Hearing Service Program

The Australian Government Hearing Services Program provides eligible Pensioners and Veteran's' free hearing aids, or what Hearing Services calls fully funded Hearing aids .  There is also the capacity to use the funding for a more advanced solution, ie smaller, rechargeable etc.  Assistive Listening Devices ;like the Bluetooth Auudera Headset and TV streamer as well as services such as hearing testing and hearing aid adjustments are also available . We have a contract with the Hearing Services Department to provide the latest hearing aids.t.   Batteries and Maintenance of Devices (repairs, reprogramming etc), are also covered under this system with a patient co-contribution of around $50 a year. 

Bundaberg Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Treatment Clinic is one of the few businesses that absorbs this fee yearly for our aided clients so maintenance for your devices becomes $0 a year, but a signature is still required.

The Hearing Services Program runs an excellent website with all the information you require.  To apply for services or to relocate from you current provider to see us, chat to one our our friendly staff.  You are not required to stay with the provider that fitted your hearing aids once the test, fitting, and follow up is concluded.

https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/hearing-services-program/accessing

Some pointers

Unless there is a major clinical or medical need to change devices, they with only be changed every 5 years as per Government Rules.  Your file will follow you if you change providers automatically.

If you lose the hearing aids and they are Free to Client devices, you have to go back to the exact same brand and style of device unless they have become obsolete and removed from the schedule of approved devices by the manufacturer.

Hearing Aids come in a variety of styles and technology levels.  Your Audiologist will make some recommendations based on your hearing results, lifestyle, and communication needs and budget if you are looking at partially subsidised devices.  There should always be a no cost (fully subsidised) device as an option.

Here is the list of fully subsidised devices as per the Federal Government's Hearing Services Program.

 https://hearingservices.gov.au/hsoViewWEB/file/fully-subsidised-schedule.pdf 

Here is the list of the partially subsidised devices as per the Federal Government's Hearing Services Program.  These devices may have additional features that the "free hearing aids" aka Fully subsidised by the Hearing Services Program do not have.  This devices incur an out of pocket expense by the client.

 https://hearingservices.gov.au/hsoViewWEB/file/partially-subsidised-schedule.pdf 

Free Trials - The Hearing Service Program does not fund hearing aids trials.  However we can do in clinic demonstrations of many models  or even organise a week trial of devices  if required.  We also offer a 30 day return period on any devices which incur out of pocket expenses.

Please see link to eligibility here.  No GP referral is required when getting this testing done, but I do normally ask for permission to send your GP a letter to keep them in the loop after testing.

 Eligibility for the Hearing Services Program | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care 

Our friendly staff would be happy to assist you in the branch or answer any questions you may have.  Come see Bundaberg's Best Audiologist, at Bundaberg Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Treatment Clinic.