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Are Cochlear Implants covered by Insurance?
Yes, mostly. Cochlear implants are covered by Medicare and Medicaid in most states.
The majority of private and commercial insurance also cover most or all of the costs of fitting a cochlear implant.
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When a patient makes a decision to get a cochlear implant fitted, it is recommended that the fine print in the medical insurance policy be carefully reviewed.
Patients should shop for insurance policies which in consultation with the surgeon will pre approve the necessity of fitting a cochlear implant. Most surgeons have an insurance officers in their clinics who work with insurance companies to help ensure the patient of the best coverage.
A patient should consult insurance companies and have a watertight assurance of coverage before venturing to fit a cochlear implant. There are several legal precedents of insurance companies being forced by courts to pay for cochlear implants.
A celebrated decision in the state of Arizona made Medicaid pay for a cochlear implant when Medicaid equated a cochlear implant with a hearing aid and precluded coverage.
The 'Let Them Hear Foundation,' offers advocacy aid to deserving patients who are refused insurance coverage for cochlear implants. The cost of cochlear implants range from $30,000 to $65,000.
In addition the patient will require post operative rehabilitation and acclimatization treatments and hardware therapy which may be extend over three months.
Many insurance companies have reimbursement specialists who can advice the patient on the coverage required.
The patient should work with the insurance company and be aware of FDA approved cochlear implant procedures and hardware to obtain the best insurance coverage deal.
Patients with significant hearing loss and inner ear malfunction can now rest assured that the expensive procedure of cochlear implants can be made cost effective by an efficient insurance coverage.
Learn More: Bone Conduction Implants
