Monday, June 1, 2009

CB asked, "where can an 80 year old man get free hearing aids?"

CB asked, "Is there any place that a 80 yr old man can get hearing aids at a reasonable price? We are low income and need help. The man cannot hear, and if the TV volume stays the way it is I will need hearing aids."

Here is my reply:

CB

Thank you for your inquery. This is actually my favorite type of question to answer.

Since the man you mentioned is 80 years old, I first wondered if he would be eligible for medicare. But then I found out that even if he is, medicare doesn't cover hearing aids.

I next wondered if he is eligible for medicaid since you also mentioned that you both live in a low-income household. Medicaid eligibility and coverage is different in every state (I'm assuming your in the USA). For more information on medicaid, go to to this website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp.

There also seems to be other organizations that can offer support for the hearing impaired. Here are some that I've found:

The Better Hearing Institute. BetterHearing.org
This may be the best one to start with since they seem to have most, if not all, the information you'll need. "The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is a not-for-profit corporation that educates the public about the neglected problem of hearing loss and what can be done about it." They have 45 resources listed which offer financial assistance for those with hearing loss.
Better Hearing Institute > Resources > Financial Assistance

Lion Clubs International, LionsClubs.org. Lions and Hearing Awareness
Lion Clubs International offers hearing aids through their hearing aid recycling program.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation. SoTheWorldMayHear.org

Here is a direct quote from their "hear now" application:

"The program is designed to assist those who have no other resource available to them. HEAR NOW is a program of last resort. Other options for assistance include: family support, insurance, state Medicaid program, vocational rehabilitation, school district, VA, church groups, state or local programs. Please call the HEAR NOW office to check your eligibility. . . 1-800-328-8602"


Two articles that I read on the subject suggested that the first step is to get a hearing test. One of them said that the test should performed by a doctor and that if you don't have insurance to cover it then they should be able to tell you when free screenings are available. The other suggested that you can always get free screenings at places that sell hearing aids. Another article suggested to get in touch with hearing aid manufacturers directly. Even though doctors, places that sell hearing aids, and hearing aid manufacturers are for-profit entities they'll know the resources that are available for people in your situation. You can go there having made up your mind that they won't get any of your money, but I would suggest being open to call on these sources since they will know as well as, or better than, anyone where the support can be found.

Since my grandfather had significant hearing loss before he passed away, this is a topic that gives me great pleasure to address. So I thank you again for sending me this question.

Admin
www.actuallyfree.info

PS. I remember my grandfather had his own cordless headphones so that he could listen to the TV at his own volume, while everyone else in the room, especially my grandmother, could listen at a normal volume. Feel free to browse around my website to get ideas for ways to get TV headphones for free. The two pages I'd suggest the most are The Classified Ads and Free Samples and Gifts.