Will your Medicare pay for your hearing aid?

It is estimated that about 37 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. The number is so huge that hearing loss is close to being considered as the largest disability class in the US. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A majority in this statistic belong to the senior citizen category, that is people who belong to the age group of 65 years and above.

Most of these seniors are retirees whose income was in the low-to-middle bracket. Almost all of them depend on the federal health insurance policy, Medicare. With the average cost of hearing aids being about $2300, it is obvious that many would require financial assistance to purchase hearing devices. However, buying a hearing device is just one part of the expense.

With continuous wear and tear, the hearing device will require repairs and occasionally replacements as well. You will have to change the batteries or perhaps require additional accessories such as ear hooks. You will need to monitor and test your hearing device regularly from a professional to ensure that your device is working to its optimal level. All these will incur additional costs. With so many expenses, it is natural to ask whether your traditional Medicare will cover the cost of your hearing aid and related services. The answer to this question is negative. However, Medicare Part B does cover audiology test. This test will have to be performed by an audiologist referred by a primary physician.

Medicare Advantage has provisions for hearing aid devices. The Advantage plan pays around $1000 for hearing aids. However, this coverage is limited to purchase of hearing devices from specific vendors only. Your state’s Medicaid plan will also have provisions for hearing devices. However, you should know that only 28 states in the country have included hearing health related services in their Medicaid plans. The eligibility criteria of each state are different. Also, the services provided by each state varies. Check with your state’s Medicaid office to get more details about the plans related to hearing aid devices.

<Tag: Hearing Aids Medicare>