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Cigna/Amplifon: is it a ripoff?

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I’ve never worn , but I was concerned enough to have my hearing tested about 18 months ago. Since I’m in the Boston area, I went to the audiology department at Mass Eye & Ear. The test did show some hearing loss, but I was told I couldn’t get further care from MEEI because they’re not in-network for my HA coverage. So I called Cigna to find out what exactly was covered by my PPO plan. That’s how I learned about Amplifon, because the Cigna rep said I could only go to this one store, and I would have to get my hearing tested at that store, and I couldn’t just call the store to make an appointment; I had to consent to my personal information being shared and then wait for them to call me. On top of this, Cigna provided no written details of the coverage, as they do for vision or other medical care. The rep wouldn’t give me exact figures, but in general I learned that my out-of-pocket costs would still be in the thousands of dollars! I felt as if I was being railroaded, and the whole thing smelled like a scam to me, so I backed out of the Amplifon appointment altogether. Was I being overly suspicious? I was furious that I couldn’t just continue to get care at MEEI and that I’d be forced into getting “care” from a business whose website didn’t even list the names of their audiologists.

Since the from my previous test has expired, I’m thinking of going back to Mass Eye & Ear for another evaluation and then using it to buy hearing aids, as my hearing loss is only mild. I’d appreciate hearing from people who have more experience with HA than I do, especially if you’ve dealt with Amplifon as a retailer. Thanks!

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In the US Amplifon is primarily an insurance benefits manager. They manage hearing aid benefits for many insurance companies although they are also the parent company of Miracle-Ear. Have you thought of checking out Costco. If you are a Costco member ($60/year membership fee) you can get free hearing tests from a licensed hearing aid specialist. Costco carries three brands of prescription hearing aids, Philips, Rexton and Jabra. These are premium hearing aids manufactured by three of the top hearing aid manufacturers in the world. Philips is manufactured by Demant which also manufactures Oticon, Rexton by WS audiology who manufactures Signia and Widex and Jabra by GN who also makes ReSound aids. The aids sold by Costco which cost $1499 or $1599 are similar or exactly like the premium level of their sister brands. Costco also provides a three year warranty and free service for the life of the aid and a 180 day return period. If you check this forum you will find that many folks get their hearing aids from Costco and end up with a lower out of pocket cost than they would using their insurance benefits.

Man, Canadian healthcare is definitely in crisis but America Healthcare sounds like it’s totally broken.

From what I’ve heard from American audiologists, Cigna will completely throttle your care options and you should probably explore other routes. But you should also complain. I don’t know how you guys are going to make it out of this system of predatory third party insurance middle men.

It sounds a lot like my plan. They have a company you have to go through. I could get any brand of hearing aid, and got Phonak Lumity. Just for reference, my /Audiologist practice wanted $5500 for a pair of Lumity. Zip hearing, which i believe to be a reputable online hearing aid provider, wanted $4500. My insurance related company sold them to me for $3600. It was a hassle though, and they just came off as a little slimy.

In every other area my Advantage Plan is super good, with very low co-pays. Also, unlike Canada, no wait to see a doctor (had to throw that in. :grin: ).

I recently had a “hearing test” done by the recommended by Amplifon. It was not done in a sound booth, rather while I was sitting across the desk from the provided. The entire test took about 5 minutes and consisted of playing each tone only until I responded. The headphones did not fit properly. And, the results were better than the I had done by an audiologist two years ago. Good thing the experience didn’t cost me anything. I will end up paying out of pocket before I use amplifon again.

If the headphones didn’t fit properly, that would normally lead to a poorer result, not a better one. Don’t assume that you hearing is worse than the most recent test.

The problem is most hearing clinics don’t take Medicare Advantage plans, like Cigna, Humana etc., because with that insurance they go through a 3rd party to get hearing aids and the clinic makes very little money from the insurance company. I have noticed more and more there are less Hearing Clinics taking managed care insurance so those patients that have a benefit are finding it tough to find a provider in the hearing industry to use that benefit. Most want private pay and especially if the clinic is owned by a big hearing manufacturer. It really sucks for people whom cannot afford hearing aids so they cannot get the help they need.

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