Paul Sanchez
Hearing aids are essential for many people's quality of life, but they can be costly, ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 on average without insurance. While some insurance plans do cover hearing aids, most do not. This is because hearing loss is considered a likely risk, with over 50% of people over 75 experiencing it, and insurance companies view it as an elective procedure, akin to plastic surgery. However, some government programs, like Medicaid, and a few states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, do provide coverage or assistance for hearing aids. Additionally, Medicare Advantage Plans may offer discounts or benefits, and private insurance companies sometimes offer coverage or discount programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hearing aids coverage | Depends on the insurance plan; some plans do cover hearing aids, but most do not |
| Medicare coverage | Medicare does not cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids; however, some Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits that may include hearing aids |
| Medicaid coverage | Medicaid provides hearing aids for those who qualify; coverage is state-dependent |
| Financial reasons | Hearing loss is a "likely risk", and insurance companies feel there is a high possibility that a large number of people will make a claim, increasing costs and reducing profit |
| "Elective" or "cosmetic" procedure | Most insurance companies consider hearing aids as "elective" or "cosmetic" devices, implying they are not medically necessary |
| State-specific mandates | Certain states mandate hearing aid coverage for adults, while others require coverage for children under 18 years of age when medically necessary |
| Employer-provided insurance | Some employers' insurance companies offer hearing aid benefits, and certain private insurance companies also provide coverage |
| Supplemental insurance | Supplemental insurance options, such as Aflac, can help pay for benefits that major medical insurance does not cover |
| Credit options | CareCredit offers a credit card designed to help cover healthcare expenses, including hearing aids, with deferred interest financing |
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What You'll Learn
- Hearing aids are considered elective or non-essential by insurance companies
- Financial burden: Hearing loss is a likely risk, and insurance companies want to avoid high costs and low profits
- Lack of legal requirement: Insurance companies have many mandated benefits they must cover
- Alternative options: Some government programs, like Medicaid, provide hearing aids for those who qualify
- Available discounts: Some insurance companies offer discount programs for hearing aids
Hearing aids are considered elective or non-essential by insurance companies
Hearing aids are not typically covered by traditional medical insurance. This is because insurance companies consider hearing aids to be "'elective" or "non-essential" devices, akin to cosmetic procedures or plastic surgery. This classification means that insurance does not deem hearing aids to be medically necessary.
However, this view contradicts the profound impact of hearing loss on individuals, which can include isolation, depression, safety issues, social anxiety, reduced job performance, and even contribute to Alzheimer's and dementia. Amplification devices, such as hearing aids, can significantly improve an individual's quality of life by enhancing their ability to communicate and engage with others.
Despite the clear benefits of hearing aids, insurance companies have financial incentives to exclude them from coverage. With approximately 37 to 40 million people suffering from hearing loss, insurance companies view hearing loss as a "likely risk". As a result, they anticipate a high number of claims, which would increase costs and reduce profits. This perception of hearing loss as an uninsurable risk leads to the exclusion of hearing aids from standard coverage.
Nevertheless, some private insurance companies and government-sponsored programs do offer coverage or assistance for hearing aids. Medicaid, for example, provides hearing aids for those who meet specific income requirements. Additionally, states like Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island have mandated hearing aid coverage for adults. Employer-provided insurance plans in Missouri and Kansas may also offer hearing aid benefits through companies like BCBS, UHC, Aetna, and Cigna.
While the current landscape of hearing aid coverage is limited, there are ongoing efforts to expand access. For instance, the Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act of 2019 aims to amend the Social Security Act to include hearing aid coverage and examinations. As awareness of hearing health and its impact grows, there is hope that insurance coverage will evolve to include hearing aids as a standard benefit.
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Financial burden: Hearing loss is a likely risk, and insurance companies want to avoid high costs and low profits
Hearing aids are essential for many people, and their cost can add an additional layer of stress to an already complex situation. Hearing aids can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 on average without insurance. Since many health plans don't offer hearing aid coverage, and those that do may not cover the full cost, it can be a significant out-of-pocket expense.
Insurance companies consider hearing loss a "likely risk", with more than 35 million people suffering from some form of hearing impairment. This means there is a high possibility that a large number of people will make a claim, increasing costs and reducing profits for insurance companies. As a result, hearing loss is considered uninsurable.
In the United States, Medicare does not cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids. However, some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) offer extra benefits that original Medicare doesn't cover, like vision, hearing, or dental. These plans may cover hearing aids, exams, and hearing services, but the exact coverage varies.
Some private insurance companies offer hearing aid coverage, but it is not common and the coverage varies by plan. Currently, only five states mandate hearing aid coverage for adults: Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
There are also some government-sponsored programs that provide hearing aids for those who qualify, such as Medicaid and Vocational Rehabilitation. These programs often have specific income requirements, and it is worth checking with your state's social services office to see if you are eligible.
While hearing aids are not currently widely covered by insurance, there is hope that this will change in the future as hearing health-related research and awareness continue to grow.
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Lack of legal requirement: Insurance companies have many mandated benefits they must cover
Insurance companies have many mandated benefits they must cover, and hearing aids are not one of them. There are currently 35 mandated benefits that insurance companies are required to cover, and hearing aids are considered "elective" or "cosmetic" devices by most insurance companies. This means that insurance does not deem them medically necessary.
Hearing loss is a common condition, affecting approximately 37 million people, and it is considered a "likely risk" for people over 75 years of age. Despite this, insurance companies feel that the high possibility of claims for hearing aids would increase costs and reduce profits. Therefore, hearing loss is considered uninsurable.
While Medicare does not offer hearing aid benefits, some Medicare Advantage plans may provide discounts or benefits towards hearing aids. These plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as vision, hearing, or dental. Additionally, some private insurance companies offer hearing aid coverage, and certain government programs, such as Medicaid, provide hearing aids for those who qualify.
Some states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, mandate hearing aid coverage for adults. Other states have specific laws requiring health insurance coverage for hearing aids for children under 18 when medically necessary, with coverage including a new hearing aid every five years and services such as assessments and fittings.
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Alternative options: Some government programs, like Medicaid, provide hearing aids for those who qualify
While Medicare plans typically do not cover hearing aids, Medicaid may offer some hearing aid coverage for adults, depending on the state. Twenty-five states and Washington, D.C., have no age or care facility limitations for hearing aids in their Medicaid plans. However, some states, such as Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia, do not cover hearing aids for people over the age of 21. Missouri covers hearing aids for individuals under 21, adults in nursing facilities, as well as blind and pregnant adults. Oklahoma covers hearing aids for those under 21 and adults in nursing facilities. Utah specifically covers hearing aids for pregnant adults without specifying an age limit.
Some states have varying degrees of coverage based on age and other factors. For example, North Carolina covers hearing aids for children 12 and older, while California has a reimbursement cap for hearing aids and services, but pregnant women are exempt from this cap. Hawaii does not cover hearing aids worn in both ears for individuals over 21, and its policy states that adults are generally not covered.
It is important to note that Medicaid provides hearing care and hearing aids for children in all states. Additionally, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers low-cost health coverage, including hearing aids in some states, to children from low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid.
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Available discounts: Some insurance companies offer discount programs for hearing aids
Hearing aids can be expensive, costing anywhere from \$2,000 to \$7,000 on average without insurance. While some insurance companies do offer hearing aid benefits, it is not always the case, and hearing loss is often considered an "elective" procedure.
Some insurance companies offer discount programs for hearing aids, which can help make them more affordable. For example, G.E.H.A plan members have access to Connection Hearing®, a hearing-aid discount program through TruHearing, which offers savings of 30% to 60% on hearing aids. That can equate to an average saving of over \$2,600. TruHearing also offers a 60-day risk-free trial, a 3-year manufacturer warranty, 80 free batteries per aid, and a year of routine follow-up visits.
Additionally, some employers' insurance companies offer hearing aid benefits, including BCBS, UHC, Aetna, and Cigna, and some Medicare Advantage plans. These companies may also offer a discount program with negotiated prices for hearing aids, which can be up to 40% off.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans may cover hearing aids, exams, and hearing services, although exact coverage varies by plan. Outside of these instances, some insurers may offer private plans with hearing aid coverage, but these can be challenging to find and have varying levels of coverage.
It is worth noting that some states, including New Hampshire, Arkansas, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, allow some coverage for adults, and 20 states require health insurance to cover hearing aids for children. Medicaid also provides hearing care and hearing aids for children in all states, and CHIP offers low-cost health coverage, including hearing aids, for children in low-income families who don't qualify for Medicaid.
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Frequently asked questions
Hearing loss is a "likely risk", with more than 50% of people over the age of 75 experiencing hearing loss. Insurance companies feel there is a high possibility that a large number of people will make a claim, increasing costs and reducing profit. Hearing loss is considered uninsurable.
Medicaid provides hearing aids for those who qualify, and there are also other government-sponsored programs that will help pay for hearing aids.
Some private insurance companies offer coverage for hearing aids, though coverage varies from plan to plan. Currently, five states mandate hearing aid coverage for adults: Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
CareCredit is a credit card designed to help cardholders cover healthcare expenses, including hearing aids. It offers 0% APR on qualifying purchases for an extended period.
