UnitedHealthCare is offering discounts on prescription hearing aids from its hi HealthInnovations subsidiary for customers enrolled in its vision benefit plans.
Prices for custom-programmed hearing aids start at $649 each under the discount plan, whereas hi HealthInnovations retail hearing aids start at $749. UnitedHealthcare plan participants and consumers interested in purchasing a hearing aid can ask a health care provider such as a primary care physicians, audiologist or licensed hearing-aid fitter, for a hearing test. The audiogram results are submitted to hi HealthInnovations, which programs the hearing aids for each individual’s specific hearing loss. Consumers can have the device sent directly to their residence or be fitted in-person.
UnitedHealthCare and its hi HealthInnovations subsidiary have made waves in the hearing aid industry by providing custom hearing aids at cut-rate prices, often for more than $1,000 less than comparable hearing aids offered by premium brands. It is among the few insurance companies making an effort to provide at least some level of coverage for the cost of hearing aids.
The discount program now available for vision-plan members already has been available to people enrolled in many UnitedHealthcare medical plans, including employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare Advantage plans, as well as Medicare Part D plans. Some UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan customers pay no out-of-pocket costs for the hearing aids.
“Cost is a significant barrier for millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss, and this new discount will help make hearing aids more accessible and affordable for more people nationwide,” Linda Chous, O.D., chief eye care officer, UnitedHealthcare Vision, said in a news release. “Hearing health plays a critical role in people’s overall health and well-being. Untreated hearing loss can affect a person’s ability to stay connected to friends and family, contributing to social isolation, depression and lower income.”
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