Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act removes the Social Security Act exclusion that currently bars Medicare payment for hearing aids and related examinations. The coverage change applies to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also requires GAO to study federal programs, health insurance coverage, and other programs that assist with hearing aids and related examinations for people with hearing loss. GAO must examine how many people in the United States need hearing aids, their coverage under those programs, and how effective the programs are at meeting the need; it may also examine programs designed to reduce or mitigate hearing loss. GAO must report to Congress within 18 months after the coverage effective date and include recommendations, including whether new programs are needed.
Who Benefits and How
Medicare beneficiaries with hearing loss benefit because hearing aids and related examinations would no longer be categorically excluded from coverage. Audiologists benefit because covered examinations and hearing-aid services could become billable for Medicare patients. Hearing aid suppliers benefit from a larger insured market beginning with items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. Congressional health committees benefit from GAO recommendations on whether existing hearing aid programs meet national need.
Who Bears the Burden and How
CMS Medicare administrators must update coverage policy, claims processing, and provider guidance for hearing aids and examinations. Medicare Advantage plans may need to coordinate benefits with the new statutory coverage baseline. GAO health care analysts must study hearing-aid need, coverage, effectiveness, and potential program changes. Federal taxpayers bear higher Medicare costs if hearing aids and related examinations become covered benefits.
Key Provisions
- Removes Medicare's exclusion for hearing aids and examinations.
- Applies the coverage change to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
- Requires GAO to study hearing aid assistance programs and health insurance coverage.
- Directs GAO to report recommendations to Congress within 18 months after the coverage effective date.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Removes Medicare's statutory exclusion for hearing aids and hearing-aid examinations for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, and requires a GAO report on hearing aid programs.
Key Policy Areas
Medicare, Hearing Health, Health Coverage
Primary Purpose
Removes Medicare's statutory exclusion for hearing aids and hearing-aid examinations for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, and requires a GAO report on hearing aid programs.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Medicare beneficiaries with hearing loss
- Audiologists
- Hearing aid suppliers
- Congressional health committees
Identified Costs
- CMS Medicare administrators
- Medicare Advantage plans
- GAO health care analysts
- Federal taxpayers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMrs. Dingell (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Smith of Washington, …
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in …
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Hearing aid suppliers, Medicare beneficiaries with hearing loss
CMS Medicare administrators, GAO health care analysts
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology