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batteries for medel..


Murphy

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I am interested if anyone has submitted to their insurance the batteries so they can been bought in bulk from the company or how do you keep stocked. Have a hearing aid that requires batteries which can be bought locally. Where do you get them from other than the manufacturer and how much are they for what number?

I have just been implanted three weeks ago and will be activated May 31st. Am excited but a bit nervous. Any help would be appreciated. thanks Ellen

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  • Adam

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Hi Ellen!

I'm sure that every insurance policy is different. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield NC. I have looked into seeing if they would cover batteries. I was told that I would need an order from my physician, submitted for prior approval. Once approved, the money I spend would be applied toward my deductible. My deductible is $933 per year. In my case, it wasn't worth the hassle, so I didn't pursue it any further.

I purchase my son's batteries from microbattery.com. I buy Zenipower 675P (the P designates cochlear implant strength). I buy in bulk. 5 boxes have 300 batteries for $108 plus shipping. We have used them for years and I have been very pleased! I place this order twice a year.

Patrice

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I am told by my audiologist (I won't be activated for about a month) that Medicare covers the full cost of batteries. I'm not sure if that's through Part A or Part B; we have Medigap coverage, so I have no deductible, so it doesn't matter. I'm not sure how it's handled, but when I find out, I'll post it.

 

r

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my insurance covers the cost of the batteries to some extent but not really enough to make a huge difference. I use the rechareables 98% of the time. If I know I wont have time to mess with changing and carrying spares or if we go on a couple day trip, I'll use the disposables.

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Hi everybody,

which company you like at most? Although, this is not specific experience of CI or other implant (still;) - I have tried a lot of companies and find Rayovac and Duracell as best. Long lasting capacity was always the best between these 2 companies.

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Ivana it is tough to pinpoint which company has the best or longest lasting as it really depends on the recipient and their power needs. For example if you use an ALD like an FM reciever, the power requirement is much higher so you will go through batteries much quicker. I have tried a few companies and kept the power needs about the same for each and I really have not seen much of a difference. even between the cheap store brand and the expensive like duracell. That being said, i just go with what is on sale or a little cheaper.

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Ivana it is tough to pinpoint which company has the best or longest lasting as it really depends on the recipient and their power needs. For example if you use an ALD like an FM reciever, the power requirement is much higher so you will go through batteries much quicker. I have tried a few companies and kept the power needs about the same for each and I really have not seen much of a difference. even between the cheap store brand and the expensive like duracell. That being said, i just go with what is on sale or a little cheaper.

Fair enough...though I could see a difference - well, best usually means the best battery by capacity for the end user, isn't it?

For instance, tehere are numerous batteries which has various usefulness of battery - it is not same whether battery provides full capacity (even by cost of shorter duration) from start or last longer but the capacity is not like the previous one.

For instance, for my present HA I need a lot of power because there is also a vibrator which has to be powered at some way - so you have 2 devices not only once. If battery is low by capacity I can hear sound but I can not understand it quite well.

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the batteries deigned specifically for CI's actually have more air holes in them so you get more bang for your buck power wise. the trade off is that they dont last as long.

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As a matter of interest, how long do your disposable batteries last? And how long before you have to recharge the rechargeable ones? So far my disposable ones last exactly 5 days.

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Sandy, Right now my Disposables last almost exactly 5 days. I get about 16 hours on the rechargeables.

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Sandy is a NINJA!! Watchout!!

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the batteries deigned specifically for CI's actually have more air holes in them so you get more bang for your buck power wise. the trade off is that they dont last as long.

 

Interesting... I didn't know this...Surprised

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Sandy, the rechargeables last about 12 hours.  however the one on my left lasts 12 hours, the one on my right is 14-15.  The difference has everything to do with how thick the skin flap is over the implant.  Strange but true.  Programming strategy has nothing to do with it.  I carry an extra set of the DaCapo rechargeables if I am going out for any length of time and that way when they start beeping, I can change them right now. I use disposables when I travel on business.

 

Ellen, here's where I buy my disposables: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00321LEYU/ref=ox_ya_os_product how was your activation today?

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You bet Ivana. I'll try to get some more info for you.

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programming strategy has nothing to do with it, you are correct. dont forget the different alds and the like will suck those batteries dry pretty quickly. as you have stated it is always smart to keep some backups with you

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You guys in the northern hemisphere must get better batteries - both rechargeable and disposable. Wink

I stopped using the rechargeable ones because I was sick of changing them at least once a day - I only got around 8-10 hours from one.

With disposable ones I get roughly a day per battery - 2XS, two days and a bit, three pack three and a bit days.

I have tried lost of different brands and have found Zenipower to be the best and the cheapest. Rayovac were terrible and died really quickly not giving you much time to change the batteries.

Of course YMMV.

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SPECIALIST in the house!!!! watch out.

 

Matt remember as the batteries (rechargeable) get older they start to lose their strength. a rechargeable that is a few years old will last around 10 hours as a new one would last 16

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They were getting that duration from new Mr Master sir.

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Has anyone tried the PowerOne® rechargeable 675p batteries? I wonder how they compare with the DaCapo® rechargeable batteries.

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Matt that is odd, was that with the D-Coil?

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Donald, to my knowledge, only the decapo batteries will fit the opus 2 processor.

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Matt is odd, was that with the D-Coil?

Yep - I know I'm odd.

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Look at my post again sporty. I said, Matt THAT is odd.

 

but since you brought it up.

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Adam,

 

PowerOne® has rechargeable p675 ACCU plus batteries and a charger.  After doing a little more research, it appears that they do not have the power needed  for implants.  (1.2v vs. 1.4v; 74mAh vs. 570mAh).

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