At ApexHealth, we want to help you live life boldly and be in charge of your overall health! This includes taking care of your hearing. Hearing loss is a common condition that impacts quality of life and affects our relationships with family and friends, and unfortunately, it’s common in older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) estimates that approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss. Not being able to understand the conversations around us can be frustrating and get in the way of our relationships. Getting together with family, friends and our community is good for mental health, but not being able to hear can cause us to withdraw.

Thankfully, there are solutions to help. Let’s talk more about why it’s important to address hearing problems, how hearing aids can help and the ways you can get coverage for hearing services.

Why is it important to address hearing problems?

If you have a hearing problem, it’s important to talk to your doctor so that they can recommend the best course of treatment for you. Your doctor can recommend treatments like medicine, surgery, or hearing aids. Some people have a hearing problem and don’t realize it. Here are a few common signs of hearing loss:

• Trouble hearing over the telephone
• Often having to ask people to repeat what people are saying
• Needing to turn the TV volume up so loud that others complain
• Thinking that other people seem to mumble.

Talk to your doctor if you’ve noticed any of these symptoms.

How can hearing aids help?

One common way to address hearing loss is with hearing aids. As the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NICD) explains, hearing aids can help to improve hearing and comprehension for those who have lost their ability to hear due to disease, aging, or injuries. A hearing aid will help to amplify sound vibrations in your ears to make up for the damage. If you have hearing loss and may benefit from hearing aids, talk to your doctor. ApexHealth members, use our search tool to find a hearing expert near you and in our provider network.

Does Medicare cover hearing aids?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover hearing aids or the exams to fit them. This means you will pay 100% of the cost for hearing aids and exams for fitting hearing aids.  Note that Medicare Part B will cover diagnostic hearing and balance exams if your doctor or other health care provider orders them to see if you need medical treatment for an injury or illness like vertigo.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans can help you fill in some of the gaps left by Original Medicare, including copayments and deductibles. They do not, however, cover hearing aids or exams to fit them. Learn more about the different types of Medicare including Medigap and what they cover by reading our blog.

Medicare Advantage plans cover the same things as Original Medicare, and many Medicare Advantage plans will also pay for routine annual hearing exams along with fitting and evaluation for hearing aids, and hearing aid allowance. Coverage does vary by plan, so check to see if the plan you’re interested in offers the hearing coverage you need.

ApexHealth’s Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing services. Check out our plans and see which one works best for you. We want to help you make the most of your care with ApexExtras, designed to help you get more out of life, including a hearing aid allowance –  no matter which plan you choose. Also, our ApexAssistants are here to help make health care easy, including helping you make the most of these extras.

If you have any questions about Medicare coverage of hearing exams and hearing aids or questions about Medicare in general, feel free to reach out. Give us a call at (844) 279-0508 (TTY: 711) to speak with a licensed representative or an ApexAssistant. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (local time) from Apr. 1 through Sept. 30 and seven days a week 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (local time) from Oct. 1 through Mar. 31.

**The information presented is accurate as of August 22, 2022 and may change at a future date.

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