your insurance before you schedule a hearing aid evaluation, their customer service will explain your benefits and/or refer you to a credentialed in-network provider who understands your plan. If your insurance refers you to the hearing aid provider or makes the appointment for you, that professional is unlikely to dissuade you from using your benefits.
Here is how to safely maximize your hearing aid benefits:
- Always call your insurance for a referral to an in-network provider.
- A warning flag should go up if a hearing clinic does not ask you for the name of your insurance and ID number when you make an appointment.
- Request that they verify your benefits to review with you at the time of your appointment.
Most Medicare Advantage plans will collect your out-of-pocket obligations directly via an online portal. Be wary if a provider wants to charge you for a hearing aid that is ordered from your insurance, because you might not get reimbursed.
If you are an employee with a commercial hearing aid benefit plan, ask the provider to accept the assignment for payment. In that case, your insurance will pay the provider directly instead of you trying to negotiate reimbursement after you pay.
Ask your hearing aid provider to accept the assignment of payment from your employer’s commercial insurance plan.
With most Medicare Advantage plans you purchase the hearing aids from your insurance not the provider. Your payment will be directly to the insurance company sometimes via an online portal.
Advice to Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Shoppers
Federal legislation has made it legal for businesses to sell nonprescription hearing aids without a hearing test. These aids are supposed to be for people with perceived mild/moderate hearing loss. The purpose of this legislation was basically to give consumers more access to hearing aids at a lower cost.
So, how are OTC hearing aids going? I’ve heard that big box stores, and the online sellers are experiencing a 30 to 50 percent return rate for refund. One of our patients shared that they were told that to get a refund they had to return the aids to China. In my opinion these refunds are increasing the retail cost of OTC hearing aids. Hence, they are becoming as expensive as some prescription aids but have inferior technology. We have talked to some patients who are happy with their OTC aids. It is very hard to predict the outcome of an OTC hearing aids purchase.
If you want to try OTC hearing aids I recommend:
- Avoid faceless websites that do not allow public Google reviews.
- Buy from trustworthy entities such as Amazon and big-box stores.
- Read the reviews
I support the concept of OTC aids, but think that today’s delivery model does not make sense and that OTC hearing aids are too expensive. I think that the OTC hearing aid market will prosper if patient satisfaction increases and price and return rates decrease. This will evolve over time. Gardner Audiology is developing a hybrid delivery model for Florida residents.
Overview
Seek an opinion from a doctor of audiology, not a salesman.
Innovations in hearing aid technology are truly amazing. On average, people who notice hearing loss wait around 7 years to try hearing aids. It pays to do your research before you try them.
Get a second opinion if you feel pressured by a sales pitch. This check-off list will help you ask the right questions during your appointment.
Originally published by Gardner Audiology.
