Frequently Asked Questions and Recommendations
Introduction
I am an audiologist with 40 years of hearing industry experience and am CEO of Gardner Audiology in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Our Audiology Doctors work with all the major hearing aid manufacturers and most all insurance plans. Our insurance team are experts on Medicare advantage plans and other commercial insurances such as BlueCross BlueShield. This guide will help you get the best hearing aid value.
2026 Hearing Industry Update
My beloved hearing profession and our 50,000 patients are trying to navigate an industry that is in disruption. Online information about hearing aids is confusing and sometimes misleading. I published this guide for experienced and new hearing aid users.
So many people wait years to do something about their hearing loss. The most common solution is hearing aids as many hearing losses cannot be treated with surgery or medications. They have sensorineural hearing loss.
Why do Hearing Aid Shoppers Need Help and Advice?
Two things are challenging the profit and growth of hearing aid retailers. Legislation approving the sale of non-prescription hearing aids (OTC) has disrupted the hearing care industry. The implementation of new hearing aid benefits from Insurances and Medicare Advantage plans has also affected the industry. Before Medicare Advantage plans offered hearing aid benefits most people paid for hearing aids with private funds. I’m sad to say that there are many hearing aid providers and their corporate owners who are holding on to the old ways. They will try anything to bypass your insurance benefits and have you pay with your own money. These commissioned sales professionals earn more money that way.
What is the best Brand of Hearing Aid?
I think many consumers make the mistake of focusing on the best brand of prescription fitted hearing aid. In my opinion, most all the major 6 manufacturers have comparable levels of technology. These include Starkey (the only US manufacturer), Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Widex, and Resound. All of these will deliver good hearing outcomes depending on the knowledge of the provider. Gardner Audiology has written numerous reviews of different models of hearing aids.
Who you see is more important than the brand you buy. The options for providers are: 1. An audiologist is someone who has earned a doctorate degree in audiology (Au.D) and, 2. A Hearing Instrument Specialaist (HIS) who must have earned a high school diploma (or equivalent), completed 6 months of supervised training and pass a state exam.
How to Buy Prescription Aids with no Insurance Benefit
If you are not on Medicare, you will not have hearing benefits unless your employer offers coverage. Your options are Over the Counter hearing aids or prescription hearing aids from a licensed provider. I will talk about Over the Counter (OTC) aids at the end of this article.
Our clinics charge anywhere from $545 for an entry level aid and up to $4300.00 for a pair for premium, top of the line aids. We have talked to patients who have been quoted $7000 to $8000 for a pair of premium national brand aids. Consumers should visit more than one provider for quotes. Negotiate a risk-free home demo period before paying whenever possible. At Gardner Audiology, we simply loan American built aids to patients before they decide to buy.
Hearing aid providers should objectively verify that your prescription fitting is correct with a procedure called real ear measurement such as Live Speech Mapping. When you make an appointment, ask for these services. Many providers do not provide this very important procedure.
Review your purchase contract carefully about return policies. Read the online reviews of your potential provider. Some high-pressure sales chains make it difficult for you to get a refund when you return aids. Again, who you see is more important than what brand you buy.
How to Optimize Hearing Aid Insurance Benefits
If you have insurance benefits through your employer or a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure your insurance refers you to an in-network provider instead of one that is out of network.
Those of you with benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan should be cautious. Many providers may be listed by your insurance but will do their best to avoid filing a claim so they can make more profit from private pay. If the hearing aid provider “bad mouths“ or tries to circumvent your insurance, seek a second opinion and call your insurance to report the incident.
Many of these Medicare plans are simply a deep discount on national brand aids instead of a true benefit. But these plans, depending on the make or model of aids. are typically cheaper than paying directly out of your pocket. Medicare Advantage plans require you to pay up front before they ship the aids to your provider, but most plans offer a generous return for refund policy.
If you have hearing aid benefits from an employer’s plan, ask your provider to accept assignment rather than paying up front.
Are Over the Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids Good Value?
Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aids are not as good as prescription aids because they do not require a hearing test before purchasing. But they are better than no hearing aid. People who want success with OTC aids need to be tech savvy with their smart phone to receive emails, texts and view online videos.
The problem with OTC aids is the present chaotic online advertising and delivery models. In some cases there is up to a 75% return rate for refunds, and many online consumers share that they had difficulty getting a refund. Because of these high return rates, the cost of OTC aids is rising, and the quality is decreasing. In 2025 we had a patient tell us that she was told she had to return her hearing aids to China in order get a refund. The state of Vermont sued an OTC seller for deceptive business practices. If you want to try an OTC hearing aid, buy one from a big box store or Amazon if you want a trustworthy return policy.
Key Points Review
- Who you see is more important than the brand of hearing aids you buy. See a Doctor of Audiology, not a Hearing Aid Salesman
- Get second opinions
- Don’t pay for hearing aids before you take them home for trial. The exception would be if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Report providers to your insurance if they downplay or “bad mouth” your benefits.
- If you want to try OTC aids, avoid faceless websites. Instead buy from a trustworthy big box store or Amazon so you are more assured of a refund if you want one. There is up to a 75% chance you will be dissatisfied with your purchase.
Conclusion
For more information about hearing aids visit our Gardner Audiology Hearing Blog or contact us at info@gardneraudiology.com. If you live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida I invite you to visit one of our 8 locations.
Get a second opinion if you feel pressured by a sales pitch. This check-off list will help you ask the right questions during your appointment.
In the future I hope my beloved hearing industry will evolve more into a medical delivery model rather than a retail sales model.
I will do my best to answer your questions if you contact me at by visiting www.gardneraudiology.com.
