Hearing Aid Practitioner employed at Costco…Ask Me Anything!

if I buy hearing aids at costco, will health insurance still cover majority of cost?

Do you really expect anyone to know the answer to this considering the vast amount of information you provided. I know Costco does not get involved with insurance it’s on you to deal with your insurance.

@yeiter said:

if I buy hearing aids at costco, will health insurance still cover majority of cost?

That would actually be a question for your Health Insurance Provider. We would have no way of knowing.

Well, since Costco has a 6 month return policy, you can submit documentation to your insurance company and then if they don’t pay and you can’t afford it, you can return them. You should submit documentation promptly since it often takes the insurance a long time to do things.

I am getting Costco HA’s and called my insurance company first and they said they would normally cover them and they put that response in my records (I asked them to do this to cut down on red tape later). Also, it looks like they will need a prescription for an MD (an ENT) saying I needed two hearing aids. Since I already saw an ENT it was easy to get this. Hope that helps. You should ask your particular company what documentation they need, since different companies have different procedures/policies. It is likely yours will be different from this.

A believe all their aids carry a 3 year warranty and a two year loss coverage. The new KS7 may be available with rechargeable. However, they use a 312 battery and several have commented that they won’t last for a long day and need recharging. Rexton/Siemens has been the only promoters of rechargeable aids to date. The cost of replaceable aids runs $.50-60 per week. If you are out and they die, it takes only a minute to replace on and carry on.

If you are interested in rechargeable, consider the Rexton Cala with a size 13 battery which will last you a full day.

I read I can get in Costco for hearing check without being a member (told federal law I believe only half of what I hear) then become a member to purchase Ha. Not a member because only 2 in the family no bulk buying and a 40 minute drive to the closest one. I need to get moving on a decision on what I need to buy yes want a great price but want to be sure I get what is needed. Thanks for any help you can give I have severe hearing loss but great word recon. The Dr. audio I saw recommend opticon alta2 of course that means nothing to me other than she wanted 5k and ins would pay 1k of it don’t know if it’s a fair price or if I can get similar result wit a different aid

Well, some stores do require it. Others are lax about it. If you do get the membership, you can get a full refund any time in the future.

Mdtx2, seeing as how a local audiologist charges for the assessment (not the hearing test, which is separate) which includes the recommendation and sales pitch (though not too high pressure) and since the cost of his assessment was about $100, the membership is a good deal. My insurance did pay for that visit, but only once in three years. I also paid a second audiologist $75 out of pocket for what I thought was a discussion about hearing aids but he told me I didn’t need new ones and that he should adjust my very old free demo HAs (programmed and given by a friend who’s an audi in another state.) The second local audi hooked me up to real ear and that’s all he did, made them louder is all and kind of static-y. They are part of the local (usually very good) hospital system and a lot of people go to them, but this was just wasted $75. No high pressure from them, no pressure at all, in fact . I later heard they don’t like to sell the hearing aids to older folks, but work mainly with kids. But this was what I paid to find out about the various options available in my town. Luckily, these things are included in the Costco service. It’s true you can get money back for your membership, I want to keep them servicing my aids, and it’s a reasonable price, to my mind. The other audiologists charge a per-visit cost after two years and it’s quite pricey.

I don’t get the giant vegetable packs, but they have the best deals on high end tires and batteries and a few other things that would make it worth a trip if you need those. Also their eyeglasses are excellent and they have good high tech equipment for testing vision. I’ve gotten some of my glasses there for about 6 years. Not good frame choice, though.

Just my perspective, YMMV.

Have been reviewing the new Resound Cala vs. the new Kirkland/Rexton & have tentatively decided, based on input, to pay the extra $600 for the Resound, but have not bought it yet. I have an Android 6.0 LG Smart and the Rexton has a EXCELLENT App. that supports Bluetooth. I cannot find ANY good app for the Resound. I contacted REsound and they only support Apple I-phone & some Samsung phones. Resound tries to PUSH the purchase of the CLIP+ and/or their control device for $200+. The Resound App referenced on this site has a terrible review that REsound does not acknowledge. Resound, from what I have seen, does not support Bluetooth Android with any App. Finally a Question. Is there ANY good App for the Resound Lynx/Cala?? Thanks.

Have have the Phone Clip + and it does a great job. Solid connections and good stereo. It is also smaller and less obtrusive. The app with the Android <> Phone Clip has full features. I now have an iPhone but use the clip with a BT transmitter I got on Amazon to stream from the TV. That works great too.

Any good app in the world to support the ReSound Cala on an ANDROID phone - LG (Not SAMSUNG). Contacted REsound three email times–no response.

You’ll need to have the Phone Clip + to get the best app for Android.

Has the OP left us? I have a few questions, but it looks like he’s long gone!

He hasn’t been on the forum since March.