Studies from University of Southern California (USC) Yield New Information about Military Medicine (Health Insurance Coverage and Hearing Aid Utilization In Us Older Adults: National Health Interview Survey): Military Medicine

2025 APR 09 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Defense & Aerospace Daily -- Research findings on Military Medicine are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Los Angeles, California, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Assess rates of hearing aid use by insurance coverage in U.S. older adults and their changes over time. Cross-sectional analysis of the National Health Interview Survey 2007-2018.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Southern California (USC), “Participants (>= 65 years) with complete data on insurance, hearing aid use, and self-reported hearing limitations. Rates of hearing aid use among older adults who self-reported hearing limitations and their trends were estimated using survey weights. Sixteen insurance categories were created based on exclusive and combinatorial coverage, with Medicare coverage only as a reference group. The associations between insurance coverage and hearing aid use were examined using multivariable regression analyses. Hearing aid use rate among older adults who self-reported hearing limitations was 51.2% in the United States. In multivariable models adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, self-reported hearing loss, and comorbidities, Military insurance only and Military & Medicare groups reported higher hearing aid use rates than Medicare only (odds ratio [OR] 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-6.64; OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.55-2.09, respectively). During 2007-2018, there were no significant changes in hearing aid use rates by insurance groups among private, Medicaid, and military insurance coverage. While hearing aid use remains low among U.S. older adults, Military-related insurance, which generally provides enhanced coverage for hearing aids, was independently associated with higher use rates compared to Medicare, which does not offer coverage.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Future research should examine the direct impact of different insurance policies on hearing aid use and its downstream health benefits.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Health Insurance Coverage and Hearing Aid Utilization In Us Older Adults: National Health Interview Survey. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2025. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Janet S. Choi, University of Southern California (USC), Caruso Dept Otolaryngol Head & Neck Surg, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Additional authors for this research include Diego E. Razura, Nikko D. Beady and Matthew E. Lin.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.1201. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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