Step One
Contact Your District Representative
Individuals seeking assistance from the Western Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Foundation shall contact a board member representing their district.
Western Pennsylvania Lions
Hearing Foundation
Hearing Aid Program: Application Process
Step One
Step Two
Application Process
The WPLHF Board Member shall mail an application along with an income-and-asset form, plus a cover letter, to the candidate. The candidate will then complete the forms and return them to the board member for either be approval or denial.
The candidate will also be asked to make a $100 co-payment toward the hearing aid(s). It should be noted that if a candidate cannot afford or is unable to have someone pay the $100 on their behalf, a Board Member will contact a Lions Club in the area where the candidate resides to seek financial assistance. The applicant is strongly encouraged to make some monetary contributions towards the cost of the hearing aid(s).
Step Three
Approval
When the candidate returns the requested forms and co-payment and meets the requirements of the program, the Board Member sends the candidate an acceptance letter, patient information forms, an acknowledgement of payment letter, and a list of participating UPMC facilities. At the same time an email is sent by the Board Member to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Eye and Ear Institute with the candidate’s contact information and with a patient information form attached. The candidate is contacted by an audiologist from UPMC Eye and Ear and discusses the next course of action. The options are either to attend an in-person appointment at the closest UPMC facility or do a tele-audiology virtual appointment. The type of appointment depends on the severity of the hearing loss and/or the distance the candidate lives from a UPMC facility. The Foundation Treasurer is also sent a copy of the patient information form. It should be noted that if a candidate has already established a relationship with a UPMC facility for their hearing loss situation they will in all probability will continue to be treated by the hearing professional at the location where they started the process.
The tele-audiologist option gives the candidate the convenience of being attended to electronically either by phone, computer or other such electronic device in their home without having to travel to a designated UPMC facility. This method is very helpful to those who live a considerable distance from a UPMC facility or if for some other reason travel causes a hardship.
If the candidate is not approved an appropriate letter of denial is sent and the co- payment is refunded. Also, if a candidate has been approved but for some reason decides not to continue with the program they will also have their $100 co- payment refunded.
Step Four
Examination and Testing
The candidate will work specifically with UPMC Eye and Ear professional staff for all further actions until the hearing aid process is completed.
Find Your Examination and Testing Site
Please Select Your County of Residence (Step One)
Step Five
Candidate Responsibilities
The candidate is responsible for all transportation costs involved.