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Recommendations on Costco Hearing Aids?

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In reply to @philbob57

@philbob57 said:

Some Costco employees are audiologists. If the store you choose has one, your HAs should be covered, if the audiologist signs the papers. It’s worth asking about.

I took the details of the insurance requirements to my local Costco and showed them. They said no they could not meet the requirements. A shame as my insurance covers hearing aids 100% (and no deductible) in and out of network up to $2000 ($1000 for each ear). Costco’s argument was even without the $2000 coverage from the insurance their ~$1500 hearing aids would be cheaper than $5000-6000 hearing aids from an audiologist who met the requirements - which is true I guess.

I ended up getting Eargo 7’s in their December $1999 sale and am getting close to the end of the 45 day trial and think I will keep them. Eargo have set them up so I can switch between the results from their hearing test, the Costco and an Apple Health online hearing test. Eargo can program them based on any audiogram you give them. Currently I am using the Costco Audiogram. I really like how they are virtually invisible.

If insurance would have covered it I was also looking at the Jabra Pro 20s and Philips 9050 from Costco. The Costco person I saw thought the Jabra’s would be a good match for me but I found them a little harsh based on a short 30 minute trial in the store.

Maybe I will get a hearing test from a covered Audiologist and see what they suggest partly just because I can (and it will give me another audiogram to try in the Eargo’s)

In reply to @BrotherMouzone

@BrotherMouzone said:

I suppose other people I know might have noticed, but perhaps just haven’t said anything because they don’t want to seem rude…

I would say that almost no one will let you know that they think you have a hearing loss. I taught school in the same building as a teacher who was known throughout the building as being a very loud teacher. He was so loud that other teachers would have to keep their doors closed all day to be able to teach their own classes. No one, and I mean no one, would tell him.

Not long after I began working in the building, I drummed up my courage and went to talk to the other teacher. I told him my own hearing loss story and asked him about his hearing. He had gotten started thinking about hearing aids, but hadn’t done anything yet. I might or might not have helped him go ahead with the idea, but regardless, shortly after, he got hearing aids, and we began having regular great conversations about our hearing experiences.

It made a world of difference to him to get hearing aids.

My hearing aid specialist at Costco told me that probably 90% of her male, older, gentlemen have told her that the only reason that they scheduled a hearing test was at the urging of their spouses. That’s my story also.

In reply to @Flyboybob

@Flyboybob said:

90% of her male, older, gentlemen have told her that the only reason that they scheduled a hearing test was at the urging of their spouses

It was my . I was going nuts over the tinnitus, and complained to him about it. He simply said people with tinnitus also often have hearing loss and asked if I’d be willing to be examined and tested. I was at that point. I don’t think the thought of doing that had ever crossed my mind.

Of course, my wife and several of my kids jumped on afterward and said they’d known for years.

WH

In reply to @Flyboybob

@Flyboybob said:

My hearing aid specialist at Costco told me that probably 90% of her male, older, gentlemen have told her that the only reason that they scheduled a hearing test was at the urging of their spouses. That’s my story also.

Other way round here. I got hearing aids because it was getting hard in some work meetings and work settings in loud restaurants etc to understand what everyone was saying - especially some who were soft spoken (both male and female).

My wife now says I am speaking too quietly and can’t understand me. The reality is we both need hearing aids (we both are of an age where we qualify for medicare…) and have been using subtitles on TV shows through our 5.1 surround system for a few years…

My son and I are now trying to persuade my wife to get a hearing test…

@Flyboybob said:

Sadly Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids or dental.

Sorry maybe I wasn’t clear. Yup I know that (unfortunately) Medicare does not cover hearing aids - I was just pointing out we were getting to an age where many of us do need hearing aids (again unfortunately :disappointed:)

I think most of the select stores are either in the NorthEast or Pacific North West part of the USA.
From what I’ve heard we should have more info in May whether the trial was successful and a new line of hearing aids will come to all Costco hearing aid centers.

bummer. So none near me. My marvels are giving me intermittent fits, and so I’m not sure I want to wait that long!
It would be nice… I wouldn’t mind having a set of Lumity aids to last me a while, for the kinks to be worked out of the sphere infinios…

In reply to @bradw

@bradw said:

My marvels are giving me intermittent fits, and so I’m not sure I want to wait that long!
It would be nice… I wouldn’t mind having a set of Lumity aids to last me a while, for the kinks to be worked out of the sphere infinios…

I just saw your post tonight. Was in the same boat a couple weeks ago. I loved my KS9s (Costco’s Marvel equivalent) but needed to replace them. Costco isn’t carrying a Phonak equivalent any longer except now the Sennheisers in certain locations, none of them anywhere near me here in flyover country. I was planning on waiting to see if Costco would make Sennheisers available at all their hearing centers in the spring or summer but after losing the KS9s couldn’t.

So I bought Lumitys off of ebay – U.S. seller, programmed to my last hearing test, 30-day return period. Prices on Lumitys there are down to the equivalent of Costco prices now. I figured it might not work out but was pretty safe to try. I’ve only had the Lumitys a couple of days now, but the fit they came with is quite good, they’re working perfectly with my old Android phone and TV Connector, and I’m glad I did it. I am planning to try a little but don’t feel pressed to hurry. The seller mentioned being willing to do remote programming tweaks but I don’t know what I’d even ask for at this point.

I know it’s not a solution for everybody, but just thought I’d mention it.

Are your ebay Lumity new or used?

I thought about going the route of used aids, but with something that is so important to me I don’t want to take the chance of getting something that’s potentially on the fritz…especially with the rechargeable batteries!

I’ve considered going with one of the online retailers such as Ziphearing…in fact I posted a question about that a few days ago. Just haven’t had time to go down that path yet.

I went to Costco yesterday for a hearing test and consultation. She put some Rexton aids in my ear, just there in the store, not a trial… In that environment and not fully “fitted” they sounded pretty good, but she couldn’t get them to work with my phone for calls and streaming. At $1500 a pair, I could buy a new phone that will be compatible and still come out ahead if they are decent…

I have my wife’s old phone that I plan to temporarily set up for going back for another consult/test. If that works, I think my choice is between
a) new phone + Costco (roughly $2300)
b) Lumity aids and self program (guessing around $4400 online)

I was discussing with my daughters and I stated that the Costco aids are an unknown and who knows if they’ll be just ok or if they’ll be great…but I could get a new phone out of the deal. Asking them what kind of phone they thought I should go with (iPhone or another android). My daughter said something like this “get the good aids so you can hear us. You listen all the time but don’t talk on the phone that much”. I have a wise teenager!

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