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How Much Do Hearing Aides Cost – Are you confused by the different costs of hearing aids? Find out here what’s included and how to make hearing aids more affordable.
This content has been researched and written independently of the views or opinions of the Everyday Health editorial team. Doctor’s Ask may receive a commission for the purchase of recommended products in this article.
How Much Do Hearing Aides Cost
If you have hearing loss, wearing a hearing aid can increase your hearing potential, especially in difficult listening situations. It allows you to listen, communicate and participate better in everyday activities. Unfortunately, the high cost of hearing aids is the main reason many people turn away from these life-changing devices.
Compare Hearing Aid Technology Levels
In fact, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) reports that among adults with hearing loss, less than 30 percent age 70 and older currently use or have used hearing aids. Moreover, only 16 percent of adults aged 20 to 69 with hearing loss used hearing aids.
The price you see under the hearing aid may not be the final amount you pay before you check out. In general, the total cost of a hearing aid may include services such as fitting and dispensing fees, care, adjustments, warranties, adjustments and ongoing care such as future appointments.
These fees are in addition to the hearing aid and are usually associated with a hearing center or audiologist. But if you buy hearing aids online through a direct-to-consumer site, the price may only include the hearing aid. Some people choose to add a warranty or accessories that increase the final price.
If the audiologist or hearing care package is expensive, you may also see a higher sticker price. The package involves paying one price for all your hearing aid needs:
Hearing Loss Leaves Many Struggling With Costs Amid Subsidy Shortage
But if you ask for cost separation, you only pay for the hearing aid and then buy services as needed. To combine or separate is a personal decision. Some like the security that pooling provides, while others prefer a pay-as-you-go model.
Hearing aids range in price from $399 to over $6,000, leaving many people surprised by the large price difference. While this is not an exhaustive list, here are some of the more common factors that affect the overall cost.
Hearing aids are expensive. Whether you buy the base model or the top model, people often avoid buying them because of the costs associated with these devices. One of the drivers of cost growth is technology.
Advanced innovations in technology, research and development, Bluetooth, smartphone applications and other additional services that enhance the user experience can significantly increase the final price. Finally, hearing aid companies will likely increase the sticker price to account for manufacturing costs, parts, and other business-related costs required to produce the device.
Hearing Aid Costs
Buying hearing aids online is now a popular option for many people. You have several ways to purchase devices online. Major retailers such as Walmart sell hearing aids online. You can also buy hearing aids from an online discount chain that sells hearing aids for up to 35 percent off retail price. These online vendors work with your local hearing center or audiologist to offer you high-quality hearing aids at a discounted price.
Direct-to-consumer companies such as Eargo, Jabra Enhance, MDHearing and Audicus offer hearing products directly to you online. A professional hearing test or evaluation is not required to purchase from these companies, but many sites offer online hearing tests to help you make informed decisions about your hearing needs. In addition, some direct-to-consumer companies provide phone or online consultations with their own audiologist during and after the purchase process to assist with programming.
You may be interested in purchasing over-the-counter hearing aids from your local pharmacy or retail store, but technically speaking, over-the-counter hearing aids are not yet available.
Under the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Act of 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was tasked with developing regulations to make high-quality hearing aids more accessible to people with mild to moderate hearing loss. But these rules are not yet in effect. On July 9, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order directing the FDA to provide guidance within 120 days that would allow over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold.
How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost? A Definitive Guide
While retailers and consumers await the FDA’s decision on over-the-counter hearing aids, hearing aids can be purchased online from direct-to-consumer sites.
If you have private health insurance through your employer or a self-pay individual or family plan, you may have hearing aid benefits. Some private health plans pay for hearing evaluations or cover a small portion of hearing aid costs. But many of them don’t offer any benefits for hearing aids. Before you buy hearing aids, check the fine print in your benefits booklet.
Several states have mandates that state health plans pay for hearing aids for children, and some even have provisions for adults that allow hearing aid benefits, so it’s worth considering your plan.
Also, Medicare Parts A and B do not cover hearing aids or hearing aid exams. If you have a Part C plan, also known as a Medicare Advantage plan, you can contact your plan provider. Some Part C plans offer additional benefits that Original Medicare does not cover.
The Hearing Review
Financing is available for hearing aids through select hearing centers and online distributors. Most licensed hearing professionals and centers offer some type of financing to help with costs or offer payment plans that allow you to spread the cost over several months. But be sure to research the finance company before you sign on the dotted line.
Nonprofit organizations such as Help America Hear provide hearing aids to individuals with limited financial resources. In addition, the NIDCD lists options for low-cost hearing aids.
With the average cost of hearing aids ranging from $1,800 to over $3,000, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest option you can find. And while some inexpensive hearing aids are suitable for mild hearing loss, experts generally recommend investing in a high-quality hearing aid for moderate to profound hearing loss.
Severe or profound hearing loss requires a powerful hearing aid that provides the most amplification. This maximizes your ability to hear sound and understand what you hear. Many high-quality hearing aids also have additional features that make the device easier to control. Some of the more popular features include:
How Much Does A Hearing Aid Cost
If you’re ready to invest in a hearing aid, here are some steps to help you find the right one.
High prices are often the reason why people avoid buying hearing aids. The good news is that direct-to-consumer companies, online discount chains, and entry-level models sold by some premium brands are making it easier for people to purchase hearing aids.
If you’re looking to keep your costs down, remember to only buy what you need, ask for individual packages, take your time to research and look at financing costs. Also, check your insurance coverage for any hearing benefits.
Hearing aids range in price from $399 to over $6,000 per pair. On average, a good hearing aid will cost between $1,800 and $5,000 per pair. This is a wide range, but it takes into account the discounted prices offered by online carriers. For example, the Eargo and Jabra Enhance, both available direct from the manufacturer, start between $1,195 and $1,500 per pair. Hearing aids such as Phonak, sold at hearing centers or online discount sites, range from $2,200 to $5,000 per pair.
Why Do Hearing Aids Cost So Much?
If you look at the technology behind the best hearing aids, it’s easy to see why some hearing aids are so expensive. A number of factors affect the cost of hearing aids, including advanced innovations in technology, research and development, fitting costs, professional audiologist services, ongoing care, adjustments and any warranties you may purchase.
In-the-ear hearing aids (ITE) are smaller in size and fit completely in the outer ear. They are often recommended for mild to severe hearing loss. This style is a popular choice for people looking for a more discreet device than over-the-ear models. It is difficult to say how much ITE hearing aids cost, as each manufacturer sets their own price.
But brands like Phonak, which are available through hearing centers or discount sites, offer ITE hearing aids that cost around $4,498 per pair. Signia, which can also be purchased at a hearing center or discount site, sells ITE hearing aids for $2,898 to $4,398 per pair. While few people are surprised when their audiologist recommends hearing aids, most are stunned when they hear how much the recommended models will cost!
The cost of hearing aids can vary greatly depending on the model you choose and where you purchase them. On average, a pair of aids will retail for $4,500, with top models selling for $7,000 or more. Most private insurance plans do not cover these devices, nor does Medicare.
Lower Cost U.s. Hearing Aids Go On Sale Today
Part of the cost of a hearing aid is due to the complex technology that powers many of today’s electronic devices, including processors, microchips and receivers, developed in laboratories around
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