ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: dpetty on April 08, 2008, 08:24:19 pm
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Have anyone gotten the maintainance contract yet? I was looking over mine and looks like the Platinum is the better deal but ouch price wise....
David
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I'm assuming you are talking about your BAHA processor.
There's a maintenance contract ???
No way !
Jan
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yes there is one and it has 3 levels of support, silver consists of basic maint and repair for 12 months for 500, Gold, replacement if lost or stolen for 600 for 12 months and Platinum which includes upgrades and replacement every 24 months for 3750.00.
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Geez! And here I was thinking I'd have enough money this year for a summer vacation!
You say the platinum includes upgrades and replacement every 24 months, but every 24 months for how long?
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Well you have to renew your service agreement every 24 months (3750.00+) if you go with the Platium plan, it states here that under this plan you recieve all the support of the Gold agreement as well as one additional processor after 2 yrs into the contract, alos states will be the newest compatible available.
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So if you pay the $3,750 it basically entitles you to care & maintenance plus the newest replacement for a period of 24 months. After the 24 months, you have to renew again. If you choose the platinum plan at that point, it will most likely cost $3,750+ and you will once again get care & maintenance plus the newest replacement for another 24 months ???
Do you have pay the entire $3,750 at once? or is there an installment option?
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My audiologist told me it comes with a one year warranty - after that you have the option of extending it. He said - and this is his opinion only, so check with your own doctor- that the BAHA coverage was expensive and not very good after that first year so he didn't recommend it. He said his patients have had better luck insuring it on their homeowners (or renters) insurance policy, which is what I plan to do after my one year is up. I would probably check with the doctor and with your insurance company so you can compare the pros and cons of both.
$3750 sounds like a lot to me - since you can buy a brand new processor for about $4,000. anyway.
Lori
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Looks like in one lump sum.
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Thanks for the advice, Lori.
My doc said the processor will cost me about $2,500 - I told him that I had heard $4,000 but he and the audiologist both said $2,500. Guess I'll just have to see. My insurance company is supposed to pay some of it, but will probably hit me with a $800 deductible plus 20%.
As for the lump sum, that just plain sucks. Pardon my language ::)
Jan
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Well my health insurance will cover the up front cost but I was looking down the road for maintainance and future upgrades as technology changes so quickly this uint will be obsolete in a yr at best. As far as the homeowners covering the replacement expense if it's lost or damaged I'm going to have to check with my home insurance to see if it would be covered, my livestock isn't and barns are not so I am not sure this would be either.
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Ugh, I just typed this response out and then hit something and - poof - it was gone. The home computer is possessed by evil spirits today so my husband kindly left me his laptop to use, but I can't work this thing!
Anyway, David, you should be able to add hearing aids as a rider onto your homeowners policy. ( I used to be an insurance underwriter in a previous life..). Seems strange that models can take out insurance on their body parts, but you can't get any on your horses or barns. This world is crazy sometimes.
And Jan, I think I'll have to check out what kind of car my doctor is driving around in. Sounds like he's making a pretty good profit off of BAHA sales.
Lori
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Lori -
You know, I've done that type and delete thing so many times it's pathetic! Sometimes I even review what I've written and then forget to hit "post". DUH!!
I don't know what kind of car my doc drives ??? Heck, I'm still trying to find out if he's single! LOL
But seriously, with what I've seen my insurance company pay him after they discount his bills, I'm thinking it's not a Lexus! If all his patients have the same insurance network I have, he'll soon be joining your husband in that garage/surgery business ;D
Jan