killbillsexwife
99168
1401
17
Biden is doing stuff that people want and it’s infuriating.
Oct 18, 2022 1:46 PM
killbillsexwife
99168
1401
17
Biden is doing stuff that people want and it’s infuriating.
nullbr
Fox News headline: Biden is giving AIDS to people!!!
carlsagansghost
What’s infuriating is that people who benefit from this will still vote for republicans.
chockodragon
I paid 1500 from costco
TheBlastBie
Ok, now insulin.
stoots24
The GQP will just be like "They're just putting microchips in those things. They are as bad as the vaccine...."
nojustsayitdont
Why is the cost of those things 2,500$ without the prescription? An iPhone doesn't even cost that yet.
thatwoodguy
Make blood sugar sensors available too.
PaulFranksMonkey
Mine were $7k and they need to by replaced every 4-5 years. The tech should be affordable and accessible for everyone who needs it.
ThrowAwayAcct0000
That's great! Now make all vaccines free.
ElderLurkerInNeedOfaCane
The accessories are not cheap either...
dghughes
Hearing loss is also a factor in dementia due to less activity to the brain. It's also one of the few disabilities people still mock openly.
dghughes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7664986/
SawdustAndRust
They should cost $150 like a set of AirPods.
Natastrophe01
Can we please do this with many many more things that unnecessarily require prescriptions?
dancingfrogsarereal
As a Canadian with hearing trouble, I will be making my first visit to the USA in the last 4 years very soon to check this out.
kwyjiboner
Isn't the prescription better if you have insurance though? Since insurance doesn't generally cover OTC (that's how it works in Canada)
kushezz
In Scotland over the counter is more expensive, because prescriptions are free, but if you just decide you need cold meds, you're paying.
KaptainObveeus
in the US it's very expensive to actually use your insurance.
WorkerRat
I don't know of an insurance plan in the US that covers hearing aids. I've had to pay out of pocket for mine, or get government assistance.
Mobouncetotheoz
Which is crazy when you think about it. Insurance company: we think improving one of the 5 senses to prevent disability is non essential
MacNero00
Mine reimbursed $3000. Still left a good dent on the old pocket book.
prfesser
Costco. I paid $1200 at a local hearing-aid place; unit was a POS. Drove 2 hrs to the nearest Costco; $1700 for two hi-quality units.
Zorklunn
And 2/3 of dems and indies still won't vote. While 58% of white men vote GOP because "they don't want their taxes to go up."
viila
Don't hearing aids used wrong risk damage to existing hearing that is still left? That's why the levels should to be set by prescription.
cwilli08
Now for cpaps
Florida18
This is a great first step, but what about Insulin? You can live without hearing, some people die without Insulin.
Tjitso
Hearing aides were on prescription?
mcburmpeters
Or like eye glasses...a lot of folks only able to afford various strengths of reading glasses.
chockodragon
With a 5 year warrantee
chockodragon
Including the check ups and free filters for life.
QQTrain
my last pair cost over 6k for each ear. And I broke them right after I lost insurance so I haven't had any for 12 years.
heywoodjabme
Sorry to hear that, no pun intended.
HelpfulCorn
I can't believe your insurance covered them. Ours never has
QQTrain
Only the first trucking company I ever worked for covered hearing aids. They were required for me to drive, but no other company provided.
Snooj
THAT REALLY SUCKS, MAN. HOPEFULLY THIS NEW LAW WILL BRING SOME RELIEF.
NeverExclamationPoint
Haha, awesome.
SilentHowling
WHAT?
SomeUser2
TheBlackSonOfTheHonestMan
I remeber pre Costco days....
WildMalevolence
Why not just buy a new pair overseas. I'm sure mexico or Canada has reasonable prices.
QQTrain
Mainly, behind the ear ones are a nightmare to wear for me. In the ear has to be molded specifically to your ears. I'd have to GO there.
wjruth
$700 or so is the targeted price I’m seeing
hollywilsonpregler9000
That would be awesome. It was well over 3k when I looked into it.
KaptainObveeus
are they not just microphones and speakers? why aren't they $20-$200?
Iliketacos42
I wonder if this creates an opportunity. A few emails to Taiwan, send over a design, wait 6 months, throw em on Amazon for $200. It can work
QQTrain
My first pair was purchased in 1991. They would amplify EVERYTHING, and it was DISTRACTING. Kids crinkling paper would wreck my ears.
tidepool
I mean you can get $20 ASOT amplifiers that work alright, but they’re not exactly the same. But if you’re poor and your hearing is just old
tidepool
and doesn’t NEED the extra digital help then it’s fine.
Hambonerhandy
This has nothing to do with Biden... It was passed in 2017.
nojustsayitdont
So why then, has nothing happened until now? A law is useless unless it's acted upon.
Hambonerhandy
Because the bill specified that the fda needs to make the regulations by the end of 2020 and things got delayed due to this pandemic thing.
Hambonerhandy
And then after they make the regulations the manufacturers needed to design and test everything to the fda's spec.
Hambonerhandy
Tell me you don't understand how slow government bureaucracy is without saying you don't understand how slow government bureaucracy is
KaptainObveeus
In Aug 2022, the USFDA created a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults that is expected to improve access and reduce cost
Hambonerhandy
Yes that is what the bill from 2017 directed them to do...
Hambonerhandy
Your name is extremely appropriate here
dghughes
The Republicans must have missed it. You know Republicans would trash this out of spite now.
Hambonerhandy
Lol you sure are something. There was one nay in the senate, and it was Bernie.
Hambonerhandy
(I assume because it's just another neolib half measure that just enriches corps)
Hambonerhandy
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-Counter_Hearing_Aid_Act_of_2017
trigonman3
"In March 2017, Representative Joe Kennedy III (D–MA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D–MA) introduced Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid bills"
trigonman3
Just in case you're trying to mislead us into thinking Trump or McConnell did this
Hambonerhandy
Uh OK. Why would I do that?
trigonman3
Stealth political activist? I don't keep track of users' political proclivities.
woozle
I have hearing aids...I'm not sure how that would work. They're usually specifically set for each person's hearing needs
hydrocarbon82
$500 for a not-quite-perfect booster for X frequencies vs $4k+...I think 98% of those without great healthcare won't complain.
EverNotRelevant
Is it going to be exactly what they need? Probably not. Will it still help? Yeah.
Subloc
The price is lower. There is no mention of hearing exams. One would still need a hearing exam.
DavidNightingale
Bass, mid, treble. Can you hear that? Set. That'll be $3,000.
kakivara
Why can't you set them by yourself? Isn't it just a volume control?
betotherich
So are glasses, but I go buy my own readers a the checkout in a Home Depot. maybe not a great idea but they help and cost $6 instead of $150
NancyReaganSchoolOfGawk
Pro tip, go to Dollar Tree for readers. They are $1.25. And if you are like my folks, and lose them all the time. It’s not as expensive
betotherich
I have a few from there, but I'm hard on them and there's a frame quality difference when you pay $6 vs $1.25 lol
NancyReaganSchoolOfGawk
That’s true. But that’s why I get the cheap ones for my dad. He breaks them regardless of quality. So it’s always cheaper for him
woozle
reader glasses and hearing aids are way different. It can take multiple tests to get them just right,
candyland83
The folks that can afford to spend $3k more can have perfect hearing aids. Us regular folks can get ones that work for less.
betotherich
for folks who just can't hear well, and could get some help for $3k less, will deal with them not being perfect. That's my point.
Tinyfish3
Yeah, but considering my hearing aids are far from perfect, I doubt otc will do much good. It really is more different/difficult than you
Tinyfish3
would naturally think. And you need to wear them constantly, not just the two minutes you read fine print. This needed a different solution.
Rookie8286
It’ll be like glasses. If you want a pair that works well you’ll still need a prescription. If you just need a little boost you can 1/2
DuckPlanetKing
No
bippidybopiddyboo
yes
hydrocarbon82
$50-75 for eye test, $25 for online glasses. The main diff is you need SPECIFIC lenses, at worse you need specific frequency range h-aids.
dailysuicidalthoughts
What? No, reading glasses are not the same as glasses needed for driving, or other eye issues.
ZachariasWolfe
I don't have my reading glasses on... But that doesn't sound remotely like what the person you are replying to wrote.
SnakuPlisskin
Stupid question: why? Is hearing aid technology that complicated?
jerkittoanything
It's owned by a few who import cheap Chinese products, rebrand them, sell them at an extreme markup.
SwiftyGuy
Not saying you’re wrong but.. source?
Rookie8286
buy over-the-counter, like prescription glasses vs reading glasses.
bambulina
That's what the manufacturers want people to think. The place I used to work was developing OTC aids that are no different from professional
witheredspoon
If you have to chose between hearing, food, or rent the cheap hearing aids will help! Especially if GOP guts social security and medicare.
passerby157
Your standards are concerningly low
req4adream99
You gotta start somewhere, and when the opposition keeps digging a hole at the bottom of the well…
req4adream99
*when. They’ll grandfather current SSI recipients but the rest of us in the US are SOL
Alvatore
Poverty, serfdom, and eating old bread crusts. Every day from birth until death. That's the Republican dream for the 99%.
SithElephant
Really, really not. Prescriptions for glasses are comparatively cheap, and there are for the vast majority of people needing glasses
SithElephant
inexpensive options already available when you get that prescription.
bambulina
It's surprising how many people need hearing aids. OTC ones used to just be simple amplifiers, but the new ones have more functionality.
hollywilsonpregler9000
Untrue. My exam and prescription glasses were well over a thousand dollars.
belindashort
We do Warby Parker now. You should watch this: https://youtu.be/CAeHuDcy_bY
SithElephant
I did not say all people. For very extreme prescriptions, the common vendors like zennioptical don't work.
bambulina
You're right. And there will be people for whom OTC aids aren't gonna cut it, but this legislation helps millions. Basic medicare has 1-
bambulina
2- no coverage for hearing aids (last I knew\1.5 years ago) & improvement for many is better than none.