How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost In 2024? (2024)

Healthy hearing is an important part of your overall well-being; in fact, it may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline as you age, including the development of dementia. Yet, fewer than 30% of adults aged 70 and older with age-related hearing loss—clinically known as presbycusis—who could benefit from hearing aids have never used them[1]Quick Statistics About Hearing. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Accessed 12/30/2021. .

“Hearing loss is severely undertreated,” says Jessica Galatioto, director of audiology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Cost is a common reason for avoiding a hearing evaluation—you can easily shell out thousands of dollars for hearing aids, which aren’t typically covered by Medicare or private insurance plans.

Why do hearing aids cost so much? Here’s what you’re actually paying for when you buy hearing aids, plus ways to make them more affordable.

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How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost in 2024?

The average cost of one hearing aid is approximately $2,000, and most people need one for each ear, says Dave Fabry, Ph.D., chief innovation officer at Starkey, a leading hearing aid manufacturer.

Audiologists usually buy hearing aids from manufacturers at wholesale prices and then set their own prices. Depending on the technology used in the hearing aids, be prepared to shell out $4,000 to $8,000 for a pair.

That fee can sound like a lot, but when you consider what factors into the price tag, it might not seem like such a bad deal.

How Much Do the Different Types of Hearing Aids Cost?

There’s a wide variety in types of hearing aids offered by audiologists today, each presenting unique advantages and disadvantages to individuals based on their hearing health needs. The prices of these hearing aids can also vary dramatically.

In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids Cost

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are typically best suited for people with mild to severe hearing loss. As the name suggests, they fit completely inside the outer part of the ear, and all components are all contained in a hard plastic case. The ReSound LiNX Quattro (MIH), a popular customized ITE hearing aid, costs $3,167 for a single aid.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids Cost

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are typically used by people with mild to profound hearing loss. All components sit in a plastic case behind the ear, which is connected to a disposable plastic ear tip or custom earmold that delivers sound via a piece of clear tubing. Top BTE hearing aids, such as the Widex Moment and Oticon More, range in price from $2,698 to $3,247 per aid.

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids Cost

Designed for people with mild to severe hearing loss, receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids deliver sound through a tiny speaker that rests inside the ear canal with the help of a discreet plastic-encased speaker wire. The Signia Styletto X, a popular RIC hearing aid, costs $2,466 per aid.

In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids Cost

Accommodating people with mild to severe hearing loss, in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are custom-made to sit inside the ear canal and some of the outer part of the ear, and all components live inside a lightweight plastic shell. Starkey sells a variety of ITC hearing aids ranging in cost from $2,500 to $4,900 per aid.

Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids Cost

Completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids are custom-made to sit inside the ear canal and are smaller and less visible than ITC hearing aids. They’re typically designed to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The Phonak Virto M-Titanium, a popular CIC hearing aid, can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $4,000 per aid, depending on selected customizations and bundling services.

Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) Hearing Aids Cost

Lastly, invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aids are the smallest aids available and similar to CIC aids in how they sit deep in the ear canal. The Starkey Picasso, a popular IIC hearing aid, can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $3,100 per aid, depending on selected customizations and bundling services.

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What’s Included in the Cost of Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are typically sold bundled together with professional services, which means everything is included in the sticker price. The price you’re quoted includes the retail price of the hearing aids and the professional audiology services required to fit and program the devices, as well as repair and maintain them for a specified period of time—often two to four years. In some cases, initial diagnostic testing is offered free or included in the bundled price.

“Patients require follow-up visits when they get hearing aids,” says Galatioto. With the bundled service model, you can visit the audiologist as often as you need to fine-tune your hearing aids and the fit, as well as maintain and repair them as needed, at no additional cost. Some providers, however, limit the number of appointments in a given time period.

Hearing aids can also be sold “unbundled”—or without professional services included. “Unbundling” is an emerging trend, especially with proposed regulations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding over-the-counter hearing aids and the possible expansion of Medicare to include coverage for hearing aids and related services. With the unbundled model, you buy the hearing aids separately from any related services.

The unbundled price may also include one or two follow-up office visits, after which you pay out of pocket for each audiology office visit. “With the unbundled service model, there’s less cost upfront, but depending on the number of visits you need, you may pay as much as the bundled service model,” says Galatioto.

“The reality of the cost of hearing aids is that the price to the consumer is confounded by many variables: depth and breadth of the provider services provided to the consumer, the wholesale price to the provider, manufacturer clinic ownership, payer source and provider pricing, and delivery models,” says Kim Cavitt, a Chicago-based audiologist and the owner of owner of Audiology Resources, Inc. “For example, when the consumer purchases hearing aids from an unbundled independent hearing aid or audiology practice, through a third-party network or at some Big Box retailers, the provider services account for 30% to 40% of the total cost. In bundled hearing aid delivery scenarios, the cost of provider services can account for a greater percentage of the total cost,” she says.

Everything starts with an audiogram, which is a hearing test performed by a licensed audiologist. A diagnostic audiogram is typically covered by private health insurance (but check your specific policy for more details). It can help determine if your hearing loss is age-related or caused by a medical condition that requires further follow-up care and treatment.

Devices

At the high end—around $3,000 per hearing aid for bundled services—hearing aids can offer Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone. Through your hearing aids, you can connect to your phone, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom and other conference calls, as well as Netflix, music and other media. Premium hearing aids may also offer machine learning or artificial intelligence, which manufacturers claim helps provide the clearest, crispest sound in any given situation.

These hearing aids may also be small and inconspicuous compared to lower-end models. Starkey’s Invisible (IIC) model, for example, rests deep in the second bend of your ear canal, rendering the hearing aid practically invisible. “These tinier devices have to be custom made for patients to the specifications of the ear canal,” says Galatioto. Premium hearing aids also feature rechargeable batteries, which can offer up to 30 hours of continuous use before requiring recharging (typically done at night).

At the other end of the spectrum, hearing aids at introductory price points cost around $1,000 to $1,700 per hearing aid. These hearing aids typically offer simpler technology with fewer algorithms and channels to control and amplify sound and respond to noisy situations. They are not only more affordable, but also easier to learn how to use and may suffice for your listening needs.

Meanwhile, big-box retailers like Costco offer particularly low prices on hearing aids. Premium hearing aids can cost as little as $700 per ear at these stores.

Fittings

Included in the bundled service model is the fitting, which involves physically fitting a hearing device or component of the device to the patient’s ear. Depending on the hearing device you choose, a physical mold of your ear may be necessary.

A fitting also includes importing the results of your audiogram into the device’s software and programming the hearing aid for your unique hearing ability and the specific acoustics of your ears. “Every patient’s ear is different, and every patient’s sound tolerance is different,” says Galatioto. Programming hearing aids is a process of verification and validation—measuring the sound amplified by the hearing aid before it reaches the ear canal and quantifying the number of decibels patients hear.

“And sometimes patients have to build up a tolerance for wearing a hearing aid,” says Galatioto. “The way we fit them on day one may not be the way we fit them one month out.”

Be prepared to test your hearing aids in the real world and visit your audiologist several times until you can hear well in situations like eating with friends in noisy restaurants. “Sometimes it takes two or three troubleshooting follow-up appointments to get the sound right,” says Brian R. Earl, Ph.D., director of EARLAB at the University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences.

Other Services

Hearing aids can fill up with moisture and wax, and audiologists can perform professional cleanings with supersonic cleaners and vacuums. Professional maintenance checkups every six months are often included in the bundled price to keep your hearing aids running smoothly, too.

Warranties

A one- to three-year warranty specified by the manufacturer to cover the cost of repairs is typically included in the bundled price, and full replacements usually cost a certain amount per device and can only occur at that rate once. “Hearing aids are machines, and they will break if they’re used throughout all waking hours, which is recommended,” says Galatioto.

When the warranty coverage ends, you can pay to extend it, but that can be expensive. If something breaks after the standard warranty expires, you can also simply pay to have it repaired, as the repair will include a new warranty.

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Hearing Aid Research and Development

Research and development drives much of the cost of hearing aids. “Hearing, hearing loss, speech recognition and how the brain interprets and processes sound is not simple,” says Stephen DeMari, an audiologist and director of business development and education at CaptionCall, a no-cost captioning service for people with hearing loss who need captions to use the phone effectively. Research is ongoing to improve these small but powerful, customized medical devices to mimic natural hearing.

Still, the hearing aid market is quite small compared to, say, consumer electronics. Roughly 4.73 million hearing aids were sold in the U.S. in 2021, according to The Hearing Review[2]US Hearing Aid Sales Increase by 37% in 2021. Hearing Review. Accessed 1/24/2022. . Meanwhile, 37.5 million adults in the U.S. report some trouble hearing[3]Quick Statistics About Hearing. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Accessed 12/30/2021. . The costs of research, development and manufacturing are all being supported entirely by that small customer base.

“We all want these products to be more affordable,” says DeMari. Start by contacting your health insurance carrier to determine whether hearing aids are covered in your plan. Consider buying refurbished models and ask your audiology provider if a payment plan is available. And though the sticker price may be a shocker, it could add up to a good value. If you pay $5,000 for hearing aids and they last at least eight years, that’s $625 a year—or $52 a month—to hear well and live a full, healthy life.

Why Are Hearing Aids So Expensive?

Numerous factors contribute to the high cost of hearing aids, including:

  • Constant research and development for product and technology innovation
  • The bundled services model, which makes the cost of the devices themselves appear inflated
  • High markups on hearing aid products from the manufacturers themselves
  • Limited insurance coverage options

How to Save Money on Hearing Aids

The best hearing aids for you come with proper hearing health support at a price that works for your budget. While discount options can sometimes restrict the amount of services you can receive from an audiologist for your chosen hearing aids or limit warranty options at your disposal, there are a few ways to save on this health expense.

  • Ask your hearing health provider about your options regarding unbundling their services so you can pay for only what you need.
  • Use your health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA) to pay for your hearing aids with pre-tax income.
  • Visit your local wholesale club like Costco to see what hearing aid options they provide (often at a discounted price compared to other retailers and audiology offices).
  • Opt for a more basic hearing aid model with fewer advanced technology features.
  • Explore Medicare Part C plans (if you’re eligible), as they’re one of the few types of insurance plans that offer some coverage for hearing aid costs.
  • Consider over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. The FDA published its final rule establishing a new over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids category in August 2022, and it’s slated to take effect in mid-October. OTC hearing aids will likely be more affordable and accessible than most other FDA-approved hearing aids on the market right now.

Why Should You Buy Hearing Aids?

Only one in five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America, but hearing health is a critical component of overall health and well-being. If left untreated, hearing loss can lead to an increase in cognitive decline, as well as exacerbate social isolation. Over time, both of these factors can contribute to dementia risk. Integrating hearing aids into your wellness plan is one of the easiest ways to mitigate these risks and continue living a balanced, fulfilling life.

How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost In 2024? (2024)
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