Augmentative Communication

Important Information on Medicare Coverage for Computers used as a Speech Generating Device (SGD)

• Medicare will only cover the cost of a “dedicated” communication device.   Dedicated communication devices are manufactured for the sole purpose of speech communication.

• There are several communication devices that are laptop based computer or other type of computer systems.  These devices are considered “Hybrid or Integrated” devices that act like dedicated devices but also offer the user access to the internet, e-mail and other software programs. (like word processing programs)  These devices are not covered under the current Medicare Part B benefit.

• Medicare will NOT pay for computers.  However, they will pay for computer systems that only offer speech output.  The manufacturer sells the product as a “dedicated” system and offers nothing but the speech software on the unit.  All other features of the computer, except the communication software, are “locked out” to the user.

• If you want the computer device to have all the features of a regular computer (internet, e-mail, etc…) you must pay to have the device “unlocked”.  This fee is can range from $49.00-$400.00 depending on the manufacturer.  The manufacturer can not “unlock” a device until it is declared yours—meaning you have taken ownership of it by signing for the device when it is delivered.  Most of the major SGD manufacturers will “unlock” a device via a web site or sending the user a flash drive in the mail.

• The fee to unlock the device is not covered under Medicare or any insurance company.  This is a direct fee for the user and the money must be paid to the manufacturer in advance. 

Alisa Brownlee, ATP
March, 2010