As many as 15% of American adults -- 37.5 million people -- report at least some trouble hearing. Hearing loss is extremely common, in part because it is caused by things that most Americans experience at some point, including loud noises, underlying conditions, and aging. And, according to government figures, nearly 30 million American adults could benefit from using a hearing aid.
Yet less than 1 in 5 people who would benefit from using a hearing aid actually utilize them. That's partly because
hearing aids and hearing exams can be incredibly costly out of pocket, making them inaccessible to millions of people, especially the uninsured.
Sign now to tell Congress to make hearing aids affordable on all Medicare plans!To make matters worse, right now, many Medicare plans
don't cover hearing aids at all. But hearing is a human right - and government sponsored health care plans must make hearing aids accessible under Medicare now!
Hearing aids are expensive -- a single pair can often cost a whopping $5,000. This is far beyond what most Americans are capable of affording. In fact, nearly half of the people living in the United States can't afford any unplanned expense of $400. So how many Americans simply do not seek out ear care because it is so expensive, resigning themselves to lives of difficulty or silence?
Being able to hear has huge implications for a person's overall life and health. Hearing helps us to remain more easily connected to the communities we've developed around us, which in turn reduces loneliness and even reduces the risk for dementia!
It is time to make sure Medicare recipients can afford hearing aids. We must tell Congress to expand Medicare coverage to make hearing aids affordable and accessible! Sign now if you agree! 