Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?

Original Medicare does not pay for hearing aids. It does pay for a hearing test when your doctor wants to find the cause of a problem. If you're asking people to repeat themselves, there's still help with the cost. Many Medicare Advantage plans pay part of the cost, and Medicaid can pay for them.

Medicare pays for a hearing test if

• Your doctor or nurse practitioner orders it to see if you need treatment.
• Or you see an audiologist (a hearing specialist) on your own, once every 12 months, for hearing loss that came on slowly.
• The audiologist or doctor takes Medicare.

Not sure Medicare will pay? Ask anyway, because the audiologist's office can check before your visit. If you want a hand, a Pair Team advocate can help you sort it out.

What Medicare pays for

Can I see an audiologist without a doctor's order?

Yes, you can see an audiologist without a doctor's order once every 12 months. This is for hearing loss that came on over many years, or for care tied to an implanted hearing device, Medicare.gov says. For anything else, like a sudden change, you need your doctor's order first.

What are over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids are ones you can buy in a store or online without seeing anyone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made this possible with a rule that started October 17, 2022. They are for adults 18 and older who think their hearing loss is mild to moderate. You set them up yourself, often with a phone app.

They aren't meant for severe hearing loss. See a doctor first, the FDA says, if your hearing changed suddenly or one ear is much worse. The same goes if your ear hurts or drains, or you feel dizzy.

Does Medicare Advantage cover hearing aids?

Medicare Advantage often covers hearing aids, at least in part. A Medicare Advantage plan is a private plan that takes the place of Original Medicare. In 2026, 95% of people in plans open to everyone have hearing exams or aids in their plan, KFF found.

In 2021, KFF found that almost every plan that covers hearing aids capped how much it paid, how often, or both. Call your plan to ask what you'd pay.

To compare plans, use Medicare's Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also get free help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-839-2675. Medicare Open Enrollment runs each fall, October 15 to December 7, and plan choices made then start January 1.

If you also have Medicaid

• In California, Medicaid pays up to $1,510 a person each year, from July 1 to June 30, the state says. That covers hearing aids, ear molds, repairs and up to six visits to fit and adjust them. A seller who takes Medicaid can't charge you the rest. After the first pack, Medicaid does not pay for batteries for adults. See Medicare and Medicaid in California.
• In New York, Medicaid pays for hearing aids when an ear doctor or audiologist recommends them in writing after a hearing test. You get at least 30 days to try them, by state rule. See Medicare and Medicaid in New York.

What to do

1. Tell your doctor what you notice, so they can order a hearing test if you need one.
2. Find an audiologist who takes Medicare. See how to find a doctor who takes Medicare. Ask if they accept assignment, which means they take Medicare's price as full payment.
3. Get the test and ask for a copy of your results, so you can use them to buy hearing aids anywhere.
4. Check your other coverage before you buy. Call your Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plan and ask what they pay and where you must buy.
5. If you buy over the counter, read the box before you pay, because it must show the return policy, the FDA says.

What a Pair Team advocate does

Hearing trouble makes phone calls hard, and most of health care still runs on the phone. This is what we do:

• Find an audiologist near you who takes Medicare, and get your doctor's order if you need one.
• Check what your Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plan pays for hearing aids, and where you have to buy them.
• Help you apply for Medicaid if you may qualify, and follow up until you have an answer.
• Help with what usually comes with it: rides to visits, food, utilities and housing.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Does Medigap pay for hearing aids?

No, Medigap plans generally don't cover hearing aids, Medicare.gov says, but most do pay your 20% for a covered hearing test.

Does Medicare pay for a cochlear implant?

Medicare can pay for a cochlear implant when hearing aids don't help enough for moderate to profound hearing loss in both ears. Your test scores must meet Medicare's rule, and you must be willing to do a long hearing training program after.

Does a Medicare Savings Program pay for hearing aids?

No, a Medicare Savings Program doesn't pay for hearing aids, since it only pays costs Medicare covers. Full Medicaid is different and can pay. See Medicare and Medicaid together.

Can I get two hearing aids on Medicaid in California?

Whether you can get two hearing aids depends on the kind you choose. The $1,510 limit can cover two basic (analog) hearing aids in the same year, California's Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) says. Digital ones cost more and two may not fit, so ask the seller what fits.

Will an over-the-counter hearing aid work for me?

An over-the-counter hearing aid may work for you if your hearing loss is mild to moderate. Signs include trouble hearing in groups, on the phone, or in noisy places, the FDA says. If you can't hear speech in a quiet room, see a hearing professional instead.

Sources

• Hearing aids, Medicare.gov
• Hearing and balance exams, Medicare.gov
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS
• National Coverage Determination 50.3, Cochlear Implantation, CMS
• OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know, FDA
• Learn what Medigap covers, Medicare.gov
• Joining a plan, Medicare.gov
• Hearing Aid Benefit Cap and Benefits, FAQs for Members, DHCS
• 18 NYCRR 505.31, Audiology, hearing aid services and products, New York State Department of Health
• Medicare Advantage in 2026: Premiums, Out-of-Pocket Limits, Supplemental Benefits, and Prior Authorization, KFF
• Dental, Hearing, and Vision Costs and Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries, KFF
• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs