Does Medicare cover hearing aids, or do I have to pay out of pocket?

Question

Gretchen Morris · Accepted Answer

No, some advantage plans do offer this coverage though in the form of free exams and copayments for the aids themselves. Costco and Sams also offer free exams and discounted aids.

Lt Col Tim Brown · Answer

Medicare does not.  There are Medicare Advantage plans that pay towards it. Also the VA if a person qualifies for those benefits.

Ben Washington · Answer

Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids. Your costs in Original Medicare You pay 100% of the cost for hearing aids and exams, but most Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing exam and copays for hearing aids.

Answered by Ben Washington on May 20, 2025

Broker Licensed in IL, FL, MN, SC, TX & WI

Answered by Ben Washington Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Caldwell · Answer

No, Original Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids or routine hearing exams. You will typically need to pay for these services out-of-pocket. Medicare Advantage plans may offer some coverage for hearing aids and exams, but the coverage and costs vary significantly by plan.

Answered by Michael Caldwell on May 20, 2025

Broker Licensed in IN, AL, AR & 31 other states

Answered by Michael Caldwell Medicare Insurance Agent

Robert Vaughan, R.Ph., MBA · Answer

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits, which can include hearing exams and hearing aids.

David Wynne · Answer

Original Medicare (Parts A & B) does not cover hearing aids or routine hearing exams, so you would typically pay out of pocket, or purchase a plan separately. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do offer hearing benefits, including coverage for hearing aids and fittings — coverage varies by plan. A bill is in Congress that may expand Medicare to include hearing aids starting in 2026, but it has not passed yet.

Answered by David Wynne on June 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in SC, NC & PA

Answered by David Wynne Medicare Insurance Agent

Melanie Baxter Black · Answer

It depends on the plan that you have, but generally speaking, you will have to pay a copay per hearing aid, per ear  for a specific time frame which is usually per year or every two years.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

You will be better off acquiring a “DVH” individual policy since Original Medicare in 1965 only wanted to be responsible for the routine procedures related to those 3 major topics.

Norman Smith · Answer

The short answer is NO. 
The Medicare Advantage plans predominantly have some form of coverage, but not all. This is quite a costly bill to pay for the hearing aids, though, as it will cost in so many other ways! Nothing is truly "Free".  You surrender the control and the options to all other health issues when you take an MA plan, so think this through before you jump to an MA plan strictly because of the hearing aid coverage.

Steven Lovell · Answer

Medicare a and b does not cover hearing aids or the exams to fit them.Other plans such as medicare advantage might cover in a limited fashion.

David Silver · Answer

Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or routine hearing exams. That means:

You’ll typically need to pay out of pocket for hearing aids, exams, fittings, and maintenance.

This can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000+ per pair, depending on the brand and technology.

Michael Kim · Answer

No. You would have to pay out of pocket, but the good thing is you have enroll into a Medicare Advantage Plan that does cover hearing aids and most Medicare Advantage Plans have a $0 Monthly Premium.

Satoshi Aoki · Answer

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids. If you only have Original Medicare, you’ll typically have to pay out of pocket for hearing aids and related services. However, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may offer hearing benefits. You should check your plan if you have a Medicare Advantage plan with your agent or health insurance company.

Answered by Satoshi Aoki on May 27, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA

Answered by Satoshi Aoki Medicare Insurance Agent

Becki Jennings · Answer

Medicare does not generally cover hearing aids. However, some Medicare Advantage Plans do have a hearing or hearing aid benefit.

Christopher Garcia · Answer

Original Medicare ( Parts A and B) does not cover hearing aids or the evaluations and fittings for them. However, many Medicare advantage plans do provide coverage for hearing aid services. Medicare supplements may also offer some discounts on hearing aid services. It’s important to properly evaluate the differences between a Medicare advantage plan and Medicare supplement before making a decision. There are major differences between the two and it is a very important decision. Make sure you speak to your agent or Broker and properly evaluate all your options.

Answered by Christopher Garcia on June 9, 2025

Broker Licensed in NM, AZ, CO & TX

Answered by Christopher Garcia Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Braden · Answer

No, Original Medicare does not cover Hearing Aids.  The mahjority of Medicare Advantage plans do have some Hearing Benefits, but you will need to view what they cover in the plans Summary Of Benefits section.

If you like Orighinal Medicare over a Medicare Advantage plan, you can find many "Bundled" Dental/Vision/Hearing plans.

Steve Brauer · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/does-medicare-pay-for-hearing-aids#steve-brauer

Jerry Cohen · Answer

Medicare Parts A and B do not cover any of he cost associated with buying hearing aids or the testing for them. Some Medicare Advantage plans will cover some or all of the cost for hearing aids so long as a network participating provider is used.

Answered by Jerry Cohen on May 6, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY

Answered by Jerry Cohen Medicare Insurance Agent

Gary Haft · Answer

Medicare DOES NOT cover hearing aids. If you are on a Medicare Advantage Plan, many of these plans cover a portion of the cost of a hearing aid. therefore if you want a good set of hearing aids, you will likely need to pay out of pocket. If you are a Veteran, the VA does provide a free paid of hearing aids but it may be determined by your disability.

Answered by Gary Haft on May 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, DC & 9 other states

Answered by Gary Haft Medicare Insurance Agent

Ross Landon · Answer

Good question, original Medicare, which is part A coverage and  part B coverage do not cover hearing aids nor the exams for fitting them. However, most advantage plans do provide some hearing aid benefits. But you have to shop carefully because the copayments can range widely, depending upon the expense and complexity of the hearing aids.

Also, Medicare does cover diagnostic exams if your doctor orders them to see if you need medical treatment for hearing. Many advantage plans will provide additional benefits for hearing aids, but you usually must pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount and your part B deductible does appy.  There also  can be copayments for outpatient treatments in the hospital.

Kelly Linster · Answer

Original Medicare does not pay for hearing aides. If you have original Medicare, you would need to have a dental/vision/hearing plan in addition to your Medicare supplement. Hence why people pick Medicare Advantage plans because they often provide some assistance with hearing aides.

Answered by Kelly Linster on May 8, 2025

Agent Licensed in ND, AZ, CO, IA & SD

Answered by Kelly Linster Medicare Insurance Agent

Todd Bostic · Answer

Medicare Advantage does have some coverage for hearing aids, and you can also buy additional coverage for hearing aids if you want it.

Robert Baez · Answer

It depends on the carrier. Some do cover all or partial cost for hearing aids. Reach out to me.

Jack Mayer · Answer

The answer would be no, however many Medicare Advantage plans offer an allowance for hearing aids. Contact me if you would like more information.

Rodolfo Rojas · Answer

Original Medicare does not, but part C- Medicare advantage has s certain amount you can use for the purchase of the hearing aids.

Kimberly Hargis · Answer

Original Medicare does NOT cover hearing aids.  Most Medicare Advantage plans do cover hearing aids.  You will have to pay a copay for each ear.

Steve Dunn · Answer

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover hearing aids, routine hearing exams, or fittings. If you have Original Medicare, you'll likely need to pay for hearing aids out of pocket. 

However, many Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), offered by private insurers, do provide coverage for hearing aids and related services. Coverage specifics, such as copayments, coverage limits, and the number of hearing aids covered per year, can vary significantly between plans. Costs can range from $0 to over $1,000 per hearing aid, depending on the plan and the level of technology. 

If you're considering Medicare Advantage, it's essential to compare plans available in your area to find one that meets your hearing aid needs. You can use the Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov to explore options.

Additionally, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, approved by the FDA in 2022, offer a more affordable option for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. These devices can be purchased without a prescription or medical exam and are available online and in stores. Prices range from under $100 for budget models to $1,000–$2,000 for high-quality aids. While OTC aids may not be suitable for severe hearing loss, they provide a cost-effective alternative for many.

Carmen Zorrilla · Answer

Medicare doesn't typically cover hearing aids or the exams needed to fit them. However, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer benefits that include the cost of hearing tests and hearing aids, along with fittings and repairs.


If you're looking for affordable options, you can consider over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, which are generally more affordable.


Need Help Navigating Medicare and Hearing Aid Coverage?


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Call me directly at 407-244-6951 for a personalized consultation. I'll help you explore your Medicare coverage options and find affordable solutions for your hearing needs.