Wow, CI's are expensive

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NHDeafSpouse

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I just googled around to find the cost of cochlear implants for my husband's deteriorating Meniere's condition, and they run between $60,000 and $100,000. Since we have no health insurance, I'm falling off my chair. Looks like that isn't going to be a possibility. Medicare is 15 years off.

Wow.
 
NHDeafSpouse said:
I just googled around to find the cost of cochlear implants for my husband's deteriorating Meniere's condition, and they run between $60,000 and $100,000. Since we have no health insurance, I'm falling off my chair. Looks like that isn't going to be a possibility. Medicare is 15 years off.

Wow.
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Well, if he is disabled by it, and goes on SSDI he will get Medicare or Medicaid and they will pay.
 
If your husband is interested, then I would suggest that you at least contact your implant center as they may be aware of alternative methods of paying for the implant other than through medical insurance.
Good luck,
Rick
 
Ah! Didn't know that - thanks.

It's kind of funny because if he goes on SSDI he can qualify to get CI's, but that might kick him back off SSDI if it restores his hearing?

Edit: Thanks Rick. Altho I can't imagine paying any kind of payments on a $60k-100k procedure... yikes. That's like buying a house.
 
Botti's right. SSDI and Medicaid. If that doesn't work yet, try your local vocational rehabilitation office. Is there a local deaf center in your area? They can provide more guidance.
 
No, your husband does not get kicked off SSDI again. He still has Meinere's disease even if he gets a CI. I'm sure that someone here with Meinere's can give you information about it.
 
Even some health insurance plans do not cover CIs. My husband's insurance wont cover them.
 
NHDeafSpouse said:
Ah! Didn't know that - thanks.

It's kind of funny because if he goes on SSDI he can qualify to get CI's, but that might kick him back off SSDI if it restores his hearing?

Edit: Thanks Rick. Altho I can't imagine paying any kind of payments on a $60k-100k procedure... yikes. That's like buying a house.
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NHDeafSpouse,

It should not as there are, and probably some on this forum, many ci users who are still on SSDI.

One note, the ci is not going to "restore" your husband's hearing but may give him access to sounds that will allow him to "hear" similar to what he heard before. There is a thread going on right now about zebadee who was hearing and lost his hearing several months ago in an accident. He was activated just last week with his ci and he is relaying his experiences. there are also several other adults with cis participating in the thread. Please check it out.
Rick
 
Have your husband had his hearing tested yet?

If his hearing loss is profound then he could qualify for CI.

Best apply for SSDI and contact the vocational rehab and just ask questions everywhere.
 
Miss-Delectable said:
Have your husband had his hearing tested yet?

If his hearing loss is profound then he could qualify for CI.

Best apply for SSDI and contact the vocational rehab and just ask questions everywhere.
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Yes, best to contact Vocational Rehab and see what they can do for you.

Medicare should cover them.
 
I have Meniere's...... I am not on SSDI but I do know that Meniere's still qualifies after a CI.

Medicaid should take care of it......However VR may only pay if the intent is to go back to work.
 
Yeah, I did call SSDI since this is coming down the pike, and they said his income had to drop to $1000 a month because of the Meniere's before he could apply for SSDI. Of course, that would mean below subsistence level, so that won't happen until he's pretty much lost his hearing completely. One side has no hearing, the other side is getting worse, he has hearing tests done by his ENT, and his next appt. is scheduled in 3 months. Hope it's a slow process, no guarantees. Just thinking ahead. (Self-employed for 25+ yrs., has to talk to customers on the phone, do estimates, etc.)
 
The reason Cochlear Implants are "so expensive"-surgery/hospital care and expensive mapping exercise by the audiologist plus the cost of the Implant itself.

How all of this is handled -cost wise-in a specific area of where one lives-how much/who picks up the costs has to be determined-specifically? It doesn't help if another state/province/country does something different.

Where I live-Toronto Ontario-OHIP( Ontario Health Insurance plan) picks up the entire costs for 3 years if approved by a designated Cochlear Implant section of specified hospital. There is 5 for the entire province. Changed in the future? I have mentioned before where I was " processed" at-Sunnybrook/Toronto that has implanted 850 people over an 18 year period. At present time that can implant only 70 a year. They have a "rejection rate" of 60% for one reason or other.
Fortunately I wasn't rejected.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
NHDeafSpouse said:
Ah! Didn't know that - thanks.

It's kind of funny because if he goes on SSDI he can qualify to get CI's, but that might kick him back off SSDI if it restores his hearing?

Edit: Thanks Rick. Altho I can't imagine paying any kind of payments on a $60k-100k procedure... yikes. That's like buying a house.
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It could possibly be responsible for reversal of the decision to provide SSDI. It can be a mixed bag. One needs to realistically examine the cost and the benefit. For instance, if one does not receive enough benefit from the CI to actually improve their hearing to a great degree, but it is determined that they are higher functioning based on the fact that they have a CI and get certain readings in isolated conditions...is it worth the risk of having SSDI discontinued?
 
Can SSDI be cut off if a person gets a CI?
 
shel90 said:
Can SSDI be cut off if a person gets a CI?
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No. You are still legally deaf even with a CI.

BTW: got the statements from my insurance company for my recent 2nd implant:

$3500 for the doctor's work (2 hours)
$1500 for the anesthesiologist (2 hours)

Implant, processors (2), remote, misc surgery equipment, etc: $71000.

Rough total: $76000.

This does not include the hospital fees yet.
 
Any person that considers a Cochlear Implant operation would appear to believe the benefits of hearing in their life-now and in the future- outweighs the risk of remaining "deaf" from the implant not working for them specifically. That risk is inherent in most operations.

No opinion on- whether or not United States- SSDI is affected?

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
drphil said:
Any person that considers a Cochlear Implant operation would appear to believe the benefits of hearing in their life-now and in the future- outweighs the risk of remaining "deaf" from the implant not working for them specifically. That risk is inherent in most operations.

No opinion on- whether or not United States- SSDI is affected?

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
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Getting a cochlear implant does not impact someone receiving SSI for as another poster correctly pointed out, the person is still considered deaf under the guidelines for eligibility for SSI. However, if the cochlear implant allows the late deafened person to resume the job and income they had before they lost their hearing then SSI would not be needed. Assuming the person has gross earning of approximately $1500-1600/month.

Rick

Rick
 
Charges submitted to our insurance were just shy of 150k for bilateral implants and the workup. Although bills keep coming in.
 
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