My audiologist does not accept insurance from my health insurance company. It would only be $1000 toward a new pair of hearing aids but I would like to use it. He had been my audiologist for more than 12 years and I like him and he knows what he is doing. This is the first time that I have had insurance for hearing aids with my health insurer. He told me that If I went to another audiologist that did accept insurance that in the log run it would cost me more as he never charges me for any appointments for regular check ups or if I have an issue with my hearing aids. I have never in 12 years paid him extra for anything except for ear molds which I like much better than domes. Why would he not accept insurance? Is he right about this? Any opinions
Insurance
- Thread starter mjl
- Start date
pvc
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2023
- Messages
- 3,085
- Reaction score
- 753
The business model for your long-time Audiologist is that he/she makes a sizeable profit when selling you a new pair of premium hearing aids. The service is thrown-in for free. Most Audis provide their time/service for free in order to keep the customer happy and hopefully sell that customer a new pair of premium hearing aids when they are ready for a new pair.
The business model for insurance hearing aids is different. The available models for insurance are usually ReBranded hearing aids and are not premium models. Also the profit margins are slim, and the Insurance Audiologist will likely only provide the initial free fitting and no further service, (or similar reduced service).
Last edited:
pvc
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2023
- Messages
- 3,085
- Reaction score
- 753
The Costco business model is somewhat similar to insurance. However, Costco can use its large customer base as a bargaining chip to obtain better (almost premium hearing aid models) to sell. By (almost premium hearing aid models), I mean the hearing aids themselves are the same hardware as premium models, but the fitting software and the methods used to implement the features of that premium model are designed differently by separate Sister Companies. You can read a DIY School Hearing Aids (v2.2) PDF File named (01 Free Hearing Aid Fitting Software) for more information about Sister Companies.
Last edited: