Is Costco an option?

Hearing Aids
22

I have Kaiser (the Oregon/SW Washington version), and this year is the first time I have had hearing aid coverage - though other audiology services such as hearing tests have always been included. I just picked up a pair of “Phonak Audeo Lumity Life” aids a little over a week ago. My out of pocked cost was just under $1,100, including my annual $250 deductible.

They didn’t mention any house brands, or really any brand preference at all, though the specific audiologist told me that she has the most experience with Phonak, so that was what she most comfortable with. She said that she would be happy to order Oticons, since that was what I had been wearing, but she just wasn’t as familiar with the features and adjustments. I went with the Phonak to avoid that lack of familiarity.

There was no sales pressure. She showed me a list of the available models and “technology levels”, along with a chart comparing features of each model.

That said, the (unexpected, to me) downside is that they don’t stock any hearing aids. Everything is ordered from the manufacturer. I was really surprised by this. I figured that since I was buying RICs, that I would wear them home that day. Didn’t work like that. Ordering would take “7-10 days”, so I had to make an appointment for two weeks out for the initial fitting, and a follow up for two weeks later for adjustment. Appointments seem to be a little challenging to get, at least within a month or so.

I decided that I wasn’t going to be concerned about that as I intend to make my own adjustments after the initial fitting. One small concern was that if I needed repairs they only offer drop-off service and there is no opportunity for a loaner. It occurred to me that I have never actually needed a loaner in the 25+ years I have been wearing them, so I’m gonna take my chances on that one.

Summary is that Kaiser’s price was incredible - I could have easily spent 5x that for the same aids. Service remains to be seen. Since I have had mixed (read: poor) results with private audiologists for at least the last 15 years, I’m going to give this a shot.

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23

Great review, Frank. thanks.

I wonder if Kaiser can order from any major brand? The HA center at Oakland Kaiser had a number of brands in their display case, but since I haven’t ordered through them, I’m unsure if that’s all that they offered. I never looked into it.

Not having an opportunity for a loaner is a bummer. All the more reason to hang on to your current pair!

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24

Each Kaiser region is different. Oakland would be NCAL. Last I knew, NCAL Kaiser could get Phonak, Oticon, Signia and Starkey. They didn’t have access to Resound and Widex, but this was quite a few years ago. Also, as far as what Kaiser covers, it depends on one’s plan.

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25

Very strange that Costco “didn’t check” your ears.

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26

Seems the insurance industry is addressing changes in the hearing aid market. Blue-Cross Blue-Shield have just brought in a new policy on my plan that all hearing aids must be pre-approved by in-network providers. Other BCBS plans have no hearing aid coverage. As my local Costco’s audiologist is not in network with BCBS, Costco customers with my plan will need an ENT/Aud submitted and approved before purchasing from Costco and, unwittingly, not be covered at all for going direct to Costco.

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27

I looked at your audiogram. You do not have to spend $7,600 to get very good hearing aids to help with your loss. That dollar figure meets the needs of those audiologists and their boat or car payments that are due more than your hearing. If you ultimately choose to not get aids at Costco, I’d suggest either looking for another private audiologist, or if location proximity limits your choices to one of those two, going back and saying, “What have you got for me for much, much less, because I’ve since learned that I don’t need to spend $7,600 for my loss. If that’s the best you can do, I’m going to Costco and spending less than $2,500.” And then if they start bad-mouthing Costco, raise your hand into a stop sign and say, “That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking what you can offer me for much, much less than your first quote.” If that doesn’t advance the ball, get up and leave.

I go to a local, private audiologist, because I don’t live near a Costco. But my aids are only four years old and rapidly wearing out, and I’m not feeling the two-way loyalty. I may be making the drive to Costco for my next pair. The fact is that most Costco customers are overall very happy with Costco. Not all. Most. Same with private audiologists. What really matters is whether your treatment specialist can make you happy, not whether others are happy.

Some other points to keep in mind: your first/next pair of hearing aids are not as much of a long-term investment as you may be hoping. If you can get five years out of them before replacing them, you’re doing pretty well. Some may last up to 8-10 years, but you can’t count on that. Some need replacement faster for various reasons, including you losing them. So budget accordingly. (This is the key reason I may be moving to Costco for my next aids. They don’t last very long, and I’m thinking in terms of per-year cost.)

If you have eyeglasses, you are used to them being plug ‘n’ play. Once the frames are fitted to your face, you probably won’t return to an optometrist until you need to replace them. This is generally not true for a first pair of hearing aids in particular. You are likely to need several tweaking appointments over the space of a month or two to get the most out of them. Plan accordingly. This alone may make Costco not such a great bargain for people who live far away.

Hearing aids do not restore the normal hearing that most of us were blessed with as kids. Not even close. The primarily goal is improved speech comprehension. As indicated above, there is a cognitive remapping process you will go through to make sense of the new sounds the aids bring in. But your hearing will be better, if all goes well, not normal again.

I don’t mean to discourage you from getting hearing aids. They are absolutely worthwhile, with your loss. In fact waiting until your loss is more serious is a bad idea, because your brain will begin to check out of speech comprehension. But new users need realistic expectations going in, and most audiologists aren’t honest upfront about the lifespan, out-of-the-box performance, and improvement granted by that first pair of aids.

6 Likes
28

To improve your insurance coverage (though probably increasing the cost of insurance), my reco is to do what some people in IL and other states did - lobby you state legislature. I suspect there’s a big overlap between people who need HAs and donors to campaigns. :slightly_smiling_face:

In less than 12 months, it looks like health insurers in IL have to cover up to $2,500/ear every 2 years.

29

They should have done an immittance procedure to check the eardrum, but that’s all that normally is done in a hearing test.

My local Costco did examine the ear and took a picture of the inside when the actual fitting was done. So maybe when the fitting is done, they will do the same for websocket.

30

Recently checked what my UHC Hearing “benefit” is worth. My price on aids from the UHC approved hearing aid providers would be $1000 more than what Costco charges. I’ll be back to Costco when I need new aids.

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31

A lot has to do with how careful folks are with their aids. I use a dryer every night; even a dessicant jar such as Hal-Hen is fine. And I have a Jodi Vac home wax vacuum for cleaning. If one is careful, aids can last 10 years easily, in my experience.

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Costco’s model for sales may have changed by then. Having insurers cover a chunk of the cost of HAs will have some sort of effect on Costco. Likely fewer sales. And also, manufacturers may re think their relationship- with Costco. We shall see! I have nothing against costco aids; they’[re great and cheap! but Costco requires volume to make their model work. They’ll almost inevitably lose market share. And their margins for HAs had to be slim to begin with.

33

They took my vision insurance in the optical shop for the first time last year. I’d been doing business with them for over 20 years and handling self submitting (and not getting as good a deal from the insurance because they weren’t in-network) but now I’m golden.

So it might change with time.

WH

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34

I don’t think Costco will have any problems with lower sales as long as they can retain their hearing aid fitters. I think that’s the main issue for Costco and private hearing aid offices.

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35

Note also that HA’s with rechargeable batteries do not last as long as HAs with disposable batteries. The manual for my Jabra Pro 10s states that the expected life of the aids is 5 years. The batteries may be replaceable, but that often means return to the factory, and the ‘factory’ may cutoff service on HAs they consider to be obsolete.

With the pace of technology, I believe my current aids are a LOT better than than the Philips 9010s I bought in 2020, and the 9010s were way better than the Phonaks they replaced after 5 years of service. I can put batteries into my Phonaks, and they’ll help, but the 9010s are still better than the Phonaks.

It it’s possible, plan on a 3-5 year replacement cycle.

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36

Thanks for your review.

I’ve had hearing aids for about 20 years. Widex first. Then Phonak…3 sets.

I wish the process was easier. The newest hearing aids were not set up properly. I had to switch to another hearing aid practioner to get them set up so I could hear.

I think that the skill of the person setting them up is the most essential thing to consider.

Well done considering that person’s experience.

DaveL

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37

I was told my previous disposable battery HAs were expected to last 5 years, and that often they will not service them after that. So I’m not sure that the type of battery has any bearing on life expectancy (other than replacing the battery)

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38

Yes. Why would the battery type effect HA life span? I’ve read on this forum that companies often won’t service rechargeables after 5 years but as far as I know, that’s more speculation than reality.

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39

If it takes sending the aids to the factory for rechargeable battery replacement. Not saying the aids are bad, they could be in perfect condition but won’t function without power. Rechargeable aids are pretty much disposable at this point no matter the condition.

Disposable aids do not have this issue.

Sure hope Costco continues to supply disposable battery hearing aids.

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40

What does that even mean?

I have rechargeables and believe me, I don’t think they’re disposable!! Yes, it’s possible that when I send my aids in for new batteries, Signia will send me a new pair with fresh batteries rather than replace the batteries. GREAT! and then again, at year six, when the new aids-or-batteries need replacement, I may once again get a new set of aids. Or at least new batteries. What’s the problem?

Suggesting that rechargeable aids are “disposable” and won’t be serviced after 5 years, while replaceable battery aids will…doesn’t make any sense.

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41

i took my Widex in the ear HA in to a firm for cleaning They said that the HA microphone was broken and I needed new hearing aids. the Widex was 10 years old. I had paid cash for cleaning. Listen Up Canada.