Recently, Gateway had the privilege of sitting down with Liz Johnson, our Clinical Practice Manager, to discuss her position and the realities of navigating today’s healthcare system, particularly in the field of hearing healthcare. Our conversation touched on many critical topics, but what stood out most were her insights into the financial and systemic challenges that our clients face. From the difficulty of finding reasonably priced care to predatory financial options, the current landscape often leaves individuals, especially those with hearing loss, struggling to access the services they desperately need.
The Burden of Unaffordable Healthcare
One of the first things Liz highlighted was the significant financial burden that many of our clients face when seeking care. In Maryland, for example, hearing aids—which are essential for those with hearing loss—are not covered by most insurance plans. This leaves clients with few options other than paying out of pocket, a cost that can range from $1,000 to over $6,000 per device. For many, this is simply unattainable. The lack of insurance coverage creates a barrier to care, leaving individuals to either forgo treatment or seek out financing options that can often be predatory.
Liz spoke candidly about how these financial challenges impact both our clients and the clinic. “We see clients who are in desperate need of hearing aids, but the cost is a major roadblock,” she shared. “Some people walk away because they just can’t afford it, and that’s heartbreaking. Everyone deserves to hear and communicate effectively, but right now, the system makes it impossible for some.”
Predatory Pricing and Loans
A key point in our discussion was the rise of predatory financial practices within the healthcare system. For individuals who cannot afford to pay for hearing aids outright, companies often offer payment plans or financing options. While these services seem helpful on the surface, they can end up being incredibly costly for clients in the long run.
Liz pointed out that these financing options often come with high-interest rates or hidden fees, trapping clients in a cycle of debt. “Many clients don’t realize that by the time they’ve paid off their loan, they’ve spent far more than the original cost of the hearing aids,” she explained. “It’s a system that preys on those who are already vulnerable, and it’s something we’re committed to working around here at Gateway.”
The Importance of Financial Balance
Liz also stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between serving private-pay clients and those with limited financial resources. Gateway has always strived to make hearing healthcare accessible for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. But as Liz noted, this isn’t always easy. “We have to keep the clinic financially sustainable, while also ensuring that we’re not turning anyone away because of cost,” she said. “It’s a delicate balance between providing the highest quality services and keeping our doors open to those who need us most.”
This is why Gateway offers a range of payment options designed to help clients without putting them in financial jeopardy. While financing solutions by some national companies are available, Gateway also seeks to provide alternative, more client-friendly options. Payment plans that don’t come with high-interest rates or predatory fees are one way we help ease the burden. Additionally, we work closely with clients to explore all avenues of funding, from state programs to grants and sliding scale fees, in order to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Commitment to Affordable, Accessible Care
At the heart of our discussion was the need to make hearing healthcare both affordable and accessible for everyone. Gateway is committed to this mission, and Liz’s insights reinforced why it’s so important. Hearing loss isn’t just a medical issue—it affects every aspect of a person’s life, from their ability to work to their relationships with family and friends. By making hearing aids and other hearing healthcare services accessible, we’re helping to improve lives and empower individuals to engage fully in their world.
Liz summed it up perfectly when she said, “The most rewarding part of this job is seeing someone’s life change because they can finally hear. We do everything we can to make that possible for as many people as we can.”
Moving Forward
Our conversation with Liz Johnson was a powerful reminder of why Gateway exists. We love to work around the challenges presented by the healthcare system, always finding ways to ensure that our clients receive the care they need without being crippled by financial strain. As we move forward, we remain committed to advocating for systemic change—lobbying for better insurance coverage for hearing aids and working to eliminate predatory financial practices. But until those changes come, we’ll continue doing what we do best: providing affordable, accessible, and compassionate care to those who need it most.
We believe that everyone deserves to hear and be heard. And we’ll keep working to make that a reality, one client at a time.
by Emilie Aguilar
Learn More About Gateway
Gateway connects people to their worlds and aids individuals in their ability to understand and to be understood. Gateway has grown into an organization that serves more than 4,000 children and adults every year, helping them communicate more effectively. With programming both on our Baltimore campus and through community-based programming, we provide education, access, and medical support to anyone who needs it.
We envision a society where everyone can understand and be understood and where everyone is treated with integrity, compassion, and equity.
