One thing that got me going on my last post was hearing aids.
I was wondering if I had any time left on my warranty. I looked at all the paper work I had with the hearing aids. The first hurdle was to find the actual purchase date. You get to test them for a week and dates and info are confusing. Well it's the same with the warranty. Some things are 3 years and some are 5 years. I wanted to cover my bases and know for sure what was what. We finally phoned the local office. The person had to take several runs at it and finally sorted it out for us.
Then I got thinking about buying the hearing aids. To my way of thinking quite a few people were paid for the hearing aids. The total price was $6500.00. Govt aid to seniors paid roughly $1800. My pension plan paid some. For some reason the AMA(( Alberta Automobile association ) paid $2000.00. I paid the remainder of $1800.00. All this was meant to make me feel good about buying hearing aids as if I got a good deal.
To me it looks like games are being played. Somehow the price appears to be raised unnecessarily. Rumor has it that the physical aids cost less than $100.00 to make.
I wonder how many people would not be able to afford hearing aids if they had to pay for them on their own?
My hearing aids are quite a few years old now and cost $6000 and I paid for it myself as no insurance covered it here in the US. I know I should probably get updated hearing aids but I've heard such a range of prices that I don't know which ones are best for me. It's confusing, Red.
ReplyDeletethey don't make it easy for us to make a decision. the technology is also changing rapidly.
DeleteHealth care charges are grossly inflated here. Health care insurances have the ability to negotiate prices, but the unfortunate folks that have no insurance at all do not have that ability. How fair is that?
ReplyDeleteWell, it's not fair. Social justice is a long way away.
DeleteAs soon as disability is mentioned the prices go up. I used to look after an intelligent young man who was very disabled, he was a wheelchair-user, could not speak and had poor control of hand movements. He liked to watch TV in the evenings, especially news programmes, however, understandably enough, certain things used to upset him. I managed to rig up a big switch with which he could change between the four channels he liked watching. Total cost £12. A few weeks later our physiotherapist was attending an event promoting the use aids to give disabled people access to everyday household equipment. Out of curiosity she asked about a TV remote control - around £100 she was told.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as insurance is mentioned the prices go up.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMy hubby wears the hearing aids, I am not sure if he had to pay or if the insurance covered the whole amount. Take care, have a great day and happy new week!
There are many options. It gets complicated.
DeleteI have hearing auds which I bought privately and I am very pleased with them and with the aftercare. I think they cost me about £2000 and the after care (every three months) has always been free.
ReplyDeleteThey do take good care of the hearing aids but if something breaks heaven help you. They are telling me that after 5 year you won't be able to get parts.
DeleteI woulld also add that my hesring aids are insured on my existing household contents policy
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a great idea.
DeleteMine cost me, $5000. That's after $1500 from the government and after them being on sale. I figure they last for maybe 5 years, so essentially it's $1000/yr for me or close to $100/mo. It's not really right to have to pay this much for health care, but it is what it is.
ReplyDeleteI was quoted a price of $6500 to fix a tooth, which blew my mind. I really could not believe it.
DeleteA lot of people for sure cannot afford hearing aids. Then there are some who have them and don’t use them. Don’t get me started!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's the guys who get them for nothing who don't wear them.
DeleteI paid $2000 for my $6500 hearing aids. They are good for three years in warranty. I have just reached the first year, with no problems so far.
ReplyDeleteI had one that was sent away but the care I get here is great.
DeleteI find that almost impossible to believe as a price. Thank The Lord I live in Scotland. Actually, thank The Lord that I don't need hearing aids either.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be all about the same price.
DeleteI have no idea how much hearing aids cost, so I'm not sure if that's an excessive price or not -- but it's true that many medical items and procedures vary in cost depending on people's insurance and that kind of thing. This has to do with negotiated insurance rates, and people without insurance often paradoxically wind up paying more. Maybe something like that is happening here? (You didn't mention insurance but maybe the government has a negotiated rate.) Sounds like the AMA really came through for you -- $2,000! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI know that my employee benefit plan negotiates. we can keep our employee benefit plan when we retire.
DeleteThey are expensive.
ReplyDeletethey're expensive like many other items.
DeleteI know what you are saying. Why is the listed price so high? Does anybody actually pay that much? Why do our govenments have to pay that much? It's tha same with medical/surgical bills. I paid very little for my surguries, my insurance paid about half of the listed prices. The listed prices were hundreds of thousands of $$$. Do you get charged that if you don't have insurance?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have insurance but the government covers health costs. Physio therapy isn't covered. I still keep my employee benefit plan when I retire.
DeleteYou’re on to some interesting topics here on Hiawatha House. I’m lucky to not need hearing aids so I really don’t have enough info to comment on the prices. Most of what I know about hearing aids is what I’ve read in the media and here on HH and DJan’s blogs. In any case, $6,500 sounds like a lot and I would definitely want to know what the warranty included.
ReplyDeleteThey tell you about warrantee but the cover many other topics so by the time they're finished you're a little confused. You can shop around but prices are similar.
DeleteI paid $6000 for my last pair of hearing aids. When they wear out, I'll be without; I cannot afford another pair.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're lucky and your hearing aids last til you don't need them anymore.
DeleteThe cost of your hearing aids sounds high to me... I get mine through Costco without any financial aid from Medicare/Humana at a lower price. Mine have a three year guarantee which I am past on and they are fine.. and Costco will check them or replace anything if I go in!! You might search around for a different company... it seems like there are hearing aid stores all over in the Kansas City area.
ReplyDeleteMine are cheap ones. I think they only cost us about $2,000 apiece! Like Joanne, above, when mine wear out I'll look for an old ear trumpet.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the perennial problem of every Sr citizen. Putting off buying an hearing aid.
ReplyDeleteThe hearing aid journey is in my cards. I shall be interested in the price and the process.
ReplyDelete6500 is high price for a retired person dear Red
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that days seem over when authorities cared about senior citizens
Good to know all the details
ReplyDeleteThey make such a difference in our household, no matter the cost.
ReplyDeleteI've told Art he needs new hearing aids because he's often not hearing me. Then again, it could be because he's plugged into the news commentaries all the time through his hearing aids.
ReplyDelete