Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids? Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
Reviewed October 2, 2026. Original Medicare doesn’t pay for hearing aids or the exams to fit them, so you pay the full cost unless you have other coverage. Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans add hearing benefits, often a yearly routine hearing exam and an allowance or set copay toward hearing aids. Part B does cover diagnostic hearing and balance exams your doctor orders, and Medicare may cover cochlear implants for people who meet coverage criteria.
Quick answer: If hearing aids matter to you, look at Medicare Advantage plans that list a hearing aid benefit in their Summary of Benefits, then compare the allowance, the hearing aid vendor or network, how often you can get new devices and any copays. You can change plans during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
What Medicare covers for hearing
| Hearing service | Original Medicare (Parts A and B) | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing aids | Not covered | Covered by many plans as an extra benefit |
| Exams to fit hearing aids | Not covered | Often included with the plan’s hearing benefit |
| Routine hearing exam | Not covered | Many plans include one per year |
| Diagnostic hearing and balance exams ordered by your provider | Covered: 20% after the Part B deductible | Covered (plan copays apply) |
| Audiologist visit without an order (once every 12 months, certain conditions) | Covered | Covered |
| Cochlear implants (if coverage criteria are met) | May be covered as a prosthetic device | Covered at least as well as Original Medicare |
Medicare.gov states plainly: “Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids,” and “you pay all costs for non-covered services.” The Part B deductible is $283 in 2026.
Part B diagnostic hearing and balance exams
Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance (fall risk) exams “if your doctor or other health care provider orders them to find out if you need medical treatment.” After the deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, plus a facility copayment if you’re seen in a hospital outpatient department.
You can also see an audiologist once every 12 months without an order from your doctor, but only for non-acute hearing conditions such as gradual hearing loss, or for diagnostic services related to hearing loss treated with surgically implanted hearing devices (Medicare.gov).
Cochlear implants
Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices, not hearing aids. CMS covers cochlear implantation under a national coverage determination for people with moderate-to-profound hearing loss who get limited benefit from properly fitted hearing aids and meet the other criteria in the policy (CMS). Your surgeon’s office checks the criteria and can tell you what you’ll owe.
Medicare Advantage plans that cover hearing aids
Medicare.gov notes that “some Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover – like vision, hearing, or dental.” Hearing benefits are set by each plan, so two plans in the same county can look very different. When you compare plans, check:
- The hearing aid benefit amount. Some plans pay a fixed allowance per ear, others charge a set copay for a device level (for example, basic or premium technology).
- How often you can get new aids. Many plans limit hearing aids to a set number of devices every one, two or three years.
- Which providers you must use. Plans often work with a hearing aid vendor or network. Buying outside it can mean no coverage. Our Medicare Advantage HMO vs. PPO guide explains network rules.
- Exam and fitting coverage. Look for a routine hearing exam and fitting/evaluation visits in the benefit.
- Batteries, follow-up visits and warranties. These vary widely.
- The rest of the plan. A strong hearing benefit is worth less if your doctors aren’t in network or your drugs aren’t covered. Use our Medicare plan comparison worksheet.
The plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage list the exact hearing benefit. If a plan’s benefit changes for 2027, it will appear in the Annual Notice of Change mailed each fall. Plans often bundle hearing with dental and vision; see Medicare Advantage dental coverage and how often Medicare pays for eye exams.
Use your benefit before it resets
Plan hearing allowances usually reset each calendar year or benefit cycle. Under a CMS rule, Medicare Advantage plans must send members a personalized mid-year notice, between June 30 and July 31, listing supplemental benefits they haven’t used (CMS). If yours lists hearing, it’s a good reminder to book an exam.
Other ways to pay for hearing aids
- Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Since 2022, adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids without a prescription or exam (FDA). Original Medicare doesn’t pay for these either, but they can cost less than prescription devices.
- Medicaid. If you’re dual-eligible, your state Medicaid program may cover hearing aids. See dual eligibility in Medicare and Medicaid.
- VA benefits. Veterans enrolled in VA health care may get hearing aids through the VA.
- Federal and retiree plans. Some employer, retiree and federal plans include a hearing aid benefit; see does Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield cover hearing aids?
- Stand-alone dental, vision and hearing insurance. See our vision, dental and hearing page.
- HSA funds. If you have money in a health savings account from before Medicare, hearing aids are generally a qualified medical expense.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover hearing aids in 2026?
Original Medicare doesn’t. Many Medicare Advantage plans do, as an extra benefit with plan-specific limits.
Does Medicare Part B cover a hearing test?
Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams when your provider orders them, and an audiologist visit without an order once every 12 months for certain conditions. You pay 20% after the deductible. Routine hearing exams for fitting hearing aids aren’t covered.
Do Medigap plans cover hearing aids?
Generally no. Medicare.gov says Medigap policies generally don’t cover vision, dental or hearing aids.
Which Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing aids?
It depends on your ZIP code and the plan. Use the Medicare Plan Finder or ask a licensed agent to filter plans with hearing aid benefits, then confirm the details in each plan’s Evidence of Coverage.
When can I switch to a plan with hearing aid coverage?
During Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, 2026) for a January 1, 2027 start, or during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan. See AEP vs. OEP.
This article is general information, not medical or individual insurance advice. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Official sources
- Medicare.gov: Hearing aids
- Medicare.gov: Hearing and balance exams
- Medicare.gov: Your coverage options
- CMS: National coverage determination for cochlear implantation
- CMS: Medicare Advantage final rule (mid-year notice of unused supplemental benefits)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles