UnitedHealth Group to offer discounted hearing aids

Minnetonka-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group is making discounted hearing aids available for only $749-$949 per ear, a savings of anywhere from $500 to $4500 per set.

The discounted hearing aids will also be available online for those without UnitedHealth insurance.

The hearing aids are programmed according to a hearing test which can be taken online. The test will soon be available through mobile phones as well.

Although some Medicare health plans provide discounts on hearing aids of $500 or one-third of the cost, hearing aids generally aren’t covered by health insurance companies. UnitedHealth Group’sMedicare health plan members may even be able to get hearing aids completely covered.

Thirty-six million Americans suffer from hearing loss, and approximately 75 percent of those who could benefit from hearing aids do not use them, often due to cost.