Why Will VR Pay for a Hearing Aid, But Not a Cochlear Implant?
Friday August 15, 2008
That is the question being asked by a frustrated, uninsured deaf woman unable to benefit from hearing aids, who wrote that when she asked her Vocational Rehabilitation counselor if they would pay for a cochlear implant, they replied "Vocational Rehabilitation will only pay and assist with hearing aids. They do not approve payment for cochlear implants." She wants to know how she can get her VR to pay for a cochlear implant, as she does not have any insurance.
I know that some states, such as South Dakota's Department of Rehabilitation Services, do offer some limited help for cochlear implants. Unfortunately this lady lives in a state whose VR program does not offer any help for cochlear implants. I know there are organizations she can turn to for assistance, such as Lions Clubs, but this is a problem that is going to recur for people living in states where the Vocational Rehabilitation programs do not cover cochlear implants. Has anyone succeeded in convincing VR to pay for a cochlear implant (or a hearing aid) when VR does not normally pay for that?
Related on About.com: Financial Aid for Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
Comments
hmm, i think there are way too many variables to really understand why she isn’t getting VR help. In fact, she wasn’t able to tell you why VR said no except that they said no.
I’d recommend go to the clinic, get your tests to see if you qualify, get doctors recommendations as well as proof that she can actually benefit from it, and arrange a meeting with VR.
With the bad economy, weak dollar, high gas, it just makes sense that all monies from our government are very selective and need to be sure that she will benefit from having one.
worse comes to worse, why not just see if there are other ways to find out funding than just VR? Maybe with more than one funding source, VR will be willing to help out to an extent.
I work as VR counselor for couple years. Not all states can instantly approve client’s request for CI. Mostly VR offices will discuss and determine on why client needs a CI? Is her ability to hear/use verbal communication as essential job functions. If not, then that’s out of question. What’s more, VR offices are not specialized in medical services, just rehabilitation in helping individual with disability to find an employment at competitive setting. Often I as other VR counselors would refer them to Benefit Planner or SSA office and apply for health care insurance. It should all work within their department.
Why should VR pay 75k for CI when VR could have paid 75K for tuition for one or two students? I am glad VR has common sense not to cover CI. Being Deaf is not a disease thus no fixing needed.
Well, CIs are sometimes covered by health insurance, right? Does she have health insurance? Hearing aids are not always covered by insurance - think of VR as the “gap” between insurance and reality. My health insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids, so my VR will give them to me, based on income, etc. I’m not so sure that my VR would cover cochlear implants for me because of several reasons. 1: it might be covered by insurance, whereas hearing aids are not. 2: CI is not a requirement for me to function (if a doctor gave a very strong recommendation that I wear a CI, it might be covered by VR). 3. The cost. CIs are a lot more expensive than HAs. States do not always have the money to cover CIs. 4. Limits - states put a limit on how much a hearing aid, etc., can cost, before the Governor needs to permit it, and the Governor doesn’t always sign for it. In that case, VR’s hands are tied. Lots of reasons
Since VR’s main goal (I think) is to get people to become employed, then she may have to prove that a CI is vital to get a job.
I rather VR pay for school tution instead of paying CI. Some VR refuses to pay for graduate school because it is too expensive. I have to take student loan to pay for school tuition.
theresa, I disagree with you that VR isn’t specicialized in medical services. means that you don’t know your duties. you have no business to work in VR. let someone else take care of a client and refer him/her to an audiologist! melissa chaikof knows more than you do! I’m 22 and got my CI thru my VR counselor in san diego, ca. 4 yrs ago.
VR is a waste of time. They are only good for going back to school and everything else they are suppose to do is worthless. They can’t help deaf people get jobs. I think it s time to get rid of VR and VESID. This person can get Medicare to pay for her cochlear implant and supplementary insurance to contribute for the cochlear implant operation. If this person want my help, please feel free to contact nealgolden123@yahoo.com. I will guide her to the right people for the implant.
I think VR is a waste of time too. They should cover CIs the same as hearing aids. Try check out for other medical insurances such as Aetna. Good luck!
I’ve never heard of RV. I have always had to pay for my hearing aids myself (so far, I’ve had four). I would suggest the woman apply for medicare or medicaid (whatever one it is).
I agree with Theresa. I, too, work for VR counselor for more than five years. I have tried to help deaf people to get CI but always end up with the same answer. We do not cover medical surgeries because of number one reason - lawsuit! This is not for CI only. It goes to anything such as back surgeries, bone surgeries, hair implants, and so forth. However, in our state, we do help with CI equipments, speech therapy, and so forth – just not the surgery itself. The reason it is easier to give hearing aids because all you have to do is remove it and nothing has changed. With CI, you cannot remove it and it is permanent damage.
Now, I know a lot of people who are upset with VR but we are somewhat limited to what we can offer. But there is one thing people do not understand… each states are different, each states has different funding, each states has a lot or a little vendors to use, and each states has different needs. We are here to help people who are serious about college, training, school, hearing aids, and so forth. We are trying to be creative and provide whatever we can. People come to VR for attention or take advantage of VR services or expect us to have a job ready for them to start tomorrow. It is not how we work. We help seeking for employment with you just the same how the normal hearing people find jobs for themselves except we additional providing accommodations, for example, interpreters, or c-prints, or whatever you need to communicate with the employers. I used to provide pagers to the deaf people but I stopped. Why? People are playing with their pagers on the job and got FIRED. I did not offer the pager so you can get fired. I offer the pager so you can communicate with employers. We do not have time to entertain people. And we cannot waste money as we have to help more than 200 people a year. There are a lot of people who just missed appointments with their counselors because they want to play outside, go shopping, or overslept, or go on vacation for a month and half without informing the counselor or do not even read their appointment letters. We, VR counselors, are asking for one thing from you - COMMUNICATE with your counselor! We cannot read your mind. If you have questions, all you have to do is ASK!
Also, if you don’t like your state, you can always move to another state and see what they have to offer!! Again each states are DIFFERENT.
I am sure VR is willing to pay for the hearing aids if you are eligible. Health insurance won’t pay for the hearing aids but health insurance are willing to pay for the cochlear implants. I would not want VR to pay for the cochlear implants. VR is to help/serve deaf people with the tuition, train them how to find a job and help them find a job. The person who wanted cochlear implants should have a fund-raiser to get cochlear implants. VR funds are getting tight especially with the economy being so bad and everything cost more these days.
I think VR is a waste of time sometimes. They should cover CIs the same as hearing aids. But it maybe because of the high expenses or maybe you need a serious written letter from the doctor to show proof that you really need the CI. Try finding another health insurance such as Aetco and see if they will cover CIs. Good luck!
Gonzalez, you can remove a cochlear implant. Yes, it will leave permanent damage to your head because of the hole and bone cutting, but it still can be removed. Also, every state and every jurisdiction within a state has different rules. I have gone from one VR office to another (30 min. away) and the rules are different, paying for different things. Medicare and Medicaid should cover for this woman. Because she is getting help at VR, she qualifies for both (income low, disability). VR is not required to pay for a CI, they are to pay for equiptment to get you to work (school, wheelchair, etc.)Also, VR would have helped me get a CI, but I didn’t want one at the time. That was many years ago, but nevertheless, it is still possible to get one from VR.
Having been through this already, I can assure you that messing with VR over this is a waste of time. The best way to go about this is to obtain Medicare. Now, that is tricky in itself. When one applies for Social Security benefits they can get Medicaid/Medicare, but if one is gainfully working and making a living, that’s where the rub lies. SSA wants to help people get a job, become part of the workforce, and they will offer Medicare as part of that agreement with the client to seek training or other programs to help that happen. So, if this lady is working but is uninsured, depending on her income and the number of years she is employed, she may or may not get these benefits. If she does get Medicare, it is a simple matter to get a hearing eval and a letter from a doctor stating that she will benefit from a CI, take it to Medicare, and it is usually a go from there. Good luck!
I wonder if anyone has anything good to say about VR? I myself am a VR counselor for the deaf and hard of hearing as well as a previous VR client. I have benefited greatly from services from DRS, so I wonder why everyone thinks that VR is a “waste of time.” The main goal of VR is to ensure that people with disabilties obtain employment-successful employment. If a client needs a Cochlear implant device to assist with employment, then it is the VR counselors responsibility to look into how “needed” a Cochlear implant device is and IF the Cochlear implant will be successful. VR isn’t going to spend a huge amount of money on someone who is not going to get employment, so why should a VR Counselor be at fault or be considered a “waste of time?” In order for someone to obtain hearing aids, the same rule applies..Hearing aids are purchased only IF they are beneficial to the person in their employment goals. Also, I want to point out that most states have the law of children recieving free hearing aids and hearing screenings.
Now.. I want to say that supplemental insurance is beneficial, HOWEVER, this is mainly for people who ARE NOT able to work. There are different kinds of supplemental insurance, one is for people who have worked before and paid taxes and the other is for people who are not able to work-period.