Payment Options
1. The Freedom Upgrade for Nucleus 24 users is the same regardless of the wearing option you choose
Important- Finance Plan option is only available for those customers in the United States.
*Specific qualifications and rules apply
Many health insurance plans will cover durable medical equipment (DME) or implantable prosthetic supplies if the item is damaged beyond repair, no longer functional, obsolete, or at least five years old. However, whether insurance will provide reimbursement for your processor upgrade will depend upon the particulars of your individual plan.
To help you navigate the reimbursement process with your insurance company, Cochlear has partnered with an outsourcing company who will provide you with free assistance in attempting to secure insurance reimbursement through your commercial insurance plan.
Who is the third party company?
Access MediQuip L.L.C., is the largest and most experienced national provider of outsourced medical implantable device management solutions to the healthcare industry. Their expertise lies in the insurance authorization, equipment procurement, and claims processes. Access MediQuip L.L.C. will work with your insurance carrier to determine your benefits coverage and seek authorization from the carrier. Once authorization is received, Access MediQuip L.L.C. will purchase the N22 or N24 Upgrade from Cochlear, ship the upgrade to you and bill the insurance company for the upgrade.
To take advantage of this free service follow these four simple three steps:
Step 1 - Visit http://www.cochlearupgrade.com and design your Freedom Processor
Step 2
Please be prepared to provide the following information.
Step 3
Obtain a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your Clinic
A letter of medical necessity is written by your medical professional and contains information about why a cochlear implant is necessary to meet your specific medical needs. Once you receive your LMN it should be faxed to Access MediQuip L.L.C. (Fax # 713-985-4875). At that point Access MediQuip L.L.C. will contact your health care company and attempt to negotiate on your behalf for insurance coverage.
Step 4
Once benefits have been determined Access MediQuip L.L.C. will contact you with benefit detail. So long as your health insurance plan agrees to provide reimbursement for your upgrade, Access MediQuip L.L.C. will not require you to pay the full cost of the upgrade up front. At that point in time you will be will informed of your out of pocket expense (deductible, co-pay and co-insurance). You will need to pay any applicable deductible or co-insurance up front, these funds will be paid directly to Access MediQuip L.L.C.
Access MediQuip L.L.C. will be able to offer the following payment options.
Once payment has been made your order will be completed. If it is determined that insurance coverage cannot be obtained Access MediQuip L.L.C. will discuss your other options.
If you have any additional questions or concerns once you review the packet, please contact Cochlear's Freedom for N22 Upgrade Team for assistance at 800.587.6927. Access MediQuip L.L.C. can be reached at 866-586-8083 or via email at cochlear@accessmediquip.com
Who is eligible for Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the United States government, covering people who are either age 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria.
Medicare covers beneficiaries through two principle programs: traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. The program in which you participate will determine if and how Medicare covers a new sound processor. In order for Medicare to cover a new processor, your current processor must meet the following conditions:
As a reminder Cochlear will obsolete the Spectra, ESPrit 22, ESPrit 24 effective June 30, 2008. Therefore, as of July 1, 2008 a Medicare recipient with one of these processors that is broken can begin the process.
If you are Medicare recipient follow these instructions to begin the process: (See important dates above)
Step 1 - Visit http://www.cochlearupgrade.com and design your Freedom Processor
Step 2.- Contact Cochlear Upgrade Team
Once you have designed your Freedom contact Cochlear's Upgrade team at 800-587-6927 or via email at freedomupgrade@cochlear.com to confirm your eligibility and confirm you meet Medicare's criteria.
If Medicare's criteria are NOT met, Medicare will not cover a new processor but Cochlear can still bill the charges on your behalf and obtain a denial so that you can submit a claim to your secondary insurance plan. You must pay the full cost of the processor at the time of order. The following is needed to bill Medicare:
1. Medicare Signature Letter (Enclosed; a completed letter must be on file before Cochlear can bill Medicare)on your behalf
2. ABN (A signed Advanced Beneficiary Notice is required)
3. Cash, Care Credit, or a Credit Card for full payment at the time of order
If you have no access to the internet please call Access MediQuip at 866-586-8083 or write them at cochlear@accessmediquip.com. You may also contact Cochlear's Upgrade team directly to get started at 800-587-6927.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is the United States health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Although coverage will depend upon the particulars of your individual health insurance plan, many health insurance payers, including some state's Medicaid programs, have historically considered the following two factors in deciding whether to cover an upgrade to new sound processor technology:
Medicaid Coverage - Cochlear Americas is a Medicaid provider and bills in the following states:
If you are Medicaid recipient in one of the above states please follow these instructions to begin the process:
Step 1 - Visit http://www.cochlearupgrade.com and design your Freedom Processor
Step 2.- Contact Cochlear Upgrade Team
Once you have designed your Freedom contact Cochlear's Upgrade team at 800-587-6927 or via email at freedomupgrade@cochlear.com to confirm your eligibility and then proceed to step 3.
Step 3. Contact your Audiologist or Clinic
Once you have designed your processor and confirmed your eligibility please contact your clinic or audiologist to secure a Letter of Medical Necessity and to place your order.
If you are a Medicaid recipient in a state not listed above, or if your state Medicaid program will not cover your upgrade please contact your Clinic or the Upgrade Team for other options.
If you have no access to the internet please call your clinic or Cochlear's Upgrade team directly to get started at 800-587-6927, or via email at freedomupgrade@cochlear.com
Freedom BTE,2. Payment can be made in one of the following ways:
Freedom Mini BTE,
Freedom Bodyworn
Insurance Reimbursement (see below for details)3. For those users who can better accommodate a monthly payment plan, we are excited to introduce a new finance program. This finance program will be offered via a 3rd party financing company- CareCredit™ who will have sole discretion to approve credit lines for this purchase. Cochlear will have no influence on the 3rd party financing company and all questions or complaints regarding the financing plan must be made directly to that company. This finance plan consists of two options
Medicare/Medicaid (see below for details)
Credit Card, or
Check, or
a. a no interest 12 month payment plan* or,You must be financing a minimum of $1,000 to be eligible for these plans. You will be able to apply for financing online once you enter the ordering process. If you would like to utilize the CareCredit™ calculator tool to approximate a 12 or 36 month payment visit http://www.carecredit.com/patients/pay.htm
b. a low 9.9% extended 36 month payment plan*
Important- Finance Plan option is only available for those customers in the United States.
*Specific qualifications and rules apply
Commercial (private) insurance instructions
Many health insurance plans will cover durable medical equipment (DME) or implantable prosthetic supplies if the item is damaged beyond repair, no longer functional, obsolete, or at least five years old. However, whether insurance will provide reimbursement for your processor upgrade will depend upon the particulars of your individual plan.
To help you navigate the reimbursement process with your insurance company, Cochlear has partnered with an outsourcing company who will provide you with free assistance in attempting to secure insurance reimbursement through your commercial insurance plan.
Who is the third party company?
Access MediQuip L.L.C., is the largest and most experienced national provider of outsourced medical implantable device management solutions to the healthcare industry. Their expertise lies in the insurance authorization, equipment procurement, and claims processes. Access MediQuip L.L.C. will work with your insurance carrier to determine your benefits coverage and seek authorization from the carrier. Once authorization is received, Access MediQuip L.L.C. will purchase the N22 or N24 Upgrade from Cochlear, ship the upgrade to you and bill the insurance company for the upgrade.
To take advantage of this free service follow these four simple three steps:
Step 1 - Visit http://www.cochlearupgrade.com and design your Freedom Processor
- Log in to the upgrade website and verify or update your contact information.
- Choose your clinic from the pulldown menu. If you don't see the name of your clinic, please type it into the text box.
- Follow the step-by-step process starting with selecting your payment path. We encourage all Nucleus 22 recipients to start with the Insurance Reimbursement option, as many upgrades will be covered.
- Follow the steps to select your processor type and options. At the end of the process you will review your order. Based on the payment path you chose, you will confirm and submit your request to Access MediQuip.
- Access MediQuip will contact you within 2 days to follow up and obtain your insurance coverage details.
Step 2
Please be prepared to provide the following information.
- Legible copies of the front and back of all insurance cards (primary, secondary, tertiary).
- Legible copies of the front and back of driver's license.
- A signed Assignment of Benefits (AOB). An AOB assigns payment directly to Access MediQuip L.L.C., guarantees the patient of family will be responsible for any balance due after processing by patient's health insurance plan, and guarantees patient of family Liability for payment in the event of payer default.
- Demographic information of your surgeon or audiologist.
Step 3
Obtain a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your Clinic
A letter of medical necessity is written by your medical professional and contains information about why a cochlear implant is necessary to meet your specific medical needs. Once you receive your LMN it should be faxed to Access MediQuip L.L.C. (Fax # 713-985-4875). At that point Access MediQuip L.L.C. will contact your health care company and attempt to negotiate on your behalf for insurance coverage.
Step 4
Once benefits have been determined Access MediQuip L.L.C. will contact you with benefit detail. So long as your health insurance plan agrees to provide reimbursement for your upgrade, Access MediQuip L.L.C. will not require you to pay the full cost of the upgrade up front. At that point in time you will be will informed of your out of pocket expense (deductible, co-pay and co-insurance). You will need to pay any applicable deductible or co-insurance up front, these funds will be paid directly to Access MediQuip L.L.C.
Access MediQuip L.L.C. will be able to offer the following payment options.
- Credit Card (Mastercard/Visa)
- Personal Check / Money Order
- A Healthcare Financing Account offered by CHASE in conjunction with Access MediQuip L.L.C.
Once payment has been made your order will be completed. If it is determined that insurance coverage cannot be obtained Access MediQuip L.L.C. will discuss your other options.
If you have any additional questions or concerns once you review the packet, please contact Cochlear's Freedom for N22 Upgrade Team for assistance at 800.587.6927. Access MediQuip L.L.C. can be reached at 866-586-8083 or via email at cochlear@accessmediquip.com
Medicare Instructions
Who is eligible for Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the United States government, covering people who are either age 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria.
Medicare covers beneficiaries through two principle programs: traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. The program in which you participate will determine if and how Medicare covers a new sound processor. In order for Medicare to cover a new processor, your current processor must meet the following conditions:
- Current processor must be lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair.
- Lost- a letter of medical necessity, notarized letter from the recipient stating how it was lost.
- Stolen-a letter of medical necessity, notarized letter from the recipient and a police report
- Damaged beyond repair- Audiologist must request a repair and Cochlear can deem the processor damaged beyond repair. In the case the technical department at Cochlear will inform the reimbursement department and we will contact the clinic to proceed with the upgrade process.
As a reminder Cochlear will obsolete the Spectra, ESPrit 22, ESPrit 24 effective June 30, 2008. Therefore, as of July 1, 2008 a Medicare recipient with one of these processors that is broken can begin the process.
If you are Medicare recipient follow these instructions to begin the process: (See important dates above)
Step 1 - Visit http://www.cochlearupgrade.com and design your Freedom Processor
- Log in to the upgrade website and verify or update your contact information.
- Choose your clinic from the pull down menu. If you don't see the name of your clinic, please type it into the text box.
- Follow the step-by-step process starting with selecting your payment path. We encourage all Nucleus 22 recipients to start with the Insurance Reimbursement option before pursuing a trade in.
- Follow the steps to select your processor type and options. At the end of the process you will review your order. Based on the payment path you chose, you will confirm and submit your request to Cochlear's upgrade team
Step 2.- Contact Cochlear Upgrade Team
Once you have designed your Freedom contact Cochlear's Upgrade team at 800-587-6927 or via email at freedomupgrade@cochlear.com to confirm your eligibility and confirm you meet Medicare's criteria.
If Medicare's criteria are NOT met, Medicare will not cover a new processor but Cochlear can still bill the charges on your behalf and obtain a denial so that you can submit a claim to your secondary insurance plan. You must pay the full cost of the processor at the time of order. The following is needed to bill Medicare:
1. Medicare Signature Letter (Enclosed; a completed letter must be on file before Cochlear can bill Medicare)on your behalf
2. ABN (A signed Advanced Beneficiary Notice is required)
3. Cash, Care Credit, or a Credit Card for full payment at the time of order
If you have no access to the internet please call Access MediQuip at 866-586-8083 or write them at cochlear@accessmediquip.com. You may also contact Cochlear's Upgrade team directly to get started at 800-587-6927.
Medicaid Instructions
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is the United States health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Although coverage will depend upon the particulars of your individual health insurance plan, many health insurance payers, including some state's Medicaid programs, have historically considered the following two factors in deciding whether to cover an upgrade to new sound processor technology:
- Improved performance: a new processor results in better hearing
- Age of your current processor: you current processor has been used for a specified number of years
Medicaid Coverage - Cochlear Americas is a Medicaid provider and bills in the following states:
| Arizona | Iowa | Nebraska | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
| Colorado | Kansas | New York | Tennessee | |
| Georgia | Kentucky | North Carolina | Texas | |
| Idaho | Louisiana | North Dakota | Utah | |
| Illinois | Maine | Ohio | Virginia | |
| Indiana | Michigan | Oklahoma | West Virginia | |
| Mississippi | ||||
If you are Medicaid recipient in one of the above states please follow these instructions to begin the process:
Step 1 - Visit http://www.cochlearupgrade.com and design your Freedom Processor
- Log in to the upgrade website and verify or update your contact information.
- Choose your clinic from the pulldown menu. If you don't see the name of your clinic, please type it into the text box.
- Follow the step-by-step process starting with selecting your payment path. We encourage all Nucleus 22 recipients to start with the Insurance Reimbursement option before deciding to pursuer a trade in.
- Follow the steps to select your processor type and options. At the end of the process you will review your order. Based on the payment path you chose, confirm and submit your request to Cochlear's upgrade team
Step 2.- Contact Cochlear Upgrade Team
Once you have designed your Freedom contact Cochlear's Upgrade team at 800-587-6927 or via email at freedomupgrade@cochlear.com to confirm your eligibility and then proceed to step 3.
Step 3. Contact your Audiologist or Clinic
Once you have designed your processor and confirmed your eligibility please contact your clinic or audiologist to secure a Letter of Medical Necessity and to place your order.
If you are a Medicaid recipient in a state not listed above, or if your state Medicaid program will not cover your upgrade please contact your Clinic or the Upgrade Team for other options.
If you have no access to the internet please call your clinic or Cochlear's Upgrade team directly to get started at 800-587-6927, or via email at freedomupgrade@cochlear.com