As someone who has relied on hearing aids for nearly 30 years, I’m astonished that Medicare doesn’t cover a device that could solve a problem that plagues tens of millions of older Americans.
almost Two-thirds of Americans are over 70 years old I have some degree of hearing loss, More than half of people aged 75 and over Experiencing a disability severe enough to be considered a disability. However, most people do not wear hearing aids.
The law that created Medicare nearly 60 years ago specifically excluded hearing aids, so people who rely on the program’s traditional coverage must pay for hearing aids out of pocket. This cost is one of the main barriers hindering the widespread use of the device.
Age-related hearing loss interferes with basic communication and the relationships that depend on it. Therefore, expanding access to hearing aids will enable more older adults to establish and maintain the social connections essential to a meaningful life.
Hearing loss is like an invisible, muffling curtain that falls in front of the person speaking. Asking someone to repeat themselves can be frustrating or hurtful. Asking a soft-spoken person to speak louder is no use. Sometimes it’s easier to just nod and smile.
Many older adults I know choose to avoid social gatherings altogether because they cannot hear well. Without hearing aids, I would also stay at home.
Hearing loss can harm your health in other ways as well. for example, I have written before about the need for a comprehensive approach to reducing cancer risk. For older adults, this includes preventive services such as: Colon cancer screeningHowever, these services depend on patient-provider conversation; older patients’ ability to hear and understand such conversations should not be taken for granted or ignored.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that some hearing aids Available without a prescription Although hearing aids will be covered in 2022, over-the-counter hearing aids are inadequate for someone with a severe hearing loss like mine. Meanwhile, my private health insurance started covering hearing aids a few years ago, providing up to $2,500 every five years. A single hearing aid can cost more than thatbut.
Despite its limitations, my personal coverage for hearing aids is better than nothing, and that’s what traditional Medicare provides.
Hearing loss is more common among people with low incomes and less education. The toll is noisy workplace For some people, age-related hearing loss worsens. According to one analysis, Most Americans have severe hearing loss I can’t afford the typical price of hearing aids.
Many seniors who cannot afford large out-of-pocket costs work in the low-wage jobs our country depends on, and denying them access to treatment for their hearing loss is a disservice to those who have contributed so much to society.
nevertheless Some older adults with hearing loss do not benefit from hearing aids, Medicare coverage of the device could encourage more beneficiaries to get their hearing tested to get the treatment that’s right for them. And while Medicare coverage alone won’t eliminate the stigma some people associate with hearing aids, the availability of newer, more comfortable, and less obtrusive technology could help some. It may win the hearts of those who oppose it.
law This bill, reintroduced last year with bipartisan support, would finally correct this glaring gap in Medicare coverage by removing the hearing aid exclusion from the law. There is no reason to delay any further action on this matter. Are our representatives listening?
Mary C. White is an adjunct professor of environmental health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, an AcademyHealth Public Voice researcher affiliated with the OpEd Project, and a former federal epidemiologist.
