Hearing Aids Costing Upwards of $6000 - Is It Just Me or Are They a Total Rip?

mickey9876 on 20/03/2023 - 13:13
Last edited 20/03/2023 - 13:28 by 1 other user

My old man just got a few quotes to get hearing aids and they start around $4k to 12k!

I tried on the ones that my mom has for shiz and giggles and it just sounded just like my airpods/sony noise cancelling headphones but on the "Transaparent" /voice mode where voice is amplified and other background noise slightly dampened.

I get medical grade stuff are expensive, but to be honest in the last year I have fixed mum's hearing aid disconnecting from the tv (it came with a transmitter to connect to tv) and the argument that medical grade stuff need to work all the time vs consumer grade stuff doesn't really hold all the time.

I feel like they are paying old people tax where if it wasn't for me, they were just going to approve the payment from their retirement funds.

General Discussion Hearing Aids

Comments

  • AleBeerenhoff on 20/03/2023 - 13:29
    +1

    Symptom of a captive audience maybe. What else are people to do? Same applies for many of those things that cost more than what you might think is reasonable - weddings, boats, mobility, learning diverse, etc.

  • akrotohur on 20/03/2023 - 13:43
    +5

    I heard Costco prices on hearing aids are very competitive, if you're in Auckland.

    • Foodie on 21/03/2023 - 00:59

      Might be cheaper to fly up there, get a membership and buy them

    • Kate1 on 21/03/2023 - 07:41
      +1

      Yes, Costco are a lot cheaper, though, they don't do Cross hearing aids if thats what you need. They also don't do the Acc subsidy at this stage. You can still get the Ministry of Health small subsidy.

  • Drcspy on 21/03/2023 - 07:34

    I got quoted between $3,000 - $11,000 by Bay Audiology I think it was, and I've since read of people saying that their upgrade hearing aids have been quoted at up to $18,000. This is ridiculous. Yeah like the OP I"ve found that ear buds do the trick for FAR FAR less cost. I did a bit of research and as I don't have Apple devices and didn't want to buy them unless I HAD to I went Samsung. I got Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (original version NOT the Pro2 which aren't as good). They have great functionality and only cost about $250 Pricespy: https://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=5682448 (as usual Noel Lemons is much more expensive). Anyway as I say I did some research:

    https://www.samsung.com/my/members/whats-new/galaxy-buds-pro….

    This works well for me. The Mrs no longer complains that I can't hear her, I don't have to cup my ear with my hand to hear the Tv and ordinary everyday situations voices and other stuff are much easier to hear.

    I DO indeed think that hearing aids are ridiculously overpriced and theres NO way I'll pay that sort of money when there are many different, competing, devices available for WAY cheaper. Do your research people.

    Apple buds pro are good so I read (but you need an Apple device phone/ipad to get them working well.
    Samsung Buds Pro are good and you DON'T need a samsung device to set them up - if you have a Samsung device there is a hearing test you can run from your Samsung phone for example and you can if you're playing music get 360 audio (this is pretty much a gimmick really I did it on the Mrs phone and it's "Meh" lol). The hearing test wasn't really necessary. Just install the Samsung Wearable app on your phone, (my phones a xiaomi right now and it works well with this), and then go thru the setup stuff. For hearing assist set the "Ambient" sound function to full amplification. Works for me.

    Nuheara is an Oz company who make hearing buds specifically targeted at hearing loss. I don't know how good they are but I think they have reasonable reviews.

    Seriously - paying $250 for some earbuds which have a LOT of functionalities, (hear better, play music very well if you want, read your notifications to you, auto answer phone calls, and much more), is a FAR better proposition than paying a hearing clinic thousands of dollars for something similar. Theres NO way I'd pay those silly prices !

    • mickey9876 on 21/03/2023 - 10:31

      I agree totally, I mean the buds may have less battery life but I'm sure you can get 20 of the buds and still work out cheaper

  • kiwical on 21/03/2023 - 07:38
    +1

    Service and support. Doesn't the cost include you/them going back and getting it fitted, programmed etc? Batteries if needed? Trials? Follow up appointments? Think of braces and that cost. You are also paying for the massively expensive equipment these guys need to properly test your hearing.

    ACC/subsidies. Many people still get them "free." Which is to say that we taxpayers pay the bill. They know this so charge accordingly. They then have to have a huge retail price to justify what they charge Governments?

    • mickey9876 on 21/03/2023 - 10:31

      Subsidy was around 450 out of 7000 approximate quote

      • Aba22 on 21/03/2023 - 12:58

        The subsidy is $1022.22 for both ears, unless you have already claimed in the previous 6 years ($511.11 per ear if only getting one hearing aid). Not sure where the $450 came from.

        • mickey9876 on 21/03/2023 - 15:17

          Good question, I'm not sure I'll check with them

  • Jeepjockey on 21/03/2023 - 12:10
    +1

    Could always check Specksavers. They will be more expensive than just buying wireless earbuds but probably cheaper than Bay Audiology etc. Doesn't cost anything to check out though.

    https://www.specsavers.co.nz/hearing/hearing-aids/digital-he…

    • mickey9876 on 21/03/2023 - 15:17

      Good idea, thanks!

  • nzmax on 21/03/2023 - 16:53
    +1

    Yes. It is the same with other things too medical related. Lack of competition and a captive audience. They need a market disrupter. My dad has them, and they were expensive and seem really fragile. The bluetooth function is hit and miss. The build quality doesn't seem up to Apple quality either.

  • bren on 22/03/2023 - 09:55

    Hubby's are $2750 each. Just had to buy a replacement. Successful claimed on insurance. His are paid and maintained by ACC.

  • Fawxy on 22/03/2023 - 12:21
    +1

    There is a large and (much more) affordable market for nearly new/used hearing aids. Most audiologists will still program them even if you don't buy them from them new.

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