When Will Original Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?

Why Original Medicare Has Never Covered Hearing Aids

When Medicare was created in 1965, Congress explicitly excluded several categories of services from coverage, including routine dental care, routine vision care, and hearing aids. These exclusions were written into the Social Security Act and have remained in place for over 60 years. The reasoning at the time was that hearing aids and similar items were considered consumer goods, not medical treatments.

The cost of adding these benefits to Original Medicare has been the primary barrier to legislative expansion. Because all Medicare beneficiaries would need access to coverage, adding hearing aids to Original Medicare is estimated to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over a decade — a politically difficult commitment even for advocates who strongly support the expansion.

Legislative Efforts to Add Hearing Coverage

Proposals to expand Medicare to cover hearing aids, dental, and vision have been introduced in multiple Congresses. The most notable recent effort was the Build Back Better Act in 2021, which included expanded Medicare hearing benefits, but the bill did not pass in its original form. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 also addressed Medicare drug pricing but did not include hearing, dental, or vision benefits for Original Medicare.

Advocacy organizations including AARP, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), and numerous medical associations have consistently lobbied for expanded hearing coverage. Despite strong public support (polls consistently show that the majority of Americans favor expanded Medicare benefits), the legislative path has remained difficult due to cost and political constraints.

What Has Changed: The OTC Hearing Aid Market

While legislation has stalled, one significant development has improved hearing aid access for Medicare beneficiaries: the FDA's October 2022 rule establishing an OTC hearing aid category. This regulatory change — which did not require Congressional action — allowed manufacturers to sell FDA-cleared hearing aids directly to consumers without a prescription.

OTC hearing aids are now available at national retailers including Walmart, CVS, Best Buy, and Walgreens, typically priced between $100 and $1,500 per pair. This represents a dramatic price reduction compared to traditional prescription hearing aids, which average $4,600 per pair. While OTC aids are only appropriate for mild to moderate hearing loss, they represent a genuine breakthrough in affordability.

Apple's inclusion of an FDA-authorized hearing aid mode in the AirPods Pro (2024) is another example of technology reducing the cost and stigma barrier for hearing correction. As technology continues to evolve, more affordable hearing solutions are likely to emerge regardless of Medicare's coverage stance.

What to Do While Waiting for Medicare to Cover Hearing Aids

While advocacy for expanded Medicare benefits continues, your most practical options are: switching to a Medicare Advantage plan with a hearing benefit during the next Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), using OTC hearing aids if your loss is mild to moderate, or accessing hearing aids through the VA if you're a veteran.

If you need a hearing test to understand your level of hearing loss, many audiologists offer free or low-cost screenings. Community health centers, Lions Clubs, and some hearing aid manufacturers also offer free hearing screenings to seniors.

Frequently Asked Questions