Does Insurance Cover Hearing Aids? Private, Medicaid, VA & HSA
Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids. Private insurance rarely does either, with most employer plans treating hearing aids as an excluded benefit. Medicaid coverage depends on the state and age. VA covers hearing aids for eligible veterans. HSA and FSA funds can be used for hearing aids regardless of insurance coverage.
Key takeaways
- Private insurance rarely covers hearing aids for adults. Most employer and individual plans exclude hearing aids as a benefit.
- Medicaid coverage is state-optional for adults but federally required for children and young adults under 21 (EPSDT). Coverage policies vary widely by state.
- VA covers hearing aids for eligible veterans enrolled in VA health care, including devices, fitting, follow-up, repairs, and batteries at no cost.
- HSA and FSA funds can be used for hearing aids, batteries, and repairs regardless of insurance coverage (IRS Pub 502).
- Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids. See our Medicare coverage guide for Medicare Advantage options.
Hearing aid insurance coverage is inconsistent across payers. Private insurance rarely covers hearing aids for adults. Medicaid coverage depends on the state and the beneficiary's age. The VA covers hearing aids for eligible veterans. HSA and FSA funds work regardless of insurance status. For Medicare and Medicare Advantage, see our separate Medicare coverage guide.
Quick answer by insurance type
| Insurance type | Coverage | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Private insurance (employer or individual) | Rarely | Most plans exclude hearing aids for adults. Some cover diagnostic hearing tests. Check Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). |
| Medicare (Original) | No | Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or fitting exams. See Medicare coverage guide. |
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Often, but scope varies | 98%+ of 2026 individual MA plans offer some hearing benefit; caps and frequency vary. See Medicare coverage guide. |
| Medicaid (under 21) | Yes | Required under EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment). Medicaid must cover hearing aids for beneficiaries under 21. |
| Medicaid (adults) | State-optional | Some states cover; others do not or impose strict limits. Check with your state Medicaid office. |
| VA (eligible veterans) | Yes | Covered for veterans enrolled in VA health care who meet eligibility criteria. Includes devices, fitting, follow-up, repairs, batteries. |
| TRICARE | Limited | Covers active duty service members. Retirees and dependents: limited or no coverage depending on plan. Check TRICARE benefits. |
| HSA / FSA | Yes | Hearing aids, batteries, and repairs are qualified medical expenses (IRS Pub 502). Can be used regardless of insurance coverage. |
Private health insurance
Most private health insurance plans (employer-sponsored or individual marketplace plans) do not cover hearing aids for adults. Hearing aids are typically excluded from the list of covered benefits, similar to eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Some plans cover diagnostic audiology services (hearing tests) as a preventive or diagnostic service, especially if ordered by a physician to evaluate a medical condition. However, covering the hearing test does not mean the plan will pay for hearing aids.
A small number of employer plans have begun offering hearing aid benefits as an added perk, often through a third-party vendor or discount program. These benefits are more common in large employer plans and are typically capped (e.g., $1,000 to $2,500 per hearing aid every 3 to 5 years). If your employer offers this, it will be listed in your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) or the plan's Evidence of Coverage document.
To check your coverage:
- Review your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) under "Durable Medical Equipment" or "Hearing Services."
- Call the member services number on your insurance card and ask specifically whether hearing aids are a covered benefit and, if so, what the benefit amount and frequency are.
- Ask your audiologist's office whether they can verify coverage; many practices do this as part of their intake process.
Medicaid
Medicaid coverage for hearing aids depends on the beneficiary's age and the state:
Under age 21: required coverage (EPSDT)
Medicaid is required to cover hearing aids for beneficiaries under age 21 under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. EPSDT mandates comprehensive and preventive health care services for children and young adults, including medically necessary hearing aids, fitting, and follow-up.
If your child or dependent under 21 is enrolled in Medicaid, hearing aids must be covered if deemed medically necessary by a physician or audiologist. Contact your state Medicaid office or managed care plan to start the process.
Adults: state-optional coverage
For adults, Medicaid hearing aid coverage is optional, and policies vary widely by state. Some states provide comprehensive coverage; others provide limited coverage (one hearing aid instead of a pair, or coverage only for specific conditions); and some states provide no coverage at all.
Because Medicaid policy is set at the state level, you must check with your state Medicaid office or managed care plan to determine whether hearing aids are covered, what the benefit limits are, and which providers are in-network. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) publishes state-by-state Medicaid benefit comparisons, but these are periodically updated and should be confirmed with your state directly rather than relying on outdated surveys.
VA benefits for veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides hearing aids and audiology services at no cost to eligible veterans enrolled in VA health care. Eligibility is based on service connection, disability rating, and enrollment in VA health care.
VA coverage includes:
- Hearing evaluation and audiogram
- Hearing aids (prescription devices fitted by a VA audiologist)
- Fitting, programming, and real-ear verification
- Follow-up visits and adjustments
- Repairs and replacements
- Batteries (zinc-air disposable batteries provided at no cost; rechargeable hearing aids include charger)
Veterans receive hearing aids through VA audiology clinics, and the devices are provided at no out-of-pocket cost if the veteran is eligible. The VA uses a procurement process that includes devices from major manufacturers (Phonak, Oticon, Signia, ReSound, Starkey, Widex), and the audiologist selects the appropriate model based on the veteran's hearing loss and needs.
To access VA hearing aid benefits:
- Enroll in VA health care (if not already enrolled). See how to apply for VA health care.
- Request a hearing evaluation through your VA primary care provider or contact a VA audiology clinic directly.
- The VA will determine eligibility and schedule an audiology appointment.
For more information, see the VA's Vision and Hearing Care page.
HSA and FSA: always eligible
Hearing aids, batteries, and repairs are qualified medical expenses under IRS Publication 502, which means you can use Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds to pay for them regardless of whether your health insurance covers them.
This applies to:
- Prescription hearing aids purchased through an audiologist or hearing aid specialist
- Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids purchased directly from a retailer or online
- Hearing aid batteries (zinc-air disposable batteries)
- Hearing aid repairs and maintenance
Using HSA or FSA funds does not require a prescription or a letter of medical necessity for hearing aids. The expense is automatically qualified under IRS rules.
HSA funds roll over year to year and are owned by you, even if you change jobs or insurance plans. FSA funds are typically use-it-or-lose-it within the plan year (some plans allow a small carryover or a grace period). If you know you will need hearing aids, an HSA is a tax-advantaged way to save for them over time.
Source: IRS Publication 502 (Medical and Dental Expenses), IRS.gov.
Why do most insurance plans exclude hearing aids?
Health insurance plans historically classify hearing aids as elective or quality-of-life devices rather than medically necessary treatments, similar to eyeglasses. The reasoning is debatable, but the cost is not: covering hearing aids for all enrollees would increase premiums, and insurers and employers have been unwilling to absorb that cost.
Some states have passed insurance mandates requiring coverage of hearing aids for children (under 18 or under 21), but no state has successfully mandated adult coverage across all private plans. A few large employers offer hearing aid benefits voluntarily, but this remains the exception.
The landscape is slowly changing. As the evidence linking untreated hearing loss to cognitive decline, falls, and social isolation accumulates, some insurers and employers are reconsidering hearing aid coverage as a preventive investment. However, as of 2026, most adult beneficiaries still pay out of pocket or rely on alternative coverage sources (Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, VA, or HSA/FSA).
How people pay for hearing aids without insurance
When insurance does not cover hearing aids, users pay through:
- Out of pocket (cash or credit). The most common method. Average private-pay cost is about $3,400 per pair for prescription devices. See our cost guide.
- HSA or FSA funds. Pre-tax dollars reduce effective cost by your marginal tax rate (typically 20% to 35% depending on income).
- Payment plans through the provider. Many audiologists and hearing aid dispensers offer 0% financing or installment plans (6 to 24 months).
- Low-cost channels. Costco and VA-contracted providers offer lower prices than private-practice audiology. See our cost guide for channel comparisons.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. For mild to moderate loss, OTC devices average about $500 per pair. See our OTC vs. prescription comparison and best OTC hearing aids for 2026.
Sources
- IRS Publication 502 (Medical and Dental Expenses), IRS.gov. Hearing aids, batteries, and repairs are qualified medical expenses.
- Medicaid.gov, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT). Medicaid must cover hearing aids for beneficiaries under 21.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Vision and Hearing Care. VA hearing aid benefits for eligible veterans.
- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Medicaid state benefit comparisons. State-by-state Medicaid hearing aid coverage varies; confirm with state Medicaid office.
- Medicare coverage: see our Medicare coverage guide for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage details.