The biggest difference between bundled and unbundled care is when you pay for services and how much choice you have later.
Bundled care
With bundled care, the cost of future appointments and services is included in the price of the hearing aids. Patients generally pay more upfront, then do not pay separately for routine visits to service those hearing aids.
Unbundled care
With unbundled care, hearing aids and professional services are priced separately. Patients pay for appointments when they use them, similar to the way care is billed in a typical medical office.
Why our pricing model is different
Traditional bundled care assumes that every patient will need the same amount of time and care. Someone who sees an audiologist for one hour each year may pay the same amount as someone who needs an hour every month.
Free initial consultations can create a similar problem. A consultation requires clinic time, professional expertise and expensive medical equipment. If a patient does not purchase hearing aids, those costs must be recovered elsewhere. We believe that can be unfair to patients who do choose to treat their hearing loss, and it can devalue the clinician’s time and expertise.
Merit Hearing uses direct pricing and charges separately for services. Each service is explained and priced on its own. Our initial consultation includes a comprehensive audiometric evaluation and a hearing aid consultation. We can also use recent hearing test results from another clinic when appropriate.
Advantages of unbundled care
Lower upfront costs
High upfront costs can keep people from pursuing hearing aids. When years of future services are not prepaid, the initial cost can be substantially lower.
The Better Hearing Institute has reported that untreated hearing loss may contribute to as much as $30,000 per year in lost income. Cost should not create an unnecessary barrier to better hearing.
Potential long-term savings
Hearing aids still require care and maintenance, but modern devices are easier to maintain. Many patients can complete simple cleaning and maintenance at home.
Bluetooth, remote controls and smartphone apps also give patients more control over their settings, which may reduce the need for routine office visits.
More choice in your care
You are not required to return to Merit Hearing for every service. Family members may help with basic maintenance, and you may choose another provider if you move.
We work with major hearing aid manufacturers, so qualified providers in other areas can generally service the devices. You are not paying in advance for care you may never use.
Have questions about bundled or unbundled care?
Contact us to schedule an appointment