How to Make Hearing Aids More Affordable
By Kathleen Wallace, Au.D.
On average, people with hearing loss wait seven to 10 years between first noticing difficulties and taking action.
Why? Stigma, lack of perceived hearing difficulties, and cost. In an earlier article we discussed why prescription hearing aids cost so much.
Let’s now shift to how to find more affordable options.
Check your insurance coverage.
Contact your insurance plan directly to understand your coverage and potential hearing aid benefits. While more insurance plans are offering an adult hearing aid benefit, they may limit its use to specific providers or products, and they often do not cover the accompanying audiology services needed to program devices successfully.
For children, hearing aid coverage varies by state and plan.
If you are a veteran, see if you qualify for services through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you are eligible for care at the VA, you will be able to receive top-of-the-line hearing aids fully covered. Many VA hospitals also offer tinnitus programs, as hearing loss and tinnitus are the top two service-related disabilities among veterans.
Consider Vocational Rehabilitation programs.
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs are offered in all states. They can provide coverage for hearing aids, particularly for those whose hearing loss impacts their ability to work or their daily functional needs. Look into your state’s program to see if you qualify.
Look into nonprofit organizations.
Sertoma, Lion’s Club, and other organizations may offset the cost of hearing aids. Sertoma, for example, partners with Hearing Charities of America to offer its clubs a personal sound-amplifying product (PSAP, a step down from hearing aids).
Costco or Sam’s Club can be an excellent option for obtaining prescription hearing aids. They feature on-site hearing care clinics selling devices made by sister companies of major hearing aid manufacturers. Credit: @reubenstein/Unsplash
Give Costco or Sam’s Club a try.
For the right person, Costco or Sam’s Club can be an excellent option for obtaining prescription hearing aids. Both big box stores have secured contracts with many of the sister companies of the major hearing aid manufacturers and employ either audiologists or hearing instrument specialists in their in-store clinics.
Weigh your options with the technology level.
Most hearing aids come in at least three technology levels, with the higher technology levels offering more features for the user and controls for the audiologist to manipulate when programming. Depending on your lifestyle and communication needs, especially if the focus is one-on-one communication in quiet, you may not need to take advantage of these more advanced features and be well-suited with the lower technology levels offered at lower prices.
Determine if over the counter hearing aids are right for you.
Over the counter (OTC) hearing aids have been on the market for two years and offer a self-fit alternative to those with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. This can be a great option for those beginning to notice slight difficulties but are not ready to commit to prescription hearing aids and feel technologically comfortable navigating simple programming within the device’s app.
Give AirPods Pro 2’s new hearing aid feature a whirl.
Apple’s new hearing aid feature in AirPods Pro 2 now means many Americans have just gained immediate access to an OTC hearing aid. After taking a brief hearing screening using the AirPods, people who score in the mild to moderate range will be offered the option to activate their AirPods as hearing aids. This includes controls for overall volume, balance, sound brightness, conversation boost, and noise reduction, and can be an excellent option for people who need some situational assistance rather than all-day wear.
If your head is spinning by now, consider consulting consumer resources like HearingTracker.com, the Hearing Loss Association of America, or an independent audiologist to better understand your options. Hopefully, one day insurance companies will offer the coverage of hearing aids and its accompanying services that people with hearing loss have long deserved.
Hearing Health editorial committee member Kathleen Wallace, Au.D., is at tiktok.com/@eardocoftiktok and instagram.com/kathleenwallaceaud. She sees patients with Tuned Care at tunedcare.com and does in-home visits in New York City through Anywhere Audiology, anywhereaudiology.com.
Products and services are not endorsed by Hearing Health Foundation and are provided for informational purposes only.