The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently finalized a rule that will permit people with Medicare, and others, to purchase hearing aids online or in stores, at lower costs, and without a prescription. The long-awaited rule, which will go into effect in October, may make hearing aids more affordable for as many as 30 million adults who believe they have mild to moderate hearing loss, even if they have not had a hearing exam.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized a rule that will permit people with Medicare, and others, to purchase hearing aids online or in stores, at lower costs, and without a prescription. The long-awaited rule, which will go into effect in October, may make hearing aids more affordable for as many as 30 million adults who believe they have mild to moderate hearing loss, even if they have not had a hearing exam.
This rule is an important step to improve access to hearing aids. Currently, hearing aids are prescription-only devices that require exams and fittings by hearing health professionals, and the costs for these visits and devices can run well into the thousands of dollars. This price tag has put hearing aids out of reach for millions.
The new rule makes devices available over the counter (OTC) for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The new devices are expected to be considerably less expensive than traditional hearing aids, will not require professional fitting, and some are likely to offer controls or other integration with smartphones.
Click here to read the rule.
As always if you have any questions or concerns please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance or Medicare supplement specialists at (215)355-2121