Are Hearing Aids Covered by Insurance?

Hearing aid insurance coverage isn’t guaranteed, but it may be available to you depending on your insurance plan.

Updated: Mar 13, 2023
Medically Reviewed by:

AgingInPlace.org keeps our resources free by working as an affiliate partner with some companies mentioned on our site. These partnerships or the commission we may earn do not affect our opinions or evaluations of the products we mention. Our reviews are solely based on our research methodology and from input from our AgingInPlace.org Advisory Board. Learn more about our ad policies.

Hearing loss is common for older adults, with nearly one-third of all adults over age 65 experiencing some form of hearing difficulty. With hearing aids often costing thousands of dollars, many older adults wonder if hearing aids are covered by their private health insurance plans. In fact, in a 2022 survey conducted by AgingInPlace.org, 52.9% of respondents reported the cost of hearing aids as their primary hesitation for purchasing them. 

If you or a loved one needs hearing aids, some private insurance plans cover part of the purchase of hearing aids, but rarely cover the full cost.

“More than half the patients I see do have some amount of insurance coverage for hearing aids,” said Rachel Magann Faivre, Au.D. and owner of Oklahoma City-based ASH Audiology. “Also, in states where sales tax is collected on hearing aids, insurance never covers that cost.”

Your exact amount of coverage depends on your specific plan and other factors, like your location and whether or not you have supplemental coverage.

Does Insurance Pay For Hearing Aids?

Insurance coverage varies from plan to plan, but regardless of which plan you have there are a few states where insurance is required to cover the purchase of hearing aids. There are 25 states currently requiring insurance to cover hearing aids for children, but only five states have this requirement for adults. The five states that require insurance to cover the purchase of hearing aids for adults are:

  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island

Although coverage is mandatory in these five states, the exact amount and specific details of coverage required by each state still varies. For example, Arkansas requires insurance companies to offer coverage options to employers, with a minimum required coverage of $1,400 per ear every three years. Plans in New Hampshire are required to offer at least $1,500 of coverage per hearing aid every five years, while insurers in Rhode Island are required to cover at least $700 per hearing aid every three years. 

As mentioned above, these five states require coverage for adults. There are currently twenty-four states that require insurers to offer coverage for children, although the particular terms and specific coverage amounts still vary from state to state. 

So, what about older adults who don’t live in the five states that require hearing aid coverage for all adults? In these cases, coverage will be harder to come by, but will depend on the individual’s specific insurance plan. If you are an older adult and don’t live in one of these five states, but you do use Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, here’s what you need to know:

Medicare

Original Medicare, available to adults age 65 and over, does not offer coverage for hearing aids or hearing aid-related exams. Those with Original Medicare insurance are responsible for 100% of the cost of their hearing aids.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (also called Part C), there may be additional coverage available that applies to hearing aids. Medicare Advantage Plans are bundled plans offered by private insurance companies, and their coverage will vary by company, state, and individual plan.

Some coverage for hearing aids may also be available through Medicare Supplemental Insurance, also called Medigap, which is sold by private insurance companies to supplement your existing Medicare coverage. 

Medicaid

Medicaid offers health resources and coverage for low-income families and individuals, and hearing aid coverage will vary depending on what state you reside in. In some states, Medicaid provides full coverage but it may only include low end technology. This coverage typically requires medical necessity as determined by a licensed audiologist.

Private Insurance

Generally speaking, most private insurance companies don’t offer hearing aid coverage in their basic plans because hearing aids are considered elective devices as opposed to medical necessities. In order to determine if you have coverage or not, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to get details for your specific plan. If your plan does not offer hearing coverage, many private insurance companies have options to purchase add-on coverage, which may be worth considering depending on your hearing needs.

Other Ways To Pay For Hearing Aids

Even though most insurance plans don’t offer hearing aid coverage without additional payment or supplemental programs, there are other options for covering the cost of your hearing aids if you’re paying out of pocket. We will discuss a few of these options below.

Health Savings Account (HSA): If you have an insurance plan that qualifies for an HSA, the account allows you to save pre-tax money to cover approved medical expenses. If your health insurance plan is HSA-eligible, the account may be offered either through your health insurance company or your bank. Health savings accounts are approved for use in purchasing hearing aids, batteries, and for help in covering any repairs or maintenance costs for your hearing aids.

Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA): Like health savings accounts, flexible spending arrangements use pre-tax money to cover eligible medical expenses. FSAs are available to people who have health insurance through their employer, and the employer funds the account with a predetermined amount of pre-tax dollars deducted from your paycheck throughout the year. When you submit documentation of an eligible medical expense to your employer, you can receive reimbursement from the FSA.

Financing: Besides using insurance or a designated medical expense account to purchase your hearing aids, many hearing aid companies and audiology practices may offer financing for the purchase of hearing aids. Hearing aid companies often have financing available through separate financial institutions, which essentially offer you a loan to cover your hearing aids that you repay in monthly payments with interest. Some of these financial institutions offer promotional periods where you don’t have to pay interest if you pay off the balance by the specified date discussed at purchase. This process is often the same with audiology offices, although some also offer financing in-house. Audiologists may also accept Care Credit, which is a credit card used exclusively for healthcare-related services and expenses. Most financing options will have varying terms and are subject to credit approval. 

How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost?

The cost of hearing aids ranges widely. Affordable hearing aids are available for as low as $99 per pair, while high-technology hearing aids can cost $5,000 or more per pair. The difference in cost is typically a function of the technology included in the hearing aid, as well as what features are available. It’s typically pricey to purchase hearing aids from an audiologist because these professionals have to cover things like employee salaries and building expenses in addition to the costs of the actual hearing aids. 

To offset the cost of getting hearing aids from an audiologist, the FDA recently passed a ruling making over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids available and regulated. While OTC hearing aids are still available at a wide range of prices, many of the same technologies, brands, and models are now, or will soon be, available OTC at a lower cost than hearing aids purchased from an audiologist. 

How to Get Affordable Hearing Aids

OTC: As mentioned above, the 2022 FDA ruling allowing OTC sales of approved and regulated hearing aids will make them available to more people for a more affordable price. Many hearing aid brands, like Jabra Enhance, MDHearing, and Audien, are selling OTC hearing aids online, and national retailers like Walmart and Walgreens are rolling out sales of OTC hearing aids from well-known brands like Lexie.

Even though OTC sales of hearing aids will make hearing aids accessible and affordable to many more people than in the past, there are some drawbacks to skipping the audiologists office altogether. OTC hearing aids are indicated for perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, which means that anyone with more advanced or complex hearing loss may not be getting the right hearing aids for them. Also, OTC sale of hearing aids means that a hearing test is no longer required. 

While there are plenty of free hearing screenings available online, and many companies offer them to assist in initial setup of their OTC hearing aids, more people are now likely to purchase their hearing aids without doing a test. Skipping the hearing test means that more advanced hearing loss, or other hearing- or ear-related problems, may go undetected. Lastly, purchasing OTC hearing aids means that wearers will not have access to the ongoing support, including adjustments and repairs, that they would have if they purchased through an audiologist or audiologist-overseen program. 

Personal sound amplification products (PSAPs): If you’re looking for an inexpensive hearing aid alternative, PSAPs may be an option. Their price point is significantly lower than even the least expensive OTC hearing aids, with prices as low as $20 per pair, but their functionality is also fundamentally different. PSAPs are designed to simply amplify sounds, meaning that the volume of all incoming sounds (regardless of things like tone or frequency) will be increased. PSAPs are designed to be used by people with normal or unaffected hearing who want to hear sounds that may be very quiet, or far away, for example. Even so, some people with very mild hearing impairment may benefit from using PSAPs, especially if they’re looking for a very low-cost option.

Bottom Line

Most insurance companies don’t offer coverage for purchasing hearing aids, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for a predicament so many people face. Some plans offer partial coverage, some plans offer supplemental coverage at an additional cost, and some states require hearing aid coverage from insurers regardless of the company or specific plan. For a concrete answer to what specific benefits and allowances you are entitled to, it’s best to contact your insurance company to understand your exact coverage and options. If your insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids, there are still options for saving money, and more good news is that OTC hearing aid sales are making hearing aids more affordable and accessible than ever.

  • Was this Article Helpful ?
  • YesNo

WRITTEN BY

With over six years of clinical experience in long term care and rehabilitation, Ayla is passionate about helping people age safely and with dignity. She is an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), licensed with the State Board of Nursing in Massachusetts, and holds a B.A. in Psychology. Through her education and work she has focused on combining practical health knowledge with the individual needs and desires of older adults to bring the absolute best care and content to patients and readers.

View Author

MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY

Dr. Magann Faivre is an audiologist with a passion for being active in audiology organizations, particularly concerning advocacy, patients’ rights issues, and teaching student leadership. She intimately grew up around hearing loss and empathizes with patients when discussing their hearing journey. She is dedicated to creating a positive and integrative hearing healthcare experience so patients leave informed and confident. Dr. Magann Faivre currently serves on The Audiology Project’s Board of Directors and on Northern Illinois University’s Advisory Board. She is a longstanding fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

View Reviewer

Do you want to cite this page? Use our ready-made cite template.

Fact Checked

In order to provide you with the most accurate information related to your health, including medical- and wellness-related products and services, each article is fact checked as part of our strict editorial and research process. This ensures that our content is verifiable and of the highest quality.

Cite This Page

MLA8

Girouard Ayla. "Are Hearing Aids Covered by Insurance?" AgingInPlace.org. Mar 13, 2023. Web. Jul 16, 2024. <https://aginginplace.org/hearing-aids/are-hearing-aids-covered-by-insurance/>.

APA7

Girouard A. (2023, Mar 13). Are Hearing Aids Covered by Insurance?. AgingInPlace.org. https://aginginplace.org/hearing-aids/are-hearing-aids-covered-by-insurance/

CHICAGO

Ayla Girouard, "Are Hearing Aids Covered by Insurance?," last modified: Mar 13, 2023, https://aginginplace.org/hearing-aids/are-hearing-aids-covered-by-insurance/.