FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEARING AIDS AND
PERSONAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• Check your health insurance as it sometimes provides limited coverage of hearing aids. Do first check out whether you might be eligible for the following sources of financial assistance.

• Children with hearing loss may be able to receive assistive technology at no cost if their Individualized Education Program specifies that they need the assistive technology (such as hearing aids or FM systems) in order to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). For more information, see “How the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Applies to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students,” at http://clerccenter2.gallaudet.edu/KidsWorldDeafNet/e-docs/IDEA/index.html

• In some states, people with very low income may qualify for hearing aids through Medicaid. People with higher income may temporarily qualify for assistance with medical expenses, including hearing aids, through the “medically needy program” administered by the county social service agency. Look in the Government section of the telephone book under County Social Services, and request an appointment to determine your eligibility for Medicaid.

• Prospective and current college students and other people of working age may qualify for financial assistance for hearing aids, assistive technology, and other rehabilitative services from state vocational rehabilitation agencies (look under State in the Government section of the local telephone book). If you are working but concerned you may lose your job because of your hearing loss, you may be eligible for services on that basis.

• Veterans of military service may qualify for assistance with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and other rehabilitative services; contact the medical facility for the appropriate branch of the military.

• State telephone equipment programs can be found via http://www.tedpa.org. These programs vary quite widely in what they provide and what their eligibility requirements are, but some provide free or low-cost telephone equipment to eligible residents.

• Local agencies serving deaf and/or hard of hearing people may also know about local hearing aid banks and other resources, such as clinics that provide services on a sliding scale basis according to income, state assistive technology loan programs, and state financial assistance programs for children with disabilities.

• In many situations, organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and employers are required by federal or state law to provide auxiliary aids and services for communication access (but not hearing aids). Some of these situations are: employers with 15 or more employees, hotels, hospitals, senior centers and residential facilities. If you are inquiring about communication assistance in one of these situations, call the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center at (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY) for more information.

The following are national or regional resources for assistance:

TRAVELERS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FOR THE DEAF AND NEAR-DEAF
3755 Lindell Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63108
314/371-0533 (voice)
Provides assistance for mechanical devices, medical care, and/or specialized education or treatment, to those who demonstrate financial need. U.S. citizens only. Grants may be used to purchase hearing aids, assistive listening equipment, or may help with the cost of a cochlear implant.

BETTER HEARING INSTITUTE
1-800-EAR-WELL
http://www.betterhearing.org

STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION
Assistance for low-income children and families in purchasing hearing aids.
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie , MN 55344
(612) 928-4648
(612) 929-1318 [Fax]
800-648-4327
http://www.sotheworldmayhear.org/home/index.php

EASTER SEALS
Over 400 local service centers with varying services; some assist low-income adults and children with hearing aids and other rehabilitative devices.
230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 726-6200 [Voice]
(312) 726-4258 [TDD]
(312) 726-1494 [Fax]
1-800-221-6827
http://www.easter-seals.org/

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT WORLD
Assists low-income children with purchasing hearing aids.
P.O. Box 2425
Cridersville, OH 45806
http://www.metroevents.com/silent/

DISABLED CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND
Provides disabled children with hearing aids and other assistive devices.
P.O. Box 7420
Freeport, New York 11520
http://dcrf.com/

HIKE FUND, INC.
Provides low-income children between 0-20 years with hearing aids and assistive devices
The Hike Fund Inc.
c/o Hike Board Secretary
10115 Cherryhill Pl.
Spring Hill, FL 34608-7116
Phone and Fax:
352-688-2579
ceterrill1@aol.com
http://www.missouriiojd.org/HIKE/

MIRACLE EAR CHILDREN’S FUND
Assists low-income children and families with purchases of hearing aids from this manufacturer.
P.O. Box 59261
Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261
1-800-234-5422
http://www.mnplan.state.mn.us/star/program.html?Id=18

LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL
Assists low income individuals with purchasing hearing aids.
300 West 22nd Street
Oak Brook. IL 60523-8842
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/programs_hear.shtml

AUDIENT Program
An affiliate of the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing
221 Yale Ave N, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98109
TEL: (206) 838-7194
FAX:(206) 838-7195
TOLL FREE: 1-877-AUDIENT (283-4368)
caseyt@audientalliance.org
http://www.audientalliance.org

QUOTA INTERNATIONAL
Assists low income individuals with purchasing hearing aids
1420 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 331-9694
http://www.quota.org

SERTOMA INTERNATIONAL
Assists low-income persons with purchasing hearing aids
1912 East Meyer Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64132-9990
816-333-8300
http://www.sertoma.org/

DOROTHY AMES TRUST FUND
Assists children in New England states with hearing aids and assistive technology.
Key Trust Company of Maine
P.O. Box 1054
Augusta, ME 04332-1054

OPTIMISTS CLUB
Provides aids and services to hearing impaired youth.
Optimist International Youth Program
Help Them Hear Program
Contact your local Optimists Club

HOPE FOR HEARING FOUNDATION AND HEARING AID BANK
Assists low-income children in Los Angeles area with hearing aids, rehabilitation and education.
6535 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 255
Los Angeles CA 90048
(323) 651-2615
(323) 651-2631 [Fax]
http://hope4hearing.org

Many of your local civic organizations, such as the Kiwanis, may be able to provide financial assistance to purchase or acquire hearing aids and other assistive devices. Check your local phone directories or the Chamber of Commerce for a listing of civic organizations in your area.

The following link, "Statewide Services for People Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing," should lead to information about state and local resources for people with hearing loss:
http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/infotogo/501.html