Health Choice (North Carolina Children's Health Insurance Program)
The state-funded Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program provides funding for hearing aids for children ages 0 to 3 who are diagnosed with permanent hearing loss at no cost to the family.
One-time coverage includes a dispensing fee (with an initial supply of batteries), the cost of hearing aids, and earmolds. EHDI funding reimburses using current Medicaid rates.
Children eligible for EHDI funding are younger than age 3 with a documented permanent hearing loss in one or both ears, do not have Medicaid, and may have private insurance without a hearing aid benefit. There are no income eligibility or citizenship requirements for inclusion in this program.
When applying for coverage through the EHDI fund using the NCTracks system, all children will automatically be screened through the NCTracks system first to see if they qualify for Medicaid or other payers. EHDI is for children without Medicaid or other insurance.
The EHDI Initial Hearing Aid fund can provide coverage up to what Medicaid would pay only. It is the payer of last resort. This means that if an audiology practice chooses to participate in the EHDI Initial Hearing Aid program, they cannot bill the family the difference between Medicaid reimbursement rates and non-Medicaid rates for hearing aids and fitting. Although you may be pre-approved for EHDI funding, it is not a guarantee of payment.