Canada lacks universal assistance for hearing aid subsidies

It's difficult enough to get someone to wear a hearing aid, even if they need one, and the cost of purchasing them can be prohibitive particularly for those on a fixed income. So most Canadian provinces provide subsidies for hearing aids.

But the size or even existence of that subsidy very much depends on where you live.

A CBC investigation recently found that if you're hearing impaired, it's better to live in Ontario than any other province. And Manitoba is the province with the worst record on hearing aid subsidies. Here is how the provinces stack up.

Worst offender: In Manitoba, only those under 18 years of age qualify for a payment of 80% of the cost. Veterans and aboriginal Canadians are covered by the federal government and do not need private insurance.

Best provider:  In Ontario, the Assistive Devices Program pays up to $500 per hearing aid for everyone, or $1,000 for a pair.

In between: Eight provinces and territories provide some level of subsidy for hearing aids, which can cost anywhere from $1,500 to more than $8,000 for seniors who do not qualify for income assistance.

Other Examples

Canadians in other parts of Canada, such as Yukon and the Northwest Territories, start getting full coverage for hearing aids at age 60.

British Columbia offers a program called the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative, in which seniors can apply for financial assistance, although advocates say eligibility is restrictive and seniors must be looking for work.

Albertans participate in a cost-sharing program where the savings can be up to $900 per hearing aid. Saskatchewan offers a subsidized audiology clinic where the waiting times are long, but the savings on service could be up to $500.

In New Brunswick, the province is the payer of last resort but will cover hearing aids for those who qualify financially and have no other way of paying.

Hearing loss affects a person's health care and may be the first identifier of dementia. Hearing loss also accounts for difficulties in relationships and can be a threat to a person's productivity. Some might argue that for a country that boasts about its health care system, Canada has a poor track record when it comes to equal access to prosthetic devices such as hearing aids.

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