Hearing Aids and Hearing Aid Services

Hearing aids, including bone anchored, and hearing aid services are covered benefits for service members* and beneficiaries with profound hearing loss. Hearing aids and hearing aid services are not covered for retirees and their family members, TRICARE Reserve Select members and TRICARE Retired Reserve members. Visit the Military Audiology Association for additional resources. 

TRICARE defines profound hearing loss as follows:

• Adults with a hearing threshold of 40 dB HL or greater in one or both ears when tested at 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000Hz or 26 dB HL or greater in one or both ears at any three or more of those frequencies or a speech recognition score less than 94 percent.
• Children with a hearing threshold level of 26dB HL or greater in one or both ears when tested in the frequency range at 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000Hz.

Note: If the original hearing aid would have been covered by TRICARE and the beneficiary remains eligible for the hearing aid benefit, replacement hearing aids are covered. Benefits are allowed for replacement of beneficiary-owned hearing aids when the hearing aid is lost or not serviceable due to normal wear or accidental damage, or due to a change in the beneficiary’s condition or level of hearing loss.

*Service members who reside in a Prime Service Area (PSA) with audiology services are required to obtain these services at their local military hospital or clinic. Service members who reside outside of a PSA can obtain these prior authorized services from a TRICARE-authorized provider without a waiver.

A fully implantable hearing aid that has no visible parts is not a covered benefit. See also cochlear implants.

Cost Information