Medicare.gov

Hearing & balance exams

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams if your doctor or other health care provider orders them to find out if you need medical treatment. 

You can also see an audiologist once every 12 months without an order from your doctor or other health care provider, but only for:

  • Non-acute hearing conditions (like hearing loss that occurs over many years)
  • Diagnostic services related to hearing loss that’s treated with surgically implanted hearing devices

Your costs in Original Medicare

  • After you meet the Part B deductible , you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount .
  • In a hospital outpatient setting , you also pay the hospital a copayment .

Note

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:

  • Other insurance you may have
  • How much your doctor charges
  • If your doctor accepts assignment
  • The type of facility
  • Where you get your test, item, or service

Note

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

Things to know

Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids.

Is my test, item, or service covered?