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What is the total cost of a cochlear implant?
What does it cost? The total cost of the cochlear implant which includes equipment, surgery, and limited rehabilitation is between $20,000 and $40,000. Health insurance companies may pay for part or all of the cost depending on the plan. Many health insurance companies do not reimburse for cochlear implants at all.
Is a cochlear implant covered by insurance?
Do insurance companies pay for cochlear implants? Because cochlear implants are recognized as standard treatment for severe-to-profound nerve deafness, most insurance companies cover them. In 2004, Medicare, Medicaid, the Veteran’s Administration and other public health care plans cover cochlear implants.
Are cochlear implants painful?
Pain in the area of the implanted device can occur shortly after surgery or on long-term follow up. It has been seen in all device types. Pain may be clinically underestimated, as low VAPS grade (<5) or intermittent pain may be not reported. Low-grade infections might be a hypothesis to explain these pain.
How long does a cochlear implant surgery take?
Cochlear implant surgery is done in a hospital or clinic. The surgery lasts two to four hours. You are given medication (general anesthesia) to make you sleep during the procedure. The surgeon makes a cut behind the ear and then opens the mastoid bone.
How much do cochlear implants cost without insurance?
How much does a cochlear implant cost? Without insurance, a cochlear implant can cost between $30,000 and $50,000 on average, according to Boys Town National Research Hospital. Most insurance providers cover cochlear implants or a portion of them. The device is also covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs.
Why is cochlear implant so expensive?
Cochlear implants have an even higher price tag due to surgery that costs around $50,000 to $100,000 per one ear. More people are implanted bilaterally. Luckily many insurance companies cover surgeries but not all of them cover full price — some pay like 80\% of expenses.
How do you qualify for a cochlear implant?
To be eligible for a cochlear implant, you must have:
- Hearing loss that is so severe it interrupts spoken communication.
- Limited benefit from hearing aids as determined by specialized hearing tests.
- No medical conditions or factors that increase the risks associated with cochlear implants.
Can you hear normally after a cochlear implant?
Cochlear implants allow deaf people to receive and process sounds and speech. However, these devices do not restore normal hearing. They are tools that allow sound and speech to be processed and sent to the brain. A cochlear implant is not right for everyone.