An audiologist explains hearing aid pricing

For people with hearing loss, hearing aid prices can be a barrier to getting these assistive devices. An April 2023 study from Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology uncovered that around three-quarters of Americans with hearing loss found prescription hearing aids—which can cost around $1,000 to $6,000 per pair—to be prohibitively expensive. But there’s a good reason for that sticker-shock-inducing price.

Audiologist Ruth Reisman told Reviewed that hearing aids are more expensive than over-the-counter glasses, for instance, because correcting hearing loss requires technology that’s more complex.

“You're not only paying for a very high level of technology that has to do a lot... [it] has a lot of algorithms, computational power,” Reisman says, “but also for the service and the expertise to get the patient to hearing as close to normal as they possibly can.”

Prescription vs OTC hearing aid prices

Prescription hearing aids, which suit mild to profound hearing loss levels, are more expensive than over-the-counter hearing aids for several reasons. One cause for this discrepancy is that prescription hearing aids are fitted to a person’s ears by a hearing care professional or audiologist. Audiologists are also able to intricately personalize the product to a user’s needs.

“We ultimately are able to manipulate a lot more within the device, so we're able to really fine-tune it or program it down to the minute level,” Reisman says. This is important, “especially when patients have reverse-sloping hearing loss or very complex hearing loss.”

Before buying OTC hearing aids, which can cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000, Reisman says it is a good idea to get a hearing screening by an audiologist. She notes that some online tests might not be as accurate when detecting someone’s hearing levels. Audiologists can also help people decide which OTC hearing aids work best for them.

“If the patient only has a mild to moderate hearing loss and [an] over-the-counter device services their needs, then they can go the more affordable route,” Reisman says.

The piece of prescription and over-the-counter hearing aids varies so much due to the features different hearing aids have, including how advanced the tech is, and any add-on features like Bluetooth connectivity.

Does private insurance cover hearing aids?

Some plans under the same health insurance company, such as Aetna and Blue Cross, have different policies and limits regarding hearing aid coverage.

“The best advice is to contact your insurance plan and get the details on what your plan will and won't cover,” Reisman suggests. “Some will cover hearing aids and only hearing testing once a year but won't cover advanced assessments, [and] some plans will only cover for pediatric populations.”

Reisman also says that more employers are now offering a hearing benefit called Tuned, which is similar to vision benefits. People can see an audiologist virtually and get hearing aid recommendations, but they still need to get a prescription hearing aid fitted by an audiologist in person.

Funds in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)—both of which are pre-tax deductions—can be used to cover the cost of prescription or OTC hearing aid purchases, Reisman tells Reviewed, as either way “it is considered a medical expense.”

Does Medicare cover hearing aids?

When it comes to government insurance, hearing aid coverage is similarly complex. While legislation has been introduced in Congress for Medicare to cover the cost of hearing aids, people on Medicare currently still need to cover the cost of these assistive devices and exams out of pocket.

“Medicare itself does not cover hearing aid devices or hearing aid service,” Reisman says. However, there are “some managed Medicare plans that do cover hearing devices.”

Select Medicare Advantage Plans—which are run by private health insurance companies approved by Medicare—do cover the cost of hearing aids. But just like with any private health insurance plan, it is important to contact them directly to see what would be covered.

Regardless, Reisman says that, for people on Medicare, “​​depending on the state, whatever they pay towards hearing aids [might be used] as a deduction on their taxes.”

For Medicaid, how much a state covers for hearing aids and related services (or whether they’re covered at all) changes depending on the state in which a person lives. But, thankfully, Hearing Loss Association of America suggests all states are required to cover the cost of hearing aids and screenings for Medicaid beneficiaries below the age of 21.

“New York state will cover one device,” Reisman says. “If the patient has hearing loss in both ears, they're kind of at a disservice because they're only getting one device.” California’s Medicaid covers up to $1,510 per year for hearing aid benefits, including hearing aids. Meanwhile, Alabama does not cover any hearing aid costs for people above the age of 21.

A bill was also introduced to Congress in 2021 to increase Medicaid coverage for hearing services, but it was not even heard in committee, let alone voted on.

So how much do hearing aids cost? Unfortunately, hearing aid prices depend on a wide variety of factors including the type of hearing aid you choose to buy and your individual insurance situation. One thing that is certain for those hoping to buy hearing aids, though, is Original Medicare on its own—which is a popular insurer amongst the aging and disabled populations—won’t be of much help for now.