Paris (AFP)
The hearing aids offered as part of the "100% Health" device, which guarantees patients a reduced "remaining charge", are not devices "at a discount", welcomes the association UFC-Que Choisir in a published test Thursday.
These prostheses "have demonstrated a quality equivalent to the most expensive models," says the association, which has compared in the laboratory seven models eligible for 100% health and six sold at free price.
"If there are notable differences in quality between devices, they are not linked to their price", underline the authors of this test, published in the March issue of the magazine "Que Choisir", on sale Thursday.
"The models are distinguished by their options (rechargeable or battery, Bluetooth, precision settings ...) more numerous and advanced on high-end models". The absence of these options does not however call into question the quality of 100% healthy prostheses, conclude the authors.
Emmanuel Macron's emblematic promise, the "zero charge" for dental, optical and hearing care, dubbed "100% health", comes into effect gradually since 2019, and will be fully in place by 2021. Regarding aid hearing aids eligible for this device, the "remaining charge" is currently 750 euros per ear but will become zero as of January 1.
It now remains to "ensure that professionals play the game of reform and offer, without denigrating them, 100% healthy prostheses", observes the consumer defense association.
Due to the "lack of independence of a part of the hearing-aid acousticians vis-à-vis the manufacturers", the public authorities must "redouble their vigilance" and carry out "controls to ensure that the duty of advice and loyalty of professionals over their patients prevails. "
They must "present in an objective way the devices with a capped price, otherwise the users will turn away from them", underlines the association.
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