Every Friday, Consumer Reporter Lynda Steele dips into the mailbag to answer your questions. This week, Steele on Your Side investigates insurance coverage reimbursements and the waxy coatings on apples.
Hearing aid reimbursement
Karen recently went to purchase a hearing aid for her daughter at Costco. The device is covered under the Ministry of Social Development. But Costco would not submit the receipt to Pacific Blue Cross for payment, and the insurance company wouldn't accept a receipt directly from Karen. Despite several attempts to come to a resolution with Costco, Karen was left frustrated and with no answers. So she contacted Steele on Your Side.
Pacific Blue Cross says it is up to each retailer to register in order to participate in the Ministry's pay direct program for hearing aids. It got in touch with Costco, which was not familiar with the program since it only started earlier this month.
Once Costco was made aware of the hearing aid provider program it says it was happy to begin registration so it could participate and customers could be reimbursed.
Wax coatings on apples
Trudi recently bought apples at No Frills. When she got home she noticed a white coating on the apples that wouldn't come off. She wants to know what the coating is and if it's safe?
Loblaws, the parent company of No Frills, told CTV News its apples are commonly waxed to prevent water loss. Waxing allows them to last longer so they don't go to waste and it says it also gives them a shiny aesthetic.
Loblaws says it is completely safe to eat.
Food grade waxes are often made from natural ingredients, and are actually indigestible by humans, so they simply pass through our digestive systems untouched.
