There are days everyone wishes that they haven’t had to deal with the insurance. Then on other days we are so grateful for the insurance. 

In the middle of June, I happened to lose my right hearing aid at an event. When I was young, my hearing aids went flying. I had been fortunate enough that we were able to find them, not this time. My hearing aid was lost forever. Most insurance companies don’t pay for hearing aids. Last January Utah developed a SelectHealth Advantage plan for people who have Medicaid and Medicare. The new plan includes hearing aids. I got excited! Technology has advanced since I got mine 8 years ago. It was time to get better quality. 

Newer hearing aids have bluetooth. I wanted to be able to connect to my communication board so that I can listen to music and tv series/movies directly into my ears. I get tired of asking somebody to get my headphones and make sure that they are turned on and charged. About every twenty minutes, sometimes less, I had my family adjusting my headphones. It had been a pain. Bluetooth hearing aids will helps me be more independent. When we went in for my hearing test and looked at the new plan we were told they only pay for the lowest quality and won’t allow me to get bluetooth. Basically, they were hearing aids as old as the one I already have and wouldn’t help me in my hearing loss range. I was very disappointed.  However, the audiologist went the extra mile by researching and consulting with other hearing professionals and she was able to get the insurance to approve hearing aids that are only 2 years old with bluetooth. 

Last week I finally got my new hearing aids!! Now I can hear people who are wearing masks. Before I had a hard time understanding my caregivers, even with two hearing aids. And I’ve only had one the last few months. Often my parents come home and I would be rocking out the house. Now they don’t know when I am listening to music. I can also hear a lot more. Before, I couldn’t hear most of the words to songs and audiobooks. With these new hearing aids I am able to understand everything and everybody better. Words become much more meaningful. Hearing little noises and sounds have more impact on me. I could hear somebody coming up behind me or walking through the door. It makes me feel safer. It is a life changing technology. I am so grateful for the SelectHealth Advantage plan! Will it improve over the next few years? I strongly believe so. 

While dealing with insurance is a nightmare, remember in the end it will be so worth the effort.