UnitedHealthcare Hearing Launches Virtual Option to Help Plan Participants Remotely Access Hearing Health Care and Treatment
March 18 2021 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
New offering is part of UnitedHealthcare
Hearing’s comprehensive approach to hearing health care, helping
make it safer and more convenient to purchase custom-programmed
hearing aids
Virtual care resource for fittings and
adjustments an option for eligible UnitedHealthcare members and
people across the country
UnitedHealthcare Hearing has introduced a new virtual care
option for people across the country and individuals enrolled in
eligible UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and Medicare Advantage
plans, helping expand access to custom-programmed hearing aids and
potentially reducing the need for in-person appointments for
fittings or adjustments.
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the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210318005119/en/
People across the country and
UnitedHealthcare members can save on custom-programmed hearing aids
through the Right2You virtual care model, including this Relate
device. Source: UnitedHealthcare Hearing
The capability, known as Right2You, builds on the home-delivered
hearing health care model developed by UnitedHealthcare Hearing,
adding a virtual care component that is designed to help reduce the
need for in-person appointments for hearing aid adjustments and
support. Right2You is designed for greater convenience and
affordability, enabling consumers and eligible UnitedHealthcare
members to potentially save 50% to 80% on custom-programed hearing
aids compared to traditional models.1
To participate, people first take an online hearing test* to
determine current hearing status. If potential hearing loss is
detected, people can then obtain the results of a hearing test
(also known as an audiogram) from an in-person appointment with a
UnitedHealthcare Hearing audiologist or hearing care professional –
or another credentialed hearing health care provider. (People can
also use the results of a previous hearing test, if available.)
Custom-programmed hearing aids are then shipped directly to the
person’s home. Rather than follow-up adjustments and support via an
in-person appointment, Right2You enables further customization
remotely with a smartphone or tablet paired to the hearing
aids.
For individuals and UnitedHealthcare members who prefer only
in-person care and support, UnitedHealthcare Hearing offers a large
network of more than 5,500 credentialed audiologists and hearing
health professionals.
Right2You is an important resource for many of the more than 48
million Americans with hearing loss.2 Since the emergence of
COVID-19 and efforts to limit in-person meetings, hearing aid sales
have declined significantly, although some analysts expect a
rebound in 2021 as vaccinations become more widely available.
Hearing loss is linked to age and environmental factors, and
prolonged and repetitive exposure to loud sounds is contributing to
the growing prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss, including
people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
“The new virtual care option from UnitedHealthcare Hearing
represents an important option in how hearing health care is
delivered, enabling people across the country to more easily and
conveniently obtain treatment for hearing loss while minimizing the
need for in-person appointments,” said Diane Nens, audiologist and
senior clinical director, UnitedHealthcare Hearing. “Hearing health
is connected to overall well-being, so improving access to hearing
health treatment and hearing aids can support our members and lower
their risk of depression and dementia, as well as reduce the
frequency of falls.”3
For all consumers, UnitedHealthcare Hearing offers premium,
state-of-the-art hearing aids by phone, online or in person at
locations nationwide, with personalized support during and after
purchase. Millions of UnitedHealthcare plan participants –
including people with employer-sponsored and individual medical
plans, as well as people enrolled in most Medicare Advantage plans
– can purchase custom-programmed hearing aids with no out-of-pocket
costs or a per-device copay starting as low as $175 depending on
the plan.i
For more information about Right2You, plus an online hearing
loss test, go to uhchearing.com.
*The online hearing test is not designed to replace a
professional hearing test.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier
lives and making the health system work better for everyone by
simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and
wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care
providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full
spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with
more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,500
hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also
provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned
and operated health care facilities in South America.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group
(NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more
information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC
on Twitter.
Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or
one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization
with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the
plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. Benefits, features and/or
devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply.
1 Based on suggested manufacturer pricing. 2 National Institute
on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 2019. 3
Science Daily, 2019, Hearing aids linked to lower risk of dementia,
depression and falls -- ScienceDaily
i The cost of hearing aids as well as the method of paying for
them varies by plan. Medicare Advantage members should refer to
their Evidence of Coverage document or call the number on their
health plan ID card to confirm the cost and payment method for
their plan.
Y0066_210312_015436_M
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210318005119/en/
Will Shanley UnitedHealthcare (714) 204-8005
will.shanley@uhc.com
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