Beyond Original Medicare: Supplemental Hearing Benefits
Even while hearing loss affects millions of Americans, hearing aids can be expensive. Fortunately, there are different types of hearing health benefits, including supplemental options. This additional coverage helps ensure you get the support you need for your hearing.
In this post, we’ll explain how supplemental insurance works for hearing care and the types of coverage.
Do you have hearing health insurance? Use our Benefit Checker Tool to find out!
Why Supplemental Hearing Aid Benefits Matter for Hearing Care
- Makes Hearing Aids More Affordable. Some people rely on additional hearing benefits to cover the cost of hearing aids.
- Supports Better Hearing Health. When routine exams and fittings are covered, people are more likely to get their hearing tested and maintain their devices.
- Reduces Financial Risk. Having additional insurance helps protect against high out-of-pocket costs.
Why Standard Medicare Often Isn’t Enough for Hearing Care
Original Medicare covers:
- Diagnostic hearing exams when medically necessary.
- Exams for balance and acute hearing conditions (e.g., vertigo, ear pain, drainage, sudden hearing loss) with a physician’s referral.
Furthermore, with Original Medicare, you can visit an audiologist without a physician’s referralonce every 12 months for a hearing test for non-acute hearing conditions.
Here's the important part: Original Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids. As a result, people using Original Medicare pay 100% out of pocket for hearing aids. That’s where supplemental insurance comes in.
Types of Supplemental Benefits That Support Hearing Care
Some individuals can purchase supplemental health insurance plans specifically for hearing (or combined with dental or vision). These may provide an allowance, discount, or networked benefit for hearing aids. However, plans vary significantly and aren’t available everywhere.
Some supplemental benefits are administered using a third-party administrator like Amplifon Hearing Health Care, which can provide tailored hearing solutions, white-glove service, and 5-star care.
What Supplemental Hearing Aid Insurance Can Offer
Many people turn to supplemental hearing aid insurance to get the support they need. Here are the main ways supplemental coverage can make a difference:
- Discounts and Allowances. Some supplemental plans (offered by private insurers) partner with hearing-care vendors to provide discounts on hearing aids or hearing services. A supplement plan may offer an allowance toward the cost of a hearing aid, reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
- Routine Hearing Exams & Fittings. Supplemental plans may cover or partially cover annual hearing exams, hearing aid evaluations, or fitting appointments with little to no cost for you. It’s worth noting that Medigap plans do not expand Medicare’s covered services; they just reduce cost-sharing.
- Maintenance Benefits. Some plans go beyond the device and may include benefits such as repair, replacement , and supplies.
- Network of Providers. Often, these plans work with preferred hearing networks (like Amplifon), meaning you can access discounted hearing aids and trusted providers through your plan.
What You Need to Know
- Even with supplemental coverage, there may be a limit on how much allowance or discount you receive, or how often you can get hearing aids.
- Some plans require you to go through specific networks to receive the full benefit.
Always read the plan’s Summary of Benefits carefully to understand what’s included and what’s expected from you
Get the Coverage You Need
The good news is that Original Medicare covers hearing evaluations. If you think you have hearing loss, don’t let it go unaddressed. Request an appointment with one of our providers!
If you’re considering supplemental coverage, compare the hearing benefits across different plans. Amplifon Hearing Health Care’s Patient Care Advocates can help you check your benefits and walk you through your options. With over 8,800 in-network clinics nationwide, you can get the hearing support you need.
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