According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), nearly one in four people between 65 and 74 years old has hearing loss severe enough to need hearing aids. The number increases to one in two for people 75 years and older.
When someone loses their hearing, they may have difficulties communicating effectively. They may have to speak more loudly or have people repeat themselves. This can impact their relationships with others. Their safety could also be put at risk. Not hearing a car horn, a smoke detector, or another alarm could literally put them in harm’s way.
Their long-term health is also impacted by hearing loss. Studies have found a link between hearing loss and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Managing and treating hearing problems early on may help to decrease the risk for dementia in later years.
Understanding how important hearing is to your overall health, this article will address what hearing services are covered by each part of Medicare and will discuss what new hearing coverage options may be coming in the near future.
What Is Medicare?
Medicare is healthcare funded by the federal government and tax dollars. There are four parts of Medicare and they cover different parts of your care, as follows:
You often ask people to repeat themselves. You have a hard time hearing what people are saying, especially in noisy places. You need to watch people’s faces and expressions to understand what they are saying. You turn up the TV or radio louder than other people. You struggle to understand conversations on the telephone.
Medicare Part A: Part A Hospital Insurance covers care you receive when you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient and also covers hospice care, home health care, and short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility when certain criteria are met. Medicare Part B: Part B Medical Insurance is where you turn for most of your care. It covers office visits, diagnostic tests like blood work and X-rays, emergency room care, physical therapy, preventive screening tests, and a limited number of medications and vaccines. Medicare Part C: Also known as Medicare Advantage, this part of Medicare is an alternative to Part A and Part B. Instead of being run by the federal government, Part C plans are run by private insurance companies. They cover everything that Part A and Part B but they can also offer supplemental benefits. Medicare Part D: Like Medicare Advantage, Part D plans are run by insurance carriers. These plans cover your prescription medications.
Does Original Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Original Medicare covers a wide range of services. Unfortunately, some often-needed services get left behind—including routine hearing tests and hearing aids.
This does not mean that no hearing services are covered at all. If you have symptoms such as hearing loss or ringing in the ears (also known as tinnitus), Medicare may cover a hearing test with an audiologist, a trained hearing specialist.
Unfortunately, even when a hearing problem is identified, Original Medicare will not cover the hearing aids to correct it.
Interestingly, if you meet certain criteria, cochlear implants are covered by Original Medicare. One of the criteria to getting cochlear transplants is that hearing aids do not provide adequate relief.
Hearing aids work by amplifying sounds in the inner ear, making it easier to detect and interpret them. When hearing aids are not effective, cochlear implants may be considered.
The cochlea is the part of the inner ear that transmits sounds to the auditory nerve (the hearing nerve) and then sends those signals to the brain. Cochlear implants bypass the cochlea and stimulate the auditory nerve directly. This can be effective when the cochlea is damaged.
Hearing benefits are covered by Medicare Part B. You will need to pay a 20% coinsurance for each service.
Does Medicare Advantage Cover Hearing Aids?
Medicare Advantage can help with hearing problems. Hearing coverage is one of the most popular supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans. In 2021, as many as 97% of Medicare Advantage plans offered some sort of hearing coverage, although they did not all cover hearing aids.
Original Medicare does not cover routine screening tests for hearing but does cover diagnostic tests for hearing-related conditions.
It is important to look closely at each plan’s benefits. They are not the same. Depending on the plan you choose, you may have limits set on how often you can get certain services, how much a plan will pay in any given year, and what types of hearing aids are covered.
Specifically, you should look to see what hearing aid brands are covered and what types of hearing aids are covered, such as analog vs. digital and inside the ear vs. outside the ear. You will also want to check if earmolds, fitting exams, and hearing aid batteries are paid for.
Medicare Advantage plans that put a cap on hearing coverage set an average limit of $960 per year but this amount ranges from $66 to $4,000 depending on the plan. For plans with limited coverage, you could pay similar out-of-pocket costs as you would without insurance.
Of those plans that had frequency limits, 58% allowed you to get hearing aids once per year, 28% once every two years, and 14% once every three years. You have to consider what you would do if your hearing aids get lost or broken.
What Is the Cost of Hearing Aids?
The cost of hearing aids varies based on the kind of hearing aid you get and whether you need them in one or both ears. According to the Hearing Industries Association, the average hearing aid costs $1,000 to $4,000 per ear.
Depending on where you get your hearing aids, costs may be bundled together. This means that the cost of the hearing aid includes not only the hearing aids themselves but also the cost of services related to the hearing aids, services like hearing tests, proper fitting of the hearing aid to your ear, hearing aid batteries, and routine maintenance of the hearing aid.
For example, a hearing aid could get clogged with wax or stop working for other reasons. You may need an audiologist to evaluate it, or you may need to send your hearing aid for repairs.
At other times, your hearing services will be itemized, and you will pay for each service separately. It is important to understand what parts of hearing care your insurance covers to avoid getting an unexpected bill.
How to Apply for Medicare Advantage
You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan when you first become eligible for Medicare. That may be when you turn 65 or if you qualify based on a disability. You can also pick a Medicare Advantage during the Open Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7 each year. There are also special enrollment periods you could qualify for.
If you are choosing a Medicare Advantage plan specifically for hearing coverage, you will want to do some research first. Consider plans that include:
Earmolds (a device designed to fit the contour and shape of your ear)Hearing aidsHearing aid batteriesHearing aid fittingsHearing aid cleaning and maintenanceHearing tests
Most importantly, make sure that a Medicare Advantage plan is the best plan for you before signing up. Saving on hearing aids does not mean that you definitely will save on the rest of your health care. It is important to weigh the pros and cons.
A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that many people spend less on health care when they have Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan, known as Medigap. That is the case even when you consider the cost of monthly premiums.
Their out-of-pocket healthcare costs are often less than the spending cap for many Medicare Advantage plans. Also, people on Original Medicare can get care from any healthcare provider in the U.S. who takes Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans limit coverage to a network of healthcare providers and do not always cover care out of network.
Additional Resources
Hearing aids can be expensive. If you have insurance, you will want to look to see what hearing care is covered by your plan. You should also know that several states have mandates that require private health plans, including employer-sponsored plans, to cover hearing aids.
You may wish to explore or see if you qualify for these sources of coverage:
Employer-sponsored health plans Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Hearing insurance (i. e. , a health plan for hearing services only) Medicaid TRICARE VA Health Care
If you don’t have insurance, and even if you do, you may also want to consider charitable organizations and discount programs to keep your costs down. The Hearing Industries Association provides an extensive list of financial assistance programs for children and adults alike. A partial list is included below:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing EPIC Hearing AUDIENT Program Corporate Easter Seals Let Them Hear Lions Club International Miracle-Ear Foundation Optimists Clubs Sertoma International
Summary
Although millions of people on Medicare have hearing loss, Original Medicare does not cover routine hearing tests or hearing aids. Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional hearing coverage, but it is important to look closely at your plan’s benefits to make sure that the specific services you need are included.
Be sure to check on how often you are allowed to have hearing exams, how often you can get hearing aids, and how much you would pay for each service.
A Word From Verywell
Good hearing allows you to interact with others and to engage in the world around you. Simply put, it can affect your quality of life. Although some Medicare Advantage plans offer hearing coverage, Original Medicare may offer hearing tests and hearing aids in the near future.
