Implantation of Hearing Devices

What is covered under Implantation of Hearing Devices?

Hospital Cover for Implantation of Hearing Devices includes hospital treatment to correct hearing loss, including implants of a prosthetic hearing device.

Examples include:

• a titanium fixture used with an implantable bone conduction hearing system device
• cochlear implants
• middle ear implants.

This clinical category includes these treatments listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

Some treatments you might expect to be in the Implantation of Hearing Devices clinical category are under a different clinical category. For example, surgery to remove a small bone from the middle ear (a stapedectomy) is covered under Ear, Nose and Throat.

Which Hospital Cover tiers include Implantation of Hearing Devices?

What does it mean if cover is ‘optional’?

‘Optional’ means that the Australian Government allows insurers to choose whether or not to cover the clinical category under that Hospital Cover tier.

What does ‘restricted cover’ mean? 

Restricted cover means the insurer pays only limited benefits. 

If insurers offer cover for Implantation of Hearing Devices under Basic Hospital Cover, they can do so on a ‘restricted’ basis. If you are admitted as a private patient in a private hospital for treatments under this clinical category, you will face considerable out-of-pocket costs.

Always check with your insurer before agreeing to be treated as a private patient in a private hospital if you have restricted cover for Implantation of Hearing Devices. 

Does Medicare cover Implantation of Hearing Devices?

Yes. Medicare includes all treatments under the Implantation of Hearing Devices clinical category.

If there is an MBS item number for the treatment, Medicare covers it. 

Compare Hospital Cover from every private health insurer in Australia

Use our healthslips.com.au Calculator to find the best Hospital Cover for you.