$70k for CIs!

From my recollection, if one wants to get CI, but does not want to wait or isn't Aussie Citizen then they can get a CI for 10K. However, they only can get one brand and that's Nucleus.

Australia doesn't offer other brands.
 
ma have to agree with shel.. 90% is not 100% so it is still hit and miss.
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Not to mention that the end result varies significently. There are some people who are functionally hoh with CI, but again, end hearing varies signifificently from person to person and depends a lot on different circumstances.
 
regarding the hit or miss thing...compared to my experiences with hearing aids for someone to like the cis I think it depends on how resistant to change they are, how open-minded and stubborn to get through the "breaking in phase"

for example I had to identify the "noise" that I haven't heard for the first time or have forgotten that sound the other night when I was thinking there was something wrong with my hearing aid some strange echo sound or feedback...it was a floor heater running in the other room!!! I was relieved to turn that thing off and know now to ignore that sound...
 
Ive got to say. I think insurance companies are going to become a LOT stricter about who can/can't get CI. I think the reason why many insurance companies covered CI initially was b//c although it was expensive, not too many people qualified for it. So they could take the financial hit without it being a loss leader.
 
The FDA has set the criteria for who can and can not get an implant. While more people are getting implants it is only a small drop in the bucket for an insurance company. Far more money is spent on disease that is caused by the obesity epidemic. The FDA sets the criteria for implants and if any insurance company bases their criteria on profit they are only going to get sued.

Speaking of Profits. Anthem is in hot water for raising rates for individua subscribers by upto 39%. Anthem is not hurting. They made 4.7 BILLION in profits. This figure was from an article in the SF Chronicle from Wednesday Feb 10, 2010.
 
The FDA has set the criteria for who can and can not get an implant. While more people are getting implants it is only a small drop in the bucket for an insurance company.
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Yes, I know. However, it does seem that part of the "growth" in implants is " off label"use.
Not nessarily folks with "hoh losses" but more like people who wouldn't qualify right off the bat. (ie they can still get benifit from HAs, but can't hear well in all situtions)It's true that a lot of insurance companies/doctors use the FDA criteria as guidelines, but not strict guidelines. Heck under FDA guidelines someone with a moderately severe loss could get implanted if they used the dinky (ITE and smaller) aids for the qualifying test.
 
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