Where to resell hearing aids?

[GoofItUp]

I have no idea where to start on this one....

My dad just got new hearing aids. There's nothing wrong with his old ones, the volume just didn't go loud enough any more for his ever-deteriorating hearing. Does anyone know where to resell hearing aids? Ebay? Craigslist? These cost over $3k new, so it is a high dollar item. I don't see that it would be wrong for someone to reuse them, either, since whoever bought them would have to have them fit to their ear which would use new tubing.

Any tips/help will be appreciated. I know there are many people on here who are experts at this kind of stuff!

 

[GinnyEmma]

When my dad needed them we looked into buying used from eBay. We found people wanted a fortune for them even though they were used and that the hearing aid people were disinclined to service ones they hadn't sold. Just like cpaps. Good luck with the process.

 

[GoofItUp]

When my dad needed them we looked into buying used from eBay. We found people wanted a fortune for them even though they were used and that the hearing aid people were disinclined to service ones they hadn't sold. Just like cpaps. Good luck with the process.

Uh-oh! That's not very encouraging!

The new hearing aids were so expensive...my parents were hoping to offset the cost of the new ones by selling the old ones. I hope we can figure something out!

 

[QueenDoOver]

This may not help, but you can always donate them and take a tax write off. There are tons of places that will refurbish them for children to use as well as disadvantaged persons that can't afford new.

 

[merekc]

You don't say how old they are. Our audiologist always said they have a general life of about 5 years. Our last pair lasted 8.

Something to consider if you try to resell. If they are a few years old they could be heading towards the end of their life.

I would also recommend donating if you can get a tax deduction. I think it would be your best bet.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to discourage. They are terribly expensive!

 

[luv2sewtjr]

I would just donate them, sorry.

My dh wears two and they are SO expensive. We use FSA dollars for them and we tend to buy them in pairs: one at the end of a calendar year and another at the beginning. His are also molded to fit his ear.

I don't know the ages of your parents, but they may want to check into an HSA for them...they can get a tax break on moneys deposited there and they aren't confined to use in one calendar year.

 

[daughtersrus]

You may want to double check that it's legal to resell them. There are laws specific to hearing aid purchases. I know that I have to get a prescription from DD's ENT before were are able to purchase them.

We have donated DD's old aids to The Lions Club.

 

[beansmom]

When my dad needed them we looked into buying used from eBay. We found people wanted a fortune for them even though they were used and that the hearing aid people were disinclined to service ones they hadn't sold. Just like cpaps. Good luck with the process.

Last I checked, you cannot sell a CPAP on ebay...nothing that is prescribed can be sold on ebay.

 

[GinnyEmma]

They come up on craigslist all of the time. I've watched them because i never used mine. And wish I could sell mine.

 

[GoofItUp]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll have to check with my mom to see how old they are. It's really too bad that hearing aids are not covered by insurance or something. My dad teaches elementary school and has to have them to hear what's going on in the classroom. It's just money OOP for them...and A LOT of money at that. I'll mention to my mom about the HSA. That might be a good option if they know what year he'll be needing a new pair.

 

[aprilgail2]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll have to check with my mom to see how old they are. It's really too bad that hearing aids are not covered by insurance or something. My dad teaches elementary school and has to have them to hear what's going on in the classroom. It's just money OOP for them...and A LOT of money at that. I'll mention to my mom about the HSA. That might be a good option if they know what year he'll be needing a new pair.

It depends on your policy- I know they are covered to a certain amount in my insurance--its a few thousand dollars toward them.

 

[KatRob]

It depends on your policy- I know they are covered to a certain amount in my insurance--its a few thousand dollars toward them.

You're so lucky to have that, we are retired military and Tricare doesn't cover hearing aids...and DD's probably will have to be replaced very soon. Her's have held out 8 years (she's been really careful with them) but they really need to be replaced.

 

[Junebugwv]

You're so lucky to have that, we are retired military and Tricare doesn't cover hearing aids...and DD's probably will have to be replaced very soon. Her's have held out 8 years (she's been really careful with them) but they really need to be replaced.

My dh is retired miliary and has VA privileges. Is that true for all retirees? He gets his hearing aids and (the new ones are fantastic) at the VA and while he was there they said he can get his prescription glasses, too. What a deal! His glasses just arrived.

 

[windycitymom]

Why can't he return them back to where he got them? You said he just got them, and most places allow you 30 days or more to check them out and if you aren't satisifed you can return them at no charge. Or maybe he can exchange them for credit for another style or brand that works better for him. Go back to where he purchased them and ask them to help you.

 

[jenedpey]

Make sure you check with insurance before purchasing hearing aids out of pocket. Our insurance has historically had a $300 limit at once every 3 years. Due to changesin the new health law, they are now covering them the same as other durable medical equipment.

In addition, if the hearing aids are being purchased for children, another resource is Hearing Aid Docs HAD-4-Kids program. They are an audiologist that basically passes the hearing aids through to your audiologist (note: you will need to pay your audiologist for fitting, programming,etc), but they have worked out deals with the major manufacturers such as Phonak, Siemens, etc. and the costs are significantly less than what our local audiologist could purchase them for.

http://www.hearingaiddocs.com/catalog/24

This site may also be worth checking in figuring out the value of a used hearing aid since this is a new cost for an unfitted hearing aid. A used hearing aid would be a portion of this cost, not the much higher cost charged by an audiologist that includes the fitting, programming, etc.

 

[Pluto.AuD]

Buying and selling hearing aids on the internet, or anywhere else, is never a good option. Yes, hearing aids are expensive, but they won't be worth anything if they are not properly programmed and fit for that individual's hearing loss by a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.

Insurance, unfortunately, does not usually cover hearing aids. If they do, it is almost never the full cost.

If you decide to donate them, contact your local Lion's club. They know how to get hearing aids where they will be greatly appreciated and correctly fit.

My personal suggestion is to keep them as back up hearing aids. Even the best aid eventually need to go in for repair and it's always a good idea to have a spare set. Hearing aids have also been known to become misplaced and having a back up is important.