I would have much rather preferred that my insurance provided the TH Choice plan, rather than the Select. I pay less with Select, but I am locked into 1 generation old TH/Signia and an audiologist who is marginally skilled in that brand. The Choice plan is much better, and allows for more flexibility in the provider as well.
I went through a similar experience with Hear.com, which has a similar set up like TruHearing where they hook you up with an affiliated local provider of your choice but you pay Hear.com directly and the local HCP just provides the fitting/programming service.
When I learned that I’d only have to pay 5% co-pay (after my deductible which I already maxed out on that year) and my insurance would pay 95% for the HAs if I use in-network HCP, while it would have been 30% co-pay for out-of-network HCPs, and Hear.com is not in-network, I decided to find an in-network HCP. But at that time, the Hear.now local HCP provider that I was hooked up with told me that she would honor the 5% co-pay even though she was still an out-of-network provider if I went directly with her (and no longer through Hear.now) and she’d bill my insurance the rest.
So I got the full service from my HCP because I ended up going directly with her and not through Hear.com, although it wasn’t made clear to me whether it would have been much more limited service if it were through Hear.com. At least while Hear.com was still in the picture, nobody ever mentioned about the limited service, although it doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be limited.
The point here is that if you find a local HCP through TruHearing that you like, and in the end, you decided not to go with TruHearing for some reason, ask that local HCP how much it’d be if you went through them directly. Maybe they’d charge you more, but maybe they’d match the price like mine did. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.
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I have no insurance coverage at all for hearing aids. That’s sometimes an inconvenience. Other times, since it means I’m paying cash and doing my own negotiation, I sometimes feel like I’m being treated more as a customer than someone that’s costing them profits. When I showed up as a TH customer, I really felt like the audi just wanted to get me in and out of there before I lost then any more money.
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Yes,this is very similar to my experience with TruHearing. This is almost verbatim of what my HCP told me. I got the Resound Key for a little less than my Resound Fortes from Costco cost. I went through TruHearing because this local well respected and experienced HCP was one of the listed providers. I wish I would have spoken to him before and given him a chance to price something out for me.
I have been wearing hearing aids for 7 years. I went to an audiologist that I trust very much. She mentioned that since I had Humana I qualified for the True Hearing aid made by Signa (sp). The testing was very thorough and all my questions were answered. She went beyond the normal allowed fittings until everything was perfect. I purchased the premium brand for just under $2,000 for both. I am extremely satisfied with the hearing aid from True Hearing.
I have Truhearing through Humana (Medicare Advantage) and purchased a pair of Naida Paradise UP for $3250. That payment went to Truhearing. I also decided to get a pair of new molds that cost me $140. You probably all know you can get them cheaper at Costco or Sam’s Club. Each appointment has been with the same audiologist and I was very impressed with the quality of each session (three so far). The sessions didn’t seem rushed at all and she was comfortable programing Phonak aids. I paid an additional $25 as copay (Humana) for my initial visit to see the audiologist. That was my total expense. When I signed up with Humana (primarily because of the new hearing aid cost savings) and spoke with them about how much the aids would cost I basically got wrong info and my actual cost ($3,250) was significantly higher than what I expected. Truhearing rates are connected to the insurance policy so some people may pay less (or maybe more). After reviewing the cost, I decided to go forward and purchased them.
Overall, I am very pleased with the hearing aids. Sound quality has improved and the bluetooth capability is a big plus for me.
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Of course … can you elaborate a little, meaning just how much skill/experience is there in doing REM correctly? Assuming that a fitter is conscientious how likely is it that poor technique (placement of the microphone close to ear drum, or whatever) is going to happen? Would not (most of the time) if REM “suggests” that the initial programming needs to be adjusted by >5DB at several frequencies wonder whether the placement of the REM probe was off and check it?
Most important is any advice you can offer to us clients of how we might notice that REM testing might not be done correctly? Of course (and especially for an experienced HA wearer) if the adjustments after REM do not sound right and if word recognition or whatever is worse, it is our responsibility to provide feedback.
Is driving the REM test like driving a formula 1 race car, or is can anyone who has driven a stick shift car handle it? Couldn’t think of a good analogy for how hard it might be to learn to use the REM “tool” properly.
I have more than an idle curiosity as I will be getting new HAs soon from new professional who will be doing REM. Thanks for your general comments to the community.
Edit to add these two links on REM procedure steps and proper way to do it. Look forward to comments/advice from our Member expert. If REM interests you and you want to be a better informed client, I’d recommend reading the many answers Dr Cliff gives in the Comment section. I have been biased a bit against Dr Cliff, but am shifting opinion as I believe he points out some important things about proper understanding of REM.
https://www.interacoustics.com/guides/basics/a-beginners-guide-to-real-ear-measures-rem
and of course a Dr. Cliff video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSQemYlC80
REM is relatively easy to do, assuming it is calibrated correctly and and the probe tube is placed correctly. The skill and art come in the ability to interpret and use what the REM shows. Matching the target gain is easy, as long as the provider does not stop at “good enough”. But the real key is patient feedback and how to correct or enhance what the patient notices. Unfortunately, I don’t have any easy way for you to determine your professional’s skill level at these tasks. Experience is a good thing, although I have seen very “experienced” providers who did not have a clue about proper REM use. Probably not what you were looking for, but it is what it is.
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I went to a TruHearing affiliate called Hear Michigan at Zeeland, Michigan. They did a hearing test that was not as good as when I had it done at Costco on June 7, 2021. I had to pay $250.00 memebership to get their deal on the hearing aids a Starkey Livio 1000, and out of pocket after my Medicare Advantage plan paid would be $350. THEY DON’T DO REM at the Hear Michigan locations. What the heck?? The $250 membership pays for wax guards, follow up visits, etc. Seems like $250 could buy a LOT of wax filters from Amazon!
If I were to use my Medicare Advantage hearing-aid benefit, I would no doubt be referred to that same Hear Michigan location, but, having seen the TruHearing prices for the Phonak 90RT aids (to which the Costco KS10.0T are very similar), I decided to stick with Costco and now have a pair of KS10.0T.
As for the Starkey Livio 1000, I found a thread here from as long ago as June 2019 in which someone asked about those aids (among others) and was told that they were a low-tech version of an aid that was a generation or two old:
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I do see current-model Phonak aids listed on the TruHearing Web site, but which aids a client may qualify for at a reasonable price depends on which level their insurance plan covers: IIRC, there are both “Choice” and “Select” levels.
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I bought the pair of Starkey Livio 1000 to have as a back up to my KS10T I bought from Costco. I really like the KS10s a lot better. However, I think the Starkey HA fitting could be adjusted and improved just a bit for me. There is another “in network” provider in Wyoming MI, Kaczmarski Hearing Service, that will DO the REM for $110.00…
There was a large ad. for Hear Michigan in an advertising flyer that came in yesterday’s mail. There were photos of the two co-owners, one with a CCC-A and the other with an MA – neither of them an AuD, which many of the anti-Costco posters seem to be arguing is an essential qualification.
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Friday I went back to Hear Michigan- Zeeland for a 2 week follow up. I requested and she changed the 50 dB receiver tor a 60 dB receiver, did some tweaking to boost the sound just a bit (gain) and changed the programming so that I have volume up/ down via the rocker and a long press will turn them off (lower rocker) and ON (upper rocker) She made sure the feedback was adjusted so no squealing, and she did compress the upper Hz down just a bit but not too much as a large shift of higher frequencies to lower can cause a bit of perceived lisping. They do sound clear and speech is pretty good. The progams are still there, but not from the HA rockers, only the app on my phone. She did not run REM as NONE of the Hear Michigan locations are set up for that.
NOTE: She is not an Audiologist, just a Hearing Aid Specialist. Never met an Audiologist there. I have no qualms with Wyoming Costco as she is also a HAS and did a decent job on my last visit.
For those interested in TruHearing information, we now have a resource. Click the link below for more information.
This is very interesting. I was profoundly disappointed in my audi (used them since 2016) when they told me my out of pocket would range $3000-$4200 for a pair. Had decided to go to Costco and called BCBS to ask how to process a claim. They told me about TruHearing and so I called. I was NOT told I would be using their brands. In addition, the closest audiologist in their practice was …you guessed it, my usual audi!
I think I will call the audiologist office and discuss this with them. Maybe they will give me a better price. If not, I’ll be getting the KS10s from Costco (I’d prefer the Phonak Audeo Life).
Your aunt is 98 years old. She buys her aids based on price. My father is 95 years old. We both want what’s best for them. But I’ve learned that since he has all his faculties he decides what’s best for him. I can advise but the bottom line is he decides and I leave it alone. When people reach that age in life a lot of things that we may consider important, to them no longer are. Everyone they knew are gone usually including spouse, children, friends, and relatives. I tend to just back off and consider myself fortunate to still spend time with him. Many don’t have that opportunity. I wish your aunt the best.
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I tried TruHearing because my insurer claimed to have a thing with them. I told them exactly what I wanted (just a later model of the Resounds I already had). The TruHearing people referred me to a distant audiologist that doesn’t even handle Resound and tried to sell me some other brand. They’re customer support was NON RESPONSIVE in trying to get a referral that I wanted.
I ended up with a similar company called YesHearing. They were very responsive and sent the audiologist right to me. We even avoided some time because I was able to send him my currently obtained (was just at the ENT/Audiologist for other issues) audiogram. It couldn’t have gone smoother (and they even through in the upgraded charger when I asked as to whether that had been included in the quite (it hadn’t)).
If the audiologist came to you, what about a soundproof environment and Real Ear Measurements?
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I didn’t need the audiogram as I had done one recently in the office. He was there just to fit the aids. I don’t know how they handle it if you are going from scratch. The guy they sent to me was moonlighting from some other practice as near as I can tell.