{"id":591,"date":"2020-08-28T23:33:29","date_gmt":"2020-08-28T14:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/does-tricare-cover-hearing-aids\/"},"modified":"2020-11-20T14:19:34","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T05:19:34","slug":"does-tricare-cover-hearing-aids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/does-tricare-cover-hearing-aids\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Tricare Cover Hearing Aids?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\/important-facts-every-veteran-needs-to-know-about-hearing-loss-and-hearing-aids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">veterans<\/a> and their families often search for information on whether Tricare insurance covers hearing aids. That\u2019s because there\u2019s some confusion over whether current policies still cover hearing aids and hearing tests.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>The Basics &#8211; What is Tricare insurance?<\/h4>\n<p>Tricare insurance is a program offered to members of the military, retired members, reserve members, and family of those who served or\u00a0currently\u00a0serve in the military. By default, all a<span>ctive duty military members are automatically enrolled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>There are several types of Tricare plans, varying from no-pay options to others that have costs associated with them. That\u2019s important to note when searching for answers to your hearing aid questions regarding Tricare insurance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the most standard plan, Tricare Prime, members are assigned a Primary Care Provider (PCP) which is generally located at a base hospital. <br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tricare Select, a different plan, is a Preferred Provider Organization (better known as a PPO) health plan. Under a PPO health plan you have more flexibility and freedom of\u00a0choice when it comes to picking your provider, but that flexibility does come with additional costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tricare for Life is another option designed for retirees. To be eligible, you must be over 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. Like other secondary insurance options for Medicare participants, Tricare for Life pays for any costs that aren\u2019t covered under Medicare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Does Tricare Insurance Cover Hearing Aids for Active Duty Military Members?<\/b><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0326\/8254\/1188\/files\/jessica-radanavong-0ZkAINlmtOs-unsplash_1024x1024.jpg?v=1604655701\" alt=\"woman in military uniform covered by tricare\" style=\"float: none;\" width=\"1024x1024\" height=\"1024x1024\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer to whether Tricare insurance covers hearing aids for active military is a solid yes&#8230;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0with exceptions. What\u00a0does that mean? Well, Tricare insurance will cover hearing aids and hearing aid services so long as a patient meets <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/HearingAids.aspx#:~:text=Active%20Duty%20Service%20Members%20and,%2C%203%2C000%2C%20or%204%2C000Hz.\">very specific criteria<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This criteria is to ensure that the sufferer has extremely profound hearing loss. They are as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speech recognition score of less than 94%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A hearing threshold \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of at least 40 dB hearing loss in one or both ears when tested at 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, or 4,000Hz\u201d<\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or a\u00a0hearing threshold \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of at least 26 dB hearing loss in one or both ears at any three or more of those frequencies\u201d as an adult<\/span>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Does Tricare insurance Cover Hearing Aids for Retired Military?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although there are special circumstances where an active duty military might qualify for hearing aid services, unfortunately it is a little more complex for retirees. The short answer to this\u00a0question, however,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">i<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s simply <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tricare insurance suggests retirees turn to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or The Retiree-At-Cost Hearing Aid Program (RACHAP). With these options, retirees may be able to purchase hearing aids at reduced costs from military hospitals and clinics. But to do so, retirees must also qualify for care at such military hospitals and clinics. Tricare also cautions that utilizing RACHAP is often dependent on variables such as space, equipment, and provider availability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Is RACHAP an Option?<\/b><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0326\/8254\/1188\/files\/taylor-wilcox-AnxfmF_xZjQ-unsplash_2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1604655993\" alt=\"veteran and soldier with american flag\" style=\"float: none;\" width=\"1024x1024\" height=\"1024x1024\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite these variables, at first glance the Retiree-At-Cost Hearing Aid Program sounds like the perfect solution for affording a set of hearing aids at a greatly reduced cost (savings are reported in the thousands of dollars by some who have used the program!). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there are some complications. First off, the program is only offered at certain military bases, which can mean incurring significant travel expenses if you aren\u2019t located near one. Next, the\u00a0bases that do offer the program often include limitations as to who can participate, such as limiting availability to only residents in a specific radius around the base. Finally, active military always take precedence at these clinics, so there is no guarantee of being seen or of provider availability. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it can be a cost-effective way for some military retirees to obtain hearing aids, it can also be a daunting pursuit. With few <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/militaryaudiology.org\/rachap-rhapp-locations\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available online to guide patients, it makes it all the more challenging to fully utilize this option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re struggling to afford hearing aids, we&#8217;ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\/how-can-i-afford-a-hearing-aid-your-financial-assistance-questions-answered\" title=\"financial questions about affording hearing aids blog \">answered some of your financial questions<\/a> in a previous blog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Is\u00a0Another Insurance provider an Option?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those with Tricare insurance who also have Medicare might hope that this could be the answer to obtaining a hearing aid. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover hearing aids or hearing exams; we&#8217;ve gone into more detail on this in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\/medicare-coverage-for-hearing-aids\" title=\"medicare blog olive union \">previous blog.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those with the Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part C should check with their state guidelines, however, as there may be variations in what is covered based on the state you live in. Some of the major health insurance plans popular today are beginning to cover a partial amount of the cost of a hearing aid. Still, these plans only cover a portion of the expense\u00a0&#8211; the rest would be an out-of-pocket cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Options When Insurance Doesn\u2019t Cover Hearing Aids<\/b><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0326\/8254\/1188\/files\/mark-paton-T4llNlZrLzc-unsplash_1024x1024.jpg?v=1604656094\" alt=\"woman with hearing aid in ear\" style=\"float: none;\" width=\"1024x1024\" height=\"1024x1024\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-profits like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearingloss.org\/hearing-help\/financial-assistance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Hearing Loss Association of America<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offer resources and hearing aid donations to a variety of hearing charities. The charities then use these resources to provide financial assistance to those that need hearing aids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\/6-ways-to-receive-financial-support-for-your-hearing-aid\">charities<\/a> focus on children\u2019s hearing needs, but there are some organizations like Kiwanis that provide for adults. The vast majority of these programs will use income and financial need as the determining factor in choosing who to help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information about how this works, go to our blog on how to receive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\/6-ways-to-receive-financial-support-for-your-hearing-aid\" title=\"get financial support for hearing aids blog \">financial support for your hearing aids.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those whose income is too high to be eligible for donations, another option is to look into the use of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/health\/conditions-treatments\/info-05-2011\/paying-for-hearing-aids.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">health accounts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A medical flexible spending account or health savings account can provide tax savings. In addition, hearing aids are considered reimbursable under their guidelines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A savings account can also allow for long-term accumulation of funds to cover the high cost of some hearing aids.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Tricare Insurance Isn&#8217;t Your Only Option<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Tricare Insurance often isn\u2019t a viable option for obtaining a hearing aid there are\u00a0still other options when it comes to obtaining one.\u00a0We&#8217;ve written a helpful blog about how to find out if your current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\/will-your-insurance-cover-your-hearing-aid\" title=\"Will your insurance cover your hearing aids blog \">insurance covers your hearing aids<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, it&#8217;s a good idea to check with your local VA hospital, your primary care provider,\u00a0or a trusted audiologist.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Tricare insurance might not be the solution you were hoping for, these professional sources may direct you to other sources for finally obtaining the hearing help you need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The information in this guide has been written using the following reliable sources:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/understanding-military-medical-care-3332686\">https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/understanding-military-medical-care-3332686<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/HearingAids.aspx#:~:text=Active%20Duty%20Service%20Members%20and,%2C%203%2C000%2C%20or%204%2C000Hz.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/HearingAids.aspx#:~:text=Active%20Duty%20Service%20Members%20and,%2C%203%2C000%2C%20or%204%2C000Hz.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/Otorhinolaryngology\">https:\/\/tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/Otorhinolaryngology<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/militaryaudiology.org\/rachap-rhapp-locations\/\">http:\/\/militaryaudiology.org\/rachap-rhapp-locations\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/Otorhinolaryngology\">https:\/\/tricare.mil\/CoveredServices\/IsItCovered\/Otorhinolaryngology<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearingloss.org\/hearing-help\/financial-assistance\/\">https:\/\/www.hearingloss.org\/hearing-help\/financial-assistance\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/health\/conditions-treatments\/info-05-2011\/paying-for-hearing-aids.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/health\/conditions-treatments\/info-05-2011\/paying-for-hearing-aids.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You know that Tricare is for members of the military, but does the insurance provider help with hearing aids? And, if not, what are your options?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/does-tricare-cover-hearing-aids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Does Tricare Cover Hearing Aids? - Olive Union\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You know that Tricare is for members of the military, but does the insurance provider help with hearing aids? 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