One of the most interesting aspects of my job as an Audiologist is working out what patients are entitled to with respect to available funding whether it is public or private and working towards securing this funding for them.
In Australia, we have probably the best and most enviable publicly funded hearing services program in the world. The Australian Government’s Hearing Services Program issues funding for around 500,000 hearing aids to pensioners or veterans every year and the number is only growing. Of course with any tax payer funded scheme, there needs to be checks and balances to ensure funding only goes to those who meet specific criteria and when there is a (clinical) need. The Hearing Services Program in Australia provides eligible participants with access to FREE or subsidised hearing aids every 5 years. The program does however have built in flexibility to ensure patients can get new hearing aids sooner (as in before 5 years) when their circumstances significantly change or when there is a clinical need. This article will explore the various reasons someone may be able to get new FREE hearing aids sooner than 5 years. We will also look at a few specific examples from my own patients. Who can get a FREE hearing aid in Australia?
Free or subsidised hearing aids in Australia are available to people who can access the Office of Hearing Services Program or the Office of Hearing Services Community Services Obligation Program (see below). To access the first program you need to belong to one of the following categories below:
This program doesn’t just provide funding towards hearing aids but also pays for the associated Audiological consulting time, hearing aid maintenance costs and in some circumstances, assistive listening devices. To qualify for a hearing aid under this scheme, the hearing loss in the specific ear must meet the following criteria:
If this criteria is not met, the program still provides the options of a hearing aid if:
In all cases, the patient must have good motivation to get a hearing aid. These scheme provides the patient around $500 in funding per hearing aid which is enough to fully fund a basic hearing aid. This device will generally suit most patients although patients are free to choose higher level technology where a gap payment is required. When Can I get a New Hearing Aid Sooner than 5 Years?
Not everyone is entitled to new hearing aids before the 5 year mark but if you are, your audiologist should be adept at building a case for you. Your Audiologist needs to make sure the case for new hearing aids is strong enough otherwise they may need to repay back any funding you receive from the Office of Hearing Services. For most of my patients who require new hearing aids within 5 years there is usually an obvious refit reason we could apply to their situations. Other times, however, it is not as clear cut and sometimes we need to build a case over several months. Ultimately, the Office of Hearing Services would like to see the following 3 pieces of information detailed by your Audiologist to substantiate a hearing aid refit:
1. What has changed in the patient’s life, hearing, communication needs or physical condition since their current hearing aids were last fitted? 2. Why are the current hearing aids no longer appropriate and what has been done or tried with them to improve their ability to meet the patient’s needs? 3. Why will new hearing aids be more appropriate than the current hearing aids at meeting their needs? The refit reasons provided by the office (listed below) are intended to be interpreted liberally as they would like patients with genuine need to be able to access new hearing aid funding when the need arises. They do however, like the case for new hearing aids to be made with clear clinical reasoning and defensible clinical judgement used. Office of Hearing Services (OHS) Refit Eligibility Criteria
Below is the OHS refit criteria (pdf version here) that guides Audiologists who provide services to eligible participants under the Australian Government’s Hearing Services Program. It is what I use when trying to build a strong case for my patients.
Refit Criteria 1
The current hearing aid(s) are unsuitable because they can no longer be optimised by adjustments or any other modifications to meet current gain requirements.
When to use this criteria? Although this refit reason is generally for those cases where a patient's hearing has dropped and the hearing aid is no longer powerful enough, this criteria can be used when it is clear that the current hearing aids are no longer clinically appropriate for the patient's current needs and lifestyle. This is demonstrated in the examples below. Refit Criteria 2
The current hearing aid(s) are unsuitable because the client can no longer use their aid(s) due to a significant deterioration in health, dexterity or cognitive ability since last fitting.
When to use this criteria? This refit reason can be used when it is clear that due to a deterioration in health (including vision decline), dexterity or cognition (including memory decline), the current hearing aids are no longer appropriate. Hearing aids that can assist more in noise maybe more appropriate when someone has both hearing and vision impairment. Rechargeable hearing aids or a complete change in style may also be more appropriate to assist patients with management who have had a deterioration to their health. Often when a loved one moves to a nursing home environment, the transition can be made all the more difficult because hearing in more noise is more challenging. Communication in a quiet home is very different and hence new hearing aids maybe more appropriate. Refit Criteria 3
A change in physical condition of the ear or ear health has occurred since last fitting and the client requires a different style of hearing device(s) to accommodate this change.
When to use this criteria? If you have had surgery to your pinna due to a carcinoma removal, then some patients with behind-the-ear hearing aids may need to transition to custom hearing aids that fit entirely in the ear. This is because it may be uncomfortable to have the top part of the hearing aid rest on top portion of the ear. Conversely, if you have had surgery to your ear canal or have experienced narrowing of the ear canal, behind-the-ear hearing aids may be more appropriate than custom devices. Essentially this refit reason can be used when something physically has changed in the patient's ear that makes their current device no longer suitable. Refit Criteria 4
The current hearing aid(s) are unsuitable because the client requires a telecoil, and current hearing aid(s) do not have a telecoil and cannot be retrofitted.
Please Note: This situation does NOT allow for refitting with an FM system or streamer or equivalent. When to use this criteria? This criteria doesn't get used that much anymore because since July 2012, patients have needed to opt-out of having a telecoil and this needs to have been documented on the patient's file. In other words, if your Audiologist has recommended a hearing aid but it doesn't have a telecoil, you need to be told this and agree that this is okay by you. If you would like more information about telecoils and why they may be useful to have in a hearing aid, visit our post here. Refit Criteria 5
Client currently fitted with an Alternative Listening Device (ALD) and now requires hearing aid(s).
When to use this criteria? This criteria is used when a patient was originally fitted with an ALD (e.g a device for the TV) but has since had a change to their circumstances whereby a hearing aid would now be more appropriate. Refit Criteria 6
Client’s previous initial fit or refit occurred more than five (5) years ago.
When to use this criteria? Okay you got me. This refit reason doesn't allow for a new hearing aid before 5 years or does it? An important thing to note is that if you have been given a replacement hearing aid due to lost who damage beyond repair hearing aids but have not had a new hearing rehabilitation program for 5 years, then technically you would be entitled to new hearing aids. This is true even if you obtained a replacement hearing aid/s 4 years and 364 days since you were last fitted with new hearing aids. As far as the Office of Hearing Services is concerned, they look at when the last hearing rehabilitation program was provided, not the last time a hearing aid was "fitted". Although this is technically true, I (as well as most Audiologists) would never frivolously use tax payer money unless there was a clear reason to refit the patient with new or different hearing aids. What is a hearing rehabilitation program?
The Office of Hearing Services program funds the services and devices associated with a new hearing rehabilitation program once every 5 years unless there is a clinical need for a new program sooner as allowed for in the above eligibility refit criteria. A hearing rehabilitation program doesn’t just include the fitting of hearing aids but is more encompassing of helping a client reach their hearing potential and communication needs. This may include counselling, providing information about how to improve communication and hearing in various environments, how to manage new hearing aids, discussion about other technology that may help plus more.
This demonstrates the full value of an Audiologist to a patient with hearing loss. Hearing or aural rehabilitation is more than just a device. You can never reach your hearing potential with just a device. With the right guidance and support from an Audiologist, your hearing difficulties can be significantly reduced. OHS Refit Criteria Applied to Real Scenarios
Maurice – Using Refit Criteria 1
Maurice was a patient of mine who was previously fitted with Siemen’s Motion 100 P behind-the-ear hearing aids in August 2011. The date that I was considering refitting him was 20th of March 2015 so well within the 5 year automatic refit period. The right hearing aid was in bad working order and in fact was damaged beyond repair. Unfortunately, in March 2015 the manufacturer was no longer stocking the Motion 100 P hearing aid so a simple replacement was not an option. If we replaced the right side, the closest option would be the Siemens Orion P behind the ear hearing aid. This would create a mismatch for this patient which for some can lead to poorer audiological outcomes. Different hearing aids have different internal digital signal processing units especially if they are 4 years apart in technology. Such a difference can impact sound quality and performance in noise. For Maurice, I decided that it was important to show that his speech perception ability improved when he was receiving the same information synchronously in each ear. To do this, I measured his speech perception abilities for each ear separately (with appropriate amplification) and then did the same for both ears combined. He clearly performed better with 2 ears and as such, I used this to substantiate refitting Maurice with 2 new hearing aids that were identical for both ears. What also was important to highlight is that Maurice had begun avoiding social gatherings due to his hearing – something he wanted help with. His new hearing rehabilitation program was going to focus on communication strategies to get the most out of his hearing and hearing aids in this social settings as well as focus on device management due to the change or upgrade in technology. Summary 1. One hearing aid had been deemed to damaged to repair and Maurice had started avoiding social gatherings which he wanted help with. 2. Nothing could be done with Maurice’s damaged hearing aid and a replacement one would create a mismatch in technology with his working hearing aid making it more challenging from a hearing and management perspective. 3. Refitting both ears would remove the mismatch issue and with better technology as well as a focus on helpful communication strategies, Maurice’s new communication goal/s could be improved upon. I have found that refit reason one has provided Audiologists with a bit more flexibility than in the past. It isn’t as rigid and allows Audiologists an ability to build a strong case for patients when clinically required.
Tasman – Using Refit Criteria 1
Tasman was a patient previously fitted with Siemen’s Motion 100 P behind-the-ear hearing aids in May 2013. The date that I was considering refitting him was 21st of April 2015 which was only 2 years after the last hearing aid fitting. Unfortunately this patient had lost his wife so his living situation had changed significantly in this 2 years. In the past he was living a rather quiet lifestyle with his wife but now his family had started taking him out more to restaurants. He was really struggling to hear in this nosier environment especially with basic fully subsidised hearing aids. I tried adjusting his current hearing aids several times over a few months which didn’t help much as these hearing aids were more geared towards more quiet listening environments. He even tried remote microphone technology with his current hearing aids but he did not manage all the devices too well. The new hearing aids that were proposed had features that were designed to help Tasman have a better chance of meeting his communication goals - which had now included hearing well in a restaurant environment. Features like narrow directionality, directional speech enhancement, automatic adaptive directional microphone, 48 compression channels, and extended bandwidth could all help. A new rehabilitation program was going to focus on hearing aid management (Tasman was getting a charger and remote control with his hearing aids and they were a different style to what he was coming from) and communication strategies to get the most out of these new hearing aids. A portion of the new rehabilitation program was going to focus on realistic expectations as Tasman needed help understanding that there were limitations to even better hearing aids but also to how well he physically was able to process amplified sounds now which had declined over the years. Summary 1. Tasman’s lifestyle and situation had changed in the last 2 years such that his current hearing aids were no longer appropriate. 2. Adjustments over the course of several appointments couldn’t improve his communication or hearing enough. Communication strategies were also discussed at length with family members present. 3. New hearing aids with better technology for hearing in noise coupled with practical communication strategies, device management and realistic expectations was going form the basis of a new rehabilitation program for Tasman. Often you will find that a patient’s needs are not being met with their most recent hearing aid choice. Often there are a lot of things we as Audiologists can do with these hearing aids and the patient to improve their performance. Sometimes just a slight tweak to the hearing aids settings, adding a separate hearing program, changing the coupling to the ear, counselling about proper hearing aid use and/or adding other devices like a streamer or remote microphone can make a huge difference. Refitting with new hearing aids should always be a last resort unless it is clear and obvious that this needs to happen for improved outcomes for the patient.
Ronald – Using Refit Criteria 2
This patient was previously fitted with a Siemen’s Motion 100 MX behind-the-ear hearing aid on the right in September 2013 and a Siemens Orion M behind-the-ear hearing aid on the left in July 2014. The date that I was considering refitting him was 23rd of April 2015 which was not that long after these 2 fittings. This patient was having significant management issues with insertion and changing hearing aid programs. When I saw this patient 6 months earlier, his problems were not as severe, but his dexterity had really declined since then and I felt he would be able to manage custom hearing aids more easily. Custom hearing aids fit entirely in the ear so can be easier to manoeuvre. This patient has 4 fingers on his right hand and 3 on his left. His GP wanted to get another finger removed but Ronald wanted surgery instead. All in all, a very difficult situation. Nothing was able to be done with his behind-the-ear hearing aids to make insertion easier for this patient. The fact that he needed to manoeuvre both the top part of the hearing aid behind his ear and a mould into his ear canal was making it too difficult. The proposed custom hearing aids were chosen to make it easier for Ronald to insert as well as physically control his hearing aid programs with the provided e2e technology. E2E technology enables the synchronicity between hearing aids worn on each ear so that if you adjust the volume or program on one, it automatically adjusts it for the other. This was not possible with his current setup as they were 2 different hearing aids from different technology so they could not communicate with each other. Most hearing aid manufacturers have this basic feature. Summary 1. Ronald’s dexterity and decline in ability to manage behind-the-ear hearing aids (insertion and program changes) coupled with having a mismatch in hearing aid technology for each ear required urgent review. 2. Nothing could really be done to make hearing aid management easier for him with behind-the-ear hearing aids. 3. New custom hearing aids with synchronised technology were recommended to help improve management. A new rehabilitation program would focus on device management (different style of hearing aids). This case demonstrates that even if someone received hearing aids 12 months ago, they can be refitted with new FREE or subsidised hearing aids now if their situation has significantly changed and they would be best served by new hearing aid technology. What if I’m on the Community Services Obligation Program?
The Community Services Obligation program is also administered by the Office of Hearing Services through Australian Hearing and provides for more specialised audiological care for the following patients:
If you are on this program, you can usually access new hearing aids every 3-4 years depending on your communication needs. The hearing aid usually from higher level technology that would normally be a substantial cost but are fully covered those on this program. This program also covers the cost of more regular audiology consultations and rehabilitation care. How do I access the Hearing Services Program?
If you would like to start benefiting from this program and improve your ability to hear or follow conversations and just get on with life, then it is easy to apply. You can either apply yourself or you can consent to an Audiologist or Audiology Clinic to do so on your behalf.
Applying Yourself for the Program
If you are wanting to apply for the program yourself, you will need to go to the Office of Hearing Services website. Make sure you have your pension number or eligible card number available.
The first thing you will have to do is check your eligibility here. You will arrive at page that should look like below. 
Select your eligibility type for the drop-down list provided. Most people will have a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card but just select which one applies to you. Next you will need to enter your eligibility number which includes a letter at the end. Write it exactly how it is on your card. You then just need to enter you given name as shown on the card as well as your surname. Lastly enter you date of birth and gender.
One you have entered the information required, press the ‘Check eligibility’ button at the bottom of the page (looks like the image below). 
It usually only takes a few seconds before the system lets you know about your eligibility. If it comes back saying you are not eligible, but you feel that you should be, please contact Centrelink (on 13 24 68) and/or the Office of Hearing Services (on 1800 500 726) to see whether something needs to be updated from their end.
If you are eligible, you will come to a page which requires extra information from you including your address and contact number. Once submitted, you will come to a page which allows you to download and print out a GP medical form which can also be download here. Your doctor needs to fill this form out before you can start receiving services or devices under the Hearing Services Program. You will need to bring this completed form with you to your first appointment with an Audiologist from an Accredited Hearing Services Provider. You can only receive funding for services and services provided by an Accredited Hearing Services Provider of which Pristine Hearing is one. The program allows patients the flexibility to choose who ever they want to go to in order to receive subsidised services from. If you live in Perth of course we would love you to come to us at Pristine Hearing because we believe our patient care is second to none. We also offer nursing home and home visits. However, if you cannot come to us, here is a list of providers that you are free to choose from. Applying for the Program through an Accredited Hearing Services Provider
If applying for the program by yourself looks too much trouble, then never fear, your chosen Audiologist or Hearing Services Provider can do so for you on your behalf. All you need to do is give them a call, provide them with the information they require and bob’s your uncle, they can apply for you. You will still need to bring a completed GP form (downloadable from here) along with you for your first appointment.
If you are child of someone who wants or needs to access this program, as long as you have a Power of Attorney, you are able to apply on their behalf. Final Words
I hope you have been able to find and discover the information you needed. If you have any further questions or need advice about how to access the Hearing Services Program or how we may go about getting you new hearing aids sooner than 5 years, please fill out the form below or give us a call or 1300 774 284 today.
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As an Audiologist, my patients often don’t realise the funding options available to them when it comes to buying a hearing aid. This article will explore the various funding options available (both public and private) in Australia as of 2019 as well as 10 practical ways to save money on hearing aids.
If you are a child aged 0 to 25 years of age or are an aged pensioner, the Australian Government provides funding towards hearing aids when there is a clinical need through their Hearing Services Program. This funding is also available to people belonging to other categories as you will see below. Children will generally have access to additional funding for more advanced hearing aids as well as aged pensioner with additional or more complex needs. This additional funding also comes from the Australian Government as part of its Community Service Obligations (CSO). The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) used to help with the funding of hearing aids in very specific situations. As of about 2012, DVA abolished this funding but still provides access to assistive listening devices that are on their approved list of devices (RAPTOR). These devices complement hearing aids and are available to DVA Gold or DVA White (hearing specific) card holders. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will help with hearing aid funding if it is deemed clinically necessary and appropriate in relation to an individual’s NDIS plan. Compensation due to industrial deafness through State run WorkCover can provide funding for hearing aids among other things. Medicare does not fund hearing aids in Australia. As well as these public funding options, there are a number of privately funded solutions available too. Keep reading this post as we explore each avenue in more detail. 
Different Public Funding Option
The first way to be able to access public funding in Australia towards hearing aids is to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. Once you have ticked this off, there are a few more hoops to get through before tax payer funding can be accessed.
1. Australian Government’s Hearing Services Voucher Program
The Australian Government’s Hearing Services Program which is administered by the Office of Hearing Services resides within the Department of Health. By far the largest proportion of hearing aids fitted in Australia each year comes from hearing aids funded through this program. In the 2017-18 financial year, it provided funding towards a whopping 404,912 hearing aids. 733,400 pensioners and other eligible clients benefited from this program in 2017-18 and the numbers continue grow. This is partly due to Australia’s ageing population but also because more and more people are learning about the importance and benefits of treating a hearing loss sooner rather than later.
See also: Benefits of treating a hearing loss. To access this program you need to belong to one of the following categories below:
This program doesn’t just provide funding towards hearing aids but also pays for the associated Audiological consulting time, hearing aid maintenance costs and in some circumstances, assistive listening devices. To qualify for a hearing aid under this scheme, the hearing loss in the specific ear must meet the following criteria:
If this criteria is not met, the program still provides the options of a hearing aid if:
In all cases, the patient must have good motivation to get a hearing aid. These schemes provides the patient around $500 in funding per hearing aid which is enough to fully fund a basic hearing aid. This device will generally suit most patients but if it not suitable then you can use the funding towards better technology and just pay the gap payment. You can also use your private health insurance (see below) to help defray the cost of this gap payment. If you would like to access this program through Pristine Hearing, just follow the 3 simple steps found here. 2. Community Services Obligation (CSO)
The Office of Hearing Services provides additional funding for patients who have complex needs. This extra funding goes towards better hearing aids, fully subsidised remote microphone technology and more specialised audiological care. At this stage, a patient can only access this additional funding at Australian Hearing although this may change in the not too distant future. To qualify for this additional funding, you must meet the following criteria:
3. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
As mentioned above, DVA no longer provides funding towards hearing aids. However, DVA Gold and DVA White (hearing specific) card holders can access the Australian Government’s Hearing Services Program. This cohort of patients also has access to additional funding to help fund the full costs of various assistive listening devices such as the following:
Most devices need prior approval by DVA before they can be provided by your Audiologist. Your Audiologist must demonstrate to DVA that there is a clinical need for any device they approve. There are exceptions to this rule for DVA Gold Card holders only who do not require prior approval for say TV ALDs, smoke alarms (must have a severe hearing loss in the better ear) and doorbells. There are restrictions on how often these devices can be replaced under the scheme. Unfortunately, telephones specifically designed for the hearing impaired are not included. 4. National Disability Insurance Scheme
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (aka NDIS) is a national funding scheme for individuals with a disability that impacts their ability to participate in everyday activities including work. A person can become a participant of the NDIS if they have not yet reached the age of 65. This scheme has progressively rolled out all across Australia since 2013 and should have reached most places by July 2019.
Once you become an NDIS participant, most people are amazed by the flexibility of the funding that is provided. Each participant must have a plan created with a NDIS planner that specifies what supports and help a person requires to reduce the impact of their disability. Now as long as the service or device is deemed necessary and appropriate for this person in relation to their NDIS plan, then NDIS will technically fund it. In the context of hearing impairment, NDIS could help fund hearing aids, accessories, assistive device & appointments. So how does one apply to become a participant for the NDIS I hear you ask? If hearing loss is your only disability, you can access NDIS funding through one of three criteria:
To apply, you must fill out an Access Request Form which you can get from your local NDIA office or by calling 1800 800 110. You will need to provide age and residency evidence. If in doubt or you need clarification, call NDIS on 1800 800 110. Medicare (Not a Funding Option for Hearing Aids)
Medicare in Australia does not fund hearing aids but will contribute to the cost of hearing assessments performed by an Audiologist when requested by an ENT, neurologist, paediatrician and GP under specific situations which may include:
5. WorkCover
If you have sustained a hearing loss due to noise exposure at work, you may be entitled to compensation as a lump sum, weekly payment or to pay for the cost of hearing aids. Each State regulates work injury compensation claims including those associated with a hearing loss through their WorkCover body.
Since the early 1990’s, it has become compulsory for employers to arrange baseline hearing tests for all workers working in a ‘prescribed place’. A prescribed place is any work area that exposes a worker to the equivalent of 90dB(A) of noise over an 8 hour period. For every 3dB increase the equivalent noise exposure period is halved. An example could be a worker who works in 96dB(A) of noise for a period of 2 hours as we need to half 8 hours twice. Employers who don’t comply could be fined up to $2000 but can vary depending on the jurisdiction. To help with the accuracy of any claims brought forward, WorkCover requires that only accredited and approved hearing testers, of which Pristine Hearing is one, are allowed to conduct the hearing tests. If you feel that your hearing problems are work related and you work in a prescribed place, I would organise a hearing test. Each state has it’s own procedures so please call your own State’s WorkCover outfit for more details. Different Private Funding Options
Now that we have looked at and exhausted all the publicly funded avenues available in Australia to fund hearing aids, lets look at the private options.
6. Private Health Insurance
Some (not all) health funds provide funding towards hearing aids (up to $1000 per device), hearing assessments and hearing aid repairs. If you have a hearing loss and are likely going to need hearing aids, it would be worth shopping around for the best health insurance that provides the most for your audiology needs.
The Independent Audiologists Australia (an organisation Pristine Hearing belongs to) does research every year and summarises the funding each health fund provides for hearing aids and hearing services. The latest version is available here. Use this as a guide only as the federal Government legislated for all health funds to simplify their products and as such, different levels and what they provide will have changed. Things to consider when looking at health funds for audiology benefits
7. Insurance for Lost, Damaged or Stolen Hearing Aids
Millions of hearing aids every year get stolen, lost or damaged. They are expensive devices that should carry some level of insurance for the wearers piece of mind. At the end of the day they are quite small devices and can be easily misplaced, driven over or flushed down the toilet. Unfortunately, this is an ever so frequent story I hear from my patients.
Luckily most of them had placed their hearing aids on their home & contents insurance so were able to replace their lost or damaged hearing aid fully funded by their insurance company. However, it is important to look at the fine print. Not all insurance companies cover hearing aids that are lost, damaged or stolen outside of the home. A lot of hearing aids are lost when a patient needs to go in hospital. They are often just brushed aside and forgotten about. A dedicated hearing aid insurance company has entered the market call HearInsur. They cover hearing aids regardless of where the loss or damage occur. For more information about HearInsur and why they could be a good and cheap option for your piece of mind, see their website here. See also: Should I have my hearing aids insured? 8. Interest Free Payment Options
In the era of ‘buy now, pay later’ payment options, the hearing aid industry is only just catching up. Most audiology clinics will provide some form or interest free payment option to make it easier for a patient to purchase hearing aids without having to fork out a lump sum of money. Pristine Hearing uses Zipmoney with a 6 month interest free term which our patients find is enough time to spread out their payments into more manageable bite sized pieces.
9. Superannuation
Those who have difficulty paying for hearing aids may be able to access money from their superannuation early. This is dependent on your super fund so best to talk to them before going down this pathway. You will usually require a recent hearing test from an audiologist (nothing older than 6 months) as well as a quote for the recommended hearing aids. For more information about this, please visit here.
10. Personal Loan
Another option to finance hearing aids is to get a personal loan. A personal loan will incur interest although the cost of hearing aid can be spread over years instead of upfront. Definitely shop around and seek financial advice before going down this pathway.
11. Interest Free or Low Interest Credit Cards
Although we would recommend thinking carefully before acquiring a credit card facility, it is possible to obtain new credit cards with an interest free (or low interest period). This may be a better solution than a personal loan if you are able to pay off the credit card during this period. Please seek financial advice or do your own research if choosing this option.
12. Tax Rebates
Although not a funding option per se, some individuals may be able to use the net cost of hearing aids as a deductible purchase. Eligibility criteria applies and this may change from year to year. We recommend speaking with an Accountant for advice as to what is claimable and who is eligible.
13. Hearing Aid Banks
If private funding is not possible, you may qualify for FREE or heavily subsidised new or preloved hearing aids from a hearing aid bank. Most states in Australia have a hearing aid bank that provides hearing services and devices at little or no cost for individuals in financial issues. They usually have specific criteria that needs to be met in order to qualify. For more information about hearing aid banks and to find out if there is one near you, visit our blog post discussing this very topic here.
Ways to save on hearing aids
From my dealings with thousands of patients over the years, I would like to share 9 tips or ways to ensure your experience with an Audiologist is the very best it could be so that you can save money on your hearing aids.
1. Do not go to an Audiologist who belongs to a chain of Audiology Clinics as more than likely they are owned by a hearing aid manufacturer. This means you only have access to one brand of hearing aid and this may not necessarily be the best for you. Audiologists in this kind of clinic usually work with sales commissions so are lured to recommend you more expensive hearing aids than you may actually need. Read here for more information about how hearing aid sales commissions can unnecessarily inflate the cost of hearing aids. 2. Go and see an audiologist who works for an independent audiology clinic that is a member of Independent Audiologists Australia. They have a list of clinics that don't offer their staff sales commission for hearing aid sales and must abide by ethical and professional standards. Pristine Hearing is an Independent Audiology Clinic but you can find more here. 3. Trial the recommended hearing aids before committing to them. Have your Audiologist assess your performance with the recommended hearing aids in say noise and compare this to your performance with more basic hearing aids in the same environment. You may be surprised by the results. Most clinics will let you trial the hearing in the appointment, at home for the day or some may even allow a week trial. We do all. 4. Get your Audiologist to provide the rationale behind a hearing aid recommendation – you need to know why say a less expensive hearing aid was not recommended and why. What specific features are being promoted and why. If your Audiologist cannot explain to you why they have recommended certain hearing aids to a level that you are satisfied with, go elsewhere. If your Audiologist explains how one hearing aid will help you perform better in noise but hasn’t actually tested, you in noise – go elsewhere. 5. Some Audiology Clinics offer discounts when you trade in your existing pair of hearing aids. Pristine Hearing provide up to $500 per hearing aid for patients wanting to upgrade. We use these preloved hearing aids in our Hearing Aid Bank. 6. Some Audiology Clinics offer to price match or even beat competitor prices by up to 5%. Be careful with this as there may be other associated costs for the actual appointments to set the hearing aids up and to make sure they are meeting your needs. Factor all this in when considering where to go. Pristine Hearing is happy to beat competitors’ prices when they are located in the same state as us. 7. Some clinics will either provide an bundled vs unbundled pricing strategy. With a bundled price, the hearing aids and service required to set them up as well as additional appointments are all included in the price. In an unbundled pricing strategy, the price of the hearing aid is isolated from the cost associated with the service or clinical time. Unbundled pricing is better as you can see the actual cost of the hearing aid and only pay for the appointments you need. With bundling, you will often have to pay for appointments you don’t need. For more information about unbundled pricing, visit here. 8. It would be good to get a quote for recommended hearing aids from up to 3 clinics to get a feel for what they are worth or being sold elsewhere. Make sure to ask whether this is the bundled price or the unbundled price. Although price in important, you need to remember that without the guidance of a University Trained Audiologist, you will never meet you hearing potential. You need to feel comfortable with the Audiologist and have a good rapport. 9. You also need to factor in the full service that the clinic will provide you. Will you be able to get batteries, hearing aid repairs and other consumables when you need them? How long do you need to wait for an appointment? Do you need to physically come to the clinic or can they come to you? Pristine Hearing offers quick appointments to address patients’ concerns and are also able to come to your home or nursing home. We even offer late or after work appointments and Sunday appointments. 10. Ultimately even though you are the patient, you shouldn’t just accept what the Audiologist says. Yes, they are the expert in terms of measuring your hearing and matching you up with what they think is the best hearing aid/s for you. But you are the expert in what difficulties you are having, what goals or priorities you have, what you are comfortable with and what you can afford. Audiologists who include you in the decision making process are to be trusted and commended. Final Word
If you have any specific questions about this post or anything else, feel free to ask. Just fill out the form below or call 08 6336 7170 today.
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Although we live in the lucky country of Australia which usually helps with the funding of most health-related procedures or devices, not everyone in need qualifies for such funding.
From my experience as an Audiologist, if you have a job with a reasonable income, don’t have any other disabilities, and are between 26 and 65 years of age, you will unlikely qualify for the public funding available to some for hearing aids. Instead you will have to fund them privately with potential support from a health fund if you have the appropriate level of cover. If, however, you are a low income worker (if you own a low income health card this is you) or you are in the process of securing a job but still don’t have a disability and are between 26 and 65 years of age, you may qualify for FREE hearing aids through a Hearing Aid Bank initiative.
Related: Top 10 ways to fund a hearing aid in Australia
What is a Hearing Aid Bank?
A Hearing Aid Bank is essentially a scheme designed to provide reconditioned hearing aids to people who have a hearing loss but are not in the financial position to afford them. People who qualify for this scheme are usually low-income workers who require a hearing aid to communicate well at work. This segment of the community often loses out on public funding but this shouldn’t be the case.
We know that the employment rate for hearing impaired individuals aged between 45 and 65 is lower than for the same group in the general population. It is 20.5% lower for men and 16.5% lower for women. We also know that nearly half of Australian with a hearing loss are of working age (16-64). So Hearing Aid Banks have a huge gap in the market to fill which over time should hopefully be met with public funding from the federal or state governments. Different groups are trying to lobby for this change but until then, Hearing Aid Banks are your best bet. Hearing Aid Banks Around Australia
Now that we can see the importance of a hearing aid bank, let’s highlight the different hearing aid banks around Australia.
National
Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA) runs a national hearing aid bank initiative through its member Audiology Clinics. If your state doesn’t have a designated hearing aid bank, the HCIA hearing aid bank could help. To be eligible for this bank you must meet the following criteria:
If successful, HCIA will provide $1050 for one hearing aid or $1500 for two. For the majority of people, this should be enough to cover the more basic hearing aids. Where more sophisticated hearing aids are recommended, the member audiology clinic is encouraged to provide them at minimal or no additional cost.
How to apply? An application form can be downloaded from their website here. Once complete, the form can be emailed to ulrike@hcia.com.au For more information call 02 6685 3829 or visit their website here. New South Wales
Hearing Matter Australia and Macquarie University established a hearing aid bank to help low income people access hearing devices. To qualify a person must fulfil the following steps:
1. Hold a government health care card OR be a low-income earner (statement from employer required). 2. Provide a copy of a recent audiogram or hearing test (less than 6 months old). 3. Have a GP referral letter. There hearing aid bank does not provide the hearing aid for free although it is significantly reduced at $300 for one hearing aid. This includes the assessment appointment, fitting appointment and any earmold. Usually only one hearing aid is offered. If a second one is needed, this is $100. Audiology services is conducted by the Speech and Hearing Clinic inside the Australian Hearing Hub at Macquarie University. How to apply? Applications can be sent to: HMA Head office Australian Hearing Hub Macquarie University NSW 2109 For more information call 02 9878 6089 or visit their website here. Victoria
Better Hearing Australia runs a hearing aid bank in Victoria. They don’t mention a specific application process on their website although it appears their services are for the following people:
Want more information? For more information call (03) 9510 1577 or visit their website here. Queensland
Better Hearing Australia also runs a hearing aid bank in Brisbane but can be accessed through Clarity Hearing Audiology Clinics through the state of Queensland. They provide quite a comprehensive service for people in need including:
Eligibility for this program has been set quite broadly so as many people in need are given the help they require. The only requirements is that the person has a demonstrated clinical need for a hearing aid and holds a Health Care Card Want more information? For more information call (07) 3844 5065 or visit their website here. Tasmania
It doesn’t appear that Tasmania has a hearing aid bank although when I was working in Tasmania from 2014-17, the Tasmanian Deaf Society ran one. There is no mention of it on their website, but it might be worth giving them a call on (03) 6228 1955
South Australia
There doesn’t appear to be any hearing aid bank in South Australia. If you are from South Australia or know otherwise, please correct me if I am wrong.
Western Australia
Here at Pristine Hearing, we are the only Independent Audiology Clinic in Western Australia that runs its own hearing aid bank. Our goal is to help as many people in Perth (and more broadly Western Australia) as possible with the gift of hearing and don’t want affordability issues to compromise this. To be eligible for our service, you must meet the following criteria:
For more information about eligibility and what services are provided to successful applicants, please visit here. Lions Hearing Clinic runs a hearing aid bank for those people in need around the world in developing countries. Their website doesn’t mention whether the hearing aids donated to them are also for local use by people living in Perth Western Australia. Northern Territory
The Northern Territory branch of Audiology Australia together with hearing aid manufacturer Unitron and a few audiology clinics have made Northern Territory’s only hearing aid bank. Unitron donated $30,000 worth of digital hearing aids for underprivileged people living with a hearing loss in the Northern territory. It caters for people unable to finance hearing services and do not qualify for Government assistance.
To find out more about the Northern Territory's Hearing Aid Bank and whether you may be eligible, call (08) 8981 0013 (Darwin) or 08 8952 3110 (Alice Springs). ACT
Canberra Audiology runs a hearing aid bank for people in financial hardship. To be eligible for a hearing aid through their program, the individual must have a significant hearing loss in both ears and provide proof of financial hardship.
For more information please contact them on (02) 6156 4474 How to donate to a hearing aid bank?
No hearing aid bank can survive without the generosity of those who give. Recycling old hearing aids is such an amazing thing you can do because it is good for the environment and helps those who do not have the financial means to be able hear and communicate more effectively with the world around them. Donating to a hearing aid bank is simple. Just call them and ask how they prefer to receive your donated hearing aids. There are usually locations around the state that you can take the hearing aids to. Otherwise postage is always an options.
If you would like to donate your hearing aids to Pristine Hearing, you can either bring them into our Nollamara Clinic or we can come to you to pick them up. Otherwise you are welcome to post them to: Pristine Hearing Hearing Aid Bank 1/440 Flinders Street Nollamara WA 6060 Although hearing aid banks are happy to accept most hearing aids that are donated, there is usually a disclaimer. Hearing aids that are more than 5 years old should not be donated as they are often obsolete and it is difficult to get replacement parts or servicing of these devices by the respective manufacturer. Pristine Hearing will accept hearing aids up to 5 years of age but our preference is for devices that are no more than 3 years old. If in doubt, send them our way anyway as we appreciate any device that is donated because we undoubtedly will have some use for them. Similarly, most hearing aid banks including our one at Pristine Hearing will not accept custom hearing aids. Custom hearing aids are devices that have been specifically constructed from the impression of an ear. Therefore, they will only satisfactorily fit the ear they were designed for and therefore not be helpful for someone else accessing help through a hearing aid bank. If a loved one has passed away and has left behind hearing aids, a great way to honour their memory is to donate their hearing aids to a hearing aid bank. Hearing aids that are donated will be reconditioned and provided to someone to help them hear and communicate more easily. What a great way to honour your loved one’s memory. Pristine Hearing also provides another avenue for people to give hearing aids for our hearing aid bank. We offer a trade in discount for patients who are in the process of getting new hearing aids but would like some financial assistance. We will usually provide up to $500 per hearing aid when they are traded in for newer technology. Your old hearing aids will never be resold but rather provided FREE of charge to a patient through our hearing aid bank initiative. What if I am not eligible? Is it okay Buy Second-hand Hearing Aids?
As mentioned above, not everyone will qualify and be able to access hearing aids through a hearing aid bank. If you don’t have hearing aids that you can trade in or cannot benefit from public funding, what options do you have available? We explore this in more detail in another post here. But we sometimes get asked about whether it is ok to purchase a second-hand or pre-loved hearing aid. Or even better, use a hearing aid that has been left behind by a loved one who has passed away?
In either case, it depends on a few factors. First of all, we already know that custom hearing aids should not be used if they were made for someone else’s ear. Hearing aids more than 5 years old should probably be avoided too. This leaves behind-the-ear and receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids. New and old hearing aids need to be specifically fine-tuned to your hearing loss so you would need the guidance of an Audiologist to ensure they are setup appropriately. Also, some hearing aids may be too powerful for your hearing loss so should be avoided as they could damage your hearing further. If you are in any doubt about the appropriateness of hearing aids that have been given to you or have acquired, consult with your Audiologist. In most instances Pristine Hearing recommends new hearing aid technology as the development and progress observed in hearing aids even in the last 2 years is mind-boggling. We are also happy to work with any device you have or have chosen to get the best outcome for you possible. If you would like more information about our Hearing Aid Bank, trading in your existing hearing aids or hearing aids in general, please call us on 08 6336 7170 or fill out the form below. You may also be interested in: |
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AuthorMichael is a very thorough and experienced Audiologist who takes pride in ensuring his patients are listened to, valued, respected and achieve the best results possible. He has worked as a Senior Audiologist seeing a broad case load from young infants right up to complex adults who require more specialised audiological care and management. Apart from Audiology, Michael has a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from The University of Melbourne. When you see Michael for a consultation, you will wonder why you never saw him sooner. |
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