Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gov't Panel Urges Medicare To Find Ways To Make Hearing Loss Treatment More Affordable
The Associated Press: Panel: Treating Hearing Loss Shouldn't Be A Pricey Hassle
Treating hearing loss shouldn't be such a pricey hassle. That's the message from a prestigious government advisory group that's calling on Medicare and other agencies to find ways to make better hearing more affordable and accessible for millions of older Americans. One proposal: Allow over-the-counter sales of simple devices for mild hearing problems as an alternative to full hearing aids — much like consumers with vision problems today choose between drugstore reading glasses or prescription bifocals. (6/2)
And the AP also offers a list of some of the things Medicare doesn't cover —
The Associated Press: Medicare Doesn't Cover Everything
Younger people may not realize it, but seniors know well that Medicare doesn't cover all health-related needs and expenses. Many Medicare beneficiaries have some kind of supplemental insurance that partly covers the gaps. But those policies mainly provide financial protection for the patient's share of costs for regular doctor visits and hospital care covered by Medicare. Until 2006, Medicare didn't cover prescription drugs. (6/2)
