MidWest hearing aid insurance for repairs has been discussed recently. I was
not aware that MidWest had policies that covered repair. I thought their
policies covered only loss and accidental damage and that patient's were on
their own for repairs. Please send more info. I can certainly see how a
an anually renewable blanket repair policy could be an obstacle in getting
patients to consider new technology.
One technique I use in attempting to upgrade patients to newer, better, more
reliable hearing instruments is as follows. The patient calls about their old
hearing aid not working. In many instances the patient may not have
maintained a regular schedule of having hearing and hearing aid checked. I
usually suggest that before we repair a hearing aid that is five years or more
old (especially ITE's) hearing should be rechecked. Many people's hearing
status does change in a five or more year period and thus an instrument
replacement in justified based on the change in hearing. I find that patients
are somewhat more willing to replace an instrument because their
"prescription" has changed versus the thought that they should upgrade because
better technology is available. Once they begin thinking about replacement,
often patients are receptive to trying the new programmable technology, and,
as is typical of human nature, once upgraded to better technology they will
state "I wish I'd done this years ago!"
Sally Whitson
