Medicare Coverage for Hearing Aids

The greatest amount of hearing loss occurs among people ages 60 to 69. Additionally, among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) have ever used them.

Experts say you can expect to pay $1,500 to $3,500 per ear, and you can double the cost if you need one for each ear. Obviously, cost is a consideration, so it’s important to know the facts.

If you need a hearing aid and don’t currently have one, maybe it's because you’re not sure if your Medicare plan will cover it. The answer really depends on the type of Medicare plan you have.

Here's what you need to know about whether Medicare will pay for hearing aids.

What Medicare Pays For Hearing Aids

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams if your doctor or other health care provider orders these tests to determine whether you need medical treatment.

Medicare does not cover hearing exams, hearing aids, or exams for fitting hearing aids.

Original Medicare Parts A and B provide the following coverage:

• You pay 100 percent for exams and hearing aids.
• You pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor’s services for covered exams, and the Part B deductible applies.
• In a hospital outpatient setting, you pay the hospital a copayment.

If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plan with extra benefits, it may or may not cover payment for your hearing aids. Make sure you know before you buy them. Do your research about plans available to you so you’ll know whether your Medicare Advantage plan will pay for your hearing aids.

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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of: In Colorado: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc. In Connecticut: Anthem Health Plans, Inc. In Indiana: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. In Kentucky: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. In Maine: Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. In Nevada: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc., dba HMO Nevada. In New Hampshire: Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. HMO plans are administered by Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. and underwritten by Matthew Thornton Health Plan, Inc. In Ohio: Community Insurance Company. In Virginia: Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. In Wisconsin: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWi), underwrites or administers PPO and indemnity policies and underwrites the out of network benefits in POS policies offered by Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (Compcare) or Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Corporation (WCIC). Compcare underwrites or administers HMO or POS policies; WCIC underwrites or administers Well Priority HMO or POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are the registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

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