Medical approval for hearing aids
Hearing poorly is difficult, both for yourself and for those around you. Fortunately, there are many hearing aids that can improve your hearing. Together with your doctor and the audiologist, you can find the device that best suits your hearing loss. The compulsory health insurance provides financial support for this.
Conditions
- Before purchasing a hearing aid, you must have received approval from the advising physician of the health insurance fund.
- You have a hearing loss of at least 35 decibels in the ear for which you need a hearing aid. Exceptions are possible.
- The hearing aid provides at least 5 decibels of hearing improvement. In some situations, demonstrated added value is sufficient.
- The device meets several established criteria.
Track the status of your medical approval in My Helan.
How does the application work?
Your ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT doctor) performs hearing tests. Based on the results, he or she may issue a prescription (annex 17) to test one or more hearing aids.
A hearing‑aid specialist (audicien) is an expert in hearing devices. You can go to them with the prescription (annex 17) from your ENT doctor. As an adult, you will receive a questionnaire, which helps the specialist determine the most suitable hearing aid for you. For a first application, you receive a trial device for at least 28 calendar days to test the hearing improvement. For a renewal, the trial period is 14 days.
Submit the test report from your hearing‑aid specialist and, if applicable, the completed questionnaire to your ENT doctor. If the effect is sufficiently positive, your specialist will complete the prescription (annex 17).
To request medical approval, you need the following documents:
- The prescription (annex 17) from the ENT specialist, fully completed
- The test report from the hearing‑aid specialist
- The completed questionnaire (from age 18)
Submit all documents to the advising physician of the health insurance fund:
- Via the Helan office in your neighbourhood.
- Or drop them in a Helan mailbox in your neighbourhood.
- Or send them by post: Helan ziekenfonds, Medical Service – Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.
The advising physician will provide both you and your hearing‑aid specialist with written approval (medical authorisation).
Once your definitive hearing aid has been fitted, your hearing‑aid specialist will give you a delivery certificate, which you can use to request reimbursement.
Renewal period
You can only receive a new allowance for your hearing aid after 3 years (if you are under 18) or after 5 years (if you are an adult), unless:
- Your hearing has deteriorated by 20 decibels
- You must switch for medical reasons from an air‑conduction device to a bone‑conduction device, or vice versa
The reimbursement
The reimbursement amount varies from one device to another. Still, a few general rules apply to every type of hearing aid.
- Only purchase the device once you have received approval from the advising physician. Otherwise, reimbursement is no longer possible.
- If you choose a non‑conventioned hearing‑aid specialist, you will receive a lower reimbursement — unless you are entitled to the increased allowance.
- The reimbursement can be handled through the third‑party payer system, meaning you only pay the co‑payment.
- Check‑ups and adjustments of the device are included in the purchase price. You also receive a 2‑year warranty from the hearing‑aid specialist. Note: this does not apply to cables, behind‑the‑ear pieces, or custom earmolds.
- Consult the list of reimbursable hearing aids.
