How to Get Hearing Aids Through Medicare Advantage

Hearing loss affects more than 50 million Americans, yet only about 20% of those who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them. One of the biggest barriers is cost—the average pair of prescription hearing aids runs between $2,500 and $3,000, and it's not uncommon to spend $8,000 or more for premium devices.

Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or routine hearing exams. Part B does cover diagnostic hearing and balance tests when ordered for a medical condition. Since 2023 it also allows one limited audiology assessment each year without a physician referral, but this visit is meant for managing existing hearing or balance concerns and is not the same as a general exam for hearing aids. Most people face significant out-of-pocket expenses for hearing aids.

Medicare Advantage plans change the equation. These plans, also called Part C, frequently include hearing aid benefits, with annual allowances that can help offset thousands of dollars in device and care costs. Coverage is not uniform, however—hearing aid benefits vary widely by plan and geographic area. This article explains how Medicare Advantage hearing aid coverage works, what services are included, and how to navigate the process from eligibility to fitting.

The Basics of Hearing Aid Coverage with Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans often package hearing aid coverage as part of their supplemental benefits, making them a strong alternative to Original Medicare for people with hearing loss. Coverage usually includes not only the devices themselves but also the professional services required to use them effectively. Because benefits are tied to provider networks, beneficiaries must choose carefully to maximize value.

What Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Benefits Include

Coverage typically extends to several components of hearing healthcare. These include the devices themselves, fitting and adjustments, and ongoing support. Additional benefits such as batteries and maintenance are often part of the package.

• Hearing aid devices: Digital behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, and receiver-in-canal models are generally covered, while analog devices are largely phased out.
• Professional services: Comprehensive hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, programming, and follow-up adjustments by an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.
• Maintenance and repairs: Some plans include batteries, cleaning supplies, and repairs during the warranty period, while others treat these items as separate, itemized costs.

These services are usually bundled under the hearing aid allowance provided by your Medicare Advantage plan, though some plans itemize costs separately.

Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare Hearing Coverage

Understanding the differences between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare is critical when weighing hearing healthcare options. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover hearing aids or routine hearing exams, leaving beneficiaries responsible for the full cost of devices and services. Medicare Advantage plans, by contrast, may provide hearing aid coverage, hearing tests, and audiology services as extra benefits beyond the standard Medicare package.

Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) can help with out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare, but it does not add new benefits—so it does not cover hearing aids or routine hearing exams.

• Original Medicare limitations: No routine hearing exams, no hearing aid coverage, and no benefits for fittings or adjustments.
• Medicare Advantage benefits: Coverage may include diagnostic hearing exams, hearing aid fittings, devices, and ongoing care through in-network provider networks.
• Supplemental advantages: Plans often include allowances, but these are capped, and hearing aid purchase frequency limits—usually every one to three years—may apply. Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage’s maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit applies to Part A and B services, and plans may or may not count supplemental hearing costs toward that limit.

Because Medicare Advantage benefits vary, it’s important to review each plan’s provider networks and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits for medical services—and to check whether supplemental benefits like hearing aids count toward that limit. Also confirm whether your preferred audiologist is included in the network.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Eligibility Requirements

Before receiving coverage, most Medicare Advantage plans require documentation that hearing aids are medically necessary. This process helps confirm that the devices are appropriate for improving communication and daily functioning. Patients will typically move through a series of evaluations, referrals, and approvals before coverage takes effect.

Medical Necessity Criteria for Hearing Aids

Eligibility often hinges on medical documentation and functional need. Plans look for testing and professional evaluation to establish the extent of hearing loss and its impact.

• Audiological testing: Hearing tests performed by an audiologist showing clinically significant impairment.
• Physician clearance: A referral or medical approval from a primary care physician or ENT specialist.
• Functional need: Documentation that hearing loss disrupts communication, social interaction, or daily tasks.

Some Medicare Advantage plans also require or coordinate a trial period with hearing aids, usually 30 to 60 days, ensuring the devices meet the patient’s needs. State laws often mandate a minimum 30-day trial, and many contracted vendors offer 45–60 days.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Authorization Process

Once eligibility is established, patients must move through the plan’s authorization process. This step is where network rules and paperwork requirements often create challenges.

• Plan verification and prior authorization: Beneficiaries must confirm that hearing aid coverage is included and may need prior approval before purchase.
• Provider requirements: The audiologist or hearing aid supplier must be an in-network provider contracted with the plan.
• Documentation submission: Hearing test results, physician referrals, and other paperwork are required to support the authorization request.

Because benefit limitations are common—such as annual allowance caps and replacement restrictions—it’s vital to review plan rules carefully before making a purchase.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Coverage Options

Medicare Advantage plans do not treat all hearing aids equally. Coverage typically applies to specific styles and technology levels, with benefits shaped by what the plan negotiates with its contracted vendors. While digital technology has become standard, premium upgrades often carry additional out-of-pocket costs.

Types of Hearing Aids Covered

Plans usually cover a range of devices, but coverage can be limited to basic or mid-level technology. Both cosmetic preferences and medical necessity play roles in what is authorized.

• Behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ITE) models: These remain the most common styles covered.
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC) and digital devices: Smaller, more discreet aids with adjustable features are often included.
• Bilateral coverage: Hearing aid benefits generally extend to both ears when medically necessary.

When comparing options, it is important to ask about coverage limits for analog vs. digital technology levels and whether earmolds are included as part of bundled costs.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Features and Technology

Coverage also extends to the technology built into hearing aids. Some plans pay for basic features only, while others allow access to advanced digital technology levels.

• Core features: Noise reduction, feedback cancellation, and multiple listening programs.
• Advanced upgrades: Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone app control, and tinnitus masking may be available at higher costs.
• Rechargeable devices: Many plans now cover rechargeable hearing aids, though batteries and chargers may be subject to itemized services.

Patients should review whether their plan covers accessories like hearing aid batteries or cleaning and maintenance, as these ongoing expenses affect long-term affordability.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Costs and Allowances

Even with coverage, hearing aids represent a significant investment. Costs vary widely between plans, shaped by copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and annual allowance limits. Understanding the financial structure of your plan can prevent unexpected bills.

2025 Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Benefits

Most Medicare Advantage plans use either a set allowance or a fixed copay for hearing aids. These benefits can save thousands, but coverage varies widely by insurer.

Because these allowances rarely cover the full cost of premium hearing aids, patients should still plan for out-of-pocket expenses, especially for advanced features or top-tier brands

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Cost Management

Careful planning can minimize expenses. Comparing plan benefits and provider networks during the open enrollment period can make a large difference in affordability.

• Plan comparison shopping: Using tools like Medicare Plan Finder helps evaluate hearing aid coverage limits, provider networks, and out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
• Provider selection: Costs may be lower when using an in-network audiologist, hearing instrument specialist, or retail hearing center.
• Replacement and repairs: Understanding how plans handle repair coverage and replacement frequency limits is critical for long-term budgeting.

Bundled costs are sometimes offered, where hearing aid fittings, earmolds, and batteries are included in one package. In other cases, itemized services create additional expenses.

Common Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Coverage Challenges

While Medicare Advantage plans provide a pathway to lower costs, beneficiaries often face challenges accessing hearing aid benefits. Provider networks, documentation requirements, and annual caps can make the process difficult to navigate.

Access and Provider Network Issues

One of the biggest barriers is finding qualified providers who participate in your plan. Patients in rural or underserved areas may have limited access to audiology services.

• Network restrictions: Many plans limit coverage to contracted audiologists and third-party administrators, narrowing patient choice.
• Geographic issues: Beneficiaries in remote areas may face long wait times or travel distances to receive hearing tests and fittings.
• Quality differences: The experience of care can vary between retail hearing centers, local hearing aid programs, and independent audiologists.

Telehealth options are expanding, offering remote consultations and hearing aid adjustments, but availability depends on the specific plan.

Coverage and Benefit Limitations

Plan allowances often come with fine print. Patients may run out of benefits quickly if their needs exceed the annual cap or if advanced technology is required.

• Allowance caps: Annual coverage may not fully cover premium devices or accessories like rechargeable options.
• Technology limits: Some plans cover only basic digital features, leaving patients to pay out-of-pocket for advanced technology.
• Repair and replacement restrictions: Plans may only cover replacements every 2–3 years and offer limited repair coverage beyond warranty periods.

Because documentation requirements can delay approval, patients should gather all necessary hearing test results and physician referrals early in the process.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Provider Network

Hearing healthcare under Medicare Advantage depends heavily on provider networks. Plans contract with audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and retail vendors who meet licensing and accreditation requirements. Patients should confirm network participation before scheduling appointments.

Qualified Hearing Healthcare Professionals

Coverage applies only when services are delivered by licensed professionals working within the plan’s network.

• Audiologists and ENT specialists: Provide diagnostic hearing exams and medically necessary evaluations.
• Hearing instrument specialists: Fit and dispense hearing aids under state licensing rules.
• Retail and local programs: Large chains, local providers, and area agencies on aging may be part of the plan’s contracted network.

Beneficiaries should ask whether their provider offers education on the proper usage of hearing aids, as this is often included in covered services.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Vendor Requirements

Plans place specific requirements on vendors to maintain service quality and billing compliance.

• Network contracts: Providers must be contracted with the plan or its third-party administrator.
• Licensing and compliance: Vendors must hold proper state licenses and follow billing procedures.
• Ongoing care: Coverage typically includes follow-up appointments, adjustments, and hearing aid fittings.

Patients should verify whether batteries, cleaning and maintenance, and hearing discount programs are covered under their plan’s arrangement with vendors.

Step-by-Step Process for Getting Medicare Advantage Hearing Aids

Getting hearing aids through Medicare Advantage is not as simple as visiting a store and making a purchase. Most plans require multiple stages: verifying your benefits, documenting medical necessity, obtaining prior authorization, and completing professional fittings. The entire process can take several weeks, so it’s important to understand what happens at each phase.

Phase 1: Plan Verification and Provider Selection (Weeks 1–2)

The first step is confirming that your Medicare Advantage plan offers hearing aid coverage. Beneficiaries must also make sure they use in-network providers to qualify for benefits.

• Benefit confirmation: Reviewing plan documents or using Medicare Plan Finder to verify hearing aid benefits.
• Provider search: Finding audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, or retail centers that participate in your plan’s provider network.
• Appointment scheduling: Setting up an initial hearing evaluation and gathering any necessary medical records or referrals.

This phase helps avoid surprises later, such as out-of-pocket healthcare costs when seeing an out-of-network audiologist.

Phase 2: Hearing Evaluation and Authorization (Weeks 2–4)

The second stage focuses on clinical documentation and approval. Plans generally require a hearing test and may also request medical clearance before authorizing coverage.

• Audiological testing: A comprehensive diagnostic hearing exam performed by an in-network provider.
• Medical clearance: A physician referral or approval, often from a primary care provider or ENT specialist.
• Authorization request: Submission of test results and documentation to obtain prior authorization for hearing aid purchase.

During this stage, patients can also review technology levels, brand restrictions, and coverage limits to make informed choices.

Phase 3: Hearing Aid Fitting and Follow-up (Weeks 4–8)

Once authorization is approved, the final stage involves fitting and using the devices. This period often includes a trial phase, allowing patients to test comfort and effectiveness before committing.

• Initial fitting: Professional hearing aid fittings, earmolds if needed, and digital programming by an audiologist.
• Trial period: Using the hearing aids during a plan-covered trial window, generally at least 30 days and often 45–60 days depending on state law and the plan’s contracted vendor.
• Follow-up visits: Returning for adjustments, fine-tuning, and education on the proper usage of hearing aids.

By the end of this phase, patients confirm satisfaction, complete any payments for copays or coinsurance, and transition to regular follow-up care.

Medicare Advantage Plan Selection for Hearing Aid Coverage

Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer the same level of hearing aid support. Benefits can vary by state, by insurer, and even between different plan types from the same company. Because allowances, replacement rules, and provider networks differ, comparing options during enrollment is one of the most important steps in securing affordable coverage.

Evaluating Hearing Aid Benefits During Enrollment

When reviewing plans, patients should look beyond premiums and focus specifically on hearing-related benefits. The details are often buried in the fine print but have a direct impact on cost and access.

• Annual allowances: Reviewing whether the plan offers $500, $1,000, or $3,000 toward hearing aid purchase.
• Coverage frequency: Checking whether benefits are available every year or once every two to three years.
• Provider networks: Assessing the size and quality of in-network audiologists and hearing instrument specialists.

Plans with higher allowances may still be less useful if their provider network is limited or if benefits come with strict hearing aid purchase frequency limits.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Aid Plan Comparison

Comparing plans is more than checking allowances—it requires looking at coverage restrictions, copay structures, and patient reviews.

• Benefit documents: Reviewing the plan summary for details on hearing aid coverage, diagnostic hearing exams, and routine hearing exams.
• Cost calculators: Estimating bundled costs, deductibles, and itemized services to calculate total out-of-pocket costs.
• Patient feedback: Checking member reviews and researching plan satisfaction ratings related to hearing services.

Beneficiaries who qualify for special needs plans or who rely on extra benefits such as the Medicare Advantage flex card should evaluate how hearing aid coverage fits into the broader package of services.

How Solace Can Help with Medicare Advantage Hearing Aids

The hearing aid coverage process under Medicare Advantage can be complex—especially when juggling provider networks, documentation, and prior authorization requirements. Many patients find the steps overwhelming, particularly when they also face challenges related to other aspects of Medicare. Solace advocates help simplify this process by guiding patients through plan selection, provider coordination, and ongoing care.

Plan Selection and Benefit Optimization

Solace advocates support patients before enrollment, during annual reviews, and at every stage of their coverage journey. By comparing Medicare Advantage plans, they help identify which offer the strongest hearing aid benefits and align with patient priorities.

• Coverage comparison: Reviewing hearing aid benefits across different Medicare Advantage plans, including annual allowances and coverage frequency.
• Enrollment assistance: Guiding patients through initial enrollment, annual open enrollment, and special enrollment periods triggered by life changes.
• Benefit maximization: Developing strategies for using allowances, bundled costs, and itemized services to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

This guidance helps patients avoid costly mistakes, such as choosing a plan that looks good on premiums but has weak hearing aid coverage.

Access and Care Coordination

Once a plan is selected, Solace advocates help patients use their benefits effectively. They connect patients with the right providers, manage scheduling, and troubleshoot when problems arise.

• Provider connections: Researching and identifying licensed audiologists, ENT specialists, and local hearing aid programs that participate in the patient’s plan network.
• Authorization assistance: Securing prior authorization and crafting appeals for denied claims if needed.
• Scheduling and coordination: Scheduling audiology and specialist appointments, arranging hearing aid fittings or repairs, and keeping all providers aligned on the care plan.

With this kind of support, patients are less likely to lose access to care due to paperwork delays, coverage misunderstandings, or missing deadlines during enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Advantage Hearing Aids

Do all Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing aids?

No. Hearing aid coverage is not included in Original Medicare and only appears as a supplemental benefit in certain Medicare Advantage plans. Beneficiaries must select a Part C plan with explicit hearing aid benefits listed in the plan options.

How much do hearing aids cost with Medicare Advantage?

Most plans provide annual allowances ranging from $500 to $3,000. Out-of-pocket costs can still apply in the form of deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. Some plans use bundled costs for fittings, earmolds, and batteries, while others itemize services separately.

Can I get hearing aids from a retail provider like Costco with Medicare Advantage?

Possibly, but only if that retailer is in your plan’s contracted network. Medicare Advantage hearing aid benefits are usually tied to specific vendors or third-party administrators, so you may be required to use certain retail hearing centers, local hearing aid programs, or designated provider networks. Costco, for example, is covered under some plans but excluded from others.

How often can I get new hearing aids with Medicare Advantage?

Replacement frequency limits vary. Some plans allow new devices every year, while others only every two or three years. Always check your plan’s hearing aid purchase frequency limits before committing.

What if I need hearing aids that cost more than my allowance?

You can pay the difference out-of-pocket. Other options include hearing aid subscription plans, hearing discount programs, or FDA-regulated over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate loss. Charitable organizations and local sources of financial help may also provide assistance.

Do I need a doctor’s referral for Medicare Advantage hearing aids?

Many plans require a referral from a primary care physician or ENT specialist, while others allow direct scheduling with an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist. Requirements vary by plan. Separately, Medicare policy now allows one limited audiology visit every 12 months without a physician order, though this does not automatically apply to hearing aid benefits under Medicare Advantage.

Can I try hearing aids before buying them with Medicare Advantage?

Yes. Most states require at least a 30-day trial period, and many Medicare Advantage vendor programs extend this to 45–60 days. During this period, adjustments and hearing aid fittings are typically covered.

What happens to my hearing aid coverage if I switch plans?

Coverage may change significantly. When moving to a new Medicare Advantage plan, review hearing aid benefits carefully in the benefit summaries, as allowances, provider networks, and technology coverage differ widely.

Where can I find additional resources on hearing aid coverage?

Helpful sources include Medicare.gov for coverage details (hearing aids and hearing and balance exams), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) for hearing health information, the Hearing Industries Association Financial Assistance Guide (PDF), and the Hearing Loss Association of America Financial Assistance page. Eligible veterans may qualify for devices through the VA Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services – Hearing Aids, and you can find local help via the Eldercare Locator to reach your area agency on aging.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be substituted for professional advice. Information is subject to change. Consult your healthcare provider or a qualified professional for guidance on medical issues, financial concerns, or healthcare benefits.

‍