Insurance

In most cases, all cochlear implant parts and supplies are covered under insurance.  There are some accessories that are sometimes deemed not medically necessary that insurance will not reimburse for.

Prior authorization is required by some insurance to confirm medical necessity for a given product or procedure. When required, MED-EL will contact your physician and obtain documents that support medical necessity. These documents are then submitted to your insurance company for review and approval. This process may take up to 30 days to complete, as it requires signatures from your physician and approval from your insurance company. If for some reason the request is denied, MED-EL will submit an appeal on your behalf.

We are actively working with commercial insurance companies to establish contract agreements.  Until we have these agreements, MED-EL is an out-of-network provider.  This means we work with your insurance company to obtain in-network benefits when we have no agreed-upon contract.  We are also the sole provider of replacement parts, which enables us to secure these in-network benefits for you.

Medicare recipients can purchase disposable batteries from any retailer or through our preferred vendor, Micropower Battery Company. For instructions on Medicare filing claims or to download the claim forms, visit medelbatteries.com.

To discuss other power options, contact your dedicated MED-EL customer service representative or use our contact form here.

Medicaid recipients can purchase disposable batteries from any retailer or through our preferred vendor, Micropower Battery Company, by visiting medelbatteries.com.

Each Medicaid program functions uniquely. Please visit your state’s website or contact your Medicaid social worker for additional information about reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs.