Difference Between Jabra Enhance 20 for Costco and Jabra Over the Counter Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids
#1

This may be a dumb question, but my husband has one of those Medicare supplemental plans that covers 20% of brand named hearing aid. When ypu think about it, isn’t much considering a pair of HA’s can be $2,500 to $5,000 or more.

So this kind of leaves clinical HA’s out. I’m not crazy about over the counter HA’s especially for a senior citizen not as tech saavy as I. This morning I was looking around thd net and see not only are Jabra Enhance 20 aids sold at Costco, but Jabra also sells aids through their website without a script. The website has three different levels varying in price based on the level. Costco has the Enhance 20 as their only level of Jabra HA’s at $1,500 a pair.

What are the diferences between the Costco and OTC with Jabra? Am I better off going through Costco with someone that programs the aids or the remote programming.

Since Costco doesn’t do direct bill, I know some of the stores have the codes to provide to customers, some don’t. Has anyone successfully sent a claim for their Costco aids to their Medicare supplemental insurance company? My husband has the best plan level with AARP/UCH insurance. Since he has some benefit, we might as well submit the claim if we used Costco. I’ve used one Costco aid (cochlear implant in other ear) , but never submitted any claims because I used my regular health insurance for my main aid. So don’t know how a claim would work with a medicare supplement.

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#2

Jabra Enhance Pro 20s (EP20s) are prescriptive hearing aids. They are not over the counter. They are a more capable hearing aid than the OTCs. Being able to have me fitting done is a big plus. I would go with these.

I have UHC also but I do not know if I can put in a reimbursement for Costco. Costco does not do insurance. The $1599 price for the EP20s is similar to most people’s deductible. I am interested if any others have been able to successfully get a reimbursement for this for their UHC plan.

I’m assuming you have an iPhone?

#3

1st you cannot use insurance of any kind, unless they will reimburse you if you provide a receipt. If you try to use insurance, they require you to purchase from some hearing aid company and you basically pay market prices with a small discount, then discount $500 to $1000 depending on what your insurance allows, But I have looked into insurance ( which I Have) Costco is Much Cheaper!

Jabra Enhance Pro 20s are the same as ReSound Nexia and are top of the line Hearing aids.
I recently upgraded to the 20s. after wearing HAs for over 25 years! They are the best I have ever had!.
Costco is the way to go. In the long run you save money by just purchasing from Costco, plus you can get multiple freebies such as cleaning, wax filters, domes etc and service at any Costco.

I have used Costco for the last 7 years, moved locations 3 times and very pleased with all service Costco provides wherever I go.

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#4

I can’t speak about Medicare but I have blue cross / blue shield and I was able to get the necessary information from Costco to submit my claim and get reimbursed. AFTER purchasing from Costco.

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#5

I called my insurer and asked for a form to make a claim for reimbursement. I don’t know what UHC covers, but a phone call or 2 should get you a verdict. My insurer just needed one form and copies of the sales receipts (which includes serial numbers, so they’re pretty detailed sales receipts).

If your MA policy allows you to choose your provider, that’s great. If not, Costco may end up with a lot lower out-of-pocket cost than using your insurance.

The Enhance Pro 20s are supposed to be ReSound Nexia 9s. You can find the specs for both, so you can compare them. I bought Pro 10s, which are supposed to be Omnia 9s. I compared the specs,but I don’t remember if I found any differences. :slight_smile: However, I was never able to find specs for the online Jabra offering, so I can’t comment on the similarities and differences between the OTC and Costco offerings. Of course, specs don’t tell the whole story.

#6

I just want to say that Costco’s receipt that you need to submit with you insurance claim is very detailed. It definitely includes info as to what aids were purchased along with their serial numbers.

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#7

As RSW says, Jabra OTC and Enhance Pro 20s are very differing animals. The OTC is an in-the-ear “bud” style instrument. I tried them during Covid, curious about how they would work for my significant hearing loss. They were not up to the job; I returned them. Later I bought the “20s” (at Costco) and am super-happy with them, their many features, and their excellent enhancement, as the name suggests.

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#8

I have BCBS too of course my benefit is better used at an audiologist because I get higher coverage that way. In December, I had my out of pocket paid, in fact it was paid by March last year. What I didn’t know was I could get a new aid every 3 years; I thought it was 4. I was scrambling to get a new hearing aid before the end of the year. So I got the Lumity L90 and paid very little about the same as Costco if I bought an aid from them using no insurance.

I’m thinking of doing what you did for my husband. Having his hearing checked and getting the Jabra aids through them and submitting a claim with the info like you received from Costco.

However, I noticed Jabra sells HA’s through their website. The only difference is through their website there are three levels of tech like other aids from an audi. I wondered if there is a difference in the best aid they sell at their site from the Jabra aid sold at Costco. In other words, is the aid the same on the website or is it better than what Costco sells?

Thanks about the insurance info. It’s what I thought and couldn’t figure why the process would be any different from regular medical insurance as long as one had a hearing aid benefit through their medicare supplement.

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#9

Thank you @mystuart . That’s what I wanted to know about the aids themselves. Costco is the way I should go. Whether I go through Costco or a regular clinic, Costco is going to be the better option whether the medicare supplemental plan pays or not.

It’s $1,500 for the aids, most aids bought through a clinic will be at least $3,000 to $4,000 a pair and that’s on the low side. If supplemental insurance only pays 20%, thats $600 to $800 they’re paying. We would still need to come up with other $2,400 to $3,200 out of pocket. If they cover 20% of the $1,500, that’s a bonus. If not, $1,500 is less than $2,400 or $4,200.

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#10

I have been reimbursed by UHC 3 times over the last 9 years. Just attache the invoice and your receipt to a claim form. Just did it in Sept.of 23. This last time it was at first rejected but it was rectified with 1 phone call. It was an error on their side. Call UHC first my plan pays 1500 per ear every 4 years.

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#11

@capthr Is your plan a medicaresupplemental plan or a major medical plan from your employer? If it’s a medicare plan, that’s a nice plan. I contacted UHC by the secure contact page on the website. You should have seen me when I got the response because it was encrypted and my mail client wouldn’t accept my password. I found a work around they provided in case I had trouble. That’s where I found out about the 20% discount. I will just need the coding for the form, I think Costco has it. I studied medical billing in 2003, but those codes are out of date along with the diagnostic codes.

My husband has coverage F that isn’t offered anymore, but it’s the best plan. I’m not looking for a huge reimbursement, but since he has it, anything helps. Thanks!

#12

I am on Medicare but my UHC plan is from my former Employer (New York State). Yes the Hearing Aid benefit is very good especially when using Costco.

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#13

I have my Medicare Supplement ( F) thru AARP administered by United Health Care… What I found is that they are now offering discounts for Many Premium Hearing Aid Brands. I had already called UHC and verified that I was able to use their program. I had forgotten about this perk and eventually made an appointment with a local Hearing Aid Device professional (Not an Audiologist) and when I got there they told me that they do work with UHC (medicare supplement). They made a phone call and low and behold I had my choice of many of the latest brand name Hearing Aids at a bundle discount. I was looking at the latest Resound at a price of $4500 for a pair. with charger, a year of visits, and 3 year warrentee. I have an appointment at Costco next week where I will be looking at the Jabra and Phillips. I didn’t think UHC would reimburse a purchase I submitted on my own. They seem to have their Aid discounts Bundled with authorized dispensers. Worth a call to UHC though.

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#14

Thanks for the information. I was told 20% off brand hearing aids every 36 months. I’d be interested in what your cost will be.

Unless they give you a good bundle deal will that be it or do they subtract 20% off on top of the bundle deal?

If a pair of HA’s cost $4,500 and take 20% off that’s a discount of $800. You subtract $900. That still would leave you a balance of $3,600 to pay for. If the Jabra’s work well, I’d only have $3,600, i’d be better off at Costco.

#15

The $4500 is the discount price from UHC. That includes the bundle of Charger, Fitting appointments., and warrentee. Thru TruHearing it is about the same price for me. The Comparable bundle without any insurance discount is about $7000. from a local Audiologist.

Costco, of course, costs much less…but you are getting the comparable made for Costco Brand HA. Which may be identical or close to identical to one of the major HA brands. Costco not only gives you the Real Ear Measurements but free HA supplies too. In my case I am about an hours drive one way to the closest Costco. But under $2000 for the package may be worthwhile for me.

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#16

I went through Costco for the Jabra EP20, paying out of pocket.

After 4 attempts so far to get reimbursed by BCBSTX that purports $2500 hearing aid coverage every three years, I have not been reimbursed.

#17

The OTC Jabra Enhance Select 300 is similar in size to prescription Jabra Pro 10 (both RIC) and maybe very similar product.

The 300 with Premium (additional well worth $200) package is $2000 total (insurance may help a little on this). Costco in store prescription products (not online Costco) are much less cost. Pro 20 is latest Jabra tech, somewhat smaller and you get REM (this is huge to me).

OTC products with required limited output do not output enough (or if so just barely with no headroom) for full fit for my loss in the mid and above frequencies, even though I am classified as moderate loss. OTC limit? Edit: I’m not positive on this issue after reading link. (I’m 65 db @ 4000hz).

I do not see how Jabra 300 can reasonably do a proper fit since there is no hearing measurement done with product in ears. They are, in theory programmed to online tones (which can’t measure dB) or programmed to audiogram. My trial 300 (with after adjustment period setting) were about 30/40 db below ideal hearing at 4000 hz. A specialist does make adjustments over Zoom meeting and live product changes. So why were my 300 set so low if they were based on audiogram? I discussed this with two very capable and friendly specialists, but I got nowhere. Jabra should have encouraged me to buy prescription products.

If someone does not have the money for Costco HA or other then OTC might be much better than nothing IF hearing loss fits the bill (have a knowledgeable person review your audiogram vs OTC abilities!! Costco would do this for free). For me there was a major improvement over no HA but speech clarity with higher pitched people is lacking with the settings provided. Specialist possibly could have increased output some but it would be a guessing game.

Some OTC cost less than $1000 but compare IP ratings, warranty…

Some OTC products do some in ear sound tests through their device but I can’t speak to how good the fit is with them.

#18

Agree with all of this! I’ve also worn HAs for over 20 yrs. and the Jabra EP20s are the best aids I’ve ever worn. And Costco is the way to go, if one lives close enough to use them.

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#19

I totally agree with you, I’ve had lots of HAs but the Jabra 20s from Costco and the Resound TV Streamer+ are amazing!

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#20

Thanks! I don’t know if it’s been mentioned above, but while I watch little TV, I do own the ReSound MultiMic; the MultiMic placed near the base of the TV (near the audio output) does a GREAT job of carrying the audio to my HAs. The Multi-Mic has benefits over a TV streamer, in my opinion, because it can be used for many things. It’s so much better than the external mics sold for most other HAs. IMO.

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