Hearing Insurance
CMS released its 2027 projections on September 28, 2026. It expects the average Medicare Advantage premium to fall from about $14.37 to about $12 a month, and it says extra benefits such as hearing, dental and vision are expected to hold steady. That is encouraging news, and it is an average. Your plan's hearing allowance, your audiologist's network status and your copays can all be different. Only your own plan documents tell you.
This page gives you five checks to do before December 7, written by a hearing practice that works with these benefits every day in San Mateo and San Carlos. It is general information, not insurance advice, and we cannot tell you what your plan covers. We can help you read it, and we will tell you if we are in your network.
At a glance
- Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes start January 1, 2027.
- CMS expects Medicare Advantage extra benefits, including hearing, to hold steady in 2027. Plans still vary by county, so check your own.
- Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids. Medicare Advantage plans often cover some hearing care, but the amounts and rules differ.
- Current Medicare Advantage members get a second chance from January 1 to March 31, 2027, with one plan change.
The dates that matter
The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, 2026. During it, you can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and change or add Part D drug coverage. Changes take effect on January 1, 2027. A second window, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, runs January 1 to March 31, 2027, but only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and it allows one change. Do not treat it as a plan B. It is a backstop.
What is changing for 2027
CMS said on September 28, 2026 that the weighted average Medicare Advantage premium should fall from $14.37 to about $12 a month in 2027, and that about eight in ten Medicare Advantage members should be able to keep their current plan at the same or a lower premium. CMS said supplemental benefits such as hearing, dental and vision are anticipated to hold steady. Those are national projections. Plans can still change their networks, allowances and copays, and some plans leave certain counties each year. Your plan's own documents decide what applies to you.
Check 1: Read your Annual Notice of Change
Plans send an Annual Notice of Change each fall, usually by the end of September. It lists next year's changes to premiums, copays, networks and extra benefits. Find the hearing section and read it line by line. Look for changes to the hearing aid allowance, the number of hearing exams, and the list of covered brands. If you cannot find the notice, call the number on your plan card and ask for it.
Check 2: Hearing aid allowance, amount, frequency and brands
Ask four questions. How much is the allowance? Does it cover one hearing aid or two? How often does it renew, every year or every few years? And which brands and models does it cover? Some plans route hearing benefits through a separate hearing benefit manager, so ask who administers it. A large allowance that only covers a small set of devices may be worth less to you than a smaller one you can use on the hearing aids that suit your hearing.
Check 3: Is your audiologist in network?
In-network status decides what you pay. Do not assume that because a practice takes your plan for one service, it is in network for hearing aids. Call us with your plan name and member number and we will tell you whether we are in your network. If we are not, we will say so, and explain your options.
Check 4: Hearing exam coverage and referral rules
Original Medicare does not cover routine hearing exams. It generally covers a diagnostic hearing or balance exam when a doctor orders it to plan treatment, and you usually pay part of the cost. Medicare Advantage plans often include routine exams, but some require a referral from your primary care doctor or limit visits. Ask whether you need a referral and how many exams per year are covered. Our page on whether Medicare covers hearing tests explains the difference.
Check 5: OTC and flex-card hearing benefits
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer a spending card or an OTC benefit that can be used for over-the-counter products. Ask whether it can be used for OTC hearing aids or hearing accessories, and whether the plan pays for earbuds such as the Samsung feature in our guide to Samsung Galaxy Buds as hearing aids. Rules differ widely. Get the answer in writing if you can.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for hearing, in short
Original Medicare, Parts A and B, does not cover hearing aids, fittings or routine hearing exams. You pay those costs yourself unless you have other coverage. Medicare Advantage plans replace Original Medicare and can add benefits, which often include hearing. One exception to keep in mind is cochlear implants. Medicare can cover them when its criteria are met, which is very different from hearing aids. See our cochlear implants page. In California, Medi-Cal may also matter. Our guide to Medicare, Medi-Cal and private plans covers it.
Why timing before year-end can matter
Many plans reset benefits on January 1. If your plan has a hearing allowance or a set number of exams that renews each year, unused 2026 benefits generally do not carry over. If you have been putting off a hearing test, use your 2026 benefits before they reset, and then see what your 2027 plan offers. If you are switching plans, ask whether your hearing aid is covered for service and repairs under the new plan. Start with a hearing evaluation.
Status and last update
Last updated September 30, 2026. What changed: this is the first version of the page. We will update it when CMS publishes final landscape data or plan documents change. Sources: American Hospital Association summary of CMS's September 28 release and Becker's Payer. For your own plan, use your Annual Notice of Change, your plan's member services, and Medicare.gov.
Insurance and medical notice
This page is for general information only. It is not insurance, legal or medical advice. Plan benefits, allowances and networks vary by plan and county. Always check with your plan or Medicare.gov before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What patients often want to know
Does Medicare cover hearing aids in 2027?
Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids. Many Medicare Advantage plans include some hearing aid coverage, and CMS expects those extra benefits to hold steady overall. The amount and rules depend on your plan.
What is the deadline to change plans?
December 7, 2026 is the end of the Annual Enrollment Period. Changes made in that window take effect on January 1, 2027.
What is the Annual Notice of Change?
It is a document your plan sends each fall that lists next year's changes to premiums, copays, networks and extra benefits. It is the first thing to read for hearing coverage.
What is the difference between AEP and the January to March window?
The Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, is open to all Medicare members. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and it allows one change.
Does Original Medicare cover hearing exams?
Not routine ones. It generally covers a diagnostic hearing or balance exam when a doctor orders it to plan treatment, and you usually pay part of the cost. Ask your clinician to confirm how it applies to you.