Hearing aid coverage and laws in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania at a glance

Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover hearing aids?

Pennsylvania Medicaid covers hearing aids for children, not adults. Age 20 and under only. ^[1]

Children and young adults under 21 are a different case. Medicaid's EPSDT benefit requires states to cover the care they need, which includes hearing aids. ^[8]

If you get Medicaid through a managed care plan, ask the plan how hearing aid approvals work and which providers it uses. Our state-by-state Medicaid guide explains how the benefit usually works.

Does Pennsylvania require insurance to cover hearing aids?

Pennsylvania has no law requiring private health plans to cover hearing aids. ^[2][3]

State mandates only reach fully insured plans, the kind bought from an insurance company. Self-funded employer plans follow federal ERISA law instead, so a state mandate may not apply to your job's plan. ^[10] Ask HR whether your plan is fully insured or self-funded. More in our private insurance guide.

Pennsylvania hearing aid trial period and return rights

Pennsylvania hearing aid sellers must give you at least 30 days from delivery to return hearing aids. They can keep up to 10% of the price or $150 per aid, whichever is less, plus disclosed service fees. ^[4]

Consumer Reports says most states require at least a 30-day trial for prescription hearing aids. ^[11] NIDCD notes that most makers allow 30 to 60 days and suggests asking which fees aren't refundable. ^[12] Whatever the law, put the trial length, fees and warranty on the purchase agreement.

Over-the-counter hearing aids follow federal rules: the maker must print its return policy on the package, or say it has none. ^[13]

Free amplified and captioned phones in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Telecommunication Device Distribution Program (TDDP). Pennsylvania residents 6 and older with a disability that makes phone calls hard and income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level can get a free phone. ^[5]

These programs are separate from hearing aid coverage. They can help even if you already wear hearing aids.

Who licenses hearing care providers in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology: audiologists ^[6]
• Pennsylvania Department of Health, Hearing Aid Registration Program: hearing aid dispensers ^[7]

Use the board to check that a provider's license is current, or to file a complaint about a sale or a refund.

Other ways to pay for hearing aids in Pennsylvania

• Medicare. Original Medicare doesn't pay for hearing aids. ^[14] Some Medicare Advantage plans add a hearing benefit, usually through a network. See Medicare and hearing aids and how Medicare Advantage hearing networks work.
• VA. Eligible veterans can get hearing aids through VA health care. ^[15] See hearing aids through the VA.
• Lower-cost options. OTC hearing aids, warehouse clubs, nonprofit programs and university clinics. See free and low-cost hearing aids and what hearing aids cost.
• Estimate your cost. The hearing aid cost estimator combines these Pennsylvania rules with typical prices.

Find hearing care in Pennsylvania

The directory lists 610 hearing care providers in Pennsylvania, with 573 audiologists registered at those addresses. By our count of the federal registry, Pennsylvania has 4.5 audiologists per 100,000 residents, which ranks #26 of 51.

Cities with the most listings: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Allentown, York, Altoona, Camp Hill, Erie, Greensburg, Mechanicsburg. Or browse every Pennsylvania hearing clinic.