This calculator gives estimates for education and planning. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; for decisions about your own situation, talk to a qualified financial professional.
Hearing aids are expensive, but they last several years and make a big difference in daily life. Seeing the cost per year or per day, after insurance and with batteries and care included, makes the decision easier to weigh. This calculator works out the out-of-pocket cost, the cost per year and per day, and the total over the years ahead.
How the calculation works
- Out-of-pocket per pair = price of the pair − insurance contribution
- Cost per year = out-of-pocket ÷ years you keep them + batteries, domes and cleaning
- Cost per day = cost per year ÷ 365
- Total over the period = cost per year × years
A $4,000 pair of hearing aids with $1,000 from insurance costs $3,000 out of pocket. Kept 5 years, with $100 a year of batteries, domes and cleaning, it comes to about $700 a year, or $1.92 a day. Over 20 years, plan for about $14,000 of hearing care.
Typical prices
| Type | Price for a pair |
|---|---|
| Over-the-counter (OTC) | $200 to $1,500 |
| Basic prescription | $2,000 to $3,500 |
| Mid-range prescription | $3,500 to $5,000 |
| Premium prescription | $5,000 to $8,000 |
Prescription hearing aids from an audiologist are usually bundled with the fitting, adjustments and follow-up visits. OTC hearing aids, available without a prescription since 2022, suit adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and cost far less, but you fit them yourself.
Paying for them
- Traditional Medicare does not cover hearing aids, but many Medicare Advantage plans include an allowance.
- Some employer plans, the VA for veterans, and state programs help.
- FSA and HSA funds can be used.
- Ask whether the price is bundled or unbundled: unbundled is cheaper up front, but each visit is billed.
Making them last
- Clean them daily and store them dry; a drying box helps.
- Rechargeable models avoid buying batteries, but the battery wears out after a few years.
- Have a hearing test every year or two: hearing changes, and the aids can be reprogrammed.
- Untreated hearing loss is linked to isolation and faster cognitive decline, so cost per day is worth weighing against those risks.