Use Health Benefits and FSA Funds to Your Advantage

Hearing insurance, while only offered to about 15 percent of the workforce, can provide much greater relief in terms of cost. Regardless, these benefits run dry at the end of the year if they aren’t used, so be sure to contact your insurer for more information about your specific policy.

If Clarksville Center for Audiology is a preferred provider with your insurance company, we will directly bill your insurance for payment. Your employer may also offer an FSA or HSA (flexible spending account or health spending account) that pulls money from your paycheck pre-tax and sets it aside for future medical expenses.

In this case, the costs would still come out of your pocket, but it would be untaxed. If you’ve already used your FSA funds for the year, please consider what your hearing needs will be next year when you sit down with your company’s benefits coordinator and decide how much of your paycheck you’d like to reserve tax-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Medicare pay for my hearing care needs?
Traditional Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing exams if your doctor or other health care provider orders them to find out if you need medical treatment. You can also see an audiologist once every 12 months without an order from your doctor, but only for non-acute hearing or balance conditions, such as hearing loss that occurs over many years. If medical necessity cannot be established, you will be responsible for the exam. Note that Medicare Replacement Plans such as Blue Cross Medicare Advantage, Humana Medicare, or Aetna Medicare, are not bound by the same rules.
Will Medicaid pay for my hearing care needs?
The State of Tennessee’s Medicaid program is referred to as TennCare. Plan options include TennCare Select, BlueCare, AmeriGroup, and United Healthcare Community Plan. The majority of the plans offer coverage for hearing testing, however some plans limit the benefit to members 21 years of age and under. Hearing aids are typically covered for members under age 21 who meet medical necessity. As a courtesy, our office will verify eligibility and benefits at time of service.