Hearing aids from the AHV: Council of States calls for faster financing
Health costs
AHV is supposed to finance hearing aids earlier – Federal Council is defeating
On Thursday, the Council of States discussed relieved access to hearing aids. The Federal Council defends the current regulation. Interior Minister Baume Schneider focused primarily on prices.
With the AHV, it takes longer than with the IV to finance a hearing aid.
« Hearing loss is today the second most tax disease after back pain, » says FDP Council of States Josef Dittli. He complains that AHV pensioners are heavily disadvantaged compared to IV loans. The latter receive a hearing aid financed by IV from a 20 percent hearing loss. At AHV, this only happens from a high grade hearing loss – for example, if you no longer hear your counterpart when speaking.
Dittli therefore demands that the AHV finance the hearing aid from a lower hearing loss. He is based on a new study by Pro Audito when he demands: « Access to hearing aids must be easier and more affordable, otherwise we will save in the wrong place. » This would result in higher and higher follow -up costs that the longer those affected do not wear hearing aid.
The Federal Council agrees, but defends current practice
However, the Federal Council shows little will in the defined threshold from which the AHV is financed by a hearing aid. In his answer, he explains the different provisions with the fact that the AHV and IV pensions have different purposes: the AHV is not a integration pension, but a pension insurance. This does not focus on impairments as the IV does. However, the Federal Council also refers to partial financing, which AHV already provides today from a slight to medium hearing loss.
Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume Schneider showed the negotiator in the Council of States regarding price adjustments. « One of the more sensitive questions is whether financing can keep up with technological developments, » she said on Thursday. « There are always better technical options, but they are also becoming more and more expensive. »
This problem is aware of the Federal Council. Baume-Schneider referred to the review of the financing in view of the increasing prices that are currently underway. Their results should be available in early 2027.
Dittli was partly satisfied and asked no further discussion. However, he emphasized that the Federal Council's answers were formulated, but he actually did not want to change anything. « He largely hides the problem and the higher costs of non -care. »
