Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Hearing loss affects both personal activities like enjoying music or watching TV, as well as the ability to connect with family and friends through phone calls and conversations. For many Americans with hearing loss, having access to assistive devices like hearing aids and captioned telephones can significantly impact daily life. Unfortunately, the cost of hearing aid devices can sometimes be a burden.
Will Medicare Cover Hearing Aids for Seniors?
It depends on the plan. Medicare Parts A and B, also known as Original Medicare, do not cover hearing exams, fittings, or hearing aids themselves. If your doctor says you need a hearing test for medical reasons, Medicare Part B may help pay for it. Medicare will cover most of the cost, but you will still need to pay 20% of the bill yourself. Generally, if you only have Original Medicare, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost of hearing exams and assistive devices.
However, an optional part of Medicare, Part C, covers additional services. Also known as Medicare Advantage, this part allows you to add extra coverage to your government-provided plan, including hearing exams, fittings with an audiologist, and hearing aids and devices.
Does Medicare Help Pay for Hearing Aids through Medicare Advantage Plans?
The good news is that Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage Plans, can include coverage for hearing aids, exams, and fittings.
The downside is that you must opt-in and pay for this extended coverage. Since Medicare Part C is run through private health insurance companies, such as Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare, it’ll be up to you to find the right plan that covers your needs and fits your budget.
What is the Cost of Hearing Aids with Medicare?
On average, one hearing aid can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000, not including the exam and fitting. Since most people will need an aid for each ear, you can expect to pay up to $8,000 just for the devices themselves. If you only have Medicare Parts A and B, 100% of the cost of hearing aids, exams, and fittings will fall to you.
With Medicare Part C, some of this expense may be covered. The exact amount of coverage will depend on the plan you select. Some plans will cover a portion of your exam, fitting, and device(s). Others will apply these costs against your deductible, and some will offer a set amount of money toward your hearing aids and routine care, requiring you to pay any amount above their set limit.
For example, if your plan covers 50% of hearing care costs and your hearing aids cost $8,000, you would pay $4,000, and Medicare would pay the other $4,000.
If you have a plan with a set limit of $1,500 and your hearing care costs $4,500, your plan would pay $1,500 and you would pay the remaining $3,000.
How to Find Medicare Advantage Plans that Cover Hearing Aids
If you’re interested in covering the cost of hearing aids with Medicare, you’ll need to select the right Medicare Advantage Plan, which will require some research.
Medicare.gov offers a side-by-side comparison tool to help you compare the many different plans available in your area. SHIP, or State Health Insurance Assistance Program, also offers local, unbiased assistance to help you compare each plan and select the best one for your needs.
Other Ways to Offset the Cost of Hearing Aids Without Medicare Coverage
Even if you struggle to get Medicare to cover hearing aids, there are alternative methods to assist with that hefty hearing aid invoice.
You can purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, to help lower your out-of-pocket expenses. While Medigap is available, there are some restrictions you should be aware of, like most states requiring the purchaser be over 65. Only a handful of states offer a Medigap option for individuals under that age.
There are also many nonprofits and discount programs that can help ease the cost of hearing aid coverage and care, including:
- Easter Seals
- Let Them Hear
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Miracle-Ear Foundation
- Lions Club International
- Sertoma International
You can also ask your doctor or healthcare provider for more information on the cost of hearing aids and get the support you need.
Making Informed Choices About Hearing Aid Coverage with Medicare
The most important part of managing hearing aid expenses is understanding exactly what Medicare covers. Finding a Medicare Advantage Plan that lowers your out-of-pocket expenses for hearing and ear care is helpful, but it’s important to make sure the plan won’t increase your costs for other types of care.
Making informed choices about which Medicare Advantage Plan to select before you lock in is extremely important. If you start to get overwhelmed with your selections, take advantage of the many local programs available to assist you with making the right choice.
While exploring Medicare coverage for hearing aids, consider other assistive hearing tools like caption phones or mobile devices that can help make your daily life easier. Learn more about ClearCaptions and how our phone captions work to make communication and connection with your friends and family easier—at no cost to qualified users!
Regardless of your Medicare coverage for hearing aids, staying connected with family and friends shouldn’t be a challenge. ClearCaptions offers captioning services to help you participate fully in every conversation—because maintaining those meaningful connections is what matters most.
