Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids in 2026 and the Three Workarounds That Actually Get Them Paid

Quick Answer

Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids in 2026?

No. Medicare does not cover hearing aids in 2026. That answer has not changed since the program launched in 1965.

The exclusion refers to a statutory prohibition written directly into the Medicare law that bars payment for hearing aids, the exams used to fit them, batteries, and any repairs - whether you have Original Medicare or a Medigap supplement plan. According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, this prohibition has been in place since Medicare's creation and applies regardless of how severe your hearing loss is or how clearly a doctor documents the medical need.

One distinction is worth making early. A diagnostic hearing exam - one ordered by your doctor to evaluate the cause of a medical symptom - is covered under Part B at 20% coinsurance after your deductible. The exam to fit a hearing aid is not covered. Medicare will pay to help figure out what is wrong. It will not pay for the device that addresses it.

The Medigap plans that supplement Original Medicare follow the same exclusion. Medigap covers cost-sharing for benefits Original Medicare pays - so if Medicare does not pay for hearing aids, Medigap has nothing to supplement.

Three pathways exist for beneficiaries who need help covering the cost: Medicare Advantage plans with hearing allowances, FDA-regulated over-the-counter devices, and state Medicaid benefits for those who qualify as dual-eligible.

Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids in 2026?

No. Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or any exam done specifically to fit them - and it has not since 1965.

Medicare has excluded hearing aids from coverage since the program was created, and the average market price for a single hearing aid runs $2,363. According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the Medicare statute has prohibited payment for hearing aids since 1965, when lawmakers classified them as routine rather than medical. Most people need two devices, which means a pair could cost over $4,700 out of pocket on Original Medicare alone. No wonder half of all Americans with hearing loss cite a lack of insurance coverage as the reason they don't get the help they need.

An analysis of the primary Medicare coverage sources - Medicare.gov, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and the Medicare statute itself - shows consistent agreement: the exclusion is absolute and applies to both the hearing aids themselves and any examination performed for the purpose of fitting them.

Here is the distinction that trips people up: the two-part coverage test.

• Covered: A diagnostic hearing or balance exam that your doctor orders to determine whether you need medical treatment. According to Medicare.gov, this falls under Part B and you pay 20% coinsurance after your deductible.
• Not covered: The hearing aid itself. The fitting exam. Batteries. Repairs. You pay 100% of those costs on Original Medicare.

A common misconception is that the word "routine" in the Medicare statute limits the exclusion to routine hearing care only - implying that medically necessary hearing aids might still qualify. The reality is that Medicare's own regulations broaden the exclusion well past anything called routine. The Center for Medicare Advocacy notes the implementing regulation states plainly: "Hearing aids or examination for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids" - no qualifier, no exception.

There is one narrow carve-out worth knowing. You can visit an audiologist once every 12 months without a physician order, according to Medicare.gov, but only for non-acute hearing conditions or for diagnostic services related to surgically implanted hearing devices. That visit is covered under Part B. Your hearing aid purchase is not.

If you have a Medigap supplement plan - sometimes called Medicare Supplement insurance - it will not help here either. Medigap is designed to cover your share of costs for services Original Medicare already covers. Since hearing aids are excluded entirely, there is nothing for a supplement plan to supplement.

What Does Hearing Loss Actually Cost a Medicare Beneficiary in 2026?

On Original Medicare, you pay 100% of hearing aid costs - typically between $1,600 and $8,000 or more for a pair, depending on technology level and provider.

The price range is wide, and that range matters. A basic entry-level pair from a big-box retailer like Costco runs roughly $1,200 to $2,000. A mid-tier pair from an audiology clinic can run $4,000 to $6,000. Premium devices from brands like Oticon or Phonak can push past $8,000. The national average across all retail channels sat near $2,363 per device as of the most recently available market analysis - meaning a two-aid purchase lands around $4,700 for a single transaction.

According to a survey by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, roughly 50% of adults with hearing loss cite cost and insurance as the primary reasons they have not addressed their hearing loss. That figure has held across multiple research cycles. In practice, it means the exclusion is not a technicality - it is an active barrier to care for a large share of Medicare beneficiaries who would otherwise seek treatment.

The compounding effect is real. Seniors already spend a higher share of their income on healthcare than any other age group. Adding $4,700 in unplanned device costs on top of existing Part B premiums, deductibles, and drug costs can push the total healthcare burden past what a fixed income can absorb without significant trade-offs elsewhere.

According to the Medicare Rights Center, affordability calls to their helpline - callers asking specifically about being unable to pay premiums, cost-sharing, or drug costs - rose from 21% of all calls in 2012 to 41% in 2023. The takeaway: out-of-pocket pressure across all Medicare costs has roughly doubled in a decade, and hearing aids sit on top of that existing burden.

The gap between needing hearing aids and being able to afford them is not abstract. A 2022 analysis found that 64% of older adults with serious hearing loss reported they could not afford the devices they needed. That is not a small margin - it is the majority of people with confirmed, significant loss going without.

What this means in practice: the case for exploring every available workaround is not about finding a loophole. It is about closing a gap that Original Medicare has left open for six decades - and one that most beneficiaries cannot simply absorb out of pocket.

Workaround 1: Does Medicare Advantage Actually Cover Hearing Aids?

Yes - about 98% of Medicare Advantage plans include some hearing benefit. But how much it actually pays, and who can use it, varies more than the headline suggests.

Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurers and must cover everything Original Medicare covers, but they can add extra benefits - and hearing coverage is one of the most common additions. The catch is that "hearing benefit" is not a standardized term. One plan might offer a $500 annual allowance toward devices. Another might offer $2,500. The range in 2026 runs roughly from $500 to $5,000 per year, depending on the plan and the region.

Here is the piece that catches people off guard: most Medicare Advantage hearing programs are not run by the plan directly. They are administered through third-party administrators - companies like TruHearing and Nations Hearing - that contract with the plan and manage the hearing benefit on its behalf. The TPA sets which clinics participate, what devices are available, and how much those clinics get reimbursed. Only the TPA is authorized to bill the insurance for hearing services.

According to data collected from audiology clinics participating in these programs, TPA reimbursement to providers can run as low as $250 per hearing aid. That ceiling shapes what devices a clinic is willing to offer under the TPA contract, which is why beneficiaries using a TPA benefit sometimes find their device options are narrower than they expected. In practice, this means your Medicare Advantage hearing benefit may cover devices well - or it may cover them only at specific providers with specific models.

According to Medicare.gov and CMS plan comparison data, beneficiaries can use the plan finder tool during Open Enrollment (October 15 through December 7) and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 through March 31) to compare hearing benefit structures across plans in their area. The 12-month trial right is also worth knowing: if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and decide within 12 months that it is not right for you, you can switch back to Original Medicare without penalty.

The takeaway: Medicare Advantage hearing benefits are real and widely available. The fine print - TPA administration, network limits, cash-value caps - means that "98% of plans have a hearing benefit" does not mean every beneficiary gets full coverage. It means most plans have something. How much that something pays requires plan-by-plan comparison in your zip code.

From what I have seen working with Medicare beneficiaries, this is one of the areas where people feel most misled - not because the plans are dishonest, but because the summary of benefits does not always spell out the TPA structure clearly. Knowing to ask specifically about which TPA administers the hearing benefit, and what the network looks like near you, makes a real difference in what you actually get.

Workarounds 2 and 3: OTC Hearing Aids and State Medicaid Benefits

In short: Workarounds 2 and 3: OTC Hearing Aids and State Medicaid Benefits: Two more pathways exist for beneficiaries who want to stay on Original Medicare: FDA-regulated over-the-counter.

Two more pathways exist for beneficiaries who want to stay on Original Medicare: FDA-regulated over-the-counter hearing aids available since 2022, and state Medicaid hearing benefits for those who qualify as dual-eligible.

Workaround 2: FDA-Regulated OTC Hearing Aids

In 2022, the FDA created a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. These devices do not require a prescription, a fitting appointment, or an audiologist visit. You can buy them at major retailers and online.

Common options include Lexie hearing aids (roughly $800 for a pair), the Jabra Enhance line, and Apple AirPods Pro (which have an FDA-cleared hearing aid mode at approximately $250). Costco's Kirkland Signature hearing aids fall in the $1,200 to $1,500 range and are purchased through an in-store hearing center, giving you professional fitting at a lower overall cost than traditional clinic pricing.

None of these devices are covered by Original Medicare. But they are eligible for payment through a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) if you have one. In practice, using HSA funds to purchase an OTC device at $800 to $1,500 may cost significantly less than a clinic pair at $4,000 to $6,000 - and the FDA classification ensures basic safety and efficacy standards are met.

According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, OTC hearing aids are not appropriate for everyone - people with severe or profound hearing loss, sudden hearing loss, or single-sided deafness still need a clinical evaluation and prescription devices. The OTC route is best suited to adults who have already had a diagnostic exam and know their loss is mild to moderate.

Workaround 3: State Medicaid Hearing Benefits for Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid - often called dual-eligible - may have access to state Medicaid hearing benefits that Original Medicare does not provide. Medicaid programs vary considerably by state.

California's Medi-Cal program, for example, covers hearing aids up to $1,510 per ear per year for qualifying beneficiaries. New York Medicaid covers hearing aids for adults at a set benefit level. Many other states cover hearing aids under their Medicaid programs, though benefit caps, age limits, and device restrictions differ significantly.

Veterans may also qualify for hearing aids through the VA. The VA's audiology program provides hearing aids at no cost to eligible veterans, with the VA's own average device cost substantially below the commercial market rate. If you or a family member served and may be VA-eligible, this is worth investigating separately from the Medicare options.

The takeaway: if you receive both Medicare and Medicaid, your state's Medicaid program may fill the gap that Original Medicare leaves. What this means is that the right first step is checking your dual-eligible status with your state Medicaid office - not assuming the answer is no.

Why Does Hearing Aid Coverage Have to Be Verified Plan-by-Plan?

In short: Why Does Hearing Aid Coverage Have to Be Verified Plan-by-Plan?: Because Medicare Advantage plans set their own hearing benefit terms each year, the only reliable answer.

Because Medicare Advantage plans set their own hearing benefit terms each year, the only reliable answer is the one you confirm directly with your specific plan - not a general state rule or a national average.

In our patient advocacy work, we see this confusion regularly. A beneficiary calls because they heard that "Medicare Advantage covers hearing aids," and they want to know if they qualify. The honest answer is: it depends on the plan you are enrolled in, which TPA administers that plan's hearing benefit, which providers in your county accept that TPA, and what the plan's annual benefit cap is for 2026. All four of those things can change when a plan updates its Evidence of Coverage each fall.

Medicare Advantage enrollment varies substantially by state and county. In some states, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries have chosen an Advantage plan. In others, Original Medicare is still the dominant option - which means the available plan selection for a hearing benefit varies just as much. A county with one dominant insurer offering a limited TPA network is a very different situation from a metro area with ten competing plans and broad audiology clinic participation.

From what I have seen in working with beneficiaries across multiple states, the most common mistake is treating the plan's Summary of Benefits as a guarantee. The summary says "hearing benefit up to $X." What it does not always spell out is that the benefit is administered through a TPA, that not every in-network audiologist accepts that TPA's contract, and that some devices are excluded from TPA benefit coverage entirely. Those details are in the Evidence of Coverage - a longer document that most people do not read until something goes wrong.

Our recommendation is to call the plan's member services line and ask three specific questions before assuming coverage: Which company administers your hearing benefit? What audiologists in my zip code accept that benefit? And what is the maximum benefit for a pair of devices - not per ear, but per pair - for the current plan year?

The takeaway: plan-by-plan verification is not bureaucratic caution. It is the only way to know what you will actually pay. What this means in practice is that two neighbors enrolled in different Medicare Advantage plans in the same county may have dramatically different out-of-pocket costs for the same hearing aids.

How Do You Actually Get Hearing Aids Paid for in 2026?

In short: How Do You Actually Get Hearing Aids Paid for in 2026?: Start by establishing your baseline: confirm what Original Medicare covers (the diagnostic exam only), then.

Start by establishing your baseline: confirm what Original Medicare covers (the diagnostic exam only), then work through each workaround in order of how much it could save you before choosing a path.

Here is the practical sequence I'd recommend for a Medicare beneficiary who has just learned they need hearing aids:

1. Get a diagnostic hearing exam first. This is the one step Original Medicare does cover under Part B - 20% coinsurance after your deductible, if your doctor orders it. A confirmed audiogram gives you the clinical basis for any next steps and establishes whether your loss is mild, moderate, or severe. That determination affects which workarounds are appropriate for you.
2. Check your current plan type. If you are on Original Medicare plus a Medigap supplement, the supplement will not help with hearing aid costs - Medigap only covers your share of Medicare-approved services, and hearing aids are excluded entirely. If you are already on a Medicare Advantage plan, call member services and ask specifically which TPA administers your hearing benefit and what the 2026 annual maximum is.
3. Compare Medicare Advantage plan options during Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 each year. According to the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, you can filter plans by zip code and compare hearing benefits side by side. Look at the annual benefit cap, the TPA name, and whether local audiologists participate. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period (January 1 through March 31) also lets you make one switch if you discover your current plan's hearing coverage is weaker than advertised.
4. Consider OTC options for mild to moderate loss. If your audiogram shows mild to moderate hearing loss, FDA-regulated OTC devices may be appropriate. Prices range from roughly $250 (AirPods Pro with hearing aid mode) to $1,500 (Costco Kirkland Signature with in-store fitting). FSA and HSA funds can be used for these purchases.
5. Check dual-eligible status if your income is limited. If you receive or may qualify for Medicaid in addition to Medicare, contact your state Medicaid office to ask specifically about adult hearing aid coverage. Benefits vary by state but can cover a meaningful portion of device costs.

According to the Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) network, free one-on-one counseling from a trained volunteer is available in every state to help beneficiaries compare Medicare Advantage plans. The SHIP hotline is 1-877-839-2675. I'd particularly recommend SHIP for anyone who is not sure whether switching to Medicare Advantage makes financial sense overall - hearing is one factor in that decision, but you need to look at the full picture of your other healthcare needs too.

One timing note worth knowing: Medicare Advantage plans use a 3-to-5-year benefit waiting period in some cases before hearing aid coverage resets. Some beneficiaries have used the 12-month trial right to access a hearing benefit and then return to Original Medicare - a legal strategy, though one that requires careful attention to enrollment period dates and whether your other providers participate in the Advantage plan you select.

How Do the Three Workarounds Compare on Cost?

Out-of-pocket cost varies significantly depending on which path you take. This table summarizes the key differences.

Path	Typical Cost (pair)	Medicare Pays	Who Qualifies
Original Medicare only	$2,000 - $8,000+	$0 toward devices	All Medicare beneficiaries
Medicare Advantage hearing benefit	$0 - $4,000+ depending on plan cap	$500 - $5,000 annual allowance (plan-specific)	MA enrollees; must use TPA network
OTC hearing aids (FDA-regulated)	$250 - $1,500	$0 (FSA/HSA eligible)	Adults with mild to moderate loss
State Medicaid (dual-eligible)	$0 - $200 copay (state-dependent)	Varies; Medi-Cal covers up to $1,510/ear/year	Dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollees
VA audiology program	$0 for eligible veterans	Full cost for qualifying service-connected conditions	Veterans with VA eligibility

What Will Matter Most for Hearing Aid Coverage in the Next 12 to 24 Months?

The statutory exclusion stays. The OTC market keeps maturing. And Medicare Advantage hearing benefits will keep getting advertised more broadly than they actually deliver.

From what I see working with Medicare beneficiaries day to day, three signals are worth watching over the next year or two - and one of them runs counter to what most people assume.

• Signal 1: The MA hearing benefit gap widens (medium confidence). Medicare Advantage plans will keep advertising near-universal hearing benefits while third-party administrators - the TPAs that actually administer those benefits - keep clinic reimbursement low enough that fewer local audiologists accept the coverage. What this means for you: a plan's listed hearing benefit is not the same as local access to care under that benefit. Before switching plans, confirm which TPA runs the hearing program and whether audiologists in your zip code accept it.
• Signal 2: The Original Medicare exclusion holds (high confidence). Congress has had 60 years to add a hearing aid benefit to Original Medicare and has not done it. Beneficiaries waiting for a federal fix are likely to keep waiting. The more durable strategy is to use available workarounds now rather than plan around a legislative change that may not arrive in the next administration.
• Signal 3: Cost-driven workaround use rises (medium confidence). As healthcare affordability pressure increases for fixed-income seniors, more beneficiaries will strategically time enrollment changes to capture hearing benefits - or buy FDA-regulated OTC devices rather than paying clinic prices. According to data from audiology practices participating in TPA hearing programs, beneficiaries are already making enrollment timing decisions based on access to supplemental benefits.

What most people miss: The fact that 98% of Medicare Advantage plans include a hearing benefit sounds like nearly everyone is covered. It is not the same as covered well. TPA reimbursement caps mean the plan's benefit may not stretch to cover the devices your audiologist actually recommends - or the audiologist near you may not accept that TPA at all. Understanding the difference between a marketing headline and a plan benefit you can actually use is where real savings come from.

Forecast for 12-24 months

Where Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Heads Next

Three forecasts on how Medicare Advantage hearing benefits, OTC options, and state Medicaid rules will shift over the next two years.

29 sources analyzed6 industry publications6 community discussions2 government sources2 video sources

A

What to Watch in Medicare Hearing Coverage

Use these forecasts to gauge whether Medicare Advantage benefits or other workarounds will actually lower your out-of-pocket costs.

Highest Confidence Call

93/100

Medium confidence 12-24 months

As a growing share of Medicare beneficiaries report difficulty affording care costs, more will use strategies like enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan just long enough to get a hearing benefit before switching back to Medigap, or buying OTC and retail hearing aids from lower-cost sellers such as Costco instead of paying full price through an audiology clinic.

Our Wildcard

88/100

High confidence 12-24 months

Congress will not add a hearing aid benefit to Original Medicare in the next 12-24 months, so beneficiaries who stay on Original Medicare plus Medigap will continue paying 100% of hearing aid costs even as Medicare Advantage plans promote hearing coverage.

57/100

Medium confidence 12-24 months

Over the next 12-24 months, Medicare Advantage plans will keep advertising near-universal hearing benefits, but third-party administrators like TruHearing and Nations Hearing will keep clinic reimbursement as low as $250 per aid, pushing more audiology practices to limit which Medicare Advantage plans they accept or steer patients toward cash-pay options.

Weak Signals Clinics report Medicare Advantage hearing benefits are run through third-party administrators that cap reimbursement as low as $250 per aid, with only the TPA allowed to bill insurance. The statutory exclusion of hearing aids has held since Medicare's creation in 1965, and Medigap plans do not cover hearing aids because they only supplement benefits Original Medicare already excludes. Medicare Rights Center helpline callers asking about affording premiums, cost sharing, or drugs rose from 21% in 2012 to 41% in 2023, while beneficiaries already describe timing Medicare Advantage enrollment around hearing aid purchases and buying Costco-brand hearing aids for a fraction of clinic prices.

B

Supporting and Contrary Evidence

Sources backing and challenging each forecast, from federal guidance to beneficiary experiences.

Cost-driven workarounds become more common as affordability pressure grows 93

Supporting evidence

• Beneficiary Experiences with Medicare Advantage Supplemental is what puts this forecast on the board. [Industry Publication]Resource published/dated December 3, 2025, under Medicare Rights Center's "Medicare Sustainability" resource library, titled "Beneficiary Experiences with Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits.". “the beneficiary experience with supplemental benefits points to significant problems”
• Backing it: Hearing Aids: Could I do this to save $, or is it too sneaky or not. [Community / Forum]Original poster (OP, Reddit user "Canyonheath") is turning 65 soon, lives in California, with Medicare coverage starting October (thread posted ~1 year ago per timestamps). “Your plan should work. You still get guarantee issue for a medigap plan if its within 12 months of the first time you tried advantage.”
• Hearing aid upgrade advice is what puts this forecast on the board. [Community / Forum]Original poster (u/mxzpop) is 29 years old, no longer covered by parents' insurance, and must now pay for hearing aids himself. “Hearingaids-bot (automated subreddit resource): "What will insurance cover? - This varies significantly from state to state and coverage can be partial at…”

Counter-signals

• Newly retired and Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or testing is the strongest argument against it. [Community / Forum]Original poster's (OP, u/007_licensed_PE) Oticon Intent Ones cost $6,000 and were fully covered by former employer insurance with "no question.". “Get them through the VA next time you need them/when your warranty runs out. With your tinnitus service connection you likely qualify. They are free and top of…”

Original Medicare's hearing aid exclusion stays in place despite growing Advantage marketing 88

Supporting evidence

• Medicare Coverage of Hearing Care and Audiology Services supports this forecast. [Industry Publication]Medicare has excluded coverage for hearing aids and related audiology services since the program's implementation in 1965, per the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA). “(d) Hearing aids or examination for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids.”
• Part B - Center for Medicare Advocacy is the strongest public backing for this call. [Industry Publication]Medicare Part B explicitly excludes "Hearing aids and examinations for hearing aids" from coverage. “Hearing aids and examinations for hearing aids" - listed verbatim among Part B's excluded services (Center for Medicare Advocacy).”
• Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids? | American Hearing + Audiology supports this forecast. [Video]Traditional Medicare does not cover hearing aids. “Unfortunately, traditional Medicare does not cover hearing aids." - unnamed speaker, American Hearing + Audiology”

Counter-signals

• Pushing back: How to Navigate Medicare Hearing Aids Coverage. [Industry Publication]Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover hearing aids or hearing aid fitting exams in 2026. “No directly attributed quotes from named individuals or officials; all statements originate from americanhearing.us editorial content rather than interviewed…”

Medicare Advantage hearing benefits get squeezed by TPA reimbursement caps 57

Supporting evidence

• Medicare Advantage is what puts this forecast on the board. [Community / Forum]Original/traditional Medicare has no part that covers hearing aids, per multiple commenters (u/EaringaidBandit: "there is no part of Medicare that covers hearing aids"). “The problem with these companies is that the patient is paying someone else for your time, expertise, and services.”
• Backing it: How to Navigate Medicare Hearing Aids Coverage. [Industry Publication]Part B covers a doctor-ordered diagnostic hearing/balance exam (evaluating a medical condition, not a device fitting); in 2026 the standard $283 Part B deductible and 20 percent coinsurance apply.

Counter-signals

• Beneficiary Experiences with Medicare Advantage Supplemental is the strongest argument against it. [Industry Publication]Growth/"explosion" of supplemental benefit offerings in MA plans, increasing plan-comparison complexity for consumers.

C

What Could Change This Outlook

Scenarios in Medicare policy or plan design that could shift these forecasts.

Our Caveat

Of everything here, 93 rests on the firmest ground, while 88 is the call most likely to surprise us.

• If regulators or buyers move in the opposite direction, Cost-driven workarounds become more common as affordability pressure grows would weaken first.
• If the source mix shifts toward stronger contrary evidence, Original Medicare's hearing aid exclusion stays in place despite growing Advantage marketing could become the more durable forecast.

Methodology Each prediction goes through the same process: gather what our advocates are seeing on the ground, compare it against outside sources, then cut anything we cannot back up.

What Should You Do Right Now?

In short: What Should You Do Right Now?: The exclusion is not changing.

The exclusion is not changing. Plan around it - not against it.

From what I have seen in patient advocacy work, the beneficiaries who come out ahead on hearing aid costs are the ones who treat enrollment timing as a financial decision, not just a healthcare one. Switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during Open Enrollment specifically to access a hearing benefit - then re-evaluating the plan at the next enrollment window - is a strategy more people should consider. The math often works in your favor even if the rest of the plan is not your preference.

For those who cannot or do not want to leave Original Medicare, the FDA-regulated OTC market has matured enough that mild-to-moderate hearing loss can often be addressed without a clinic visit at all. That is a real change from even three years ago.

If you are dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, check your state's Medicaid hearing benefit before spending anything out of pocket. Many beneficiaries do not know this benefit exists. In some states, it covers the cost entirely.

If you are not sure where you stand or which path fits your situation, that is exactly the kind of question Understood Care's patient advocates handle. You do not have to figure this out alone.

If you are trying to figure out what your Medicare plan actually covers for hearing aids, Understood Care's patient advocates can review your current plan details and help you compare options - at no cost to you.