- How many French people are affected by hearing problems?
- Hearing aids and 100% health reform: how does it work?
- Which models are affected?
- What are the prices of hearing aids?
- What are the conditions for reimbursement?
How many French people are affected by hearing problems?
Approximately 7 million French people have hearing problems : the “hearing gene” concerns 11.2% of the national population. In 88% of cases, “bad hearing” is the result of the natural aging of the auditory system: we speak of presbycusis.
Nevertheless, only one out of four hearing-impaired French people wears a hearing aid: in December 2016, a survey by the Competition Authority revealed that one million French people gave up getting a hearing aid…
The reason ? The price of hearing aids. On average, the cost of a hearing aid is 1,550 euros… per ear. And 80% of deaf people need to equip both ears: in the end, the bill rises to €3,100. In October 2015, the consumer defense association UFC-Que-Choisir denounced the “scandalous income of hearing aid professionalsexplaining that hearing aids were, on average, resold for 4.5 times their purchase price.
Hearing aids and 100% health reform: how does it work?
Since January 1, 2021, certain hearing aids have been marketed in “100% healthy” or “rest at zero charge”: this means that, for these hearing aids, reimbursement by Social Security and complementary health insurance will be full – the patient will have nothing to pay.
Hearing aids are now “segregated” into two categories: class 1 (equipment with no remainder payable by the patient, 100% Health offer) and the class 2 (equipment at free price, excluding 100% Health offer). Of the 100 hearing aids marketed at the time of the implementation of the reform, 12 models disappeared, 12 were placed in class 1 and 76 in class 2. It is class 1 hearing aids that now benefit of the “remainder at zero charge”.
The 100% Health basket is made up of a wide selection of hearing aids : in-ear, with remote earpiece or behind-the-ear with at least 12 adjustment channels and numerous functions (anti-tinnitus, wind noise reduction, anti-Larsen, Bluetooth system, etc.).
Which models are affected by 100% Health?
THE class 1 hearing aids are those concerned by 100% Health and currently correspond to 30% of purchases of hearing aids. All types of devices are involved: classic earloop, remote earloop, intra-auricular.
These are quality devices: they are placed in or behind the ear, they offer 12 adjustment channels (or equivalent) and sound amplification of at least 30 decibels (dB). Question comfort, they will offer at least three options among the following:
- An anti-tinnitus system;
- Wireless connectivity;
- Adaptive microphone directivity;
- Widened bandwidth (greater than 6000 Hz);
- A wind noise reducer;
- A loudness learning function;
- Binaural synchronization;
- An anti-reverberation system.
Additionally, Class 1 hearing aids will offer a minimum of 30 days of trial before purchase, a four-year warranty, as well as annual follow-up.
What are the prices of hearing aids?
Class 1 hearing aids are capped with a decreasing level over time. Concretely, they have a maximum selling price of 950 euros for adults and 1,400 euros for young people under 20.
This cost is now covered 100% by Health Insurance (Social Security) and complementary health insurance. It should be noted that the complementary health insurance which supports the “100% health” for hearing aids are those which operate on the basis of a “responsible contract” and the complementary health insurance (CSS). If you benefit from collective health insurance through your employer, the contract is necessarily “responsible”.
Class 2 hearing aids have more advanced technical characteristics: however, they will not be fully reimbursed by Social Security and complementary health insurance. The tariffs are free, but there is a device, decided jointly by the audiology professionals, for controlling the evolution of the tariffs which imposes a limit sale price in the event of an excessive evolution of the tariffs. The cost of coverage by the contracts of complementary insurers (responsible contracts) limits total coverage (Compulsory and complementary health insurance) to €1,700 per ear to be fitted.
What are the conditions for reimbursement?
In order to benefit from the “remainder at zero charge” on class 1 hearing aids or from partial reimbursement on class 2 hearing aids, the patient must be in possession of a arrangement from an ENT doctor.
To know.Since January 1, 2021, audioprosthetists have been required to offer at least one class 1 hearing aid in the standard hearing aid quote.
Sources:
- The 100% Health audiology reformMinistry of Health and Prevention, January 2021
- Press release Syndicate of audioprosthetists (SDA).
