Original Medicare and hearing
Original Medicare excludes:
- Routine hearing exams (for fitting hearing aids)
- Hearing aids themselves
- Examinations for fitting hearing aids
Medicare does cover diagnostic hearing exams ordered by a physician to investigate a medical condition — for example, if hearing loss is sudden, related to ear infection, or part of a broader medical workup. The exam is covered under Part B; the hearing aid itself is not.
Medicare Advantage hearing benefits in Ohio
Most Ohio MA plans for 2026 include hearing benefits, but the structure varies:
- Annual hearing exam — usually $0 or low copay, often through a specific in-network hearing benefit administrator (separate from your medical network).
- Hearing aid allowance — typically $500–$2,500 per ear every 1–3 years. You pay the difference between the allowance and the hearing aid's price.
- Hearing aid network — most MA plans contract with a specific hearing benefit administrator. You generally need to use their providers and product catalog to get the allowance.
Plans with the most generous hearing benefits often have narrower medical networks, lower out-of-pocket maximums, or fewer other supplemental benefits. There's no free lunch — verify the trade-offs.
What about OTC hearing aids?
Since 2022, FDA-approved over-the-counter hearing aids have been available for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss without a prescription. Prices range from about $300 to $3,000. Some Ohio MA plans now apply the hearing aid allowance toward OTC devices; others don't.
Other Ohio options for limited-income beneficiaries
- Ohio Hearing Aid Assistance Program — coordinated through the Ohio Department of Aging and local Area Agencies on Aging; assists qualifying older adults with hearing aid costs.
- VA — veterans with service-connected hearing loss receive hearing aids at no cost through VA Audiology.
- Audiology training programs — Ohio universities with audiology graduate programs sometimes offer reduced-cost services through their training clinics.
- Nonprofit programs — organizations like HEARNow and Sertoma offer hearing aids to qualifying low-income individuals.