Hearing therapists and audiologists can advise you about funding options available for hearing aids and other assistive devices.
Children′s Hearing Aids are Free
Universal Hearing Aid Subsidy for Adults
There is no charge for visits to hearing therapists and while they do not fit hearing aids themselves, they can:
Phone 0800 008 011 to contact your nearest Life Unlimited Hearing Therapist.
Some private audiologists offer a free initial visit, at which funding options would be discussed.
If you are entitled to a subsidy, your audiologist will help arrange it for you.
NB. You only receive funding assistance if you have your hearing aids fitted by a qualified audiologist - a Member of the NZ Audiological Society (MNZAS).
Visit the MNZAS website to find an audiologist in your area.
Hearing aids for children under the age of 18 (or under 21 years of age while in full-time education) are fitted at no cost through a provision in the health system known as the "Special Aid Fund".
Funding is available for both new and replacement hearing aids. There is also funding available for hearing aid repairs and batteries.
For more information, contact one of the following:
NZ Federation for Deaf Children
Ministry of Education - Special Education Services
A basic hearing aid subsidy of $198 per aid is available to all adult patients once every 5 years.
If you need two aids, the subsidy is doubled to $356.
The subsidy is available for both new and replacement aids, so long as you have not claimed within the last 5 years.
The subsidy is administered by your audiologist. So most prices quoted at audiology clinics will already have this subsidy deducted from the price. But ask if you are unsure.
This subsidy is only available if you purchase your aid from a qualified audiologist (MNZAS).
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) may be able to help if your hearing loss is the result of:
ACC doesn′t cover congenital hearing loss, age-related or illness-related hearing loss. Also, funding is generally not available if the noise exposure occurred before the introduction of the ACC scheme in 1972.
If you think are entitled to ACC funding, contact your General Practitioner who can initiate an ACC claim for you.
Once the claim has been started you will need to:
ACC will then decide whether they will provide funding for the hearing aids and how much they will provide.
If you think that you have a hearing loss associated with noise exposure you should act quickly, even if you do not feel you need a hearing aid.
If left too late (for example, after you′ve retired), then it may be difficult to prove that the hearing loss was caused by noise exposure alone and is not an effect of the ageing process.
Visit the ACC website for more information
Funding is available to veterans who have a hearing disability as a result of their military service, as defined by the War Pensions Act 1954 (available at public libraries). This funding can cover hearing aids and other assistive devices such as amplified telephones.
To claim war pension funding you must complete a War Pensions Disability Application Form available from War Pension Services, RSAs and other veteran support groups.
You will need to include confirmation of your hearing loss from your GP or an audiologist with your application form. Once your claim has been reviewed, you will be asked to see an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, who will assess the degree to which your hearing loss is the result of your military service.
If your claim is successful, you will then need to see an audiologist (MNZAS) who will fit your hearing aids.
War Pensions funding covers:
Once your entitlement to War Pensions funding has been established, you may also be able to get assistance for other helpful devices, such as amplified telephones. For help to apply for these devices contact your nearest hearing therapist (0800 008 011)
War Pension Services - Contact Details
Phone: 0800 553 003 (New Zealand only) or +64 9 985 1070 (from overseas)
Fax: 0508 402 402 (New Zealand only) or +64 7 957 1306 (from overseas)
Email: warpension@msd.govt.nz
Post: War Pension Services, P O Box 9448, Hamilton
Enable New Zealand manages Ministry of Health funding intended to improve the quality of life for disabled people. Enable can provide funding for hearing aids, assistive listening devices and alarm systems to people:
Your audiologist will advise you if you qualify. Your entitlement to this funding is determined by a registered assessor. However, funding is limited and even those who qualify may have to wait for some time before receiving their aids or other equipment.
Visit the Enable website for contact details.
You can apply for an Advance Payment of Superannuation or any other benefit through your local Work and Income NZ office to help pay for hearing aids.
Up to six weeks of your entitlement can be advanced, with a maximum of $1000. For example, if you receive $100 per week, a maximum of $600 can be advanced.
This loan is repaid by a deduction from your weekly pension or benefit. The rate of repayment is at the discretion of your WINZ case officer, but is generally between $5 and $20 per week until the loan is cleared.
Visit the WINZ website for contact details.
The NZ Audiological Society administers a Hearing Aid Bank for people who are financially unable to afford hearing aids and are also ineligible for other assistance.
Your audiologist (MNZAS) will help you apply if appropriate.
See NZ Audiological Society for contact details.
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