Hearing aids: who owns them and where to get them?
On World Hearing Day, the health insurance funds note that hearing aids for hearing-impaired children and adults covered by Compulsory Health Insurance (CHI) are reimbursed 100% by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF).
In case of impaired hearing, the first port of call should be your family doctor. After assessing the patient's diagnosis and medical condition, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist. Only an otorhinolaryngologist can prescribe a hearing aid paid for by the CHIF.
After assessing the need for a hearing aid, the specialist will issue a medical record, which you will need to take to the institution that has a contract with the NHIF to provide you with a reimbursable hearing aid. At the institution, the patient will be assisted in choosing and fitting the model of hearing aid by the institution's hearing aid fitting specialist.
Adults and children with hearing impairment who are covered by CHI have the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest and can get hearing aids for both ears reimbursed by the CHIF.
Adults and children aged 7 years and over can be issued two reimbursable hearing aids for both ears once every 5 years. It is important to know that for adults, a hearing aid for the second ear can be issued after the expected lifetime of the last hearing aid issued. Children up to 7 years of age can be issued two reimbursable hearing aids for both ears once every 3 years.
To order a custom-made earplug for a child up to 7 years of age, it can be prescribed once a year, and for children above 7 years of age and adults, it is prescribed once every 5 years.
Hearing aids are 100% reimbursed by the CHIF and the technological bonus can only be granted if the insured person confirms in writing that he/she has been informed of the possibility of receiving a reimbursable aid, but chooses an aid of the same type, which is manufactured with more modern technology and more expensive materials.
Currently, the basic price of hearing aids for children reimbursed by CHIF varies depending on the type and ranges from EUR 378 to EUR 583. For adults, the basic price of hearing aids ranges from EUR 148 to EUR 378.
Last year, the health insurance funds reimbursed 358 hearing aids for children and close to 14,000 for adults. This year, the CHIF has allocated more than EUR 5 million for reimbursement of hearing aids and their fittings.
You can find the institutions that have concluded contracts with the NHIF for the provision of hearing aids here.
(Freepik photo)
Information of Klaipeda THIF
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Your questions are welcome by email[email protected]or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222
Last updated: 10-03-2023
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