Medicare, and Medicaid (and almost all other insurances) do not cover the cost of hearing aids. According to Forbes magazine, a pair of hearing aids can cost between $4,000 and $7,000 in 2024. At that price, most senior citizens (and others) go without because they are unaffordable.
This is a significant problem! Many studies have linked hearing loss to cognitive decline, dementia, social isolation, falls, depression, safety, difficulty in obtaining employment, poor communication.
In addition, only severe hearing loss is considered a disability, and the qualification parameters are very tight, so the vast majority of people with mild to moderate hearing loss don’t qualify for hearing aids under Social Security Disability either.
Hearing aids can also help people with tinnitus. Those who never have a moment of quiet in their minds due to noises like screeching, buzzing, hissing, humming or whistling, can gain peace with the
use of specialized hearing aids!
As a medical device, hearing aids should be covered by Medicare and Medicaid!