The short version
There are six ways patients pay for hearing aid treatment plans at ACI Hearing Center. Most patients combine two or three of them. Our team runs a free benefits verification before your fitting appointment so you know exactly what your out-of-pocket cost will be.
- Medicare Advantage hearing aid benefit (allowance or network like TruHearing)
- Louisiana Medicaid for children under 21 and adults with medical necessity
- VA benefits for eligible veterans (no cost, full coverage)
- Louisiana workers compensation for workplace noise-induced hearing loss
- HSA/FSA funds as a qualified medical expense
- Direct pay with CareCredit or PowerPay financing (0% APR promotional terms available)
Treatment plan pricing at ACI runs $4,500 to $7,500 per pair. Includes evaluation, fitting, follow-ups for the life of the devices, batteries or charging accessories, and a 60-day trial. All prescription hearing aid brands we fit (Signia, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Starkey) fall in the same price range. You are paying for the technology tier, not the brand.
Payment paths at a glance
Six paths, side by side. If you are not sure which fits your situation, our free benefits verification call sorts it out for you.
| Payment path | Who qualifies | Typical coverage | Where to learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage | Adults enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) | Varies by plan. Allowance of $500 to $3,000 per ear is common, or a hearing benefit network copay ($699 to $2,399 per device via TruHearing) | Medicare Advantage hearing aid coverage in Louisiana |
| Louisiana Medicaid | Children under 21 (EPSDT benefit) and adults with documented medical necessity | Full coverage for children. Adult coverage requires prior authorization and medical necessity documentation | Louisiana hearing aid insurance coverage explained |
| VA benefits | Eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare | Full coverage at no cost for enrolled veterans. Community Care option available for VA-authorized visits to ACI | See Path 3 below for the full explanation. A dedicated VA benefits page is in the queue. |
| Louisiana workers comp | Workers with documented workplace noise-induced hearing loss | Full coverage of evaluation, hearing aids, and follow-up under an accepted workers comp claim | See Path 4 below for the full explanation. Details are also in our Louisiana insurance coverage guide. |
| HSA/FSA | Anyone with an active HSA or FSA account | Full use of HSA/FSA funds as a qualified medical expense (hearing aids, batteries, audiologist fees all covered) | HSA and FSA hearing aid guide |
| Direct pay with financing | Any patient without insurance coverage or preferring flexible payments | CareCredit or PowerPay financing with 0% APR promotional terms (12 to 24 months, subject to credit approval) | Treatment plans and pricing at ACI |
Path 1: Medicare Advantage
If you are 65 or older, or if you qualify for Medicare through disability, and you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) instead of staying on Original Medicare, your plan may include a hearing aid benefit. This is different from Original Medicare Part B, which does not cover hearing aids at all.
Louisiana Medicare Advantage plans typically deliver the hearing benefit one of two ways:
- Allowance. Your plan gives you a set dollar amount to spend on hearing aids (usually $500 to $3,000 per ear, per benefit period). You pay the difference between the allowance and the treatment plan price.
- Hearing benefit network. Your plan sends you to a specific network like TruHearing where you pay a fixed copay ($699 to $2,399 per device) for a limited menu of hearing aid models. ACI Hearing Center is a TruHearing provider.
The Louisiana Medicare Advantage plans we work with most often include Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Peoples Health, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. Every plan is different. Read our Medicare Advantage hearing aid coverage in Louisiana guide for what your specific plan covers.
Path 2: Louisiana Medicaid
Louisiana Medicaid covers hearing aids for two groups:
- Children under age 21. Full coverage under the EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) benefit. This covers evaluation, hearing aids, follow-up, and replacement as clinically indicated.
- Adults with documented medical necessity. Coverage requires prior authorization and medical necessity documentation. Not every adult on Louisiana Medicaid qualifies. Our team helps navigate the paperwork.
Louisiana Medicaid managed care organizations we work with include Aetna Better Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and United Healthcare Community Plan. Read our Louisiana hearing aid insurance coverage explained guide for the Medicaid-specific details.
Path 3: VA benefits
Enrolled veterans get hearing aids at no cost through VA healthcare. The VA covers the full evaluation, hearing aids, batteries, and follow-up care. Coverage is broad and includes flagship-tier hearing aid platforms.
There are two ways Lafayette veterans access hearing care:
- VA facility. The Alexandria VA (Fort Polk) audiology clinic is the closest VA hearing care location for most Lafayette veterans.
- VA Community Care. If the VA cannot see you in a reasonable time or distance, the VA authorizes you to see a community audiologist like ACI. Coverage is the same at no cost to you.
Community Care authorization is not automatic. It has to be initiated through the VA. Our team walks eligible veterans through the process.
Path 4: Louisiana workers compensation
If your hearing loss is caused by workplace noise exposure and you have an accepted Louisiana workers compensation claim, workers comp covers the full cost of evaluation, hearing aids, and follow-up care. Common industries in Acadiana that generate hearing loss workers comp claims: offshore oil and gas, industrial construction, manufacturing, transportation.
You need a physician referral and workers comp claim documentation before ACI can bill workers comp. If you are not sure whether your hearing loss qualifies, call us at 337-223-9448 and our team will walk you through the process.
Path 5: HSA and FSA funds
Hearing aids are a qualified medical expense under IRS rules. If you have an HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) through your employer, you can use those funds to pay for hearing aids, batteries, and audiologist fees.
Two things to know:
- FSA funds are use-it-or-lose-it. Most FSAs zero out at the end of the plan year (usually December 31). If you have unused FSA money in Q4, hearing aids are one of the highest-value ways to spend it. Do not wait until December 30.
- HSA funds roll over. Unlike an FSA, HSA money you do not use this year stays in your account and keeps growing. HSA funds can also be combined with insurance benefits or financing.
Read our HSA and FSA hearing aid guide for the full breakdown including which forms you need for reimbursement.
Path 6: Direct pay with CareCredit or PowerPay financing
Most patients who do not have insurance coverage (or whose coverage is limited) pay for their treatment plan directly and finance the balance. ACI works with two financing partners:
- CareCredit. Healthcare-specific financing with promotional 0% APR terms (typically 12 to 24 months). Subject to credit approval.
- PowerPay. Similar 0% APR promotional terms. Subject to credit approval.
Financing pairs well with HSA/FSA funds and can also be combined with a Medicare Advantage allowance to cover the balance above the allowance. ACI does not offer Cherry as a financing option.
What happens at the free benefits verification call
Before your fitting appointment, our team calls your insurance carrier on your behalf to verify:
- Whether your plan includes a hearing aid benefit
- How much of an allowance you have (if applicable)
- Which network you are in (TruHearing, direct, other)
- What prior authorization the plan requires
- What your out-of-pocket cost will be for the treatment plan you need
The verification call is free. It typically takes 15 minutes on our end. Nothing gets charged to your insurance and you have no financial obligation until you complete a fitting and choose to keep your hearing aids.
Book your free benefits verification: call 337-223-9448 or use our online appointment scheduler.
Ready to figure out your payment path?
Call 337-223-9448 or book your free benefits verification online. Our team handles the paperwork so you know your real cost before you commit.
Book online or call 337-223-9448
About the reviewer
This guide was written and reviewed by Kimberly L. Allred, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology and owner of ACI Hearing Center in Lafayette Louisiana. Kimberly has been practicing audiology in Acadiana since 1984 and directly supervises benefits verification for every ACI patient. Content is reviewed monthly against Medicare Advantage plan updates, Louisiana Medicaid policy changes, and VA Community Care program updates.
ACI Hearing Center is located at 103 Saint Thomas Street, Lafayette LA 70506. Call 337-223-9448 or 337-235-6601.