Understanding how insurance coverage affects hearing aid use for adults
Effect of Hearing Aid Insurance Coverage Requirements for Adults on Utilization
This research looks at how different insurance plans, including Medicaid and private insurance, help adults get and use hearing aids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11064857 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many adults experience hearing loss, which can make communication difficult and impact quality of life. Hearing aids are a proven way to help, but they are often expensive and not covered by insurance, leaving many people without treatment. This project aims to understand if state policies that require insurance coverage for hearing aids actually lead to more people using them. Researchers will examine large sets of existing health insurance claims and survey data to see how these policies change who gets hearing aids.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant to adults aged 21 and older who have hearing loss and are interested in how insurance coverage impacts access to hearing aids.
Not a fit: Patients who already have full hearing aid coverage or those not interested in policy changes may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform policies that make hearing aids more affordable and accessible, improving the lives of many adults with hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Similar studies have successfully used claims data to understand the impact of health policies on healthcare utilization, making this a well-established approach.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pesko, Michael — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Pesko, Michael
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.