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Hearing Aids – Resources for ParentsHearing aids as well as other audiological servicescan be quite expensive and unaffordable for manyfamilies. Fortunately there are programs in Arizonathat can help families and children that are in needof assistance.Q. Does your health plan cover hearingaids?NOLoaners:Your first option would be to check with youraudiologist about loaner hearing aids. Loanerhearing aids are also available to any Arizonafamily, through the HEAR for Kids Program with theEAR Foundation of Arizona. Loaners are usuallyavailable for up to six months. Longer loan periodsare possible for special circumstances such asassessment for cochlear implantation. The programis funded by grants and donations.YESThere may be an appeals process tochallenge limits or restrictions oncoverage. You may be eligible forother programs described below.Call your health plan MemberServices and ask for informationabout your hearing service benefits.Q. Are your financial resources limited?NOAsk your audiologist if the officeor facility where you receiveaudiological services can arrange apayment plan.YESThere are several programsavailable to those with financialneeds.Purchasing Equipment:Research on how to purchase and pay forpermanent hearing aids should begin as soon aspossible. It may take several months to determineeligibility for some programs. The answers to someof the questions listed below may help you find theassistance that is right for your family.Q. Is your child enrolled in an AHCCCS orKidsCare health plan?NOYESYou may be eligible for other programs asdescribed below.Your child may be eligible for hearingservices through Children’s RehabilitativeServices (CRS). Information about CRSservices and how to apply are on the nextpage.Your audiologist may participate in some of thefollowing programs, which are described inmore detail on the next few pages. Youraudiologist may be helpful in deciding whichprogram/s best suit your needs. Please notethat some programs may require you tochange providers.Ø HEAR for KidsØ UnitedHealthCare Foundation forChildren (higher income levels)Ø Starkey Foundation’s HEAR NowProgramØ Lions Affordable Hearing Aid ProgramØ Sertoma ClubsRevised 10/2010AzEHDI
Children’s Rehabilitative Services (CRS)CRS provides medical care and support services tochildren and youth who have certain chronic ordisabling conditions. CRS recipients can gethearing related services in one of fourMultiSpecialty Interdisciplinary Clinics (MSICs)located in Flagstaff, Tucson, Yuma and Phoenix.The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Systemhas contracted with Arizona Physicians IPA (APIPA)to administer the CRS program, as APIPA-CRS.Eligibility:To be eligible for APIPA-CRS services you must:· Have an eligible medical condition(Most hearing impairments are eligibleconditions)· Live in Arizona· Be under age 21· Be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien.APIPA-CRS recipients must also be enrolled in anAHCCCS acute health plan or ALTCS (ArizonaLong Term Care System) plan. You may callMember Services toll-free at 1-866-275-5776 formore information.Hearing Aids and Cost to the FamilyAPIPA-CRS covered services are provided at nocost to recipients. Hearing services, includinghearing aids, earmolds and fitting are covered forqualified APIPA-CRS recipients. Hearing aids maybe replaced every three years or more often if thereis a significant change in hearing. Hearing aids arecovered for loss or damage by a two yearreplacement warranty. If the original hearing aid(s)are lost or damaged, families are encouraged topurchase insurance for the replacement aid(s).For some types of hearing aids, prior authorizationmay be needed before APIPA-CRS can providethem. Your APIPA-CRS hearing services providerwill take care of this for you.For families who have ALTCS, APIPA-CRSand private insuranceAPIPA-CRS will coordinate benefits with yourprivate insurance and you will not be billed forany remaining cost, when you get hearingservices at an MSIC or APIPA-CRS provider.Additional ServicesAPIPA-CRS recipients who receive hearingservices may also be eligible for additionalmedical specialty services like ENT, Genetics,Ophthalmology, among others at their MSIC.Apply by Filling Out an Application:To get an application or information:· Call Member Services toll-free at:1-866-275-5776.· Visit the APIPA-CRS web site atwww.myapipacrs.com,· Call the Office for Children with SpecialHealth Care Needs (OCSHCN) at 602542-1860,· Call 1-800-232-1676 and ask for theCRS Program, or· Download an application from theOCSHCN web site atwww.azdhs.gov/phs/ocshcn/crs/crs az.htm.
HEAR for KidsHEAR for Kids is a program of the EAR Foundationof Arizona. Most of the funding is provided by St.Luke’s Health Initiatives and private donations aswell as grants from Arizona Community Foundation,Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and others.Authorization is generally available within 48 hoursof the application.Eligibility:Eligibility is based on family income, householdsize/dependent care, and expenses. If the child iscovered by AHCCCS or KidsCare or otherinsurance that covers hearing aids, they are noteligible for HEAR for Kids. Children must becurrently living in Arizona to be eligible.Ø Income: Total Household income for thepast 12 months: Wages/Salary, Pension,Social Security, Child Support and any otherincome.Ø Expenses: Total Allowed Deductions for thepast 12 months include medical/dental notpaid for by health insurance or third party,annual rent or mortgage payments, annualpayments for primary vehicle.Ø Dependent Care: Use the followingcalculations: Number of children in childcare x 200 x number of months Number of incapacitated adults receivingcare x 100x number ofmonths Using the amounts you calculated above, findAnnual Income. Take Income minus Expensesminus Dependent Care Annual Income. Usingthe chart below, find the number of people in yourfamily and the corresponding maximum AnnualIncome to be eligible. (current as of 3/2010).Number in FamilyAnnual Income1 16,2452 21,8553 27,4654 33,0755 38,6856 44,295For each additional person, add 5,610Cost to the Family:As long as the family qualifies under thefinancial criteria above, there are no costs.Earmolds are covered for the first year asmany times as needed. Earmolds maybecovered after the first year if the familycontinues to meet the financial criteria.Repairs or new aids are covered as needed ifthe family qualifies.Hearing Aids:Any aid selected by the audiologist will have a1 or 2 year warranty. There is no restriction ontype of hearing aid although the leastexpensive aid available with the featuresneeded is generally purchased to ensure thatthe funding is available for all in need. Somerepairs and replacement of cochlear implantparts may also be available.Applications can be downloaded on the EARFoundation website atwww.earfoundationaz.com but must besubmitted by the audiologist who will behelping select and fit the hearing aid(s).The Ear Foundation can be contacted directlyby calling 602-690-3975, or e-mail to:lylisolsen@msn.com
UnitedHealthCare Children’s FoundationThe UnitedHealthCare Children’s Foundation is a501(c)(3)non-profit charity dedicated to facilitatingaccess to medical-related services that are not fullycovered by the available commercial health benefitplan. This “support” is in the form of a medical grantto be used for medical services not covered or notcompletely covered by commercial health benefitplans.The applicant must be covered by a commercialhealth benefit plan and limits for the requestedservice are either exceeded, or no coverage isavailable and/or the copayments are a seriousfinancial burden on the family. TheUnitedHealthCare Children's Foundation requires acommercial health benefit plan. If your health planis an AHCCCS, ALTCS or KidsCare plan, you willnot be eligible for this grant, but you may be eligiblefor CRS. Read more about CRS on page 2.Eligibility:The applicant must be 16 years old or younger andlive in the United States and receive and pay forcare/items in the United States.Financial need of the child's family will be evaluatedand documented through information provided onthe application and by submission of a photocopy ofthe most recently filed Federal tax return (InternalRevenue Service 1040, 1040-A, or 1040-EZ). Thefollowing scale will be used to determine financialeligibility:An application must be submitted to theFoundation prior to the receipt of services. TheFoundation does not pay for past medicalexpensesExclusions:The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundationhas a specific set of items that are excludedfrom grant consideration. For a complete list ofexclusions see www.uhccf.org.Hearing Aids:There does not appear to be any restriction ontypes of hearing aids other than a limit of 5,000 or 85% of the fund balance, whicheveramount is less per year. Awards to any oneindividual are limited to a lifetime maximum of 7,500.If a grant is approved by the Regional Board ofDirectors for your child, the grant will help payfor approved medical services/items after yourcommercial health benefit plan submitspayment, if any. The grant funds are not paidto you or the child outright - you work with theFoundation on submitting invoices/bills forapproved medical services/items after yourcommercial health benefit plan submits initialpayment (if any) to the health care providerYour Family SizeAdjusted Gross IncomeAs reported on your IRS As reported on your IRS104010402 40,000 or less3 60,000 or less4 80,000 or less5 or more 100,000 or lessNOTE: Awards will NOT be granted to individualsin families whose Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)exceeds the scale.Applications:Applications and further information on criteriaand services can be found at the link below orby calling (952) 992-4459.www.uhccf.org
Starkey Foundation’sHEAR Now ProgramHEAR Now is a national non-profit programcommitted to assisting those permanently residingthe in the U.S. who are deaf or hard of hearing,who qualify under the National Poverty Guidelinesfor assistance and have no other resources toacquire hearing aids.The family is responsible for the cost of theevaluation/assessment and the non-refundableprocessing fee to HEAR Now. Once the aidsare provided, the family is responsible for thepurchase of batteries and extended warrantycoverage for the aids.Eligibility:All applicants are asked to call HEAR Now todiscuss eligibility for the program. Please call 800648-4327.The Hearing Aids are selected by theFoundation and will be Starkey products.Starkey makes behind-the-ear, in-the-ear andbone conduction hearing aids. A one yearwarranty is provided. Check with theIncome Guidelines: All income figures are based on audiologist to make sure that these hearingtake-home wages (net income) from all members of aids will meet your child’s needs beforethe householdpursuing this option.Size ofFamilyUnit123HEARNOWIncomeGuidelines 17,867 23,957 30,047Size ofFamilyUnit456HEARNOWIncomeGuidelines 36,137 42,227 48,317NOTE: For family units with more than 6 members,add 6,090 for each additional member.HEAR Now also considers family assets such assavings, retirement funds, life insurance andannuities.Cost to the FamilyThe family is responsible for finding a hearing healthcare professional willing to work with them and theHEAR Now Program. HEAR Now does not providea list of hearing health care professionals or makereferrals to practitioners. Check the listings in yourlocal phone book under “Audiologists” and/or“Hearing Aids” and call to ask if they are a HEARNow provider. If they are a provider, ask if they cantake you on as a new client. Most PediatricAudiologists in Arizona are not participatingproviders and you may be responsible for the costof the fitting and programming of the hearing aids.Additional Information and Application:This information is current as of March 2010.You can access the website link below formore current information and to access theapplication process or call 1(800) 328-9602.www.sotheworldmayhear.org
Lions Affordable Hearing AidProgram (AHAP)The Lions AHAP is rooted in a continuum of caremodel involving hearing care professionals andfocuses on low-income beneficiaries. The hearingaid is one part of the solution to hearing impairment.Also needed are the services of hearing careprofessionals to conduct tests, order ear molds,program the hearing aids and do follow-up care.Currently Lions AHAP is distributing two hearingaids through a partnership with Rexton, Inc. incooperation with participating Lions foundations,districts and clubs, and hearing care professionals.Lions clubs, districts and hearing programs are ableto order one or both aids from Lions AHAP.How does the Lions AHAP program work?Sertoma ClubsSertoma stands for SERvice TO MAnkind.Sertoma’s primary focus is on assisting themore than 50 million people with hearinghealth issues and educating the public on theissues surrounding hearing health. In order toachieve these goals Sertoma has undertakena multi-faceted approach by launchingprograms that address both the treatment andprevention aspects of hearing health.Communicative Disorders ScholarshipsThere is a 1,000 Scholarship for hard ofhearing or deaf students that have clinicallysignificant bilateral hearing loss. Graduatinghigh school seniors or undergraduate studentsmust be pursuing a four year degree.A Lions club decides the eligibility of a person, andthe person is tested by a hearing care professional.The Lions club sends the order to Lions AHAP, whonotifies the manufacturer. The hearing aid isshipped to the hearing care professional listed onthe order form. The hearing care professional fitsthe hearing aid for the person. Individuals cannotapply directly to Lions Club InternationalFoundation; he/she must work through his/her localLions club.There is also a 1,000 Scholarship forgraduate students who have been acceptedinto a graduate level program in audiology orspeech-language pathology at institutions inthe United States. Sertoma provides morefunds nationally for graduate level study incommunicative disorders than any other singleorganization.EligibilitySertoma Affiliates are non-profit hearing andspeech facilities that have established arelationship with a Sertoma Club or have anindependent relationship with Sertoma. Thisrelationship results in greater service to peoplewith communicative disorders by supportingthe professional staff and programs of theaffiliate.The criteria for eligibility are income-based. Thisincludes using the federal government's povertyguidelines and adjusting it to the local economy.The hearing aids are for the segment of thepopulation who would never be able to purchasehearing aids.Each club has their own criteria and applicationprocess. For further information on the program,contact the Lions AHAP office at (630) 468-6771 ore-mail LionsAHAP@lionsclubs.orgYou can also contact a club near you by going tothe Lions International website: www.lionsclubs.orgOther Services:There are 7 Sertoma clubs in Arizona.Locations and contact information can befound on their website or by calling 1 (816)333-8300.www.sertoma.org
Community Hearing AidProgram, Inc. (CHAP)CHAP is an independent charity funded by St.Luke’s Health Initiatives, BHHS Legacy Foundation,Board of Visitors, Virginia G. Piper CharitableHealth Trust, Sertoma Clubs and private donations.EligibilityThe criteria for eligibility are based onincome,hearing loss, and residency status. Totalhousehold income for the past 12 months is takeninto consideration. Income received fromwages/salary, pension, Social Security, childsupport and any other income by any wage earnerin the family is taken into consideration. TotalHousehold income must be at or below 200% of theFederal Poverty Level (FPL).Additional Cost to the FamilyThere is an application fee of 75 per hearing aidrequested that is due along with the application andsupporting documentation. There are no additionalcosts.HEARING AIDSThe CHAP Preferred Audiologist who provides thefitting will select the most appropriate hearing aid forthe patient’s loss and listening demands. Hearingaids are both behind the ear and in the ear models.The majority of aids fit are new; however, there area few very high end digital aids that have beencertified to manufacturer specification that can berequested. All repairs to CHAP hearing aids arepaid for by CHAP. If the hearing aid is old and/ordeemed no longer repairable, an application for anew hearing aid would be required for areplacement aid.ApplicationsApplications can be downloaded from the CHAPwebsite www.communityhearingaidprogram.orgIf you have questions you can call Kimberly LangerRoedel @ 623-748-8814 or emailtheearlady@cox.netThis list was compiled toassist families in obtainingfunding to cover the costs ofhearing aids. Theinformation should beverified before decisions aremade as programs, fundingand eligibility may changeover time. Talk with youraudiologist about otheroptions.If you have questions orwould like to update theinformation you can contact:Arizona Early HearingDetection and InterventionState Coordinator:Lylis E Olsen, MS, MPH602-690-3975lylisolsen@msn.com
cost to recipients. Hearing services, including hearing aids, earmolds and fitting are covered for qualified APIPA-CRS recipients. Hearing aids may be replaced every three years or more often if there is a significant change in hearing. Hearing aids are covered for loss or damage by a two year replacement warranty. If the original hearing aid(s)
