In Quebec, a worker or student who has difficulty hearing can be reimbursed for two hearing aids, one for each ear. However, as soon as he retires, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) covers only one, even if the majority of people who have hearing aids are aged 60 and over.
“It is an aberration. It’s as if, when you retire, you no longer need to hear well,” exclaims Ginette Côté, who wears hearing aids due to birth deafness. Since she retired, the government only reimburses one of her two devices.
Since 1993, the RAMQ has covered the purchase, repair and replacement of two hearing aids for children, people with visual impairments and students. In 2006, the government amended the program to include workers. Retirees, however, must be satisfied with the reimbursement of a single device.
“In an ideal world, all patients should be covered for both devices. It’s not because people are retiring that, all of a sudden, they no longer need a second prosthesis,” says Sophie Gagnon, interim vice-president of the Ordre des audioprothésistes du Québec. .
For five years, 163,600 Quebecers have been covered by the RAMQ for a hearing aid. Of these, 79% were only entitled to a prosthesis.
Although the number of retirees is not known, Mme Gagnon maintains that patients who need hearing aids in Quebec “have an average age of over 60”.
Too high costs
Ginette Côté denounces this RAMQ coverage, which she considers insufficient. “I worked for over 40 years. I still pay a lot of taxes on my retirement funds. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to have two devices? “, she wonders.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Ginette Cote
She buys her second device herself, which costs between $1,500 and $2,000. “It’s not cheap and it’s obsolete after a few years. You have to change them every six years,” she says.
Other Quebecers simply cannot afford a second device, says Sophie Gagnon. In these situations, hearing care professionals may refer patients to foundations or community organizations that award funding or offer clients deferred payment.
However, it is essential to hear well with both ears, argues Mme Gagnon. “It’s what allows us to locate the sound, so to know which side it comes from, she says. When we have the opportunity to meet with the RAMQ, we explain to them the importance of a bilateral hearing. »
Ginette Côté is worried about those who cannot afford their second prosthesis. “They risk isolating themselves from the world, because that’s what happens when you don’t hear, you isolate yourself,” she laments.
Basic devices only
Also, Quebec only covers basic appliances. If a patient wishes to obtain more efficient devices, he must obtain them without government assistance.
Ginette Côté would like to have the choice between a prosthesis covered by the Quebec program and an equivalent lump sum, which she could apply to the device of her choice. “But that’s not possible,” she laments.
It must therefore content itself with those offered by the government. “High performance devices cost $5,000 and I can’t afford that,” she says.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec only covers basic devices.
A few years ago, the Ordre des audioprothésistes du Québec suggested that the Ministry of Health and Social Services propose an equivalent lump sum. This option was not retained. “It would be a good thing for users, because patients who want a higher-end product or a different model could choose it,” says Ms.me Gagnon.
In response to the request of The Pressthe Ministry of Health and Social Services has declared that it is in the process of carrying out work to revise the Regulation respecting hearing aids and insured services. “Several scenarios are currently being studied with a view to adequately meeting all of the population’s needs as well as from a perspective of sound management of public funds,” said the ministry’s spokesperson, Marjorie Larouche.
RAMQ coverage
The RAMQ pays for prostheses for children under 12 whose hearing loss may compromise speech and language development, for young people aged 12 to 18 and for students aged 19 or over whose ear is affected by deficiency of at least 25 decibels, as well as adults whose better ear is affected by a deficiency of at least 35 decibels.