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Maybe you’ve thought about getting a hearing aid, but you aren’t sure how it will look or if it will really help you. If you have trouble hearing, a hearing aid can significantly improve your quality of life. It can:
• Improve communication
• Help you stay more alert
• Reduce background noise
• Help you regain independence
• Help you feel more included
While Medicare Part B covers hearing exams required for medical treatment, it does not cover an annual routine hearing exam. The good news is some Florida Blue Medicare health plans do offer this benefit.
Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage at (https://www.nationshearing.com/floridabluemedicare) to find out. Many Florida Blue Medicare health plans cover your annual hearing exam and an evaluation and fitting for hearing aids at no cost to you.
Before you shop
Check with your doctor in order to better understand your hearing needs. Your hearing loss may simply have occurred because of earwax build-up. Or, you may have hearing loss that cannot be improved by a hearing aid.
If your doctor says you can benefit from hearing aids, here are some things to know about them.
Most hearing aids work the same way. They usually have a digital amplifier that is powered with a special battery. They amplify sound through a three-part system:
• The microphone receives sound from around you and converts it into a digital signal.
• The amplifier increases the strength of the digital signal based on your hearing loss and needs.
• The speaker delivers the adjusted sound to your ear.
Your doctor will refer you to an audiologist who will help you choose the best hearing aid for you. While at the audiologist make sure to ask about:
• Trial periods: You can usually try out a hearing aid for a limited amount of time. This way you can look at all your options to make the best decision. You won’t have to commit to a hearing aid you don’t like.
• Future needs: Ask if the hearing aid you chose has an option to increase power and volume. If your hearing gets worse, you won’t have to buy another
hearing aid.
• Warranty: Make sure your hearing aid includes a warranty period. This can include broken parts, office visits or professional services for a limited amount of time.
• Expenses: The costs of hearing aids can vary from $1,000 to a few thousand dollars, and special features may cost extra. Talk to your audiologist about payment plans.
If you have trouble participating in everyday conversations, hearing aids could be life-changing. Have your hearing tested and find out if hearing aids are right for you.
Florida Blue | Medicare
1-352-353-3399
Dell Richards
