Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Key Takeaways
Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover costs or services for hearing aids or fittings.
Some but not all Medicare Advantage plans include hearing benefits.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with hearing benefits, check your plan to know whether or not you can go outside your provider network for hearing services.
Original Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids. Original Medicare does not cover those services, but many Medicare Advantage plans provide some coverage level that can help pay for hearing needs.
Find a local Medicare plan that fits your needs
Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids in 2022?
As things currently stand in 2022, there is not Original Medicare hearing aid coverage. Original Medicare has never paid for hearing aids at any point since it debuted in 1965. Still, when Medicare Advantage debuted in 1997, it opened the door for those eligible for Medicare to enroll in a plan that helps with hearing-related expenses.
Does Medicare Pay for Hearing Aids?
While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) typically doesn’t pay for anything related to hearing, Medicare Part B may pay for a hearing exam if a doctor recommends it.
Your policy won’t pay for a hearing aid if it isn’t recommended as a result of a hearing test.
How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost with Medicare?
With the average price of just one hearing aid costing more than $2,300 , and most consumers paying double that to get one for each ear, costs can add up quickly.
For seniors on Original Medicare, switching to a Medicare Advantage plan may provide a solution. For seniors 65 and older with employer-sponsored health insurance, a Flexible Spending Account or a Health Savings Account (for those on a high deductible health plan) may help with costs.
What Medicare Plan Covers Hearing Aids?
Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. Medicare Advantage plans replace Original Medicare (Part A and B) but provide the same Part A and B benefits along with additional services that can include dental and — yes — hearing coverage.
Some Medicare Advantage plans, but not all, cover hearing. Coverage details vary by your location and on a plan-by-plan basis. GoHealth has licensed insurance agents who can help identify the plan that is the right fit for your needs.
If your Medicare Advantage plan is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), you may be required to buy your hearing aids through a network provider. If it’s a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), you may be able to go outside of your network, though costs may be greater than with an in-network provider.
Are you eligible for cost-saving Medicare subsidies?
Does Medicaid Cover Hearing Aids?
Whether or not Medicaid will cover your hearing aids depends on your income and where you live. Each state has its own plan for administering Medicaid, a federal/state program founded alongside Medicare in 1965 that helps those facing a financial need or disability regardless of age.
Some Medicaid coverage is universal. Medicaid provides hearing services for children age 21 and under. For those over 21, Medicaid hearing coverage varies by state.
If you need financial assistance for hearing aids, the Hearing Loss Association of America has compiled a state-by-state guide of resources that may be able to help.
Why Does Medicare Not Cover Hearing Aids?
Since its inception, Medicare expressly hasn’t covered hearing aids.
A solution beyond Medicare, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, set the stage for affordable over-the-counter hearing aids to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In November of 2020, two senators encouraged the FDA to begin implementing it.
But, as things now stand, the most extensive Medicare hearing aid coverage is available via Medicare Advantage.
What extra benefits and savings do you qualify for?
