Hearing Aids: How Much Do They Cost?

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide have hearing loss. A person’s hearing experience and ability significantly affect their overall health and potential to lead an enjoyable and active lifestyle.

Finding the right hearing aid can make a huge difference in your daily life if you have hearing loss. From improving communication to enhancing overall well-being, this guide breaks down the types, costs, and helpful tips to help you maximize your hearing aid purchase.

What Are Hearing Aids? 

Hearing aids are small battery-powered electronic devices that amplify sounds. They improve hearing, speech comprehension, and communication in people with sensorineural hearing loss, which results from damage to the inner ear due to age, loud noises, infections, diseases, or certain medications.

Various types of hearing aids are available, and a hearing care professional can help you choose the right one for your needs. Always consult a licensed professional or hearing care provider before purchasing to ensure your specific needs are met.

Hearing Aids Price

How Much Do Hearing Aids Typically Cost?  

Hearing aids typically cost between $2,000 and $7,000. According to the National Council on Aging, the average price in the US is $2,100. OTC hearing aids cost about $950, and prescription hearing aids cost about $3,500.

What Affects The Price of Hearing Aids?

• OTC vs. Prescription: Over-the-counter hearing aids do not require a prescription from a hearing professional and cost less than prescription hearing aids.  

• Type of Hearing Aid: Costs can vary depending on the hearing aid type you choose.

• Brand Name: Hearing aids from established brands often cost more than lesser-known brands.

• Technology and Features: Devices with more advanced hearing aid technology, such as wireless capabilities, noise reduction, rechargeable batteries, smartphone compatibility, and tinnitus masking, are more expensive than those with fewer sophisticated features.

• Additional Services: The cost of testing, fitting, follow-up appointments, recalibration or readjustments, cleanings, and loss and damage insurance can add to the total price of hearing aids.

What Is Included In The Cost of Hearing Aids?  

Here's a detailed breakdown of what makes up the cost of hearing aids: 

Core Components

• Microphone, Processor, and Receiver: The basic components of a hearing aid are a microphone to pick up sounds, a processor or amplifier to process and enhance the signal, and a receiver or speaker to deliver the amplified sound to the ear canal. 

• Digital Signal Processing (DSP): Some hearing aids use DSP to filter out unwanted noise, improve speech clarity, and adjust settings automatically based on the environment. 

More Advanced Features

• Bluetooth Connectivity for wireless audio streaming from smartphones, TVs, and other devices. 

• Rechargeable Batteries for longer battery life and convenient overnight charging. 

• Noise Reduction to help reduce background noise, making it easier to hear in noisy environments. 

• Directional Microphones to focus on sounds coming from a specific direction, improving speech understanding. 

• Telecoil allows hearing aids to connect with inductive loops in public places and improves sound quality. 

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) can analyze sound environments and automatically adjust settings for optimal listening. 

• Remote Programming and Monitoring to allow audiologists to make remote adjustments and monitoring. 

• Binaural Processing uses two hearing aids (one in each ear) to enhance sound localization and speech clarity. 

• Automatic Adjustments can adapt to different listening environments, such as a quiet room or a noisy restaurant.

Aftercare Services and Warranties  

A prescription hearing aid purchase usually includes additional services and warranties such as:

• Consultation with a hearing care provider.

• Hearing exams.

• Initial fitting.

• Follow-up appointments for adjustments or recalibrations.

• Routine cleanings.

• Extra batteries.

• Warranty ranging from 1 to 3 years for repair or replacement.

• Insurance for loss of damage.

Does Insurance Pay For Hearing Aids? 

Medicare doesn’t offer much coverage for dental, vision, and hearing care. However, supplemental plans such as Medicare Advantage may pay all or part of your hearing aid cost.

Medicaid covers hearing aids for children in all states, but hearing aid coverage for adults varies by state and eligibility. Compare Medicare vs Medicaid to find out which may be right for you.

People who have served in the military may qualify for low-cost or free hearing aids from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Private Insurance: Most major insurance plans include hearing aid coverage. However, the entire cost of your hearing aids may not be covered, depending on the specific plan and your share of healthcare costs. For example, your insurance provider and health plan may pay a specified amount toward your hearing aid cost, such as $1,000. This amount may be per ear (one hearing aid) or for both ears (a pair of hearing aids). You can take advantage of this benefit every 3 to 5 years.

Discounts, Deals, and Government Programs  

Some clubs, organizations, and nonprofit groups cover the cost of hearing aids for people in need. Look into the following to see if you’re eligible:

• Starkey Hearing Foundation 

• Hearing Aid Project

• Miracle-Ear Foundation

• Help America Hear

• Lions Club

Tips For Reducing Costs 

• Check if your health plan has contracts with hearing care providers. Purchasing hearing aids from a provider who is contracted with your health plan may give you an allowance (a specified amount, for example, $1,500, or a percentage, for example, 20%) which will be deducted from the price of hearing aids you choose, thereby lowering your out-of-pocket cost.

• If you are a union member, check if they have hearing coverage. You may be able to get reimbursed for the cost of your hearing aids.

• You and your family have TRICARE coverage if you are active in the military. If your hearing loss meets specific medical criteria, your hearing aid price may be covered by insurance.

• You may be eligible for workers’ compensation if you have hearing loss from your occupation.

• If your hearing loss has affected your ability to get a job, you may be eligible for Social Security.

• Consider using funds in your HSA or FSA to pay for your hearing aids. 

• Look into buying over-the-counter hearing aids, as they are typically cheaper than prescription ones. 

• Many basic devices perform well. Consider forgoing advanced technology to lower costs while still enjoying better hearing.

• Shop around and compare prices. 

Comparing Hearing Aid Prices and Features  

Prescription vs OTC Hearing Aids  

Over-the-counter hearing aids are less expensive than prescription hearing aids. OTC hearing aids are for mild to moderate hearing loss and do not require a medical exam, hearing test, fitting by an audiologist, or prescription. 

However, OTC hearing aids are not customizable and are typically less effective than prescription hearing aids. 

Popular over-the-counter hearing aid brands include:

• MD Hearing Neo (BTE): $300

• Elehear Beyond (ITE): $400

• Sennheiser All-Day Clear (BTE): $1,000

Different Hearing Aid Types  

Behind-The-Ear (BTE)

Style: Fits behind your ear.

Suitable for: A wide range of hearing loss severity from mild to profound. 

Customization: The body of the medical device attaches to a customized ear mold. 

Manual dexterity: Required. 

Popular brands: 

• Lexie B2 Plus Powered by Bose: $1,000

• Jabra Enhance Select 500: $2,000

• ReSound Omnia 9: $4,500

• Phonak Lumity 90: $4,800

• Oticon Real 1: $4,800

In-The-Ear (ITE)

Style: Fits either in the entire ear or half the bowl of the ear.

Suitable for: Moderate to severe hearing loss. 

Customization: Can be custom-made to fit your ear size and shape. 

Manual dexterity: Not required. 

Popular brands:

• Lucid Feo: $1,000

• Sony CRE-C20: $1,000

• Eargo 7: $2,400

• Signia Silk Charge & Go 7IX: $3,300

• Horizon AX from Hear.com: $5,500

Receiver-In-The-Ear (RITE)

Style: Similar to BTE, the body of the device is behind the ear, but the receiver wire is placed in the ear canal for more natural sound. 

Suitable for: Mild to severe hearing loss. 

Customization: Speaker units are available in different shapes and sizes to fit your ear. 

Manual dexterity: Required. 

In-The-Canal (ITC)

Style: Smaller in size than ITE devices, it sits deeper in the ear canal, so it is more hidden. Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are even less visible.

Suitable for: Mild to severe loss of hearing ability. 

Customization: This can be customized for your ear shape.

Manual dexterity: Required. 

CROS/BiCROS

Style: Worn on one side with an additional microphone on the other side. 

Suitable for: Minimal hearing loss in one ear and severe hearing loss in the other ear.

Customization: Custom ear molds may be available.

Manual dexterity: Remote adjustments may be possible for people with dexterity issues. 

Choosing The Right Hearing Aid For You  

Some of the factors to keep in mind when buying hearing aids include:

• Degree of hearing loss and amount of sound amplification required.

• Hearing aid style based on audiologist recommendations and personal preferences.

• Hearing aid size (larger hearing aids often feature more advanced technology while smaller hearing aids are less visible).

• Features include customizable frequency bands, rechargeable batteries, wireless connectivity to your smartphone, etc.

It’s vital to consult an audiologist before buying hearing aids for informed decision-making. They can help you choose the appropriate hearing aids based on your needs and provide an optimal fit.

FAQs About Hearing Aid Cost  

Is Costco A Reliable Option For Purchasing Hearing Aids?  

Yes, Costco often offers some of the best hearing aids at very low prices. Costo hearing aids start at $1,499. 

How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost Per Month?

Hearing aid prices can range from $80 per month for a basic pair to $200 per month for a top-of-the-line model featuring advanced technology.

What Is The Number One Rated Hearing Aid?

With hundreds of models available and varying individual needs, picking the number one-rated hearing aid is hard. However, Jabra Enhance Select 500 is consistently ranked high for its features and overall performance, particularly among over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, and is a top choice for many audiologists.