Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 I think it `s great that your insurance pays for aids! Did you have to fight them on it? If so what did you do? Do you mind me asking what company you have? I have been trying forever to have `s covered. Right now in N.J. they are trying to pass a law that insurance companies would have to pay. I am getting people all over to right letters. Anything else you think would help please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 In a message dated 1/31/00 8:58:01 AM Eastern Standard Time, gamesgirl@... writes: > I also want to ask all of you what you have done about the aids squealing. > They told me that because they have to raise the level so he can hear, it > will squeal (sorry, i dont know the technical terms , but i have read all > the emails here and it sounds like some of you are even more hard of hearing > than my son and have solved your squealing problems. What should i be > looking for or suggesting to the audiologist? > The major reason for hearing aids squealing ( more formal term - feedback - but I like your description too, LOL) is an earmould that does not fit properly. If your sons' hearing loss is such that he needs maximum gain from his hearing aid, then he MUST have an earmould which fits properly. The feedback is caused by the sound escaping through an improperly fitted earmould and getting back to the microphone on the hearing aid and SQUEEEEAAAAL is what you get! I would request new earmoulds. My son has a profound loss and for the most part he has had well made earmoulds, tho' anyone here will tell you, our kids have all, at some time or another, had poorly made earmoulds. Best of luck and welcome to the list, Orla, Mom to boy, 6, profound loss, implanted 6/99, signing, talking and listening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 I too would like some information on this. My son (13yrs) has hearing aids in both ears and im not exactly satisfied with the doctors here in town. I would like to take him to Indianapolis to see a specialist, but i know that it is going to cost major $ and our insurance co will not pay. Is there a government/state/city insurance i can check out? And where would i look to find it? I also want to ask all of you what you have done about the aids squealing. They told me that because they have to raise the level so he can hear, it will squeal (sorry, i dont know the technical terms , but i have read all the emails here and it sounds like some of you are even more hard of hearing than my son and have solved your squealing problems. What should i be looking for or suggesting to the audiologist? I dont know, im at a loss here. My sons hearing has declined significantly since 6mos ago and im really scared for him. They said nothing will help, but yet they didnt take any blood, mri tests or anything, just looked in his ears and took audio tests. Is this normal? Are there tests i should be making them take? Is that enough questions for now? LOL I am really glad i joined this list, i only wish i had thought to search for a list like this when i got the puter a year ago. But im here now and i have learned so much from all of you!! ;-) Betty AOL & YAHOO-gamesgirl9 http://members.tripod.com/~gamesgirl9/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 ..> They told me that because they have to raise the level so he can hear, Digital or Analog hearing aids? When was your child's last set of earmolds? I really need to get around to making up that page on squealing hearing aids. Please also refresh me on the specifics of your son's hearing loss, then I'll see if I have any ideas for you. Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 > Are there any articles aobut getting insurance companies to pay for > services or hearing aids? It depends on the insurance policy. Our insurance does pay for therapy and hearing aids. I do have some stuff though none of it really relates to speech therapy. http://www.listen-up.org/haidfund.htm For our insurance to cover speech therapy we have to have a statement from the school system saying that they won't provide it. That statement can be a major pain in the rump to get, especially if you're going for a specific type of therapy (like AV). We also need a doctor's statement, a statement from the therapist, a detailed therapy plan from the therapist, current audiogram, and I forget what all else. Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 > They are digital. This info is from Ridenhour on a newsgroup called alt.support.hearing-loss. >Have your audiologist turn down the setting called " max gain " 3 decibels. >This will not diminish the amplification of the hearing aid in any way. It >reduces the " search " mode of the processor, which is changing everytime you >change the shape of your ear canal by chewing or smiling or whatever. If you >still get it some, turn it down another 2 dB, until it is gone. -- www.ridenhour.com > He just got new molds 6mos ago and again last week, now > this week he is going to get another new one made of something different she > said. I'm going to assume that the portion of the earmold that goes in the ear goes almost to the eardrum. With our son, one audiologist was making earmolds that only went about half of that length and he couldn't hear with them. Also, be sure your audiologist is using Super Thick Tubing, not just Thick Tubing. With our son's analog hearing aid, if it doesn't have the Super Thick tubing, he will get feedback because of the high amount of gain he's receiving. > But we've got to know if he is going to go deaf or not > (if there is a way to find out). I don't think there is really a test that can show this. There is a problem with some kids who have Mondini's and Large Vestibular Aquaduct Syndrome where the bone that separates the cochlea from the Internal Auditory Canal has not formed properly. This can be seen on CT scans and is one where the child will most likely lose their hearing eventually, though I haven't seen any statistics on this. Our son had this and we were told each time something happened that caused a wave in the cerebral spinal fluid, this wave would be transferred into the cochlea because this bone had not formed and destroy more and more of his hearing. > He > speaks very well, as if he didnt have any hearing loss and can be an A > student (althou hes going thru teenage years...lol). Is it perhaps time to consider whether a cochlear implant is right for your child or not? I don't necessarily mean whether or not he would qualify now, but whether or not this is something you would consider if/when his hearing gets bad enough. Basically, even if the cause of the hearing loss is what I mentioned above, there really isn't anything they can do to alter the course of events (that I know of). Believe me, I know how you feel, been there. There's nothing like watching your child lose more and more of their hearing, especially when your child relies on it for communication. Watching this happen to my own son was heart-wrenching - to say the least. There are a few on this list who knew me during this time and they know how difficult it was for me, and my son. We're here for you. Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 > I think it `s great that your insurance pays for aids! Did you have to fight > them on it? If so what did you do? Do you mind me asking what company you > have? I have been trying forever to have `s covered. Right now in N.J. > they are trying to pass a law that insurance companies would have to pay. I > am getting people all over to right letters. Anything else you think would > help please let me know. Ours is through military insurance called (military mom's who deal with them, close your eyes because I know this is a " bad " word) TRICARE. Specifically it's through a program they have called Program For Persons With Disabilities (PFPWD). We didn't have to fight them, though it took mountains of paperwork. There are a couple letters from Moms who successfully fought their insurance companies on the page I gave earlier (and will include here again for your convenience) http://www.listen-up.org/haidfund.htm There is also a list of some insurance providers who cover hearing aids on some of their policies. Look towards the bottom of the page for these. From what I understand, who the writer of the policy isn't necessarily what matters. Each company has a number of types of policies they write, depending on the needs of the employer offering the insurance. Some employers opt for less expensive packages, which don't cover as much while other employers offer the policies that cover more. I have seen one family go to their employer when the insurance wouldn't cover the hearing aids for their child. I can't be specific as to what all they did but the employer ended up paying for the child's hearing aids because they felt it was the right thing to do. I hope the NJ law gets passed. I'd like to see this as a national thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 They are digital. He just got new molds 6mos ago and again last week, now this week he is going to get another new one made of something different she said. He has the sensineoral or something like that He was diagnosed with it about 4yrs ago, and has gotten a little worse over the years. She wasnt worried until last week when it went significantly down and wants to test him more often. But we've got to know if he is going to go deaf or not (if there is a way to find out). He needs to learn somethings ya know? He speaks very well, as if he didnt have any hearing loss and can be an A student (althou hes going thru teenage years...lol). Betty > > .> They told me that because they have to raise the level so he can hear, > > Digital or Analog hearing aids? When was your child's last set of earmolds? > I really need to get around to making up that page on squealing hearing > aids. Please also refresh me on the specifics of your son's hearing loss, > then I'll see if I have any ideas for you. > Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2000 Report Share Posted January 31, 2000 - I am in New Jersey. The state paid for AJ's aids. If you need a letter or two, let me know. I would gladly help out. Email me privately, if you wish. pmzf@... Phyllis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 a, My daughter had meningitis and thus has a hearing loss. I thought that certainly my insurance company would cover the aids and therapy. I found out that insurance companies generally don't. We tried to get them to make an exception for her by having her ENT send a letter of medical necessity. But that failed as well. We ended up qualifying for financial help from the Early Intervention Program. They paid for her hearing aids at age 2 1/2. Of course she was already getting the speech therapy there for free. Now she's in the public school to continue her therapy for free. We would have had to take on some heavy financial strain had it not been for EIP and the program that's in place in the public school. I've seen some people write on this list that they are fighting with the insurance company to receive coverage. Maybe they can help you. Suzette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 Betty, Good luck finding a doctor! As far as insurance goes, they should cover the ENT like a regular doctor visit. I guess it all depends on what is on your policy. If they absoloutely won't, look into medicaid. You'd have to go to the HRS office locally and apply. They have to look at your income to determine your qualification. As far as squealing, the only times my daughter's hearing aids squeal are when her volume is turned up too loud or when the ear mold is not tightly in place. Your audiologist should have told you a set volume for your son's hearing aids. If that doesn't work, take them back to be reprogrammed because the squeal is very loud and it's right in his ear. My audiologist told me to not let the squealing take place for long because it can damage residual hearing - it's very loud! Hope this helps! Suzette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 In a message dated 2/1/2000 2:38:02 PM Eastern Standard Time, Pamaners@... writes: << As far as insurance goes, they should cover the ENT like a regular doctor visit. I guess it all depends on what is on your policy. >> We have had 4 different insurance's since Jake was diagnosed and they all looked at the ENT and surgeon as a " Specialist " and the copay was more. We had Healthsource, Doctors, Blue Cross and then a different Cigna/Healthsource policy. FYI........None will pay for aids but the Blue Cross Policy I had paid 90% of Jake's CI bill!!!!!!!!! Pretty darned good from what I hear. Elaine B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 In general, I think the PPOs have better coverage and are more likely to cover aids/CIs than HMOs Some of my recent experience includes: Cigna PPO pays for aids (up to 5K) and CIs for children over the age of 3 with profound sensineural loss only (although they told me they had made exceptions to their formal written rule re: CIs) GreatWestLife PPO paid for Patty's aids, but they are available in western states only. I don't remember if they covered CIs or not. UnitedHealth PPO will not pay for HAs and their formal policy is that they don't pay for CIs -- but they told me they have made exceptions to their CI rule. Sheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 If you have a job with the federal government, you will NOT have hearing aid coverage across the board (federal govt excluding military). I know ,because it is an Office of Personnel Mgmt Policy. You can, however, call your congressperson and request his/her help by requesting they find out the status of HR 2321 and request they vote yes on it. >From: SByrne1281@... >Reply-To: Listen-Uponelist >To: Listen-Uponelist >Subject: Re: Insurance >Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 15:06:47 EST > >In general, I think the PPOs have better coverage and are more likely to >cover aids/CIs than HMOs > >Some of my recent experience includes: > >Cigna PPO pays for aids (up to 5K) and CIs for children over the age of 3 >with profound sensineural loss only (although they told me they had made >exceptions to their formal written rule re: CIs) > >GreatWestLife PPO paid for Patty's aids, but they are available in western >states only. I don't remember if they covered CIs or not. > >UnitedHealth PPO will not pay for HAs and their formal policy is that they >don't pay for CIs -- but they told me they have made exceptions to their CI >rule. > >Sheri > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 Hello, I was wondering if you could explain EIP to me. Is it in all public schools? Thank You, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 Elaine B. wrote: We had Healthsource, Doctors, Blue Cross and then a different Cigna/Healthsource policy. FYI........None will pay for aids but the Blue Cross Policy I had paid 90% of Jake's CI bill!!!!!!!!! Pretty darned good from what I hear. I have Blue Cross too. They paid for two sets of hearing aids and a cochlear implant. I am a state employee which I think makes the difference. It is the major reason why I work, can't beat the insurance coverage. Heidi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 , What is HR 2321??? I know it is a piece of legislation, but is it only pertaining to federal government employees? " E. Mapa " wrote: > > > If you have a job with the federal government, you will NOT have > hearing aid > coverage across the board (federal govt excluding military). I know > ,because it is an Office of Personnel Mgmt Policy. You can, however, > call > your congressperson and request his/her help by requesting they find > out the > status of HR 2321 and request they vote yes on it. > > > > > >From: SByrne1281@... > >Reply-To: Listen-Uponelist > >To: Listen-Uponelist > >Subject: Re: Insurance > >Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 15:06:47 EST > > > >In general, I think the PPOs have better coverage and are more likely > to > >cover aids/CIs than HMOs > > > >Some of my recent experience includes: > > > >Cigna PPO pays for aids (up to 5K) and CIs for children over the age > of 3 > >with profound sensineural loss only (although they told me they had > made > >exceptions to their formal written rule re: CIs) > > > >GreatWestLife PPO paid for Patty's aids, but they are available in > western > >states only. I don't remember if they covered CIs or not. > > > >UnitedHealth PPO will not pay for HAs and their formal policy is that > they > >don't pay for CIs -- but they told me they have made exceptions to > their CI > >rule. > > > >Sheri > > > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > [ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2000 Report Share Posted February 1, 2000 At 03:06 PM 2/1/00 -0500, you wrote: >From: SByrne1281@... > >In general, I think the PPOs have better coverage and are more likely to >cover aids/CIs than HMOs > >Some of my recent experience includes: > >Cigna PPO pays for aids (up to 5K) and CIs for children over the age of 3 >with profound sensineural loss only (although they told me they had made >exceptions to their formal written rule re: CIs) > >GreatWestLife PPO paid for Patty's aids, but they are available in western >states only. I don't remember if they covered CIs or not. > >UnitedHealth PPO will not pay for HAs and their formal policy is that they >don't pay for CIs -- but they told me they have made exceptions to their >CI rule. Tufts Health Plan in MA will pay up to $1500/yr for durable medical equipment, which includes hearing aids. However, you have to use one of their dispensers on the plan. We are able to buy aids at close to cost through e because I have two kids there. We did the math, and it was cheaper to buy them directly w/o the hearing aid benefit. Tufts was not happy to hear about that, so I gave them info and contacts at e, but never heard from them again. Chris << Christofer deHahn..................Manager, EDA Systems and Test >> << Quantum Corporation...........Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 > > If you have a job with the federal government, you will NOT have > > hearing aid > > coverage across the board (federal govt excluding military). I know > > ,because it is an Office of Personnel Mgmt Policy. You can, however, > > call > > your congressperson and request his/her help by requesting they find > > out the > > status of HR 2321 and request they vote yes on it. Are you sure this is the right number? According to this page: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/L?c104:./list/c104h.lst:2301 HR 2321 is the West Side Subway Corridor Improvements Act Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2000 Report Share Posted November 2, 2000 Will do Vicki !!! Thank you so much for the info !! You are a life saver !!!! " May the last sound you hear tonight be a purrrrrrrrr " >^..^< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2000 Report Share Posted November 2, 2000 Recent Changes To The Law In 1996, a law was introduced to the pre-existing condition forum. The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) determined that there are certain conditions health insurance carriers may and may not cover. HIPAA defines a pre-existing condition as: " A condition (whether physical or mental), regardless of the cause of the condition, for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received within the 6 month period ending on the enrollment date. " In effect, insurance carriers cannot exclude: Newborns Pregnancy (even late entrants) Adopted children or children placed for adoption under 18 years Insurance carriers can exclude: People who have never had health coverage People who previously had health coverage, but in less time than the plan's pre-existing exclusion period People who are late entrants (basically, people who did not enroll when they could have) People who have been without coverage for 63 days However, these exclusions are generally limited in duration: Regular on-time entrants may only endure an exclusion period of 12 months following enrollment. Applicable to those who received treatment for a condition 6 months before enrollment (i.e. you were treated for melanoma on January 1, 1999: you can enroll up to July 1, 1999 and still be eligible but you must wait until July 2000 for benefits to begin). Late entrants must endure a longer exclusionary period of 18 months, but maintain the same eligibility requirements for regular on-time entrants above.HMO's may affix a " waiting " period of 60-90 days if they have no pre-existing exclusion policies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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