Online Privacy Policy Agreement

01 Your Agreement

By utilizing our Site and/or App, you signify your understanding and acceptance of the practices described in this Policy. This includes consenting to how we collect, utilize, and share your information.

If you do not agree with these terms, please cease using the Site and App immediately.

02 Policy Updates

We may modify this Policy occasionally. Any revisions will be reflected by an updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about our data practices.

Your continued use of the Site or App following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

03 Our Data Handling Principles

We are dedicated to ensuring that any personal data we gather is:

• Handled in a lawful, fair, and transparent manner.
• Obtained for specified, explicit, and legitimate reasons.
• Appropriate, relevant, and restricted to what is necessary for the intended purposes.
• Kept accurate and updated as needed.
• Processed securely to guard against unauthorized access, loss, or damage.

Please be aware that if you grant others access to your PHI or Personal Information, their use, sharing, or distribution of that data is beyond our control. You bear the responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and profile information.

04 Information We Gather

a. Data You Voluntarily Provide

When engaging with our Site and/or App, we collect information you actively submit. This can include your name, email address, birth year, phone number, chosen password, gender, location, and other demographic or personal details you share (such as through questionnaires or the hearing screener). We refer to all such data collectively as "Personal Information."

We collect Personal Information only when you choose to provide it — for instance, by completing the hearing screener, submitting forms, or communicating with us via the App, Chat, email, phone, or other direct means. If you purchase products or services, we will also collect necessary payment details to complete the transaction.

You have the option to request that we limit sharing your information with our staff, service providers, affiliates, or marketing partners; however, doing so might affect your ability to use certain Site or App features.

b. Automatically Collected Data

We may also automatically collect technical data about your interactions with the Site and/or App. This is done using technologies like cookies, web beacons, and similar tools. The information gathered might encompass details about your browser, operating system, pages visited, referring sites, usage patterns, and any errors encountered.

This data assists us in enhancing the Site and App performance and your overall experience. This "Usage Information" is generally not personally identifiable but could be considered Personal Information if linked directly to you. We use it for troubleshooting and optimizing the Site and App.

05 Use of Cookies

When you access our Site, we utilize cookies and comparable technologies. These tools help gather data about how you use the Site and enable us to offer tailored services. Where legally required, we will obtain your consent before deploying cookies.

You can configure your web browser to decline cookies, though this action might restrict your access to some features of the Site or App. We may also share aggregated, non-personal information collected via cookies with third-party advertising partners.

We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain on your device for a set period). We may also use third-party analytics tools such as Google Analytics (GA4) to understand how visitors interact with our Site.

06 How Your Information Is Utilized

We employ the information we collect for several purposes, including:

• Responding to your questions and providing support.
• Establishing user accounts and profiles needed for accessing specific Site and App functionalities.
• Communicating with you regarding our services, policy changes, or special offers.
• Engaging in marketing and sales activities, such as follow-up communications and promotions.
• Analyzing usage data to enhance user experience and improve Site and App features.
• Processing purchases and facilitating insurance verification requests.

You can opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by using the contact details found in the "Contact Us" section below.

07 Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent your Personal Information. We may, however, share it with trusted service providers and contractors who support our operations, including the Site, the Signia App (a third-party application developed and maintained by WS Audiology), and customer service.

We may also disclose information if legally required, such as to comply with court orders or governmental requests, or to safeguard the security of our Site and services. Anonymized data may be shared for research and development initiatives, potentially involving collaboration with third parties.

We are not accountable for the data practices of third parties — such as social media platforms or advertisers — after we have shared information with them in accordance with this Policy.

08 Your Control Over Your Information

You have options regarding your Personal Information. You can typically disable cookies or manage tracking preferences through your browser's settings. Be aware that disabling cookies might affect the functionality of certain Site or App features.

If you have concerns about the handling of your Personal Information, please reach out to us using the information in the "Contact Us" section below.

09 Safeguarding Your Information

We implement significant measures designed to protect your Personal Information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These include physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we manage.

However, please understand that no security system is impenetrable, and data transmission over the internet cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure. Maintaining the secrecy of your password is vital for protecting your Personal Information — do not share it with others.

You are accountable for all activities conducted through your account on the Site or App. If you believe your password has been compromised, or that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please notify us promptly using the contact details provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

10 Links to External Websites

Our Site or Platform might include links leading to websites operated by third parties. Any Personal Information you provide on those external sites falls under the purview of that third party's privacy policy, not ours.

This Policy does not extend to linked sites, and we bear no responsibility for their content or their privacy and security practices. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party sites before sharing Personal Information with them.

11 Information Regarding Minors

The Site and App are not designed for use by individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from anyone under 18.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently gathered Personal Information from a minor under 18, we will undertake reasonable measures to remove such information from our records promptly.

12 Information for California Residents

California law grants residents specific privacy rights and requires the following disclosures:

a. Shine the Light Law

We do not sell, rent, share, or trade your Personal Information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes unless you have explicitly authorized us to do so. Upon request, if we have disclosed Personal Information to third parties for their marketing use, we will provide information about the categories of data shared. California law permits us to respond to such requests once per calendar year. For details, please use the contact information in the "Contact Us" section.

b. Do-Not-Track Signals

California law requires disclosure regarding our response to "Do-Not-Track" browser signals. As the industry lacks a uniform standard for interpreting these signals, we do not currently recognize or respond to them. However, you can utilize technical methods to limit tracking, as detailed in the "Your Control Over Your Information" section.

c. Non-Discrimination

You possess the right to exercise your privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) without experiencing discriminatory treatment or retaliation from us.

13 Feedback Submissions

Any feedback, comments, or suggestions you provide to us may be utilized by Hearing Benefit Services for service improvement and operational purposes, without linking it to your Personal Information. We will collect and handle information within such feedback consistent with this Privacy Policy.

By submitting feedback, you grant Hearing Benefit Services a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, and incorporate your feedback into our products and services. We reserve the right to use such feedback for marketing or service improvement without obligation or compensation to you.

14 Additional Provisions

This Policy is interpreted under the laws of the United States, as our primary servers are located there. If you access the Site or App from outside the U.S., you are responsible for adherence to local laws, where applicable. Your use of the Site or App constitutes your consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information in the United States and potentially other countries.

In the event of a corporate transaction, such as a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the successor entity. Furthermore, should we undergo bankruptcy or a similar proceeding, we may not have control over how your personal information is treated, transferred, or used.

15 Hearing Benefit Services SMS Short Code Service Terms

a. Overview

Hearing Benefit Services utilizes SMS (text messaging) to send notifications and alerts regarding promotions and updates to interested customers.

b. Opting In / Opting Out

To discontinue messages, text "STOP" to 808-435-7002 or reply "STOP" to any SMS received from Hearing Benefit Services.

c. Assistance

For more information about our SMS service or to unsubscribe, call us at (808) 435-7002.

d. Supported Carriers

Our SMS messages are compatible with major carriers including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile®, and others. Please note: T-Mobile is not liable for messages that are delayed or not delivered.

e. Messaging Rates

Standard message and data rates from your wireless provider may apply to messages sent and received. Consult your provider for details on your plan.

f. Customer Support

For help with the SMS service, email [email protected] or call (808) 435-7002.

g. Age Restriction

Individuals under 18 are not permitted to use our SMS Service or Chat features. We do not intentionally collect Personal Information from minors. If we discover such collection has occurred, we will take steps to delete the information promptly.

16 SMS Information Collection and Use

We gather Personal Information you voluntarily provide through the Hearing Benefit Services SMS Service and our Website Chat and Hearing Platforms. This may include:

• Personal Details: Information you submit when using our services or placing orders.
• Optional Data: We might request demographic details such as birth year or gender.
• Payment Details: Information needed to process payments for purchases.
• Data from Other Sources: We might receive Personal Information about you from partners or third parties and may combine this with data we already possess.

We do not sell or trade Personal Information collected via the SMS service. It is primarily used to enhance the service, fulfill your requests, and inform you about relevant promotions. We may share this data with third-party service providers who help us operate our services, such as payment processors and marketing platforms.

We do not govern how these third parties utilize your information once shared. You can refrain from sharing Personal Information by choosing not to use our SMS services.

17 Contact Us

If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise any rights outlined herein, please submit your request in writing via email or postal mail. To help us efficiently process your request, please include:

• The identifiers you use to access the Site or App (e.g., email address, username).
• Your state or country of residence.
• A clear description of the information or action you are requesting (e.g., request for deletion, correction, or access).
• Sufficient detail to enable us to locate the relevant information or content.

We may need to request additional information, potentially including government-issued identification, to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.