When I got my first pair of hearing aids, I spent hours searching the internet, feeling I was missing something. How was it possible that I couldn’t find actual prices anywhere?
While I don’t have a perfect pricing answer for you, I can share the results of hundreds of hours of research and data crunching.
Keep scrolling for the full hearing price comparison chart or check out my YouTube video on the topic below 👇.
A few terms to know:
- Local provider care: Products in this category are fitted by a local professional who tests your hearing and programs your devices.
- Discount network price: Large networks of audiologists offer lower prices as a part of a deal with a discount network like ZipHearing.
- Telehealthcare: Hearing aids are mailed to your home after being professionally programmed to match your hearing loss.
- Over-the-counter: No professional is involved, typically programmed by you using a smartphone.
- Hearing aid amplifiers: Lower quality products that amplify all sounds regardless of your hearing loss type.
Prefer to Watch? 👇
Hearing Aid Price Chart
We've gathered prices from industry research groups (like HearingTracker and Marketrak) along with retailers and over-the-counter brands. Here's a quick look at some of the top brands and products on the market.
What Drives Hearing Aid Prices
To understand hearing aid prices, you need to know about two major factors: technology and care.
Technology
Just like cars, phones or TVs, certain devices come with more features like Bluetooth and rechargeable batteries. Some premium devices include built-in artificial intelligence (our guide on that here). Many brands offer multiple technology levels within the same product family. Think of this like cars which offer a base model and an upgraded model with leather seats.
Read more about technology levels here.
Of course, technology is just one half of the story.
Care Type
The care model you choose (prescription, OTC, big box retail or Telehealth) could have an even bigger impact on price than the underlying technology in your hearing aids. In today's market you have three care options.
Model #1 - Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids (new but growing quickly)
In October 2022, the FDA opened a new category of hearing aids sold over the counter. OTC hearing aids typically come with clear prices ranging from $199 to $1,299 per pair.
Model #2 - Prescription Hearing Aids With Telehealth (Growing but still less common)
The post-pandemic move to remote healthcare increased the popularity of Telehealth hearing aid programming and care. Brands like Jabra and Audicus sell online and provide care through video calls and SMS. Prices for this category are readily available and range from $1,000 - $3,500 per pair.
Model #3 - Face-to-Face Prescription Care (Most common)
Most hearing aid wearers visit a local audiologist, take a hearing test and purchase hearing aids through that local clinic. This option offers hands-on support with significantly higher prices. Most locally prescribed hearing aids come with 1-3 years of unlimited support and adjustments from a hearing professional. You're paying for the technology + the time. Additionally, clinic owners have lots of overhead from rent to receptionists and internet bills. Each of those costs gets passed on to the consumer.
Why are prices for local care so hard to pin down?
Like car dealerships, the manufacturers don’t set the final price for hearing aids sold in a local clinic. They sell their hearing aids to audiologists, who then price them independently. Ultimately, this means that prices (along with what’s included) vary by provider and location.
Pre-negotiated prices are one way around this challenge (more on that below).
Most local hearing clinics do not charge for initial consultations and build their service fee into the hearing aid cost. A typical pair of hearing aids sold locally at your audiologist might include:
- Initial consultation
- A hearing test (sometimes billed separately)
- Device programming to match your hearing loss
- Up to 3 years of follow-up appointments and cleanings
- Extra batteries or accessories
Pre-negotiated versus standard prices
Have you heard of pre-negotiated rates? It's a pretty important concept to understand when it comes to buying prescription hearing aids these days.
Basically, there are two main ways to buy hearing aids - you can either walk into a local clinic and purchase them there, or you can work with a health network that pre-negotiates the price for you. The second option is usually less expensive and doesn't include as much bundled care.
Care Network Vs. Walk-In Prices
“Walk-in” prices
When you contact a local audiologist to book an appointment, they will probably offer you a full-service package at "walk-in" prices. This package typically includes 2-3 years of follow-up appointments and maintenance services. The cost of all of these services is usually combined into one price, which is typically around $6,500 for a pair of hearing aids.
Pre-negotiated prices
If you're on a budget, one option to consider is working with a health network to access pre-negotiated rates for hearing aids. Several emerging health networks have agreements with leading brands like Phonak, Widex, Starkey, Signia, ReSound, and Oticon to offer lower prices.
These health networks leverage the collective buying power of their thousands of customers to negotiate a flat rate with local providers, many of which are the same providers you would find on your own. While the service from these providers may include fewer free follow-up appointments, customers can save around 25%-40% upfront. So, for a pair of hearing aids, you might expect to pay around $4,000.
Use these pages to compare up-to-date prices: 👇
How much should I pay for hearing aids?
When it comes to buying hearing aids, it's a personal healthcare decision, and there's no one right way to make it. Here are some starting points:
- If you have severe hearing loss or an audiogram that isn't shaped with a traditional downslope, it's best to see a local audiologist who can work with you on a customized care plan. You can also compare products to lock in a pre-negotiated price.
- For traditional age-related hearing loss that slopes down and to the right, and if you're looking for cost savings, you could try Jabra Enhance Select or Bose (get a pair for $999). Both brands have an excellent return policy.
- Ultimately if price is less of an issue for you, use a local clinic database to find someone with good reviews in your area. If you want to get a price before you visit, ask for a quote on a specific product over the phone.
Assistance Programs
When it comes to paying for hearing aids, it's important to consider insurance, VA benefits, and nonprofit support. Unfortunately, most insurance providers in the US do not cover hearing aids. However, there are options for financial aid available to those who qualify. You can research these options using the links provided below.
If you are a veteran, you may be eligible to access hearing aids through the VA health benefits program. More information on this program and instructions for signing up can be found at the provided link.
VA Health Benefits
As a veteran, you have the option to enroll in VA health benefits, which includes access to hearing aids. You can find more information on how to sign up for this program by following this link.
Local Non-Profit Organizations and Government Support
There are numerous local organizations throughout the United States that offer financial assistance for hearing aids. These organizations range from hearing aid providers to local Lions Clubs and nonprofits. To find these programs, The Hearing Aid Project offers an excellent resource. Additionally, The Hearing Aid Project accepts donated hearing aids that are refurbished and distributed back to the community. (FYI: Check out The Hearing Aid Project’s PDF research guide right here).
Financing Directly Through a Hearing Aid Provider
It is important to note that some hearing aid providers, such as Eargo and Audicus, offer payment plans that allow customers to spread out the cost of their hearing aids over time.
Final Thoughts
We hope you've found this guide useful in your search for the right pair of hearing aids (and the right care model). You might also enjoy our beginners guide to hearing aids where we cover everything from style to technology level and more.
If you have questions or comments feel free to reach out at hello@soundly.com.
Frequently asked questions
We've tested dozens of hearing aids, and typically find that the break-point for quality is around $700 / pair. Most products under that price are not meaningfully helpful or have major issues with background noise. If you have a common hearing loss in the mild-moderate range, an OTC product from Bose or Sony could be a great option (many people swear by these brands). If you want a more affordable device with prescription programming, we suggest Jabra Enhance Select.
These hearing aids aren't perfect, but they give you maybe 80% of the benefit for 25%-50% of the cost.
Good hearing aids are a significant investment, and prices can vary widely based on the brand and model of care.
Prescription devices purchased at a local office are typically the most expensive because they often include 2-3 years of bundled service and follow-up appointments. Your purchase includes overhead and time. Most prescription hearing aids come with three years of follow-up appointments, cleanings, and support.
Telehealth options like Jabra Enhance Select still include three years of bundled services but are less expensive because Telehealth overhead is lower.
OTC devices are the least expensive because they do not involve bundled services. Quality OTC hearing aids come with free customer service but less built-in time from a doctor.
Some insurance policies cover hearing tests, but the majority of policies do not cover hearing aid devices. It's a good idea to call your insurance company to double-check on this. Read our full guide on the topic here.
Original Medicare does not cover hearing aid costs. It does cover hearing tests in many cases. One option is to get a covered hearing test locally and use it to find a good option online for less. Some Medicare Advantage plans do cover hearing aids. Read our full guide on Medicare and hearing aids.
This is an important (and slightly complex) topic. Most prescription hearing aids come in a few different technology levels. The "economy option" typically has fewer bells and whistles, and the premium option has more. In general, "economy options" are still very credible and achieve significant benefits. Read our full guide to technology levels here.
