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Learn About Medicaid Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Information You Can Find in Our Guide:

Our free guide will help you understand the steps you have to take and how to obtain the benefits you are looking for.

Learn About Medicaid Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) component, the national Medicaid program requires all state Medicaid agencies to provide certain hearing-related coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries younger than 21 years old. This EPSDT-mandated coverage for children at risk of hearing impairment includes audiological assessments, hearing aid evaluation and medically necessary hearing aids and related services and accessories.

Although federal Medicaid rules do not require individual states to cover hearing products and services for adult beneficiaries who are deaf or hard of hearing, many states choose to provide some form of coverage. In states that do provide hearing coverage for adults, certain limitations generally apply. At minimum, any services must be deemed medically necessary and prescribed by a physician or licensed practitioner.

Information You Can Find in Our Guide:

Our free guide will help you understand the steps you have to take and how to obtain the benefits you are looking for.

Some states have very specific rules and guidelines, including:

  • A minimum extent of hearing loss to qualify for coverage eligibility.
  • Prior authorization for hearing aid purchases and repairs.
  • Limited options for hearing aid products.
  • Annual limits on covered products or services, such as hearing aid evaluations or batteries.
  • Warranty-related rules and restrictions.
  • A limited range of acceptable hearing aid vendors.

Other restrictions may apply. Below is a list of U.S. states and some of the hearing aid products and  related services that each state covers for Medicaid beneficiaries at the time of writing. The services listed are not exhaustive, and states often change their Medicaid benefits, so interested candidates may wish to check with the state Medicaid agency.

State Services Covered
Alabama Not covered
Alaska Audiology, hearing aids, hearing item repairs, diagnostic testing, hearing therapy and rehabilitative therapy
Arizona Not covered
Arkansas Not covered
California Hearing aids, hearing exams, hearing aid repairs, hearing aid part replacements, ear molds, cochlear implant services
Colorado Not covered
Connecticut Hearing aids
Delaware Not covered
District of Columbia Not covered
Florida Cochlear implant services, hearing aids, hearing evaluations, hearing aid repairs and accessories, hearing aid fitting and dispensing, diagnostic audiological testing
Georgia Not covered
Hawaii Hearing aid examination and selection, hearing aid check, hearing aids, hearing aid repairs not covered by warranty
Idaho Doctor-ordered exam and testing, hearing aids and hearing services for children younger than 21
Illinois Basic and advanced hearing tests, hearing aid testing and evaluation, hearing aid fitting, hearing aid part replacement, hearing aid repairs, hearing aid accessories
Indiana Purchase, repair and replacement of hearing aids
Iowa Hearing evaluation, hearing aid selection and purchase, ear molds, hearing aid maintenance, hearing aid replacement
Kansas Trial hearing aid rental, hearing aid batteries, cochlear implant batteries, audiological testing, ear examinations, hearing aid repair
Kentucky Not covered
Louisiana Not covered
Maine Not covered
Maryland Not covered
Massachusetts Hearing aids, replacements and repairs covered by some plans
Michigan Not covered, unless authorized before 06/30/2009
Minnesota Hearing aids, ear molds, hearing aid checks, hearing aid repairs, batteries, hearing aid part replacements
Mississippi Not covered
Missouri Hearing aids and related services for pregnant beneficiaries, blind beneficiaries and beneficiaries who are residents of nursing homes
Montana Audiology services, hearing aids and hearing aid repairs
Nebraska Hearing aids, hearing aid repairs, hearing aid rentals, assistive listening devices
Nevada Hearing aids, hearing aid batteries, audiological testing, replacement hearing aids, hearing aid supplies and accessories, ear molds, hearing aid fittings, some services for cochlear implants
New Hampshire Hearing aid evaluation and consultation, ear molds, hearing aids, hearing aid fitting, audiogram, hearing aid batteries, hearing aid replacement and repair
New Jersey Hearing exams, hearing aids, hearing aid repairs and replacements, hearing aid batteries (services covered under certain plans only)
New Mexico Audiology screening and services, hearing aids purchase, hearing aid rentals, hearing aid repairs and replacements, hearing aid accessories, hearing aid insurance
New York Hearing exams, hearing aid repair and replacements, ear molds
North Carolina Not covered
North Dakota Hearing aids, replacements, ear molds, batteries
Ohio Conventional hearing aids, replacements, ear molds, batteries
Oklahoma Not covered
Oregon Audiologic assessment, hearing aid evaluation and selection, electroacoustic evaluation for hearing aid, repair of hearing aids
Pennsylvania Not covered
Rhode Island Hearing aids and replacements
South Carolina Not covered
South Dakota Hearing aids and replacements, ear mold, hearing aid fitting and cleaning
Tennessee Not covered
Texas Audiology and audiometry services, hearing aids, hearing aid accessories and repairs, ear impressions and ear molds, hearing aid batteries, cochlear implants, auditory brainstem implants, bone anchored hearing devices
Utah Not covered
Vermont Audiological examinations, hearing aids, hearing screening and assessments, hearing aid replacements and repairs, ear molds, hearing aid checks
Virginia Not covered
Washington Audiology exams, medical ear treatments
West Virginia Not covered
Wisconsin Certain types of hearing aids
Wyoming Audiologic assessment, hearing aid evaluation, hearing aids, hearing aid replacement and repair