Medical treatment for hearing loss and similar hearing-related issues can be costly. Whether you need hearing aids or even surgery, you’ll want to make sure that your health insurance covers it. So, what kind of hearing covering can you expect with Medicare? Does Original Medicare cover any of the costs? If not, does Medicare Advantage provide some coverage? We will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s look at hearing coverage across Medicare Parts A, B, and C.
Medicare Part A does not cover regular hearing exams or devices like hearing aids. More often than not, you will be expected to pay 100% of the costs of your hearing treatment with Part A. However, there are some exceptions. If you require a hearing exam or related care as part of inpatient treatment at a hospital, Medicare Part A will cover the cost. For Part A to provide coverage, your doctor must determine that the hearing exam or care is medically necessary as part of your treatment.
Much like Part A, Medicare Part B does not cover annual hearing exams or hearing aids. This means that, with Original Medicare alone, you will have very little hearing coverage. Also, like Part A, Part B does offer some exceptions. If your doctor orders a diagnostic hearing test to determine if you need further treatment, Part B will cover it. However, you will still have to pay for regular hearing exams and hearing aids on your own.
Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, includes all of the same coverage options as Parts A and B — plus a few extras. More specifically, many Part C plans include hearing coverage for routine hearing services and even hearing aids. Keep in mind that no two Medicare Advantage plans are alike, so you’ll need to find out exactly what kind of hearing coverage your plan provides.
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While Original Medicare may not offer much in the way of hearing coverage, many Medicare Advantage plans offer older adults a better way to pay for hearing exams and hearing aids. We are in the middle of the 2021 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which means you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan that provides better hearing coverage. Don’t forget that the deadline for the Medicare Advantage OEP is March 31st!
If you’d like to learn more about Medicare hearing coverage or your Medicare coverage options, feel free to fill out this form or give us a call anytime. Time for 65’s partnered licensed agents are focused on giving you the information you need, with zero pressure to enroll in a plan.
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