Patients and Families
The Cincinnati Children’s Hearing Aid Trust’s (CCHAT) vision is to offer the gift of hearing to as many Ohio children as possible. CCHAT recognizes the importance of offering early hearing intervention to children with confirmed hearing losses and the fiscal and other challenges associated with obtaining hearing aids in a timely fashion. The mission of the Cincinnati Children’s Hearing Aid Trust is to provide these children, from birth to 3 years of age, in the stage of Ohio with their first set of hearing aid(s) for free. Before CCHAT will supply funding for its applicants, each patient is required to apply for alternative coverage through both BCMH and Medicaid.
When your child is diagnosed with hearing loss, your audiologist will contact CCHAT. CCHAT will facilitate shipment of a hearing aid(s) directly to the practicing BCMH/Medicaid approved audiologist. CCHAT has partnered with Phonak and Oticon to provide patients with hearing aids for a three-month loaner period. During the loaner period, CCHAT will help patient families apply for financial reimbursement from a variety of government agencies. If funding is denied, CCHAT will be the payer of last resort for your child’s hearing aid(s). CCHAT will also help you develop a savings plan for future needs.
Please read the following in order to receive financial assistance through CCHAT.
If you have not already done so, please seek assistance through your practicing BCMH/Medicaid approved audiologist and have them contact the CCHAT Coordinator in order to move forward. If you need assistance locating a BCMH/Medicaid approved audiologist or physician please contact CCHAT coordinator Cali Allen. If you have already visited your audiologist, they have contacted CCHAT Coordinator, submitted the appropriate forms and therefore instructed you to visit our website, please read the following information before contacting CCHAT Coordinator.
In order to apply for coverage you will need to have the following information accessible at time of form completion. Once obtaining this information, please contact CCHAT Coordinator at 513-636-CHAT (2428) to begin application process.
- Proof of Income: Copies of pay stubs for the previous month or most recent four week period, A letter from your employer stating the amount of your monthly gross income OR, if self-employed, IRS 1040 tax form with schedule C or F
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Immigration Documents (for person applying)
- Proof of Ohio Residency
- Other Health Insurance: Be sure to copy both sides of card if applicable
Once you have contacted the CCHAT Coordinator and the application process has begun, the hearing device will be ordered and received by the dispensing audiologist within 48 hours.
It is patient’s guardian’s responsibility to contact CCHAT Coordinator with any change in information and keep CCHAT Coordinator informed if they receive any relevant information regarding their application status. Guardian is also responsible for keeping all appointments that are pertinent to patient’s hearing disorder until otherwise notified by practicing audiologist or physician. The parent/guardian is responsible for returning the hearing device(s) to CCHAT in the case that your child is no longer in need of the hearing device(s) that has been issued to him/her due to improvement in hearing or cochlear implant. Once patient receives notice of whether he/she has been approved or denied for alternative benefits through either BCMH or Medicaid, CCHAT will take the necessary steps to fund the hearing device.
If you have read and understand the above information, please contact Cali Allen, CCHAT Coordinator, at 513-636-2428. CCHAT Coordinator will advise you on which forms to download and will guide you through application process.
Forms to download:
The following information can be downloaded in portable document format (.pdf). You must have Adobe Acrobat" Reader installed on your computer to read these files.
