Gardner Audiology is happy to announce our newest location in South Tampa. Our audiologists are United Healthcare (UHC) insurance providers and we look forward to providing diagnostic testing and hearing aid service to the UHC members. Most plans cover diagnostic testing when ordered by a physician. Some UHC plans include hearing aid benefits. Because only certain plans have these benefits and it is important to research to determine if your plan does. Our staff is well versed in verification of benefits and can help you determine your possible options.
Some UHC plans offer a full benefit that will cover a pair of premium hearing aids. Other plans have a set dollar amount that can be used toward the purchase of hearing aids. That fixed amount could be $500 or $5000! Your benefits may be subject to deductibles and copayments, but sometimes they are not. Though your friend’s plan may cover one thing, your plan could be completely different. Verification through UHC is the only way to tell what your plan covers.
United Healthcare’s AARP MedicareComplete offers cheap, mail order hearing aids through Healthinnovations. This goes against Florida regulations prohibiting mail order hearing aids. These hearing aids are coded so that they cannot be adjusted by any audiologist, limiting the available assistance you can find. Hearing aids that are not properly adjusted can cause further problems. All hearing aids (including the UHC/hi Healthinnovations hearing aids) should be properly fitted by a licensed Florida hearing aid professional. Every ear is different and your ear canal resonance changes what the hearing aid does, once it is in your ear. All hearing aids should be fitted using real ear verification to assure proper adjustment and comfort. Education and counseling are important parts of successful adaptation to new hearing aids, and they are missing with mail order hearing aids.
Don’t try to navigate the insurance waters alone…we are here to help. Call Gardner Audiology at 1-800-277-1182 and let us help you determine if you have hearing aid benefits. Come visit us in the new Tampa office of Gardner Audiology!
