Here are some policies from Finder partners that cover hearing aids. They all have either a 12 or 36 month waiting periods, and most let you claim once every 3 years. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.
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Many private health insurance funds will include hearing aids and audiology on their extras policies. You'll generally need to be on a mid- or top-tier extras policy in order to be covered.
A pair of hearing aids without insurance or subsidies will cost you between *$1,495 and $11,000. Here are a few prices from Australian audiologists:
A set of hearing aids that are well adjusted and looked after should last you between 3 and 6 years. If you only need a single hearing aid, it should cost you half the price of a pair.
*Most hearing aids priced at $1,495 per pair are the basic devices available free on the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, as this is the benefit offered on that program. These devices tend to be very basic, without modern features like adaptive noise reduction and adaptive directional microphones - you often get what you pay for. To get a pair of hearing aids with modern features, you should expect to pay at least $3,000 to $5,000 a pair.
Most models of hearing aids are available in either an behind-the-ear or in-the-ear configuration. For most people behind-the-ear is the best choice: they offer more natural sound as they don't block the ear canal, they allows for better placement of multiple microphones so you get better sound separation, and they generally look more slick and hi-tech.
If you have an extras policy that covers hearing aids, then you can claim part of the cost of your device back from your health fund. The size of your benefit will depending on your extras policiy.
Extras policies typically have a 12 or 36 month waiting period before you can claim on hearing aids, and a benefit is generally only available every 3 years.
Hearing aids benefits generally can't be claimed through HICAPS, so you'll need to pay the full cost of your hearing aids, then claim the benefit later.
Your health fund's benefit will normally apply to a pair of hearing devices, one for each ear. If you only need a single device, ask your fund if you'll get to the full benefit, or only half.
While Medicare doesn't cover the cost of hearing aids or audiology services like hearing tests, certain people can get their devices paid for under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (HSP). The HSP will cover the cost of a hearing test and a basic hearing aid every 5 years. To be eligible for the HSP, you'll need to be:
You can check your eligibility on the HSP website. It's not the greatest site in the world, so you can also contact any local audiologist and they should be able to walk you through your options.
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