Almost 61 million Americans aged 12 and over struggle with some form of hearing-related health issues, many of which require hearing aids. Many individuals balk at the idea of getting hearing aids, due to understandable worries about cost and investment.

One of the most common questions we get in our clinic is, “Will my insurance cover my hearing aids?” Unfortunately, there’s not a yes or no answer without knowing a few things about you, your insurance policy, and what coverage you have first.

To help you better understand your insurance and how we can help, we have taken the time to provide some basic information related to insurance coverage for hearing aids and hearing care.

Several Variables Determine Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids

Where you live and what type of insurance coverage you have are variables involved in determining whether or not you can expect coverage for hearing aids. However, this can also be affected by whether you have planned for hearing care coverage or left it as a low priority.

Private Insurance

Arkansas, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island are the only states in which insurers have a legal obligation to provide hearing aid coverage for eligible adults on their private insurance. Unless you have added a hearing care provider to your private insurance policy, you cannot expect any benefit to be paid out by your insurance company to cover hearing aids.

Medicare and Medicaid

Though Medicare covers neither hearing tests nor hearing aids, Medicaid does pick up some or part of hearing care and/or hearing aid expenses in various states. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, Medicaid in California does provide coverage with some limitations, including:

• Hearing exams, cochlear implants, repairs and replacements
• Replacement of lost, stolen, or irreparably damaged hearing aids and earmolds
• Testing, exam, or follow-up for cochlear implants

Please note that Medicare does not cover hearing aids. Medicaid does over some coverage, but this varies by location: check your local criteria here.

Affordable Care Act Coverage

Coverage for hearing aids and related expenses under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are offered in some states; California residents insured by ACA will not be able to take advantage of any benefits for hearing care or hearing aids.

Veterans (VA) Benefits

Those who are able to demonstrate that their hearing loss was caused by activities in which they were involved during their active military service can expect VA coverage. VA benefits cover the cost of hearing aids and associated tests in a VA facility if hearing loss directly interferes with your daily living tasks.

Federal Employee Assistance

The Federal Employee Assistance package covers the cost of basic hearing aids while allowing federal employees or their spouses to pay for extras and upgrades through a deduction from the employee’s pay packet.

Various Types of Savings Accounts

Americans tend to place hearing health as a low priority or underestimate its value when purchasing insurance coverage. However, those who recognize its importance can take measures to have funds available if hearing aids become necessary.

Setting money aside in a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), a Health Savings Account (HSA), or a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) ahead of time makes it easier to cover the costs with savings set aside over time, rather than struggling to pay out of pocket upfront.