Government Assistance for Hearing Aids: Grants, Help for Seniors, and Support for the Hearing Impaired

Government grants for hearing aids: what is real

People often search for "government grants for hearing aids" or "free government paid hearing aids" and expect a form they can fill out to receive a check. That program does not exist. Federal grants go to states, schools, and nonprofits, not to individuals buying medical devices. When a website or caller promises a "free government hearing aid grant," treat it with caution, especially if they ask for a fee or your Medicare number.

What does exist is a set of health and disability programs that treat hearing aids as a covered item. If you qualify for the program, the hearing aid is paid for as part of your care. That is why the first question is not "where is the grant?" but "which program am I already eligible for?" Most people fit into one of four groups: veterans, people on Medicaid, people on Medicare, and working-age adults whose hearing affects a job.

Government assistance for hearing aids by situation

Find the row that matches you. If more than one fits, start with the one at the top, since it usually pays the most.

Free hearing aids for veterans through the VA

The VA is the most generous source of hearing aid help in the country. According to the VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service, once a VA audiologist recommends and fits hearing aids, the devices, repairs, and future batteries are provided at no charge for as long as you keep your VA eligibility for care.

You do not need a service-connected hearing condition to ask. The first step is to enroll in VA health care at the enrollment office of the VA medical center you choose, or online. You can check the rules on the VA health care eligibility page. Once you are enrolled, ask your VA primary care team for an audiology referral, or call the audiology clinic to request a hearing evaluation.

A few practical points:

• Batteries and supplies are mailed. Veterans authorized for batteries can reorder them by mail, by phone, or online.
• Repairs go through the VA as well, so do not pay a private shop to fix a VA-issued aid.
• Community care. If the nearest VA audiology clinic is far away or booked, ask whether you qualify to see a community audiologist under VA community care.
• Disability compensation for hearing loss or tinnitus is a separate claim. Getting hearing aids does not file that claim for you.

Medicaid rules for children and adults

For anyone under 21, Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefit (EPSDT) requires states to cover the hearing screening and treatment a child needs, and that includes hearing aids when they are medically necessary. If your child's audiologist recommends hearing aids and the plan says no, ask for the denial in writing and ask how to appeal. Children in a separate CHIP program may have different rules, so check your plan's handbook.

Adults are a different story. Hearing aids are an optional benefit for adults, so each state decides whether to cover them. Some states pay for one or two aids every few years. Some cap the dollar amount. Others cover nothing for adults. The quickest way to find out is to call the member services number on your Medicaid card and ask three questions: Are hearing aids covered for adults? Is there a dollar limit or a time limit? Do I need prior approval?

If you are not on Medicaid yet, the application is free. Our guide to how to apply for Medicaid walks through the steps, and the Medicaid hub explains the coverage changes that start in 2026 and 2027.

State examples of adult Medicaid coverage

We checked adult hearing aid rules only where we could read the state's own policy or rule. The two below show how far apart states can be. For any other state, ask your Medicaid plan; we have not listed states we could not verify.

Rules like these change through state budgets, so treat this table as a starting point and confirm with your plan before you schedule a fitting.

Government help with hearing aids for seniors

This is where most seniors get stuck. Medicare.gov says Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or the exams for fitting them. Part B does cover diagnostic hearing and balance exams in some situations. Our full guide, does Medicare cover hearing aids, explains the exam rules and costs in detail.

So where do free or lower-cost hearing aids for seniors actually come from? Government assistance for hearing aids for seniors comes from four places:

1. Medicare Advantage extras. Many Medicare Advantage plans include a hearing benefit, often an allowance per ear or a fixed copay through a network. Compare plans during open enrollment (October 15 to December 7), and read the hearing section of the plan's Evidence of Coverage, not only the ad.
2. Medicaid on top of Medicare. Seniors with low income and savings may qualify for both. If your state covers adult hearing aids, Medicaid can pay where Medicare does not.
3. The VA, for seniors who served in the military.
4. Charity programs and low-cost OTC devices, covered below.

Medigap supplement policies follow Original Medicare, so they generally do not add hearing aid coverage. Some insurers sell hearing discount programs alongside them; ask what the discount is off of before you count on it.

Vocational rehabilitation for people who work

Every state has a vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency funded largely by the federal government. Its job is to help people with disabilities get or keep work. If hearing loss makes it hard to do your job, attend training, or find work, VR can pay for an audiology evaluation and hearing aids or other assistive devices when they are part of your employment plan. Find your agency through the Rehabilitation Services Administration state directory.

VR is not a free-hearing-aid program for everyone. You need a job goal, and some states ask people above an income level to share the cost. When funds are tight, agencies serve people with the most significant disabilities first and may keep a waiting list. Still, for working-age adults with no other coverage, it is often the best government route. Ask for the counselor who serves deaf and hard of hearing clients; many states have specialists.

The NCOA also notes that 38 states have a commission or office for deaf and hard of hearing residents. Some loan hearing aids or help with costs, and staff there often know every local option.

Over-the-counter hearing aids and price ranges

Since October 17, 2022, adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy hearing aids in stores and online without a prescription or exam, according to the FDA. This has made a big difference in price. The National Council on Aging puts prescription hearing aids at about $2,500 to $3,690 a pair, while some OTC models cost as little as $200.

OTC aids are not right for everyone. They are meant for mild to moderate loss in adults. See a doctor or audiologist first if you have sudden hearing loss, pain, drainage from the ear, ringing in only one ear, or dizziness, or if you have trouble hearing even loud sounds. Children need a prescription device.

Government assistance for hearing impaired adults

Hearing aids are only part of the picture. If you are hard of hearing or deaf, several government programs help with phones, alerts, work, and income, and most of them are free. This is the help people mean when they search for government assistance for hearing impaired adults or financial help for hearing impaired family members.

Phones, relay calls, and alerting devices

Anyone can dial 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders describes it as a free service in which a communications assistant relays typed and spoken messages. The same page explains captioned telephones for mild to moderate loss, hearing loop and FM systems, and alerting devices that flash or vibrate for a doorbell, phone, or smoke alarm. Most states also run an equipment distribution program that loans or gives amplified and captioned phones to residents with hearing loss; your state's deaf and hard of hearing office can point you to it.

If you have significant loss of both hearing and vision, iCanConnect provides free equipment and training in every state. Call 800-825-4595 to reach the local program and check whether you meet its income and disability guidelines.

Disability benefits and your rights

Severe hearing loss can qualify for Social Security disability. SSA has specific listings for hearing loss with and without a cochlear implant, based on hearing tests in your better ear and word recognition scores. If your loss is less severe, SSA can still look at how it limits the work you are able to do. You can start at SSA's disability page; applying is free, and you do not need to pay anyone to file.

Under the ADA, hospitals, doctors' offices, state and local government offices, and businesses open to the public must communicate effectively with people who have hearing loss, which can mean a qualified interpreter, captioning, or written notes, depending on the situation. The ADA effective communication guidance explains what you can ask for. Employers with 15 or more workers must also consider reasonable accommodations, such as an amplified phone or captioning for meetings.

For free help for hearing impaired people finding local resources, the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse answers questions at 800-241-1044 (voice) or 800-241-1055 (TTY), and the nonprofit Hearing Loss Association of America has chapters that share local advice.

Charity programs that give hearing aids

When government programs do not cover you, these nonprofit and manufacturer programs are the next step. Each has its own rules, and many have waiting lists, so apply to more than one.

• Miracle-Ear Foundation Gift of Sound. According to Miracle-Ear, it gives hearing aids and support services at no cost to people who cannot use other resources. Recipients get the same three-year warranty as paying customers and free aftercare. You can check eligibility online or by calling 877-403-8834.
• Starkey Cares Hear Now. The Starkey Cares program offers hearing aids at a reduced cost to income-eligible patients through participating providers. Apply online or call 855-686-2202. The program's information sheet lists an application fee; confirm the current fee and income chart before you apply.
• Lions Clubs. NCOA describes the Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project, offered through local clubs, as giving deeply discounted or free tests, devices, and fittings. Contact your local Lions Club to ask whether it takes part.
• Help America Hear. NCOA says this program gives new prescription hearing aids to people with low incomes in exchange for a $250 good-faith deposit.
• Sertoma Hearing Aid Project. NCOA lists it as a searchable database that connects people to hearing aid assistance programs.
• University hearing clinics. Colleges that train audiologists often offer low-cost exams and devices.

If you also need glasses, many of the same service clubs help with both. See our guide to free eyeglasses for low-income adults.

Tax deductions, HSAs, and FSAs

Hearing aids and their batteries count as medical expenses for tax purposes, according to IRS Publication 502. If you itemize, medical costs above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income may be deductible. Money in a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) can be used for hearing aids, including OTC models, which can stretch a limited budget further.

A plan to get hearing aids paid for

1. Get a hearing test. Medicare Part B, Medicaid, and the VA all cover diagnostic testing in many cases. The results tell you whether OTC aids could work.
2. If you served, enroll in VA health care and ask for audiology. Stop here if you qualify; it is the most complete benefit.
3. If you have Medicaid, call the number on your card and ask about hearing aid coverage, limits, and prior approval.
4. If you are on Medicare, check whether your Advantage plan has a hearing allowance, or compare plans during open enrollment.
5. If you work or want to work, apply to your state vocational rehabilitation agency.
6. If nothing fits, apply to two or three charity programs and look at OTC hearing aids for mild to moderate loss.
7. Keep copies of your hearing test and any denial letters. Most charities ask for both.

For other help that seniors and people with disabilities can combine with hearing care, see government grants for disabled people.

Related guides

• Does Medicare cover hearing aids
• How to apply for Medicaid
• Grants to help the elderly
• Free government assistance for seniors living at home

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Coverage rules are set by each program and can change. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the VA, Medicare, Medicaid, or any government agency or charity named here.