Your Hearing Plan
A free, plain guide to getting your hearing checked, what hearing aids cost, and how to check any quote. There is no sign-up.
This guide works with any audiologist. Print it. Take it to any clinic you visit, including one that is not us. The questions and the quote check are the same wherever you go. A good provider will welcome them.
See a doctor first if any of these is true
Most hearing change builds slowly. The signs below are different. They need a doctor, or an urgent visit, before anyone talks about hearing aids.
- Your hearing dropped suddenly in one ear or both, over a few hours or a few days.
- One ear hears much worse than the other.
- You have ear pain, drainage, or bleeding from an ear.
- You feel dizzy, or the room spins.
- You hear ringing or a heartbeat sound in one ear only.
- Your hearing changed after a head injury or a very loud blast.
If any of these is true, call us today, or see a doctor today. Do not wait for it to come back. 650-342-9449
Call 911 if hearing change comes with sudden weakness, a drooping face, trouble speaking, or severe dizziness.
Earwax can also block hearing. We can look in your ears and clear it.
What a good first visit includes
A first visit at California Hearing Center takes about one hour. A fair visit has these parts, wherever you go.
- A talk about your hearing, your health, and the places where listening is hard.
- A look in your ears for earwax or other problems.
- A full hearing test. You hear tones and words in a quiet room.
- Your results, explained in plain words at the same visit, with a copy for you.
- A clear plan. If hearing aids can help, you hear your options. If they cannot, you hear that too.
If you choose hearing aids
- Real-ear measurement at the fitting. A small probe microphone in your ear canal checks the sound the hearing aid delivers.
- Follow-up visits to adjust the settings as your brain adapts.
- A written trial period. At California Hearing Center the trial is 45 days, with no restocking fee.
My hearing goals
Hearing aids work best when they are set for your life. Pick up to three places where you most want to hear well. Print the sheet and bring it to any visit.
What hearing aids cost
Prescription hearing aids cost about $1,000 to more than $4,000 for each device. These are typical U.S. market ranges, not a quote. Your own price depends on your evaluation.
| Level | Typical price, each |
|---|---|
| Entry level | About $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Mid range | About $2,000 to $3,000 |
| Premium | About $3,000 to $4,000 or more |
Prices are per device. A pair often costs between about $4,000 and $8,000. Ranges as of October 2026.
Higher tiers add more sound processing for hard places, such as a busy restaurant. In a quiet one-to-one talk, they add little.
What the evidence says
- In 2025, Wu and colleagues compared hearing aids that cost about $4,400 with hearing aids that cost about $1,100. They studied 245 adults. They found no significant difference in outcome. (JAMA Otolaryngology)
- Humes and colleagues reached the same finding in 2017. (American Journal of Audiology)
- In these studies, how well the hearing aids were fitted mattered more than what they cost.
What a fair price includes
- The fitting and programming
- Real-ear measurement, to check the settings in your ear
- Follow-up visits to adjust the settings
- Cleanings and routine maintenance
- The manufacturer warranty
- Coaching on how to get the most from your hearing aids
Some providers bundle the devices and all services into one price. Others list each item. A list can look cheaper at first and cost more over the years of follow-up. Ask what is and is not included, so you compare the same things.
Over-the-counter hearing aids
Over-the-counter hearing aids typically cost about $200 to $1,000. They are made for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss they notice themselves. You set them up yourself, with no testing or follow-up visits. Prescription hearing aids cost more because they include the evaluation, the programming and the care.
Ways people pay
- Insurance. Some plans pay part of the cost. We check your benefits for you. We cannot promise what a plan will pay. Original Medicare generally does not cover hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage and private plans do.
- Financing. CareCredit spreads the cost into monthly payments.
- HSA and FSA. Hearing aids are typically an eligible expense.
Hearing aid cost, in full · Insurance and Medicare · Financing
Quote Check
A fair quote is easy to compare. Tick what your quote lists. We show what is missing and what to ask. We never judge a brand or a price. Nothing you tick leaves your device.
Ten questions to ask any provider
Ask these at any practice, including ours. A good provider answers each one plainly.
- Is the hearing test a full evaluation? Will you explain the results today?
- How will you check that the hearing aids are set correctly for my ears?
- What exactly does the price include?
- How many follow-up visits do I get, and for how long?
- How long is the trial, and what happens if I return the hearing aids?
- What does the warranty cover? Does it cover loss and damage?
- Why do you suggest this level of technology for the places where I listen?
- What are my other options, including a lower price?
- Who will I see each time? How do I reach someone between visits?
- What happens if I need a repair after the warranty ends?
Want to make this personal? Take the 3-minute check.
The check is a short listening test on your phone or computer. You hear numbers in background noise. It shows whether a full hearing test is worth doing. It is a screening, not a diagnosis. You need headphones, a quiet room, and an email address for your report.
Preview. An audiologist has not yet approved the results.
Take the free hearing checkNext steps
Pick the one that fits. You do not need a referral for most visits.
Book a hearing evaluation
Get a free second opinion
Have a quote? Bring it and your hearing test results. We tell you if it matches your hearing and what it includes. It is free, and you do not have to buy anything.
Call us
650-342-9449 · San Mateo and San Carlos
How this plan was made
- We do not name hearing aid brands or models here. We fit hearing aids from several manufacturers.
- Prices are typical U.S. market ranges as of October 2026. We check them every three months.
- Nothing you tick or type on this page leaves your device. We do not store it.
- This plan is general information. It does not replace a hearing evaluation or a doctor's advice.