Treating a hearing loss as early as possible is the best way to enjoy a good life because it enables enriching conversations with family and friends, a high enjoyment of nature, and the ability to enjoy frustration-free phone calls and video chats.
Sadly, about 66% of people who need hearing treatment avoid it or delay it by up to ten years, and one of the main reasons is because of fear of the cost; but at Flex Audiology, we have a lot of resources that can help lower this investment and make it affordable.
Treating a hearing loss not only helps your relationships, it also help you avoid the risk of cognitive decline, anxiety, and depression; and one of the best ways to treat a hearing loss is with hearing aids.
Your insurance plan is one of the things we investigate on your behalf, helping you skip the stress of trying to figure out what aspects of hearing care you’re covered for.
Our patients often ask us about what their BlueCross BlueShield plan covers them for – does it cover the cost of a yearly hearing exam, prescription hearing aids, and professional hearing services?
To help clarify what you might be covered for, we’ve outlined the general provisions of BlueCross BlueShield plans below. Your individual policy will dictate your specific benefits.
Are Hearing Aids Covered by Insurance?
Most standard insurance plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids, claiming that hearing treatment is elective and not vital. Our response to that would not be polite, considering how lonely and debilitating a hearing loss can be, but that’s what they claim.
BlueCross BlueShield Coverage of Hearing Aids and Hearing Care with Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plans
A large percentage of our patients are on Medicare and are in the age bracket when a hearing loss is more likely, but an original Medicare plan does not cover the cost of hearing aids. However, in conjunction with Anthem, Indiana, BlueCross BlueShield has several supplemental plans or riders to cover the expenses of hearing exams and hearing aids.
Anthem MediBlue HMO Medicare Advantage Plans
HMO plans give you the freedom to choose from a broader range of doctors and specialists on BCBS’s list of approved HMO providers.
The HMO Medicare Advantage plans that provide hearing care benefits are Anthem MediBlue Plus (HMO) and Anthem MediBlue Extra (HMO).
Benefits include:
- One routine hearing exam per year
- One hearing aid fitting or evaluation per year
- $3,000 max. plan benefit for hearing aids per year
- $30 – $40 in-network copay for Medicare-covered hearing exams and hearing treatment
- $0 copay for routine hearing services – exams and hearing aids
Anthem MediBlue Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP) covers hearing care and is for people who have both Medicare Parts A and B and Medicaid. “Additionally, if you are eligible for full Medicare cost-sharing assistance under Medicaid, you do not pay anything for the services.”
Benefits include:
- One routine hearing exam per year
- One hearing aid fitting or evaluation per year
- $3,000 max. plan benefit for hearing aids per year
- $0 in-network copay for Medicare-covered hearing exams and hearing treatment
- $0 copay for routine hearing services – exams and hearing aids
Anthem MediBlue (PPO) Medicare Plans
PPO plans let you choose your healthcare provider without a referral if they’re in BCBS’s Preferred Providers list. The copay is higher to see a specialist or an out-of-network provider. Out-of-pocket costs include your yearly deductible, copays, and coinsurance.
Anthem MediBlue Service (PPO), Anthem MediBlue Access (PPO), Anthem MediBlue Access Preferred (PPO), Anthem MediBlue Access Plus (PPO), Anthem MediBlue Access Basic (Regional PPO),
Benefits include:
- One routine hearing exam per year up to the value of $59
- One hearing aid fitting or evaluation per year
- $2,000 – $3,000 max. plan benefit for hearing aids per year
- $35 – $40 in-network and $55 – $60 out-of-network copay for Medicare-covered hearing exams and hearing treatment
- $0 – $40 in-network copay for hearing exams and hearing treatment
- 20% coinsurance for routine hearing exams out of network
BlueCross BlueShield Discounts
BlueCross BlueShield also offers members certain discounts on hearing aids, accessories, and services that are not part of an insured plan or policy. They are not insurance and can be discontinued at any time. Call us for more information.
Let Flex Audiology Check Your Insurance Benefits for You
Let us help you get back to the world of easy listening again. We can do this by first finding out what your BlueCross Blue Shield plan covers you for, getting the right permissions for hearing tests and other treatments, and evaluating your hearing.
After the test, we’ll give our recommendations for hearing treatment and pull from all our resources on the best ways to keep any expenses within your budget.
Simply fill out this online insurance coverage form or call us at (812) 532-3011 for preapproval for your hearing evaluation as your first step.
Our Flex Audiology insurance specialist will then work with your provider on your behalf to see exactly what’s covered so you don’t have to spend hours on hold with them.
The sooner you treat your hearing loss, the better your long-term outlook, so give us a call and we’ll do all we can to make your hearing journey as easy and affordable as possible.
