Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?

Hearing loss is common in older adults, but many don’t wear hearing aids. Cost is a leading factor, so if you’re over 65, you may wonder whether or not hearing aids are covered by Medicare. While Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or the exams for fitting them, some Medicare Advantage plans do.

If you do not have a Medicare Advantage plan, there are various other ways you may be able to access financial assistance in order to reap the benefits of using hearing aids to cope with hearing loss.

The Many Health Benefits of Hearing Aids

An estimated 37.5 million U.S. adults have some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Many could benefit from hearing aids, yet only about one in four who need them use them, says NIDCD.

One recent study — the most definitive one to date of hearing issues in older Americans —found that around 65 percent of adults aged 71 and older have hearing loss, yet only 29 percent use hearing aids. The authors also noted that hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline, dementia, impaired physical function, and poorer health resource utilization, and it is a significant factor in healthy aging.

Research continues to emerge showing the benefits of hearing aids. Here are some of the latest findings:

• Results from one large clinical trial showed that wearing hearing aids reduced the risk of cognitive decline by nearly half in older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
• A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) observed that the risk of developing dementia is considerably lower for people who use hearing aids to deal with hearing loss compared with people who do not.
• Research from the University of Colorado found that older adults with hearing loss have a 2.4 greater risk of falls than their peers with normal hearing — and that regular hearing aid use reduced their fall risk by 50 percent.

Paying for Hearing Aids

As hearing aids can be very expensive, many older adults who are diagnosed with hearing loss do not use them. With prescription models costing approximately $4,000 to $6,000 per pair and even over-the-counter hearing aids costing around $1,000 per set, many Americans can’t afford them.

Older adults who have hearing loss and are having trouble accessing hearing aids because of the cost should investigate the following options:

• If you have a Medicare Advantage plan: Supplemental benefits for hearing aids may be provided. Contact your insurance company regarding coverage.
• If you have coverage through a private health insurance plan, either your own or a spouse’s: Supplemental benefits for hearing aids may be provided. Contact your insurance company regarding coverage.
• If you receive Medicaid: Medicaid-based insurance plans in some states provide coverage for hearing aids in certain situations. Contact your insurance company or Medicaid administrator regarding coverage.
• If you are a Veteran: Investigate VA benefits, which in some cases, may help pay for hearing aids.

If none of the options above are viable, the charitable organizations and discount programs listed below may be able to help:

• Starkey Hearing Foundation
• Lions Clubs International
• Easter Seals
• Let Them Hear
• Miracle-Ear Foundation
• Hearing Aid Project
• EPIC Hearing Healthcare
• Hearing Industries Association Guide to Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids

If you would like to speak with an experienced elder law attorney, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 1 (800) 680-1717. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.