Warranty Options for Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are a serious investment in your quality of life. Fortunately, warranty coverage protects you from having to pay out of pocket for repairs and defects. Most warranties also include a one-time replacement in the event you lose or damage your hearing aids beyond repair.

New hearing aids usually come with at least one year of comprehensive loss, damage and repair coverage directly from the manufacturer. Many hearing care providers may also include 2-year or 3-year manufacturer warranties in the price of new hearing aids, particularly for high-end devices. Because prices for hearing aids and coverage for them varies from clinic to clinic, it’s important to ask your hearing care professional what is included in the price before you buy.

What happens when my warranty expires?

Hearing aids are sophisticated medical devices that will not last forever. The average life of modern hearing aids is between 5 and 7 years with proper care and maintenance. Because manufacturers usually will not cover hearing aids under a warranty beyond 3 years, you might wonder if there are options for coverage during the remaining life of your devices.

There are several options available to hearing aid wearers whose manufacturer warranty is about to expire. The first step is to schedule a hearing aid ”clean and check” with your hearing healthcare provider a few months before your manufacturer warranty expires. This will help your provider catch any performance or maintenance issues that need to be addressed before the warranty expires. Then, you can discuss your options for extended warranty coverage.

Extended warranty options

Extended coverage is often offered by third parties such as ESCO or Midwest Hearing Industries, but some hearing care providers offer their own programs for coverage. Nearly all extended warranty policies require a hearing professional to certify that the hearing aids are in good working order before a policy can be purchased.

Options for continued coverage include loss and accidental damage and repairs due to electrical or mechanical failure. The cost of continued coverage depends on the make and model of the hearing instrument and the type of coverage requested.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not automatically cover hearing aids, so check your policy before making any assumptions. Many insurers do offer a supplemental “rider” for hearing aids for an additional cost. And, claims against hearing aid loss can count against the entire policy increasing your chances of being canceled by your insurer or having increased premiums for your policy.

Always discuss your options and concerns with your hearing care professional. They can help steer you in the right direction by considering your lifestyle and budget. With proper care and the right warranty coverage, you can enjoy many years of worry-free hearing aid wear.