As a volunteer Board Member and Officer of the Hearing Loss Association of
America – Rochester (HLAA-Rochester), I suspected that something was not
right. So I asked, are you hearing me O.K.? He replied, no, I am deaf in one
ear. Immediately, I asked, then why don’t you wear a hearing aid?
His response was a common one especially for Senior
Citizens. He said that he did not wear a hearing aid because he could not
afford one. The cost of hearing aids can range from approximate $4 to 8
thousand dollars. If you are a senior and live on a fixed income, like
Medicare, then, it is likely that you may not be able to afford to purchase
one.
Approximately 12%
of the U.S. population or 38 million Americans have a significant hearing loss.
Thirty to forty percent of people over 65 have some type of hearing loss. Hearing
aids can offer dramatic improvement for most people with hearing loss.
Medicare does not provide coverage for hearing test or
hearing aids, eye care, dental services, foot care and many other services.
Additional Services are available to seniors through Medicare Advantage Plans.
Each carrier offers different “additional” services. I was surprised to learn
that the gentleman was currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan;
however, it was one that did not offer hearing exams or hearing aids. Lifetime Financial Group
specializes in assisting seniors with understanding Medicare, Medicare
Advantage Plans, and understanding their needs prior to enrollment.
Persons, who are either disabled or Age 65 and qualify for
Medicare Part B, can enroll in an advantage plan. There are no pre-existing
conditions. You must be a US Citizen, live in the plan service area, and not
currently be receiving dialysis treatment.
Seniors can enroll and or switch plans during the Annual
Enrollment Period (AEP) during the Fall (October through December). There is a
Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for seniors who might have moved outside of the
plan service area, become disabled, or qualify for Medicaid status.
If the senior is
turning 65, and qualifies for Medicare Part B, then he/she will be given an
initial enrollment period (IEP) for 7 months. The government will give you 63
days after your IEP to sign up for a prescription drug plan or you will receive
a Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP). Contact
our office to learn how you can avoid this penalty or sign up for a workshop.
HLAA-Rochester
also has access to Audiologist who dispenses donated Hearing Aids. I asked the
gentleman to call us so that we can assist him with receiving a donated hearing
aid until the next annual enrollment period (AEP).
© Carmen Coleman, President and CEO
Lifetime Financial Group, LLC
30 W. Broad Street, Suite 300
30 W. Broad Street, Suite 300
Rochester, NY 14614
(585)325-2525
