What’s untreated hearing loss costing your organization? In laying out the premise for World Hearing Day — March 3rd — the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that unaddressed hearing loss comes with a global price tag of nearly $1 trillion U.S. dollars. This dilemma involves people of all ages, from infants to the elderly.
Although World Hearing Day is globally focused, the WHO’s findings are consistent with the situation in the U.S. Here, an estimated 14.6 million individuals live with untreated, disabling hearing loss, which translates to an annual cost of $133 billion, or $9,100 per person, states an article in The Hearing Review.
Viewed from another perspective, individuals with untreated hearing loss incurred, on average, 46% higher total health care costs — or $22,434 per patient— versus their normal-hearing peers over the course of a decade, with health plans covering $20,403 of this amount, according to a John Hopkins study. Documented comorbidities of hearing loss include depression, dementia, social isolation and injury-causing falls.
Supporting the goal of ‘Hearing care for all'
The theme for World Hearing Day 2024 is “Changing mindsets: Let's make ear and hearing care a reality for all!" By offering a hearing benefit, Medicare Advantage plans, as well as all other plans, can play a pivotal role in achieving this objective. A hearing benefit makes hearing aids and related services more affordable, extending hearing health care to millions of Americans.
More Choices, Better Outcomes
If your organization is considering the addition or replacement of a hearing benefit, Amplifon Hearing Health Care published a white paper entitled “Hearing Health Care: More Choices, Better Outcomes” to help guide your decision.
We also encourage you to share the facts about hearing loss and hearing health care, along with information about the availability of a hearing benefit, with your members. The Amplifon website contains a wealth of educational articles for consumers; click here to peruse a broad range of topics, ranging from hearing loss prevention and detection to guidance with making the most of a hearing benefit.
Good hearing matters
