Right now, a Medicare beneficiary faces the sad paradox of being able to see an audiologist to be diagnosed with hearing loss but not to receive hearing aids or any related treatment services. Common-sense and fiscally-sustainable Medicare hearing care benefits would directly help seniors with hearing loss.

Read Cochlear Center opinion pieces, media coverage, and policy briefs on Medicare expansion for hearing care and hearing aids.

Opinion Pieces and Media Coverage:

• JHU Hub, Nov 15, 2021:  "Hearing Aid Coverage Could Be 'Transformational'" 
• ASA/Generations, Nov 9, 2021:  "Are We Headed Toward A More Comprehensive Hearing Care System?"
• JAMA Health Forum, Nov 5, 2021: "Changes to Medicare Policy Needed to Address Hearing Loss"
• Health Affairs, Oct 8, 2021: "Dementia Policy Is A National Priority. That’s Why Congress Needs To Expand Medicare To Cover Hearing Aids"
• The New York Times, Aug 30, 2021: "Will Hearing Aids Ever Be Hip?"
• Stat News First Opinion, Aug 6, 2021: "Making hearing aids affordable isn’t enough. Older adults also need hearing care services"
• JAMA Viewpoint, Oct 2019: Hearing Care Access? Focus on Clinical Services, Not Devices

Policy Briefs:

• Policy Brief: "Medicare Coverage for Hearing Treatment: Inadequate and Ready for Improvement"
• Policy Brief: "Effective Legislative Proposals for Medicare Hearing Care Coverage: Hearing Care Services Are Essential, Hearing Aids Are Optional"
• Policy Brief: "The Over-The-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017:  Increasing the Accessibility and Affordability of Hearing Aids in the U.S."
• Graphic Narrative (comic): "What Do You Mean Medicare Doesn't Cover Hearing Aids?"

 

 

 

 

Updated April 27, 2022