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Late-Breaking Scientific Oral Presentations

Otology/Neurotology

Session: Late-Breaking Scientific Orals: Otology and Neurotology

Health Insurance Coverage and Hearing Aid Utilization in Older Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2007–2018

Sunday, September 29, 2024
2:54 PM – 3:00 PM EDT
Location: MBCC, 222
Disclosure(s):
Nikko D. Beady, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Janet S. Choi, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: While out-of-pocket costs for hearing aids impose a barrier to hearing healthcare for older adults, insurance coverage varies significantly from no coverage to Medicare insurance to military-related coverage. This study investigated the rates and temporal trends of hearing aid use by insurance status and their associations in US older adults.

Methods: Our cohort included participants from the National Health Interview Survey (≥ 65 years) who had complete data on insurance, hearing aid use, and self-reported hearing limitations (n = 14,039). Rates and trends of hearing aid use were estimated using survey weights. A total of 16 insurance categories were created based on the exclusive and combinatorial coverage with Medicare coverage used as a reference group. The associations between hearing aid use and insurance status were examined in multivariable regression models.

Results: Hearing aid use rate among those who self-reported hearing limitations was 51.2%. In multivariable models adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, hearing limitations, and comorbidities, military insurance only and military + Medicare groups reported higher rates of hearing aid use than Medicare only (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.19-3.85; OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.66-2.51, respectively). Private + Medicare had higher rates of hearing aid use than Medicare only (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.21-1.42). There were no significant differences in hearing aid use between Medicare only vs private only, Medicaid only or Medicaid + Medicare. During 2007-2018, rates of hearing aid use by insurance groups remained stable without significant changes among private, Medicaid, and military insurance coverage.

Conclusions: In this nationally representative sample, military-related insurance coverage was independently associated with higher rates of hearing aid use, potentially due to full coverage of hearing aids and differential hearing health use patterns and stigma among veterans. Future efforts should focus on understanding the impact of policy changes on hearing care coverage and eliminating stigmas to improve access to hearing care.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Diego E. Razura, BS

    Medical Student
    Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University
    Johnson City, TN, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Nikko D. Beady, BS

    Medical Student
    Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University
    Johnson City, TN, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • ML

    Matthew E. Lin, MD

    Resident Physician
    Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
    Los Angeles, California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Presenting Author(s)

  • Janet S. Choi, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor
    Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Janet S. Choi, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor
    Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.