The short version
Original Medicare Parts A and B do not cover hearing aids. Medicare Advantage often does, but the details vary a lot. Louisiana Medicaid covers hearing aids for kids under 21. The VA covers eligible veterans at 100 percent. Louisiana workers comp covers job-caused hearing loss. Private insurance sometimes covers hearing aids and often does not.
The best thing you can do is let us verify your specific plan before you pay for anything. We do it for free. Call 337-223-9448 or book a benefits check online.
1. Original Medicare (Parts A and B): does not cover hearing aids
If you are on Original Medicare, hearing aids are not a covered benefit. This has been the rule since Medicare started in 1965 and Congress has not changed it, even though there have been proposals over the years.
Original Medicare does cover a diagnostic hearing test when a doctor orders one to investigate a medical problem, like sudden hearing loss or an ear infection. It does not cover the yearly checkup type of hearing test.
What this means for you: if you have Original Medicare and no supplement plan with a hearing benefit, the devices themselves are out of pocket. That said, you have other options below.
2. Medicare Advantage (Part C): often covers hearing aids
Medicare Advantage plans are the private insurance version of Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage plans available in Louisiana include a hearing aid benefit. Common carriers we see at ACI include Humana Gold Plus, Peoples Health, Vantage Health Plan, LSU FirstChoice, Wellcare, and Aetna Medicare Advantage.
The benefit varies a lot. Common structures:
- Flat allowance every 2 or 3 years (like $1,500 or $2,500 per pair)
- Fixed copay per device tier (like $699 for basic, $1,199 for mid, $2,199 for premium)
- Discount through a hearing benefit network like TruHearing, NationsHearing, or EPIC
- Percent coverage of the total (like 50 percent up to a cap)
The only way to know your specific plan's benefit is to verify. We do this for free before every fitting. See our full Medicare Advantage hearing aid coverage in Louisiana guide for a carrier-by-carrier breakdown.
3. Louisiana Medicaid: covers kids under 21
Louisiana Medicaid covers hearing aids for children under age 21 through EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment). This includes the hearing test, the devices, the fitting, and ongoing followups.
Adult hearing aid coverage under standard Louisiana Medicaid is limited. Adults with a disability that includes hearing loss may qualify for coverage through Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) if the hearing loss affects their ability to work.
If you are a Louisiana parent looking into hearing aids for your child on Medicaid, call us. We handle pediatric Medicaid billing regularly.
4. VA benefits: 100 percent covered for eligible veterans
The VA covers hearing aids and hearing tests at 100 percent for eligible veterans. To qualify you need to be enrolled in VA health care and either have a service-connected hearing condition or meet other VA eligibility rules.
Hearing aids are dispensed through VA audiology clinics (Alexandria, New Orleans, and Shreveport are the closest to Lafayette) or through the VA Community Care Network for veterans who cannot easily reach a VA clinic.
Important: ACI Hearing does not currently participate in VA Community Care. If you are a veteran with VA benefits, start with your VA audiology clinic. If you want a second opinion or private care outside your VA benefit, we are here for that.
5. Louisiana workers compensation: covers job-caused hearing loss
Louisiana workers compensation covers hearing aids when the hearing loss was caused by workplace noise exposure. This is a common path to coverage in Louisiana for:
- Oilfield workers and offshore roughnecks
- Chemical plant and refinery workers in the Baton Rouge to Lake Charles corridor
- Shipyard workers
- Sugar mill and rice mill workers
- Longtime factory workers
You need three things: an audiologic evaluation that documents the hearing loss, a treating physician who links the loss to workplace noise exposure, and an approved workers comp claim.
ACI Hearing handles workers comp cases for Louisiana employers regularly. See our workers compensation hearing loss page for the full process.
6. Private insurance: coverage varies wildly
For private insurance in Louisiana (BCBS Louisiana, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana commercial, Peoples Health commercial, Tricare, and others), hearing aid coverage varies plan by plan.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
Some BCBS Louisiana employer plans include a hearing aid benefit with a flat allowance every 3 to 5 years. Many do not. Federal Employees Program (FEP) Blue plans have their own rules. State of Louisiana employees on Office of Group Benefits BCBS plans have partial coverage that varies by tier.
United Healthcare
Most UHC commercial plans do not include hearing aids as a covered medical benefit but may route you through UnitedHealthcare Hearing (their in-house discount program). UHC Medicare Advantage plans usually include hearing aid coverage.
Aetna, Cigna, and Humana Commercial
Coverage varies plan by plan. Most commercial plans do not include hearing aids but may offer a discount program through a partner network like Amplifon or TruHearing.
Tricare (military family coverage)
Tricare covers hearing aids for active duty family members and retirees under specific rules. The Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) also covers hearing aids for eligible dependents with disabilities. Verify your specific Tricare plan.
Bottom line on private insurance: we verify every plan before we quote. Do not assume you have coverage. Do not assume you do not. Call us and we will find out for free.
Hearing benefit networks (TruHearing, NationsHearing, EPIC, Amplifon)
Many insurance carriers and Medicare Advantage plans use a hearing benefit administrator to deliver their hearing aid benefit. The most common in Louisiana are TruHearing, NationsHearing, EPIC Hearing, and Amplifon.
Under these programs, you pay a discounted flat price for hearing aids at network audiology clinics. The devices are the same major brands (Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Starkey, Signia) but priced through the network.
ACI Hearing Center is a TruHearing network provider. If your plan uses TruHearing, we can quote your covered price during your benefits verification.
What if insurance does not cover my hearing aids?
You still have options:
- HSA and FSA: both cover hearing aids as qualified medical expenses. See our HSA and FSA hearing aid guide for the December 31 FSA deadline and timing tips.
- CareCredit: healthcare-specific financing with 0 percent interest promo periods on qualifying purchases. See our financing page.
- PowerPay: longer-term financing option for treatment plans.
- Section 125 cafeteria plan: some employer benefit plans let you set aside pre-tax dollars for hearing aids.
- Charitable programs: Sertoma, Lions Club, and Miracle-Ear Foundation offer help for qualifying low-income patients. Louisiana Foundation for the Deaf (LFD) also has resources.
How much can insurance actually save you at ACI?
Our standard treatment plan is $4,500 to $7,500 per pair. That includes premium prescription hearing aids, the full fitting series, follow-ups for the life of the devices, and a 60-day trial period.
Real savings by coverage type:
- VA (eligible veterans): $0 out of pocket, through VA channels
- Louisiana workers comp (approved claims): $0 out of pocket at ACI
- Louisiana Medicaid (kids under 21): $0 or minimal copay at ACI
- Medicare Advantage with good hearing benefit: out of pocket $500 to $2,000 per pair typical
- Medicare Advantage with basic hearing benefit: out of pocket $2,000 to $4,000 per pair typical
- Private insurance with hearing aid rider: $500 to $2,500 savings on the pair
- TruHearing or hearing benefit network: $2,000 to $3,000 typical savings
- No hearing aid coverage: full price, but HSA/FSA/CareCredit still apply
The only way to know your specific number is to verify. We do this every day for Lafayette patients and it takes about 15 minutes.
Book a free benefits verification
Bring your insurance card, your Medicare card if you have one, and any hearing aid discount plan card. We verify your benefits at no charge and no obligation. If you decide to move forward with a fitting, you already know your real out-of-pocket number.
Call 337-223-9448 or book online. We are at 103 Saint Thomas Street in Lafayette.
Related pages: insurance carriers we accept, Medicare Advantage in Louisiana, HSA and FSA for hearing aids, CareCredit and PowerPay financing, brands and technology levels.