Hearing loss affects more than two-thirds of Americans over age 70, but most people are surprised to learn that Original Medicare barely covers anything for your ears. No annual hearing exam. No hearing aids. No fittings. It’s one of the most common coverage gaps we see — and one of the most fixable.
What Original Medicare Actually Covers
Part B will pay for a hearing exam if your doctor orders it to diagnose a medical condition — say, sudden hearing loss or dizziness. But it does not cover routine annual hearing checkups, hearing aids, fittings, or the batteries that power them. If you’re on Original Medicare alone, your out-of-pocket cost for hearing aids can run $3,000 to $7,000 per pair.
Medicare Advantage Plans Often Fill This Gap
Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) are required to cover everything Original Medicare covers, and most go further. As of 2026, the large majority of Medicare Advantage plans available nationally include a hearing benefit — typically an annual hearing exam at no cost, plus an allowance of $500 to $2,500 toward hearing aids. Some plans offer more.
The catch: benefits vary significantly by plan. Some require you to use in-network audiologists or specific hearing aid brands. The allowance at one plan may be $500; at another, $2,000 — for the same monthly premium. That kind of difference is exactly what’s worth a quick phone call to sort out before you need it.
What About Medigap?
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans are designed to fill Original Medicare’s financial gaps — copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. They don’t add new categories of coverage. Since Original Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids, Medigap doesn’t either. This surprises a lot of people who assumed a supplement meant fuller coverage.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids — A Newer Option
In 2022, the FDA authorized a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. These are available at pharmacies and online, with prices typically ranging from $200 to $1,600 per pair — a meaningful step down from prescription devices. Medicare doesn’t cover OTC hearing aids, but they’re worth knowing about if you’re weighing your options while you sort out coverage.
What to Do If You Have a Gap
If you’re on Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and you have hearing loss, you have a couple of good options: look into OTC hearing aids as a near-term solution, or consider switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period, which runs October 15 through December 7. We can help you compare plans in your area and make sure any plan you consider still covers your doctors and medications.
If you already have Medicare Advantage, call your plan and ask directly: “What is my hearing benefit for 2026, and which providers are in-network?” You may be pleasantly surprised.
We’re happy to help you figure out where you stand. Give us a call at (401) 413-4183 or book a no-pressure check-in — no enrollment required, just a conversation.