As we get older, our bodies tend not to work as well as they once did. And one of the body parts that commonly declines with age are our ears.
Many people experience hearing loss when they get older. Fortunately, however, science and technology has come to the rescue. Now there are hearing aids with all sorts of features that help us keep our hearing in good order.
Hearing aids can be quite expensive though. Which is why a lot of people ask the question “does Medicare cover hearing aids?”
The short answer here is it depends. Let’s find out more and when you might be able to get Medicare coverage for your hearing aids.
Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Traditional Medicare (a.k.a Original Medicare), which includes Medicare Part A and Part B, does not offer coverage for hearing aids.
Original Medicare is a federal program by the United States that provides healthcare coverage for Americans aged 65 or older. It also covers those who have received disability benefits from Social Security Services and people who have ALS and ESRD.
Original Medicare consists of two parts. Medicare Part A, which is hospital coverage, and Part B, which is medical services coverage. While the Part B provides coverage for medical equipment and other Durable Medical Equipment (DME), hearing aids do not fall under the category of DME.
However, just recently, a new bill known as HR 1518 has been brought up to Congress. This bill seeks to include hearing aids from Medicare coverage.
Medicare Advantage Plans for Hearing Aids
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may receive coverage for the purchase of hearing aids. Advantage plans are also often referred to as Medicare Part C. It is a type of Medicare health plan offered by different contracting private insurance companies.
There are many Medicare Part C plans throughout the U.S. All Medicare Part C plans must follow Original Medicare rules and cover everything Original Medicare covers.
What makes Medicare Part C plans special is they also cover other things not covered by Original Medicare. This includes prescription drug coverage and vision, dental, and hearing services. Part C also provides coverage for services covered by Original Medicare.
If your Medicare Part C plan has hearing care coverage, they will provide coverage for your hearing aids. Thankfully, about 88 percent of Medicare Part C plans provide coverage for hearing aids.
Costs of Hearing Aids
But how much do hearing aids cost if you have no insurance coverage? Hearing aids can be somewhat expensive, with their cost ranging from $1,000 to $6,000.
One of the reasons why hearing aids can be costly is due to bundling. In bundling, the cost of the hearing aid also may include services such as hearing tests, consultation, follow-up adjustments, and more.
To sum it up, if you are enrolled in Original Medicare, then most likely you will not be covered if you purchase hearing aids. However, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan instead, you may have coverage for your hearing aid. It just depends on your plan.