Services & Pricing

As of July 2024

When you go to a doctor, you typically pay a fee or co-pay for the time you spend with doctors and nurses. Depending on your visit there may be additional costs for specific tests and procedures. And you may also have to go pick up and pay for a related prescription. All of these can be paid out of pocket, or reduced based on your type of insurance.

Diagnosing and managing hearing loss is very similar.

At BNA, we are a private practice with four doctors of Audiology on staff. If this is your first time considering hearing devices to help manage hearing loss and/or tinnitus, think of the initial cost in terms of the following:

All new devices have a 60 day acclimation period. This time is designed to learn and fine tune your devices, as well as make any exchanges if necessary.

After you are satisfied with your devices, we offer services to monitor your hearing and devices over time and keep your devices in working order. When you come in for regular device service we will make sure you are still satisfied with your devices and they are meeting your communication goals. We’ll also use this time to review whether you need additional adjustments to settings or if it may be time to repeat an exam.

The pricing information that follows are Good Faith estimates prior to any insurance benefits as of July 2024. It also does not include costs that could be associated with any complications or unknown special circumstances. Prior to any appointment your anticipated costs will be shared with you both verbally and in writing.

Download Rates and Services

What is the Average Total Cost?

Bundles are convenient (just like combo meals at a restaurant) but in healthcare, transparent and itemized pricing is important and helpful, especially when it comes to submitting to insurance for reimbursement. Since everyone has unique needs, not every person needs every service or feature included in a bundle, so itemized pricing helps customize care based on the individual and patients aren’t paying for what they don’t need.

When you add up the most common individualized services and features, on average someone in our community who needs a pair of devices can expect to pay roughly $4,000-$6,000 total, beginning with the initial exam and consultation through to the fitting and fine tuning of the devices. There are options both above and below that price range, but that is the average cost associated with the evaluation and purchase of a pair of standard or advanced level technology devices. Following the fitting and fine tuning, you will have the option to pay for a service plan to cover maintenance and checkups for a year at a time or pay as you go when you need something. Please contact our office with any questions you might have. Our staff is happy to help you every step of the way.

In Network Insurance Providers

Insurance coverages and eligible providers can change over time.

It is your responsibility to determine whether you have out-of-network benefits, whether you require prior authorization or a referral prior to services being provided, and whether audiology services and/or hearing aids are covered through your plan.

The information below is to the best of our knowledge at this time, and will still be subject to verification after you provide the specific details of your plan at the time we take your information. Referrals may still be required even for in-network status, so we recommend you give us a call or stop by prior to any appointments. We’re happy to talk through it with you.

As of July 2024, Bloomington-Normal Audiology is considered In-Network for the following providers. The prices you see afterward are the full cost before insurance is applied, since each insurance policy is different:

• All Kids (diagnostic services only)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Choice (BCBS Choice)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO (BCBS PPO)
• Health Alliance
• Health Alliance Medicare
• Health Alliance Simplete 2
• Health Alliance Simplete 3
• United Healthcare Hearing
• United Healthcare Hearing AARP
• Medicaid (diagnostic services only)
• Medicare
• Meridian (diagnostic services only)
• Molina (diagnostic services only)

Out of Network

We can still see you as a patient even if we aren’t in your network. You will have to pay in full and afterward we will submit the paperwork to your insurance company on your behalf.

List of Services and Products

What follows are costs and descriptions for each service available through our private practice. This does not consider an individual’s insurance situation. For costs known to be covered by Medicare, those are included as well.

Tests and Evaluations

Diagnostic Hearing Exam

Starts at $150 Out of Pocket or $37.79 for Medicare Patients
This cost covers the time with your doctor and their expertise for your hearing test and review of results. Device recommendations and costs are separate. Your hearing exam answers the questions: Do you have hearing loss in one or both ears? What type of hearing loss is it? Is it mild, moderate, severe, or profound?

Specialized Audiometry Testing

$16-50 each, based on insurance
In addition to the comprehensive hearing evaluation, more acute testing procedures are available based on a patient’s unique situation and concerns. These may include: High frequency thresholds, Eustachian tube function, speech in noise, and Acceptable Noise Level testing. Speech in noise and Acceptable Noise Level testing are automatically included in the Communication & Functional Needs Assessment below, or available as individual procedures.

Tinnitus Consultation

$150-460 Out of Pocket Cost (before eligible insurance is applied) $37.79 – $225.42 for Medicare Patients
This cost covers the time with your doctor and their expertise for your tinnitus specific hearing exams. Device costs are separate. Your tinnitus consultation answers the question of the level of severity you’re experiencing, whether you would be a good candidate for a device to manage it, and/or non-device therapy options based on changes in habits.

Communication & Functional Needs Assessment

$400 per appointment
If you do have hearing loss and/or tinnitus that you’d like to manage, what is your unique situation for each ear, what are your communication needs/goals, and what are the personalized recommendations for you to consider in order to manage it? This goes much deeper than the hearing evaluation and addresses management options beyond amplifying sound. This cost covers the time with your doctor and their expertise to provide a more comprehensive assessment and create a care plan that may include additional testing, referrals, or recommendations for devices. Actual device costs are separate. This meets State of Illinois requirements for a prescription for hearing aids.

Devices & Accessories

Earpiece Impression

$50 per ear
Some individuals prefer customized earpieces that are formed to fit their unique ear shape. These can be used to make musician’s monitors, custom hearing protection, or custom hearing aids. An impression requires a clean ear canal and includes the canal and outer ear.

Initial Hearing Aid Fitting & Fine Tuning

$1,000 per patient

This charge is non-refundable, however the cost of the devices are refundable/transferable if returned/exchanged within 60 days.

This is for initial set-up, programming, orientation, and follow-up while acclimating to your devices in the first 60 days. Once you receive your hearing devices, they may require or you may desire some tweaking of the fit and the settings with your devices to get everything just right. This cost covers an unlimited amount of appointments and adjustments within the first 60 days. We perform Real Ear Measures for all fits, which ensure the devices are providing adequate amplification for your loss at all frequencies.

Devices

$800 – $2,800 per ear
The cost of a hearing device varies greatly depending on your specific needs and preferences. Below are examples of the various tiers that you will be able to choose from as part of our Communication & Functional Needs Assessment. The ranges include the device and the standard 2-3 year manufacturer warranty.

Entry	Basic	Standard	Advanced	Premium
$1,600	$2,300	$3,000	$4,200	$5,600

Costs displayed are per pair, tax not included

Custom Earpiece (if applicable)

$100-$250 per ear
Instead of a dome with a device worn behind the ear, some patients opt for a customized earpiece that manufacturers create to your ears’ specifications. The Earpiece Impression mentioned previously is what we provide to the manufacturer to create your custom earpiece; however the actual manufacturing process and earpiece has an additional charge.

 

Hearing Aid Service Plan

$450 for 12 months
If you would like the peace of mind to visit the office without having to incur individual service charges, you can buy a service plan that covers 12 months of care. This can be purchased for an aid of any age at any time. Services include:

• Office visit charges
• Cleaning and changing standard parts
• Redux drying (specialty dryer that removes moisture from the electronics)
• Test box performance evaluation of the devices
• Bluetooth troubleshooting and support
• Hearing Aid accessories troubleshooting and support
• Hearing aid troubleshooting – includes identifying problems and need for service or replacement parts (manufacturer repair and parts costs are not included)

Hearing Maintenance & Management Services

After your initial fitting and adjustments, our office provides the following services and products for the long term care of your hearing, devices, and accessories.