United Health Care hearing aids

After reading coments, seems like all specialists ganging up on UHC plans fro some basic help as number of those who need help likely to doouble every year. i have used hearings aids miracle ear, resound, now trying starkey, but prices keep jumping so hard to keep up with. May be this UHC thing will bring some normality to prices. I donot understand insurance companies will pay thousands for any minor health issue but zero on hearing aid which is as critical as anything, may be this will draw others carriers to pay some toward hearing aid as we are captive in their hands pretty much.

I have 50-80% loss in both years, paid $4000 for miracle year, $6000 for resound and now was offered starkey 3 i90 for $7200- (pair). I was also told 3-i90 is top of the line, but when I googled, found there is 3 i110 as well, so what she stated to me was not correct. I would request ZTC to throw some light on price escalations if it is real or gouging, i donot mind paying what iit is worth but not gouged as i have severe hearing loss and must have it. ZTC appears to be an expert on starkeys, no doubt they are good with surf link, amazing technology.

she also said surflink would not be available for another two months at extra cost of 800- so total bill would be 8000- so to mean go from 4000 to 8000 in 4 years, it does not seem right to me,

I don’t think ZCT frequents these forums anymore. That said, 8,000 is too much for a pair of hearing aids. Either negotiate or walk out the door and find someone who is charging less.

ditto.

anything over $7000 (with accessories) is more than anyone should pay.

I agree with the previous two posts.

starkey has a new made out called the 3 Series, and as you have already learned, it comes in a 110,90,70 version.

In my office the 110 would be $6800. And that would include the Surf Link Mobil.

The 90 version would be $5800 ( including the Mobil)

@jab said:

I would be very interested in finding this information true. I am a UHC policyholder but they have many plans. I neverheard of any insurance covering hearing aids but I am a neophyte to this hearing aid world. Please send any further resource info you have.
Jab

The easiest way to find out if your UHC plan covers aids is to call UHC. They will tell you if aids are a benefit under your plan. If so, ask them if they use EPIC or another source. That should get you well on your way.

Wow I am trying to familiarize myself with the vocabulary all of you are using and I feel lost. I had no idea it would be so complicated. No wonder people put off buying aids for years. I am not wealthy and was advised to go to Costco but I would at least like to have some knowledge of the vocabulary and my needs. There are so many variations on aids…is there a rating system somewhere for
in ear
out of ear
behind ear
at least that would be a start. But there is no way I can or will pay $7,000 for hearing aids. I use the closed captioned on the tv now …of course the only reason I’m getting them is so I can hear my family.

thanks Al…I will right now…and EPIC…I take it that is a brand name? Also I am primary MEdicare and UHC Med sup? That will undoubtedly make a difference.

yes aids benefits is $500 off or 20% “whichever is higher”…but it is at a HearUSA Miracle Ear place. And Siemens and Rexton are the two brands they carry. I had my audiology test at my ENT docs and UHC paid their share of the bill so wouldn’t that be a UHC audiologist?

@jab said:

yes aids benefits is $500 off or 20% “whichever is higher”…but it is at a HearUSA Miracle Ear place. And Siemens and Rexton are the two brands they carry. I had my audiology test at my ENT docs and UHC paid their share of the bill so wouldn’t that be a UHC audiologist?

I have UHC ‘Choice’ health insurance. I went to their website and determined that HA’s are covered “100%” (within limits). Great! Found an in-network ENT / Audi and went in for testing. Turns out they are in-network for testing but not for HA’s.
I called UHC. For HA’s I have to go to hi Health Innovations (owned by UHC) or Epic Hearing Healthcare.
HI wanted me to fax them my hearing test, then they would mail the HA’s. They are being sued for selling medical devices that way, and their website has been down for over a week now. They may be out of business.
I’m starting over with Epic and a different audiologist. Their Hearing Service Plan member booklet lists HA’s from Phonak and Unitron starting at $495.
You can get a lot of info by going to websites for Epic, Phonak, Siemens, Starkey, etc. I’m learning as well and that’s one place to get info and learn the lingo.

This is kind of info I need. What are Hi Health Innovations? Is that a brand name?

@Kemahsabe said:

I have UHC ‘Choice’ health insurance. I went to their website and determined that HA’s are covered “100%” (within limits). Great! Found an in-network ENT / Audi and went in for testing. Turns out they are in-network for testing but not for HA’s.
I called UHC. For HA’s I have to go to hi Health Innovations (owned by UHC) or Epic Hearing Healthcare.
HI wanted me to fax them my hearing test, then they would mail the HA’s. They are being sued for selling medical devices that way, and their website has been down for over a week now. They may be out of business.
I’m starting over with Epic and a different audiologist. Their Hearing Service Plan member booklet lists HA’s from Phonak and Unitron starting at $495.
You can get a lot of info by going to websites for Epic, Phonak, Siemens, Starkey, etc. I’m learning as well and that’s one place to get info and learn the lingo.

I had an excellent experience with EPIC. I picked my own audiologist (you have to go to an in network audi. My plan pays 90%, so my Starkey S series cost me $500. The Surflink Mobile was an additional $475 because they cover the aids, not the accessories. EPIC will give you a list of audis in your area The transaction with EPIC could not have been easier.

@Kemahsabe said:

I have UHC ‘Choice’ health insurance. I went to their website and determined that HA’s are covered “100%” (within limits). Great! Found an in-network ENT / Audi and went in for testing. Turns out they are in-network for testing but not for HA’s.
I called UHC. For HA’s I have to go to hi Health Innovations (owned by UHC) or Epic Hearing Healthcare.
HI wanted me to fax them my hearing test, then they would mail the HA’s. They are being sued for selling medical devices that way, and their website has been down for over a week now. They may be out of business.
I’m starting over with Epic and a different audiologist. Their Hearing Service Plan member booklet lists HA’s from Phonak and Unitron starting at $495.
You can get a lot of info by going to websites for Epic, Phonak, Siemens, Starkey, etc. I’m learning as well and that’s one place to get info and learn the lingo.

The post above includes information that is blatantly false. hi HealthInnovations is in no way involved in a legal dispute regarding how it sells hearing devices. In addition, the company is a strong and growing business, and the website has been up and running since the organization’s inception. For more information about hi HealthInnovation’s high-tech, custom programmed digital hearing aids, please visit the company’s website.

@Cosmo said:

Most of UHC plans switched from EPIC to HI Health Innovations. This a subsidiary of UHC. They market cheap ready to fit devices. You send them a test (they took down their on-line, do it yourself test) and they send you a device and say good luck. There is no local care or service, just an 800 number at a call center, not a specialist, just a customer service rep reading from a script. This is not what hearing care was meant to be, but when you are as large as UHC, you write the rules and do what you want. Regardless of the law, or what is in the best interests of your members.

The post above is inaccurate and misleading to people looking for affordable, high-tech hearing aids. hi HealthInnovations provides high-tech, custom programmed hearing aids for customers nationwide, along with robust customer support online, via phone, and through in-person locations and seminars. hi HealthInnovations is dedicated to making hearing aids, and hearing health, more accessible and affordable for the millions of Americans with hearing loss. For more information about hi HealthInnovations, please follow visit the company’s website.

@will.shanley said:

The post above includes information that is blatantly false. hi HealthInnovations is in no way involved in a legal dispute regarding how it sells hearing devices. In addition, the company is a strong and growing business, and the website has been up and running since the organization’s inception. For more information about hi HealthInnovation’s high-tech, custom programmed digital hearing aids, please visit the company’s website.

HI Health Innovations has received legal notices from several organizations that they are in FDA violation and to stop dispensing hearing aids. The EPIC model was not perfect, but the consumer got to select the hearing aid they wanted and received quality face to face care. The HI Innovations model gives no care or service to the member. And the devices are cheap and CR@P