At Horend Goed, we understand that choosing a hearing aid can be a complicated and often confusing process. Especially when it comes to costs and reimbursements. Whether you are visiting a hearing care professional for the first time or already have experience with hearing aids, it can be difficult to clarify terms such as co-payment and deductible. In this blog, we explain how a co-payment comes about, the difference between co-payment and deductible, and how you may be able to obtain a hearing aid without a co-payment.
What is a Personal Contribution?
A co-payment is the part of the cost of a hearing aid that you must pay yourself after your health insurance company has reimbursed part of the cost. The amount of this co-payment can vary depending on your health insurance and the type of hearing aid you need. Usually the health insurance company covers 75% of the cost of a hearing aid, while the remaining 25% must be paid by the user. We call this 25% the co-payment.
How Is a Personal Contribution Determined?
When you need a hearing aid, it is usually reimbursed from the basic insurance. Health insurance companies use different categories of hearing aids, each with a certain amount that is reimbursed. The level of this amount varies per health insurance company and depends on the type and category of the hearing aid.
At Horend Goed, we work with a wide range of hearing aids from various brands. However, due to health insurance reimbursement limits, we cannot always provide every brand or type that you or we would like. If the amount your insurance reimburses is too low to provide a specific brand, we will discuss that honestly with you.
Copayment and Additional Insurance
The good news is that the co-payment can often be reimbursed by supplementary insurance. The coverage of supplementary insurance varies by health insurer. This can mean that the full cost of your hearing aid is covered, including the co-payment. During the intake interview at Horend Goed we calculate this for you, so you know exactly where you stand and there are no surprises.
What is Excess?
The deductible is the amount you must pay annually for health care expenses yourself before your health insurance begins to reimburse. For 2024, the deductible is set at €385. Hearing aids fall under the deductible, which means that if you have any deductible outstanding, you must pay it when you purchase a hearing aid.
The Difference Between Contribution and Excess
It is important to understand the difference between co-payment and deductible. The co-payment is a percentage of the cost of the hearing aid that you must pay yourself, regardless of your deductible. The deductible, on the other hand, is an annual amount you must first pay for other medical expenses before your health insurance begins to cover costs.
The First Steps at the Audiologist
When you first step into Horend Goed, we understand that you have a lot of choices to make and a lot of information to process. Choosing a hearing aid is not something anyone enjoys doing, but it is something necessary for a better quality of life.
Our process begins with a comprehensive intake. This is not only important for you, but also for our hearing care professionals. We want to get to know you in order to give you good advice and ultimately find the right hearing solution. We do not simply ask you for brand A and model X. We do a hearing test, a questionnaire (the infamous 😉 and an anamnesis to determine which category of hearing aid you fall into.
Different Categories and Brands
In each hearing aid category, there are several brands and types available that are suitable for different types of hearing loss. During the intake interview, we will discuss which category of hearing aid best suits your hearing loss. We take into account not only your hearing loss, but also your lifestyle and the hearing problems you encounter in everyday life.
Fees and Charges
The hearing aid category you fall into determines the amount we may charge for the hearing aid. This amount varies by health insurance. If the amount your health insurance reimburses is too low, we may not be able to provide every brand we would like. We will discuss this honestly with you and look for the best solution together.
As mentioned earlier, usually 75% of the cost is reimbursed by your health insurance and a 25% co-payment remains. Depending on your additional insurance, this co-payment can be fully reimbursed. This may allow you to get a hearing aid without a co-payment. Of course, we calculate this for you during the intake interview, so there are no surprises afterwards.
Excess and hearing aids
The deductible is another aspect to consider. Every year everyone has a deductible, and hearing aids fall under this deductible. This means that if you have any deductible outstanding, you will have to pay it when you purchase a hearing aid. Our audiologists do not have insight into your deductible, so it is important to check this yourself.
However, there is an exception: some health insurance companies provide hearing aids on loan. This means that you can borrow the hearing aids from your health insurance company and do not have to pay any excess. Our hearing care professionals are aware of this and will inform you of this during the intake interview and repeat this again if you purchase the hearing aid after a trial period.
Conclusion
Choosing a hearing aid is an important decision that involves many questions and choices. At Horend Goed, we are here to guide you through this process and help you find the best solution for your hearing problems. Through our comprehensive intake and personal approach, we can provide you with optimal advice and ensure that you know exactly where you stand, both in terms of cost and the technical aspects of your hearing aid.
By clearly understanding the difference between co-payment and deductible, you can be better prepared for the financial aspects of purchasing a hearing aid. Whether you are a new user or already experienced with hearing aids, at Horend Goed you are assured of expert advice and a personalized approach that focuses on your specific needs.
We invite you to make an appointment for an intake interview so that together we can find the best hearing solution for you. At Horend Goed, we take the time for you and your hearing so that you can once again enjoy all the sounds around you to the fullest.
