I’m about ten days away from getting my first hearing aid, and nervous as heck. I’m entirely new to the whole concept of having insurance and dealing with medical stuff.
The only place nearby I could go to is Le Group Forget, has anyone had experience with them? They told me that RAMQ (Quebec government) insurance will pay for only one, which will be around 1,900$ CAD for their most basic behind the ear model, but I was too out of it to ask for an exact model number or even the brand, so I could do my own research… I don’t have the money to afford a second one, even at their cheapest. I’ll be emailing them shortly, but I have a slight distrust since I know they’ll want to be pushing for a sale…
Another question is, if I go with them and get a single hearing aid, does that use up my RAMQ insurance for however long, and I’m stuck with it? Or will they be able to refund if it doesn’t work out for me and I decide I want to go with another model or service place?
Montreal is still quite a long drive away, and I’m not used to driving on the highway, so going further to Ontario to go to Costco is pretty iffy at the moment, at least until spring. I don’t have a job to get better insurance, but if I did, would better insurance help with covering a second aid?
One reason I’m iffy about even getting a hearing aid at all is I barely leave the house, and when I do, I’m usually not interacting with anyone at all. As an Anglophone in Quebec, outside of a major city, I only do shopping where I can use self-checkout and not bother anyone with awkward interactions. The only reason I’m thinking of getting one is to hear my roommate, and so far we’re getting along okay without one. Being able to hear her in the car would be good, as the road sounds completely cover up anything else, but according to the flyer I got, the basic model wouldn’t really help with that environment.
I don’t know if a hearing aid (or two) would help very much in a car. I find that my HA amplify as much the road noise as the voice you are trying to hear. I have Costco’s Phillips HA. I think that it depends a lot on the severity of one’s hearing loss. in my case I’m between moderate to severe and I’m constantly straining to hear others when in noisy environments. I’ve had my Phillips HA adjusted three times at different Costco’s.
I’ve uploaded my audiogram, it seems moderate to severe in the higher frequencies. It’s weird, I still feel like I can hear things fine, except speaking (and some higher instruments, like trumpets, violins, electric guitar solos…) But in the car, the bassy noise of the tires on the road just completely takes over. It’s like twice as loud–sometimes feels three times as loud–as normal, and drowns out everything else. If I could only boost the highs so I can hear someone say “pull over here”…
My only other wish is that I could connect to my computer so I could keep writing music. Even if I can’t hear some instruments as well anymore, I have enough older songs that once it’s written, I can safely guess how it would sound mixed together. But still a pain to try and write parts that sound good when all I can hear is low to midrange and its all muddy.
In Quebec you need have to have a specific loss before they pay. After that they pay for one or two depending on your age. I believe they only pay for one if your 65 or older. Chances are you’ll need two. Also, the models they see lower end older models. You will the better newer models. It’s still going to help but your not getting Phonak sphere or Oticon intent. Your audioprothesist will explain this to you. Don’t forget that you might need several adjustments to your hearing aids to be confortable with them so don’t buy them too far away from home. This is the reason I do t go to Ontario’s Costco.
A friend of mine recently bought a pair. One was free (RAMQ) and the other one was for $1700 with one year worth of services included. He is very happy with them. If you meet certain requirements, you can 20% as a tax credit for your paid hearing aid. I have a friend who uses only one and he seems to be content although it is not ideal. Why are you worried about loosing out with RAMQ coverage, perhaps I do not understand. I believe they will pay for one every 6 years. Get a professional who will accept a return if you do not like it. Some charge a minimum fee if you return. Here is more info on the program. Hearing aids | Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)
Got an email reply a few days ago, so some of my worries are tempered. The model they’ve got for me is Signia Pure 312 3AX, with a 30 day return period.
My worry about the RAMQ coverage was that if these ones just don’t work for me, I’m stuck with them for 6 years until I can use it to get new ones, or find employment that has better insurance or pays enough that the price isn’t an issue anymore. And the last 6 years haven’t been great for me in that regard. Now I know I have 30 days to find out and return them, and try to find another brand. Hopefully won’t need to!