Does Medicaid Cover Hearing Aids?

If you’re having trouble getting coverage through original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicaid is an effective way to improve your hearing health in many states. However, because the federal government only mandates hearing aid coverage for those under 21, it’s important for seniors to understand local laws.

Below, we outline how Medicaid works across the states, so you can find the best financial assistance option for your new hearing aids.

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Are Hearing Aids Covered By Medicaid?

There are three primary factors that determine your access to Medicaid coverage for hearing aids: your age, income and your state of residence. Each state has a unique income limit that caps who qualifies for Medicaid, usually based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), household size, and other state policies.

Additionally, the federal government mandates coverage for children, but adult coverage is left to the states, meaning the options available in Rhode Island differ from those in neighboring Massachusetts. More specifically, states decide what optional benefits to offer, how generous they are, and what limitations or prior authorizations apply.

Children’s Coverage Under EPSDT

For those under 21, federal law requires that every state’s Medicaid program cover medically necessary hearing aids (as determined by a licensed audiologist). This benefit, called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT), is designed to detect and treat health issues early in a child’s life. Because hearing aids fall within that mandate, finding coverage within this age range shouldn’t be an issue.

Adult Coverage Varies by State

Once a beneficiary turns 21, hearing aid coverage is considered an optional benefit under federal Medicaid law. At that point, states decide what optional benefits to offer, how generous they are, and what limitations or prior authorizations apply. For instance, a state like Tennessee offers little to no hearing aid coverage for adults beyond diagnostic hearing exams, meaning you’ll need to pay most costs out-of-pocket. Other states, like Minnesota, have Medicaid programs that help cover the cost of adult hearing aids.

We’ll dive into specific Medicaid rules by state later, but for the most part, your best resource is your state Medicaid agency’s contact information, available on Medicaid.gov.

Dual Eligibility With Medicare

Many seniors are dual-eligible, meaning they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Because most Medicare plans exclude hearing aids, Medicaid coverage can fill the gap for those with eligible incomes. However, coordination between the two programs can be complex, so it’s worth speaking directly with your state Medicaid office to understand the bigger picture.

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Medicaid Hearing Aid Coverage By State

Of the 50 states, approximately 31 (plus Washington, D.C.) require Medicaid to help adults cover the cost of hearing aids. The remaining 19 do not require their Medicaid program to cover hearing aids for adults.

Even in states with coverage, like Missouri or Utah, pregnant women or seniors in nursing homes may be prioritized rather than all adults. Laws also change frequently, as states like Washington just recently changed their law to cover adult hearing aids and cochlear implants. Our table below outlines some basic trends, but you should visit your state’s Medicaid website for more insights.

State	Adults Covered	PA Requirement	Limits & Frequency	Where to Verify
Alabama	No	No	One hearing screening every calendar year (children ages 5–21)	Alabama Medicaid Agency
Alaska	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid per ear every three calendar years	Alaska Medicaid
Arizona	No	Sometimes	Hearing aid replacements every three years (children under 21)	AHCCCS
Arkansas	No	No	Up to two hearing aids per beneficiary every six months (children under 21)	Arkansas Medicaid
California	Yes	Yes	Annual dollar cap per person (aids, earmolds, supplies, repairs, up to six fitting visits)	Medi-Cal (DHCS)
Colorado	No	Sometimes	New hearing aid replacements every three to five years (children under 21)	Health First Colorado
Connecticut	Yes	Yes	One pair every three years, repairs, and batteries	HUSKY Health
District of Columbia	No	Yes	No hard cap, with coverage based on medical necessity	DC Medicaid (DHCF)
Delaware	No	Yes	Hearing exams, hearing aids, replacements, and accessories based on medical necessity (children under 21)	Delaware Medicaid
Florida	Yes	Yes	One new, non-refurbished hearing aid device per ear every three years per eligible recipient	Florida Medicaid (AHCA)
Georgia	No	No	Up to $3,000 per ear every 48 months (children under 21)	Georgia Medicaid
Hawaii	Yes	Yes	New hearing aids every three years (36 months) per ear-impaired side	Med-QUEST
Idaho	No	No	Limited coverage for a minimum documented hearing loss of at least 30 decibels (children under 21)	Idaho Medicaid
Illinois	Yes	Yes	Coverage limits are based on medical necessity	Illinois Medicaid (HFS)
Indiana	Yes	Yes	Hearing aid replacements every 5 years, or by medical necessity	Indiana Medicaid
Iowa	Yes	Sometimes	Replacements and repairs are based on medical necessity	Iowa Medicaid
Kansas	Yes	Yes	Semi-annual or annual battery replacements and hearing aid replacements based on medical necessity	KanCare
Kentucky	Yes	Yes	Maximum of $1,200 per ear every 36 months	Kentucky Medicaid
Lousiana	No	Yes	Limited coverage for hearing aids after three years (children under 21)	Louisiana Medicaid
Maine	Yes	Yes	Replacements once per year (children under 21) or once every five years for adults	MaineCare
Maryland	Yes	Yes	Restricts adults to a unilateral hearing aid and replacements once every five years	Maryland Medicaid
Massachusetts	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid per ear every five years, unless given prior approval	MassHealth
Michigan	Yes	Yes	Hearing aid replacements once every five years unless deemed medically necessary	Michigan Medicaid
Minnesota	Yes	Sometimes	One hearing aid or set of binaural aids every five years	Minnesota Medical Assistance
Mississippi	No	Sometimes	Full coverage for children under 21 based on medical necessity	Mississippi Medicaid
Missouri	Yes	Yes	One new hearing aid every four years per participant, based on demographics (If you’re blind, pregnant, or in a nursing home)	MO HealthNet
Montana	Yes	Sometimes	Hearing aid replacements once every five years for prescription models	Montana Healthcare Programs
Nebraska	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid per ear every four years; children under 21 get broader coverage	Nebraska Medicaid
Nevada	Yes	Yes	Hearing aid replacements once every 24 rolling months (two years)	Nevada Medicaid
New Hampshire	Yes	Yes	Adult evaluations are limited to one every two years, while youth under 21 receive services as needed	NH Medicaid
New Jersey	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid for each ear every 24 months, or up to five years in some cases	NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid
New Mexico	No	Yes	One hearing aid per ear every 36 to 60 months (children under 21)	New Mexico Medicaid
New York	Yes	Sometimes	One hearing aid replacement every five years, with more coverage for children under 21	New York Medicaid
North Carolina	No	Yes	Coverage for children under 21 is based on prior authorization	NC Medicaid
North Dakota	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid per ear every three years, with broader coverage for children under 21	ND Medicaid
Ohio	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid every four to five years, depending on the type	Ohio Medicaid
Oklahoma	No	Yes	Coverage based on medical necessity for children under 21	SoonerCare (OHCA)
Oregon	Yes	Yes	Reimbursements every five years for adults, or every three years for those under 21	Oregon Health Plan
Pennsylvania	No	Sometimes	Up to two hearing aids every five years or one replacement per year under certain circumstances (children under 21)	PA Medical Assistance
Rhode Island	Yes	Yes	Hearing aid purchases or replacements once every five years	RI Medicaid (EOHHS)
South Carolina	No	Yes	One hearing aid replacement once every three years (children under 21)	SC Healthy Connections
South Dakota	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid replacement once every three years	SD Medicaid
Tennessee	No	Yes	Hearing aid coverage based on medical necessity for children under 21	TennCare
Texas	Yes	Sometimes	One hearing aid per five-year period; excludes some accessories/earmolds	Texas Medicaid
Utah	No	Yes	Hearing aid coverage based on medical necessity for pregnant women and children under 21	Utah Medicaid
Vermont	Yes	No	One hearing aid per ear every three years or based on medical necessity	Vermont Medicaid (DVHA)
Virginia	No	Yes	One hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear every 24 to 36 months (children under 21)	Virginia Medicaid (DMAS)
Washington	Yes	Sometimes	One hearing aid every five years per ear, with more coverage possible based on medical necessity	Apple Health (HCA)
West Virginia	No	Yes	Only limited coverage for children under 21 based on prior approval	WV Medicaid (BMS)
Wisconsin	Yes	Yes	Hearing aid replacements every five years for adults and every three years for children under 21	BadgerCare Plus/Medicaid
Wyoming	Yes	Yes	One hearing aid per ear every four to five years	Wyoming Medicaid

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Medicaid Hearing Services and Devices Covered

As mentioned, hearing services and devices covered by Medicaid vary by state, income, and age, but tend to focus on what’s deemed medically necessary. For children under 21 specifically, EPSDT requires states to cover necessary hearing evaluations, treatment, hearing aids, replacement batteries and cochlear implants.

Some states extend these benefits to adults. However, adult coverage is more variable and may depend on state-specific eligibility requirements, clinical criteria and prior authorization. Common covered services and devices include:

• Hearing exams and diagnostic evaluations
• Hearing aids
• Custom earmolds
• Hearing aid batteries
• Hearing aid repairs and maintenance
• Replacement parts or hearing aids
• Cochlear implants and related services
• Bone-anchored hearing devices
• Newborn hearing screenings

Medicaid may exclude items that are considered nonmedical or primarily cosmetic, such as premium design upgrades, products like swimming earmolds that are for recreational use, or hearing aid insurance. Always review your state’s current policies before purchasing a device or scheduling services. For an example of how states outline hearing benefits and provider requirements, see the MassHealth Audiologist Manual.

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How to Get Medicaid Hearing Aids

Whether you’ve never applied for Medicaid before, already have a plan, or are dual-eligible with Medicare, there are several steps involved with hearing aid coverage. Here’s what to expect:

1. Confirm your state’s hearing aid benefit. Review hearing aid-related benefits on your state’s Medicaid website. First, verify that the device you’re looking to get is covered, then review age requirements, provider rules, benefit limits and any restrictions.
2. Choose a Medicaid-enrolled provider. By working with a clinic that participates in Medicaid, you can simplify billing and ensure your provider follows the correct coverage and authorization requirements. Contact your state Medicaid agency or health plan for help finding participating providers.
3. Get a hearing test. Schedule a full hearing test with a qualified audiologist at a clinic that accepts Medicaid, if possible. They’ll diagnose and document the type and level of hearing loss you have to determine the best hearing aids for you.
4. Obtain medical necessity documentation. Gather the records you need to support your benefit request, including audiogram results, a diagnosis, the provider’s clinical findings and a recommendation for a specific device. Some states or plans may also require a prescription, medical clearance, or additional documentation.
5. Submit prior authorization, if required. Many states require prior authorization before Medicaid agrees to pay. This involves the provider submitting the hearing test results, medical necessity documentation and details about the recommended hearing aid. Approval is not automatic, and every state is different. 
6. Get fitted for the hearing aid. After approval, the provider will program and fit the device in the clinic. During this appointment, they’ll also inform you how to properly turn the hearing aid on and off, clean it, charge it, replace the batteries, and care for it.

Following this process, it’s a good idea to ask how your Medicaid plan handles future check-ups, adjustments, repairs, lost or damaged devices and replacements. Many states set limits on how often you can receive repairs and replacements, highlighting the importance of hearing aid maintenance.

For help finding state-specific Medicaid information, visit the official Medicaid State Profiles page or contact your state Medicaid agency or managed care plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Medicaid Covering Hearing Aid Costs

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