Medicare does not currently cover hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage Plans, health plan options that are available through Medicare, may have hearing aid coverage.
To determine if your Medicare Advantage Plan or other health insurance covers hearing aids or cochlear implants, check with your individual plan. Most plans have a toll free number for member services listed on the insurance card.
When you contact your health plan regarding hearing aids, be sure to ask the following questions:
- What is the health plan benefit for hearing aids?
- Do I have to use specific providers, if so, may I have a list of providers in my area?
- If the health plan has a benefit, i.e. $500, do I have to pay the provider and get reimbursed, or can the provider bill the health plan directly
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Is the benefit limited to specific hearing aid models or technology?
- For example, one large health plan specifies that it covers “routine” hearing aids. Ask your plan to specifically define such terms.
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Are there any criteria or stipulations for coverage?
- Some health plans may have audiologic criteria – that is, your hearing loss must be a certain degree in order to receive their benefit.
For the most comprehensive information available on other sources of funding for hearing aids, get Healthy Hearing’s 2008 Guide to Funding for Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants. All it takes is to Get HAPPY™!
