The costs of hearing aids and cochlear implants are covered by public health insurance plans

Medical examinations for hearing problems are covered by statutory health insurance—as is the provision of prescribed hearing aids for people with hearing loss.

How much do health insurance companies cover for hearing aids?

  • The fixed amount for a single-ear hearing aid fitting with an earmold is 901.40 euros (net) or 964.50 euros (gross)
  • Since both ears are typically fitted, the amount covered by health insurance for a bilateral hearing aid fitting with an earmold can total up to 1,498.88 euros (net) or 1,603.81 euros (gross)
  • For insured individuals with hearing loss bordering on deafness, the amounts increase to up to 1,559.76 euros (net) or 1,668.94 euros (gross) for a binaural hearing aid fitting with an earmold

For this fixed price set by health insurance companies, hearing care professionals provide comprehensive care.

People with statutory health insurance always pay only the statutory copayment of ten euros per hearing aid. They also receive several years of free follow-up care. As part of this service, hearing care professionals perform fine-tuning and minor repairs, clean the hearing aids, provide advice on their use, offer guidance, and replace the batteries. Your hearing care professional will inform you of the exact amount of reimbursement for hearing aids provided by your health insurance plan.

For those with private insurance, the fixed amount does not apply; in these cases, the requirements for a subsidy or coverage are defined in the individual insurance policy.

At a Glance

  • Necessary medical examinations related to your hearing problem are free of charge for those with public health insurance
  • Health insurance plans cover the costs of hearing aids up to the statutory fixed amount
  • The costs for cochlear implants are fully covered if medically necessary

Hearing aids do more than just help you hear again. They are high-tech medical devices that give people with hearing loss a new quality of life. For this reason, health insurance providers pay a so-called fixed amount for hearing aids, which is set by law. This covers the cost of hearing aids in many cases. All costs for cochlear implants are fully covered. A prerequisite for any copayment for hearing aids or full coverage of costs is that the hearing loss be diagnosed by an ENT specialist, who then prescribes hearing aids.

How to Get Your Hearing Aid Costs Covered

To have the costs of your hearing aids reimbursed, you’ll need certain documents. Make sure the following three documents are included with your reimbursement request before you send it to your health insurance provider:

  • the ENT doctor’s prescription
  • the fitting report
  • the cost estimate from the hearing care professional

Your hearing care professional will help you complete these formalities.

Minimum Requirements and Copayments

Hearing aids whose costs are covered as a benefit in kind by statutory health insurance plans must be state-of-the-art. Your hearing care professional will advise you on the models best suited to your ears and your specific hearing loss.

All hearing aids covered without a copayment must meet certain minimum requirements: The first requirement is that they be equipped with digital technology to amplify specific sounds and signals and reduce unwanted background noise. Manual fine-tuning is no longer necessary. The sound reaching the ears is automatically adjusted. This allows the hearing aids to automatically distinguish between speech and background noise.

In addition, hearing aids must have at least three manually selectable hearing programs, multi-microphone technology, and six channels to tailor the listening experience to the wearer’s individual needs. They also suppress feedback and background noise and amplify sound.

Furthermore, there are other useful convenience features available for an additional fee. These include, for example, wireless connectivity to other communication devices, the TV, or a hi-fi system; controlling the hearing aids via apps; or choosing a particularly attractive design for the hearing aids.

An Alternative for Severe Hearing Loss: Cochlear Implants

Most people with hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids. However, there are also patients who can understand very little even with high-performance hearing aids. For them, a cochlear implant can be an alternative to hearing aids. Hearing aids work with speakers that direct sound into the ear canal. Cochlear implants are designed for people with severe hearing loss who do not benefit from the sound amplification provided by conventional hearing aids.

They are also suitable for patients with specific types of hearing loss, such as sensorineural, mixed, or conductive hearing loss. The most widely used hearing implant—and thus the most common alternative to hearing aids—is the cochlear implant (CI). The hearing implant is surgically inserted behind the ear under the skin during a minor routine procedure.

The costs for hearing implants are fully covered by public health insurance if they are medically necessary.

If you'd like to learn more about the prices and costs of hearing aids, click here.