What is the cost of CI?

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Johnjoe1011

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Ok I am starting the evaluation process with Ear consultants of Georgia. They asked me what was my insurance company I told them "United Health". They said, "yes we take it". So my question is what is the cost of the CI? Let's say i want the latest technology like the Hi Resolution from Bionic ear.

I do know the following; cost of CI is around $33k. But insurance covers alot, how much is alot that is what i am trying to find out. Just looking for ball park numbers for people that have done the CI and insurance covers. Just want the out of pocket amount.

Also i saw a DVD HiResolution from Bionic ear sent me about the benefits of the implant and i can't wait to get mine.

JohnJoe
 
When my daughter was implanted last sept, the freedom CI cost around $38,000. The surgery and hospital bills were around another 5-10K. I do not know about others that have either had the surgery for themselves, or for a child, but our insurance covered all of the cost.
We are currently in the process of getting our daughters other ear implanted, and it will be the same thing, ins. covers it. This time though, we have had to fight with the ins. co.
 
between 30 to 65K Depend on the location I guess. I haven't got mine yet. Call your healht insurance to DOUBLE check and get the surgery approval paper too. I would do the same. ;)

Good luck!!!
 
The total cost is anywhere from $45,000/$50,000 on up. It does depend on the location. I heard it could go over $75,000.

Yea, I agree with LT to check what your health insurance will cover. That way you know what you are getting into and what it is expected from you financially. Some have out of pocket costs and other don't. For me, I had about $2,000 out of pocket costs which was very reasonable for the return on my investment! :D It was interesting as we saved up that amount for a digital HA and ended up putting the money on the CI instead. It worked out extremely well!
 
Agreed...and make sure to get the surgery approval. I've heard horror story. So best is to get that to be safe and that you already approved and let insurance pay for it. You may pay small amount out of your pocket. I do have Medicare and now Blue Choice. SO it should cover all. Maybe I pay small amount I don't know yet. Once I get the insurance card, then I will find out the surgery date will be. I also will stop by and get the surgery approval. I don't want to pay so much money on it.



sr171soars said:
The total cost is anywhere from $45,000/$50,000 on up. It does depend on the location. I heard it could go over $75,000.

Yea, I agree with LT to check what your health insurance will cover. That way you know what you are getting into and what it is expected from you financially. Some have out of pocket costs and other don't. For me, I had about $2,000 out of pocket costs which was very reasonable for the return on my investment! :D It was interesting as we saved up that amount for a digital HA and ended up putting the money on the CI instead. It worked out extremely well!
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My wife recently had her CI Surgery & the 1st bill that we got was $67,000
App. prior to that the hearing test, cat scan, etc..was all together about $2,000 still more bills to come I'm sure. But I believe it could get up to $100,000 all together with the follow-ups, etc..
 
Oh BTW my insurance covered all that $67,000 except $997. of it. Which I didn't think was that bad:)
 
Why of course! It is best to have grants or insurance to cover. That's why I am AVOIDING 20% from my Medicare so I knew I may pay around appox. 10K so I prefer to have 2nd health insurance to cover the rest. :)
JLFWildKat said:
Yes indeed, otherwise I wouldn't have known how I'd pay for it:eek3:
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How much your insurance covers would depend on your deductible and co-pays.

In my case I had to cover the 500$ deductible, I then had to pay the up to$2000/person. So I probably paid about $2500. It's hard to say since they cover stuff based on a 20/80 plan. But the most I'd pay per year for health care is 2500. At least that's always been the way I've understood it. So the earlier in your year (my insurance company conciders jan-dec a year) you have surgery the less you'll pay for yourself during the 'rest' of the year.

Oh my previous insurance company would concider procedures done in the last 3 months of the year as part of the next years deductible/copays. Not sure if many companies do that.
 
When Lilly had her CI surgery, we had blue cross insurance. Our deductible was a whole $10. We now have her on my insurance GHP (God Help us Plan). They refused everything. After a long fight, they agreed to cover the medical expenses but not the cost of the equipment. That comes out to about $5,000 for them, and $50 for us! NOT ACCEPTABLE! I considered a further fight and forcing them to pay through law suits. Instead, my employer shopped for new insurance with a requirement for covering CI and surgery. Our HR person and the broker we use, convinced our new insurance (Aetna) to cover the bilatteral implant! While reading the fine print, we discovered a small section that said Bilatteral CI is considered experimental and not yet proven to work. Fearing the worst, I contacted the broker and brought this to his attention. After checking into it, he is saying that Aetna is still going to cover everytthing. Im cautiously optimistic!
 
I was fortunate enough to be in the clinical trials for the Freedom, so Cochlear covered the surgery and equipment. I've only had to pay for the trips to/from my audie, so I consider myself to be *very* lucky.
 
Yea, its expensive but most of them are cover by insurance but VIVA isn't cover them, even cannot cover for update but can cover on first CI including first surgery.
 
neecy said:
I was fortunate enough to be in the clinical trials for the Freedom, so Cochlear covered the surgery and equipment. I've only had to pay for the trips to/from my audie, so I consider myself to be *very* lucky.
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You got free medical center? right?
 
LakeTahoe said:
Why of course! It is best to have grants or insurance to cover. That's why I am AVOIDING 20% from my Medicare so I knew I may pay around appox. 10K so I prefer to have 2nd health insurance to cover the rest. :)
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If DHB65 got job then supposed to cover on you and kids.
 
Pacman said:
You got free medical center? right?
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I'm not sure what you are asking - I had my surgery done in a normal hospital, and the bill was picked up by Cochlear because I was part of their Clinical Trial. Otherwise I would have had to pay.
 
neecy said:
I'm not sure what you are asking - I had my surgery done in a normal hospital, and the bill was picked up by Cochlear because I was part of their Clinical Trial. Otherwise I would have had to pay.
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I thought Canada has universal health center (free medical) unlike in USA, that people can get service for free for save their life and all cover are by government funds.
 
i had so many bills regarding to my surgery. but they all totaled up to nearly $111,000 plus follow-up and mappings.. and i only need to pay few thousand out of pocket and the insurance covers the rest.. i am fourentally that the insurance pays the most and i get a discount on health bill of 80%. after my insurance pays most of them.

mappings tend to cost $253 here and my insurance pays 80%. however i'm planning on getting 2nd insurance through state called "disability employee insurance plan" so i won't have to pay any cost at all for future appointments,repairs, etc.
 
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