In Australia, cochlear implants are well-funded. The three main funding options are private health insurance, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the public health system.
For those with private health coverage, most of the costs are covered by your insurance provider, including the hearing implant cost. There is no waiting time, you can choose when you would like to have your surgery, and device upgrades are covered, saving you several thousand dollars every 3 to 5 years. The cost of the surgery and your hospital stay will depend on your surgeon and your level of health insurance coverage.
The West Australian State Government funds a certain number of implants every year. If you choose this funding option, services are provided by your tertiary hospital; you will need to obtain a referral to ENT from your GP – must this be to the ENT Department from your GP.
If you have a Veterans’ Gold Card or White Card specific for hearing loss, the costs associated with a hearing implant may be covered in full by the Department. The Ear Science team can assist you in understanding what you are eligible for.