Medicaid Coverage of Hearing Aids
What is Medicaid?

Title XIX of the Social Security Act outlines a program to provide medical assistance for certain individuals with low incomes and few resources. The program, known widely as Medicaid, is federal law and is funded jointly by State and Federal governments in order to provide States the ability to offer adequate medical care to those in need. Medicaid is run within broad federally mandated guidelines which allow states the flexibility to establish their own eligibility standards, determine the type, duration, and scope of services, and set the rate of payment for services. As a result benefits and programs vary considerably from state to state.

This research details the coverage of hearing aids and related services under Medicaid programs in the fifty states. Hearing health services are optional under Federal guidelines for minimum coverage and as a result many states do not cover hearing health services for adults.

Children are covered by a federally mandated program referred to as EPSDT, (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program) which provides for hearing health services as well as other services for eligible children up to the age of 18 in all states, unless otherwise listed. Individuals interested in the Medicaid services should contact their state’s Medicaid office using the information provided in the database.

**As a result of recent economic conditions, many states have chosen to cut coverage in 2003. The information published herein does not reflect such changes. **