InComm Payments, a payments technology company, announced its InComm Healthcare business unit partnered with MDHearing, a direct-to-consumer hearing aid manufacturer, to enable its health plan partners to provide members with supplemental benefit funds for purchasing MDHearing’s over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.

This hearing benefit is available through InComm Healthcare’s Dual Network Benefit Card, which can manage multiple health plan benefits on a single card, the company says. The new partnership will help meet growing demand for OTC hearing aids after a 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling established the rapidly growing product category.

“Our collaboration with MDHearing provides a simple and effective solution for health plan members to treat hearing loss,” says Brian Parlotto, executive VP at InComm Payments. “Compared to the thousands of dollars that hearing aids have historically cost consumers, our partnership will connect health plans and their members with a reliable treatment at a fraction of the price.”

In addition to providing free lifetime support from its team of US-based licensed hearing professionals, MDHearing offers remote screening tests, consultations, and hearing aid adjustments over the phone and online. The company’s hearing aids include:

  • Air, a behind-the-ear (BTE) rechargeable aid with noise reduction capabilities in a virtually invisible design;
  • Volt, a BTE rechargeable aid that features directional mics for advanced background noise reduction; and
  • Neo, an in-the-canal (ITC) rechargeable aid with a discreet design that hides in the ear.

“Untreated hearing impairments lead to significant costs for both consumers and health plans,” says Doug Breaker, CEO at MDHearing. “We look forward to partnering with InComm Healthcare to bring our high-quality, affordable hearing aids and telehealth services to more consumers.”

Further reading: Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Medicare Audiology Assistance

InComm Healthcare’s Dual Network Benefit Card gives Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and other health plans the ability to easily add more than one supplemental benefit, reward or healthy foods program to a single member card. Cardholders can use these benefit funds on purchases that are configurated to the health plan’s program requirements, which may include OTC medicines, wellness items, groceries, and more. The cards are loaded with more than $2 billion in supplemental benefit funds annually and are accepted at more than 68,000 retail locations in the OTC Network.

Featured image: InComm Healthcare’s Dual Network Benefit Card. Photo: InComm