Astronomical Prices of Hearing Aids

The prices of hearing aids start at INR 30000 and go up to INR 3,50,000. Thus they are out of reach for middle class senior citizens. The health insurance policies do not recognise hearing loss as a disease and offer no reimbursement for hearing aids.
We request Local Circles to take up the issue with Health Ministry to instruct Nationalised Insurance Companies to include hearing loss for cashless treatment. Government may also investigate the reasons for very high selling prices for hearing aids and put a cap on MRP of hearing aids. Prima facie it appears that hearing aid suppliers are profiteering at the cost of helpless senior citizens. more

Helpful Connected Consumers Mar 01

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L Kalavathi

Especially since Noise Pollution is increasingly adding to the number of deaf persons in our populace. Moreover we are also prone to inheriting deafness especially due to consanguinous marriages and within closed community marriages. Govt. of India should encourage indigenous units manufacturing hearing aids at affordable prices. Just as import duty on TV parts has been reduced, import duty on electronic items like hearing aids or parts for their manufacture should also be done away with. I find that the imported hearing aids do not suit our elderly persons especially if they are bedridden. The ear pieces have a tendency to fall out. Soon the elderly person stops wearing the hearing aid, which defeats the purpose. They once again lapse into their world of silence and visitors shudder at the thought of screaming out their communications. When a request was made by me for a consumer loan to purchase a music system and also a hearing aid for me elderly father, the Bank I worked for magnanimously sanctioned the amount for the music system but refused to sanction the amount for the hearing aid saying it was not for my use. My protest that the hearing aid WAS used by me for communicating to my father was not heeded. In protest I never availed the consumer loan. What use is a Music system if you cannot enjoy the music along with your elderly parents? L.Kalavathi Retd. Bank Official Chennai, Tamilnadu more

Mar 27

KETAN Mewada

Yes, this matter should be taken for point of discussion with central government more

Mar 14

Rishi Raj

Fell two drops of Indian/Bharatiya indigenous cow ghee into each of the nostrils of a person with hearing problem. It even heals torn ear drum. more

Mar 10

Mukund KULKARNI (Banker [Retired])

Ears are one of the important organs of the body and are bound to loose senses once a person gets old, it is imperative that the Insurance Companies should cover the same and how come it is not being treated as a sickness? The Government needs to take a pragmatic view and help the citizens by fixing a MRP on the hearing aids, which are essential for the smooth living of people. I concur with the views of Mr.Mohit Pandey and many others who have commented here above. more

Mar 07

H.P. Gurg

Agree.Just like price curb on stents,Govt should look in to such a high price on hearing aids. more

Mar 04

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