Quick answer: Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids. Your best options: Medicare Advantage plans (many include hearing benefits up to $2,000/ear), VA healthcare (free hearing aids for qualifying veterans), or OTC hearing aids (starting at $297/pair, no insurance needed).
Medicare and Hearing Aids: What’s Covered in 2026
We get this question more than almost any other: “Does Medicare pay for hearing aids?” The answer, frustratingly, is mostly no — at least not Original Medicare. It’s been this way since 1965, and despite years of advocacy and a few close calls in Congress, it still hasn’t changed.
We know that’s not what you want to hear, especially if you’re on a fixed income and just found out you need hearing aids. But before you give up, there are actually more paths to coverage than most people realize. Medicare Advantage plans often include hearing benefits, and some of them are genuinely generous. The VA covers hearing aids for qualifying veterans. And with OTC hearing aids now starting under $300, the out-of-pocket option is more realistic than it used to be.
We wrote this guide because the Medicare system is confusing enough without having to figure out where hearing aids fit in. Rachel pulled together every coverage pathway we could find — Medicare Advantage details, state programs, VA benefits, even charitable organizations that help with costs.
If you’ve read your plan documents and you’re still not sure what’s covered, send us a note at [email protected]. We can’t interpret your specific plan, but we can help you figure out the right questions to ask.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
The short answer: Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids.
Part A covers hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care, and home health services. Part B covers outpatient medical services, preventive care, and some durable medical equipment. Neither covers hearing aids or routine hearing screenings.
What Part B does cover: A diagnostic hearing and balance exam is covered under Part B if ordered by a doctor to diagnose a medical condition (such as ruling out neurological causes of sudden hearing loss). This is not the same as a routine hearing test for fitting hearing aids.
The cost to beneficiaries under Part B is typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the annual deductible, assuming the provider accepts Medicare assignment.
Medicare Part D
Part D covers prescription drugs only and does not extend to hearing aids, hearing exams, or audiology services.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Standard Medigap plans (Plans A through N) do not add hearing aid coverage beyond what original Medicare provides. Medigap covers cost-sharing for services that Medicare already covers — it cannot extend coverage to categories Medicare excludes.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) — Your Best Option
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers that contract with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits. By law, Advantage plans must cover everything original Medicare covers, but they may offer additional benefits — and hearing aid coverage is one of the most common extras.
How it works: Hearing benefits vary significantly by plan, insurer, and geographic market. Some plans offer:
- A fixed dollar benefit (e.g., $500–$2,000 per ear per year)
- Coverage through a managed hearing care network with negotiated pricing
- OTC hearing aid coverage through preferred vendors
- Discounts on hearing aids rather than direct coverage
Examples of Medicare Advantage hearing benefits in 2026:
| Insurer | Approximate Benefit |
|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Advantage | Up to $2,000 per ear |
| Humana Gold Plus | $699–$999 copay per ear (varies) |
| UnitedHealthcare | Hearing benefit through TruHearing network |
These figures are illustrative — actual benefits depend on your specific plan, county, and enrollment year. Always verify directly with the plan before making purchasing decisions.
How to compare Advantage plans: Use Medicare’s official Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans available in your zip code. The tool shows each plan’s hearing benefit alongside premiums, drug coverage, and other features.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Coverage
Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare are among the best-positioned seniors when it comes to hearing aid coverage. The VA provides comprehensive hearing care — including evaluation, fitting, and hearing aids — at no cost to qualifying veterans.
Hearing loss is one of the most common service-connected conditions among veterans, which means VA audiologists have extensive experience fitting and supporting hearing aids. The VA provides hearing aids from leading manufacturers including Phonak, Oticon, ReSound, Starkey, and others.
To access VA hearing care, contact your local VA medical center and request an audiology appointment. If hearing loss is determined to be service-connected, hearing aids are fully covered.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Even without insurance coverage, using tax-advantaged accounts can meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Hearing aids are an eligible expense under both FSA and HSA plans.
If you are still working or have an HSA from previous employment, using these pre-tax funds for hearing aids effectively reduces the cost by your marginal tax rate. A $1,500 pair of hearing aids might effectively cost $1,050–$1,200 after tax savings, depending on your tax bracket.
OTC Hearing Aids — Bypassing the Coverage Gap
Since the FDA approved OTC hearing aids in 2022, seniors with mild-to-moderate hearing loss have a new option that bypasses the insurance question entirely. OTC hearing aids from brands like MDHearing ($297/pair), Lexie ($499+/pair), and Eargo ($799+/pair) can be purchased directly without a prescription or insurance involvement. For many Medicare beneficiaries whose coverage does not include hearing aids, an OTC device may be the most practical and affordable path to better hearing. See our best OTC hearing aids guide for recommendations.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature hearing aids (manufactured by Sonova/Phonak) are another cost-effective option at $1,000-$1,800 per pair, offering professional fitting at Costco hearing centers. A Costco membership is required.
State Assistance Programs
A small number of states offer hearing aid assistance for low-income seniors outside of Medicaid. Contact your state’s department on aging or area agency on aging to ask what programs may be available in your region.