Opinion: Many seniors need hearing aids. Why doesn’t Medicare cover them?
Our understanding of the effects of #hearingloss and the technology for addressing it have come a long way in the past 50 years. Medicare needs to catch up.
When Medicare was signed into law in 1965, it did not include any coverage for hearing aids. They were considered “routinely needed and low in cost” and most Americans didn’t live long enough to actually need them. Even though the costs are now high and the need great, Medicare still doesn’t cover hearing aids.
Today, hearing loss affects over the age of 65 and has a significant impact on health. Those experiencing it are at increased risk for , , and , and may become socially isolated. Hearing loss, putting individuals at higher risk for falls and disability and possibly causing functional limitations such as reduced mobility or balance.
