Dental Care,Eyeglasses,Hearing Aids

[thedrifter]

Dental Care,Eyeglasses,Hearing Aids

Summary

Free or low cost dental care, hearing aids and eye care care/ eyeglasses is available.

Veterans can get care through the VA.

Dental Care

Sources of dental care include the following:
Low income clinics which are federally-supported. See: www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc/index.cfm.
City and county health departments will know of other local low income health clinics funded by other sources.

Before you go to a clinic, call to get details about available dental coverage and eligibility requirements.

The National Association of Dentistry for the Handicapped (www.nadh.org Tel.: 303.573.0264) organizes dentist volunteers to give free dental care to poor disabled persons in at least 32 states.

Almost all dental schools offer free or very discounted dental care by student dentists whose work is closely supervised by dental professors. The American Dental Association (www.ADA.org; 312-440-2500) has a list of all American dental schools.

For older Americans, the American Dental Association (www.ADA.org; Tel.: 312.440.2500) enlists dental volunteers to give free care to needy older people though the ADA's Access To Oral Health Care For Older Americans Program.

For students who can't afford to pay for care and can't receive it from Medicaid or CHIP because of income, coverage limits or alien status: A number of local public school systems fund or sponsor free or reduced-fee dental care, often using volunteer dentists, sometimes in school-provided clinics. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (www.aapd.org ; 312-337-2169) has some information on such programs.

For needy youngsters:
Basketball star Eric Williams' Believe in Me Foundation (www.ericwilliamsfoundation.org ) promotes free and low-cost dental care.
The Give Kids a Smile program of the American Dental Association (www.ADA.org; Tel.: 312.440.2500) enlists dentist volunteers to give free care.
Eyeglasses

For help with eye exams, eye glass prescriptions and/or eyeglasses, check:
Local Lions' Clubs: www.lionsclubs.org
United Way branches: www.unitedway.org
Salvation Army chapters: www.salvationarmyusa.org
Lenscrafters' Gift of Sight Program: www.lenscrafters.com/gos.html, Tel.: 800.541.5367

People age 65 and over who have or are at risk for glaucoma or diabetes can get a free eye examination and an initial treatment for glaucoma through the EyeCare America Program. The program is for citizens and legal aliens See: www.eyecareamerica.org or Tel.: 800.222.3937.

If the above don't work for you, keep in mind that stores such as CVS, Dollar Stores, Eckard's, Rite-Aid, Sears, Target, Wahlgreen's, and WalMart sell off-the-rack, ready-to-wear glasses in a wide variety of strengths, for reading and driving. Their prices are much cheaper ($10 to $20 a pair vs. $120 and up at optician stores). Some Dollar Stores even sell glasses for only $1. The American Academy of Ophthalmology finds that: "Ready-to-wear reading glasses are effective, safe and economical. Self-selection and over-the-counter purchase of these glasses appears to be medically acceptable, cost-effective and in the best overall interest of the public." Keep in mind that while these glasses work well for people with simple prescriptions -- or who only seek "spares" for contact lenses they usually wear -- they aren't adequate for people with astigmatism; people who need different strength prescriptions in each eye; or people whose eyes are very close together or far apart.

You can also search online for discounted eye glasses.

If you have additional suggestions, please post them on our Managing Your Care message board.
Hearing

The American Academy of Otolaryngology (www.entnet.org/healthinfo/hearing) lists some sources for free or discounted hearing exams and hearing aids--as do some local Easter Seal Society groups (www.EasterSeals.org)

Costco stores offer free hearing evaluations by audiologists or licensed hearing aid professionals to "members" at 200 locations. Call 800.774.2678.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation gives over 10,000 hearing aids a year to the needy. (www.starkey.com; Tel. 800.328.8602

Contact each source to learn their criteria for eligiblit

Please share additional resources on our message board: Managing Your Care.
Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) covers eye examinations and audiology tests and writes eyeglass and hearing aid prescriptions for all its eligible patients. In many cases the VA also covers eyeglasses and hearing aids---even for some non-service-connected Priority 5 and 7 patients (generally, veterans honorably, or generally, discharged after at least two years' service with incomes under about $35,000).

The little-known Veterans' Health Administration Directive 2002-039 of July 5, 2002 [paragraph 4.a.(1)] authorizes eyeglasses and hearing aids for:
People getting service-connected compensation for any reason or at any percentage.
Former prisoners of war.
People getting Housebound or Aid and Attendance increments to needs-based disability Pensions.
People needing eyeglasses or hearing aids due to any other (even non-service-connected) medical cause
People with any other functional or cognitive impairment as shown by Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functional deficiency(ies) who need eyeglasses or hearing aids to participate in their own care.

Replacements are allowed in cases of loss and breakage and for new or changed prescriptions.

Hearing aids, without a prescription change or loss, must last 4 years. Issuance of spares is determined by the VA audiiologist or eye care specialist.

The VA ordinarily offers comprehensive dental services only to 100% disabled, service-connected veterans and those held as prisoners of war over 90 days. Other, non-service-connected veterans may apply to the VA no later than 3 to 6 months after discharge to get dental treatment that wasn't completed while on active duty. For qualified cases, the VA may then pre-authorize some treatment with approved private dentists.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) covers eye examinations and audiology tests and writes eyeglass and hearing aid prescriptions for all its eligible patients. In many cases the VA also covers eyeglasses and hearing aids---even for some non-service-connected Priority 5 and 7 patients (generally, veterans honorably, or generally, discharged after at least two years' service with incomes under about $35,000).

The little-known Veterans' Health Administration Directive 2002-039 of July 5, 2002 [paragraph 4.a.(1)] authorizes eyeglasses and hearing aids for:

People getting service-connected compensation for any reason or at any percentage.

Former prisoners of war.

People getting Housebound or Aid and Attendance increments to needs-based disability Pensions.

People needing eyeglasses or hearing aids due to any other (even non-service-connected) medical cause

People with any other functional or cognitive impairment as shown by Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functional deficiency(ies) who need eyeglasses or hearing aids to participate in their own care.

Replacements are allowed in cases of loss and breakage and for new or changed=2
0prescriptions.

Hearing aid s, without a prescription change or loss, must last 4 years. Issuance of spares is determined by the VA audiiologist or eye care specialist.

The VA ordinarily offers comprehensive dental services only to 100% disabled, service-connected veterans and those held as prisoners of war over 90 days. Other, non-service-connected veterans may apply to the VA no later than 3 to 6 months after discharge to get dental treatment that wasn't completed while on active duty. For qualified cases, the VA may then pre-authorize some treatment with approved private dentists.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Reference: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml


VA health centers are listed at www.VA.gov.

http://www.survivorshipatoz.org/print.php?tid=201

Ellie

[dreammen]

Thanks for sharing this. cheap hearing aids

[smith01]

Hi,

Thanks for useful sources. However, I have been using dental plans to save money on my dental care needs.

[Nelsonn]

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