Alternate Source 4 Rechargable CI Batteries?

DeafDavidsMom

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Does anyone know of a place to purchase rechargeable CI batteries for less than 200+ dollars that the BIG companies charge? Would be most helpful. Also please share experience with getting insurance to help pay. Have Healthnet HMO. Thanks kindly to all. My son David was implanted Dec 3rd, turned on Jan 4th and already does this: From his AVT (Yes, I am stunned & proud & grateful to GOD!)

"...here is how AMAZING David did today with his cochlear implant ONLY - using audition ONLY, without looking:
he heard all 6 Ling sounds, imitated 3/6...he identified the differenece between long/short sounds, high and low pitches, loud and normal intensities, and even could discriminat...e between words! David discriminated between words with different lengths, same consonants and different vowels, and words with consonants differing in manner (nose vs rose vs toes) and voicing (bear vs pear) and even place (boat vs goat). He did exceptional! He even had some comprehension of words using a bridge-set (topic known)....! He is incredible...the cochlear implant is definitely working well for him...he is a GOLD STAR user! He worked diligently for 2 hours using only his cochlear implant and didn't complain once! He is continuing to amaze me! Good work!!!!!!!"
 
Isn't the recharger unit and 4 batteries included with your implant?
I got that with the "external package" from Advanced Bionics- over 3 years ago, Still using them every single day. they last about one day-7.00am to 9.00pm approximate- with 3 being recharged all the time.

Glad to read the quick progress of your son David since activation.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
Does anyone know of a place to purchase rechargeable CI batteries for less than 200+ dollars that the BIG companies charge? Would be most helpful. Also please share experience with getting insurance to help pay. Have Healthnet HMO. Thanks kindly to all. My son David was implanted Dec 3rd, turned on Jan 4th and already does this: From his AVT (Yes, I am stunned & proud & grateful to GOD!)

"...here is how AMAZING David did today with his cochlear implant ONLY - using audition ONLY, without looking:
he heard all 6 Ling sounds, imitated 3/6...he identified the differenece between long/short sounds, high and low pitches, loud and normal intensities, and even could discriminat...e between words! David discriminated between words with different lengths, same consonants and different vowels, and words with consonants differing in manner (nose vs rose vs toes) and voicing (bear vs pear) and even place (boat vs goat). He did exceptional! He even had some comprehension of words using a bridge-set (topic known)....! He is incredible...the cochlear implant is definitely working well for him...he is a GOLD STAR user! He worked diligently for 2 hours using only his cochlear implant and didn't complain once! He is continuing to amaze me! Good work!!!!!!!"

Just curious - you didn't sit in with him at the AVT?
 
"...here is how AMAZING David did today with his cochlear implant ONLY - using audition ONLY, without looking:
he heard all 6 Ling sounds, imitated 3/6...he identified the differenece between long/short sounds, high and low pitches, loud and normal intensities, and even could discriminat...e between words! David discriminated between words with different lengths, same consonants and different vowels, and words with consonants differing in manner (nose vs rose vs toes) and voicing (bear vs pear) and even place (boat vs goat). He did exceptional! He even had some comprehension of words using a bridge-set (topic known)....! He is incredible...the cochlear implant is definitely working well for him...he is a GOLD STAR user! He worked diligently for 2 hours using only his cochlear implant and didn't complain once! He is continuing to amaze me! Good work!!!!!!!"
That's good to know! :)
 
Isn't the recharger unit and 4 batteries included with your implant?
I got that with the "external package" from Advanced Bionics- over 3 years ago, Still using them every single day. they last about one day-7.00am to 9.00pm approximate- with 3 being recharged all the time.

Glad to read the quick progress of your son David since activation.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
Yes, the batteries and recharger also came with the package from Cochlear when I got the Freedom in 2008.
 
I understand an individual battery costs about $100 to $140 each depending on size- here in Toronto. Supposedly they last about 4 to 5 years.

Does a google search help to find other battery distributors?


Implanted Advanced Bionics-harmony activated Aug/07
 
I do not believe they can be re-distributed by a company for re-sale. But you may wanna check e-bay as some ppl may not have a use for their rechargeables or they may not like them and want to re-sell them. Other than that I think if you want extra you have to buy them directly from the CI company
 
Hey, that is great news. Glad to hear that he is doing so well. If you have not already, I would suggest posting your question both on the CI Circle as well as any forum your son's ci manufacturer may have.

Keep posting this great news!!
Rick
 
Whether Cochlear Freedom rechargeable batteries are "similar" to AB rechargeables-no idea. I have used the original 4 since Aug/07 and they still work. As I have recently-Aug10-got the entire external package which is guaranteed for 3 years from Global Hearing here in Toronto. They sell AB Batteries there as well. I was directed by Sunnybrook to check them as well as Union Hearing aids/Toronto. Global was much cheaper than Union.
This is part of ADP programme here in Ontario.

Green427 may be much better given the circumstances.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
I received 2 rechargeable batteries with his Cochlear Nucleus 5. I was told by my HMO that batteries are covered. I find it very hard to believe and have asked for that in writing. Does anyone get their batteries covered by their HMO? Also to answer the question about being in the AVT session, yes I always go with my son to AVT.

Thanks so much for welcoming me into the community here and providing so much feedback. It helps heal the wounds I received upon being thrown into the "deaf community" several years ago.

So, from all your posts I gather no one knows of an alternate source for rechargeable batteries. I got Cochlear catalog in the mail the other day and almost fell out of my chair at the prices. It is practically criminal what they are charging.

Blessings to you all!
 
I received 2 rechargeable batteries with his Cochlear Nucleus 5. I was told by my HMO that batteries are covered. I find it very hard to believe and have asked for that in writing. Does anyone get their batteries covered by their HMO? Also to answer the question about being in the AVT session, yes I always go with my son to AVT.

Thanks so much for welcoming me into the community here and providing so much feedback. It helps heal the wounds I received upon being thrown into the "deaf community" several years ago.

So, from all your posts I gather no one knows of an alternate source for rechargeable batteries. I got Cochlear catalog in the mail the other day and almost fell out of my chair at the prices. It is practically criminal what they are charging.

Blessings to you all!

Thanks for this news, I wasn't aware rechargeable batteries are covered by some HMOs (if they fail within the first year, I think Cochlear covers them under warranty -- but that's a different story). I'm going to check with my HMO, although we still have the same rechargeables from 3 years ago in working order, and the new N5s came with a new set of rechargeables.

I've paid out of pocket to replace one that we thought we'd lost, but the original was later found by the school. I've compared the one time costs against disposables, and so I didn't find the cost all that criminal given that it was a once-in-3-years expense and they last so long. It would hurt quite a bit if we lost them regularly, though, but that just puts the pressure on us to be extra mindful of locking the battery onto the processor and using the funky processor covers, which provides a bit of extra protection against loss.
 
You may want to double check the covering of the batteries..I would think that disposables would be the ones covered not the rechargeables but its possible
 
My daughter gets 30 disposable batteries per month under our medical plan.
Rick
 
You may want to double check the covering of the batteries..I would think that disposables would be the ones covered not the rechargeables but its possible

I think it is the other way around. My insurance company will cover the proprietary Freedom rechargeable batteries (with a medical necessity letter from the doctor) if the old ones fail. (I had two diffferent insurance companies in the past with similar policies) They will NOT, however, cover disposable batteries. You might have to jump through a lot of hoops and get legal assistance, though, since the insurance companies will do their best to discourage you.
 
Awesome News that I hope helps others too

I was able to get my insurance company to send me a letter of benefits. I have the lowest of the lowest of health insurance. The letter states that we have full coverage access to an unlimited amount of CI batteries under our prosthesis benefits! Look into it guys. At first I was told no, they were not covered, but as I am pretty hard headed, I asked for it in writing and then the really looked into it and found I get full coverage.
 
Healthnet does cover CI batteries. It took a bit of pushing them to get it straight, because at first they told me no, but I now have a letter of benefits stating: Unlimited number of CI batteries are fully covered under the Prosthesis benefit. Hope this helps other to investigate this option
 
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