What to do if a specialist said that my insurance company would cover the cost of my hearing aids so I got them but now I discover they are not covered?
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What to do if a specialist said that my insurance company would cover the cost of my hearing aids so I got them but now I discover they are not covered?
I had surgery on one ear that was not successful but I knew the risks ahead of time. After the surgery, the specialist proposed hearing aids for both ears and told me that my insurance company would pay approximately 2/3 of the bill. I have that in writing. I paid my part and got the hearing aids. The insurance company did not pay their part and said hearing aids are not covered under my plan which I found out is true. Am I obligated to pay the other 2/3 of the cost of the hearing aids?
Asked on July 18, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Wisconsin
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Here is the issue. If you signed any documentation with entity who provided you the hearing aids indicating you would be held responsible for the costs of the hearing aids if your insurance company did not cover it, then yes you are liable for the monies. However, this is where contract law and detrimental reliance comes into play. If your specialists is a doctor or doctor's office and wrote to you (and you have it), that your hearing aids are covered by insurance and you relied to your detriment on those assertions, I would do a couple things. I would go ahead and file a complaint with the state medical board and sue in court for this money.
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