Funding Resources

Washington Access Fund
Low interest loans for hearing aids and other assistive technology for individuals who are deaf & hard of hearing.  IDA Savings program through which individuals in low income households can save up to $4000 for any AT and receive up to $4000 in matching funds.  

Voice: 206-328-5116 
Toll Free: 877-428-5116
TTY: 1-888-494-4775

Other Funding Resources

Hearing Speech & Deafness Center:

• Hearing Aid Scholarship: includes donated hearing aid, hearing aid and earmold fitting appointment and 3 follow-up adjustment appointments.
• Client responsibilities:
  • Cost of comprehensive hearing test or insurance co-pay, if necessary.
  • $75 per hearing aid. Additional $45 per earmold, if necessary.
  • Payment for the above must be received in full prior to the hearing aid fitting appointment.
  • Hearing aid repair costs, if necessary (approximately $250 for a six-month repair warranty).
  • You will need to maintain attendance as outlined in your enrollment forms. Failure to meet attendance guidelines for any reason may result in loss of your scholarship.
• 206-323-5770 (Voice) 1-800-761-2821 (TTY) 206-452-7953 (Videophone)

Hear Now
Sponsored by Starkey Hearing Foundation, this program provides Starkey hearing aids for low income individuals.  There is an application fee for the hearing aids ($125 per hearing aid).   Access Fund Loans and IDAs can be used to cover the application fee.  

1-800-328-8602

IDEA/Special Education
Schools may be obligated to cover hearing aids for children in special education if they have no other way to pay for them.

Health Savings Accounts
HSAs are savings accounts where individuals deposit money and then withdraw it tax-free for eligible medical expenses. They typically are associated with employer sponsored health plans with high deductibles. The HSAs can be used to cover medical & dental services & devices not covered by their health plans including hearing aids, deductibles and copays – as long as they are considered to be deductible by the IRS.  

Labor & Industries
If you experience a hearing loss due to exposure to noise or other on the job injury while working for a Washington employer, you may qualify for hearing aids & monetary compensation.  L&I will also service and provides batteries for hearing aids they purchased. 

1-800-547-8367

Medicaid
Medicaid covers hearing aids and cochlear implants for children 20 years of age and younger.  Billing instructions can be found at:  http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/download/Billing_Instructions/Hearing_Aids/Hearing_Hardware_for_Kids_BI.pdf. 
Coverage for adults (21 and older) has been suspended at least through June 2011.  For more information, check the Medicaid Budget website at:  http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/News/Budget.htm.

Medicare
Medicare covers hearing evaluations from qualified professionals – audiologists or ear, nose & throat doctors.  However, Medicare does not cover hearing aids or other assistive devices.  It does cover cochlear implants provided that the client meets eligibility requirements.  For more information, call a cochlear implant vendor or your audiologist.  

Northwest Lions Foundation
• Hearing aid bank which provides recycled hearing aids for individuals who are low income
• Patient Care program providing small grants for other hearing and vision equipment needs.

1-800-847-5786

Pass Plans
If you are on SSDI or have earned income, you may be able to use a PASS plan to help pay for hearing aids needed for employment or education designed to lead to employment. Pass Plans allow a person with a disability to set aside otherwise countable income and/or resources for a specific period of time in order to achieve a work goal.

Private Insurance
Most insurers do not cover hearing aids but will cover a hearing evaluation by a qualified professional – e.g., an audiologist or ear, nose & throat doctor.  To find out if your insurance covers hearing aids or other hearing devices, review your policy or contact your insurance company.  Coverage may be broader for children. 

Sertoma International
A national organization committed to civil service, Sertoma works with nonprofit organizations, hospitals, and school systems to fund hearing aids and other assistive technology for hearing loss.  Contact your local chapter for more information. 

Tax Deduction
If you itemize deductions, you may able to deduct your out of pocket expenses for hearing evaluations or assistive devices including hearing aids as a medical expense.  However, you may only deduct the amount by which your total medical expenses for the year exceeded 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.  For more information, see IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (available at http://www.irs.gov).

U.S. Veterans Administration
Veterans with service-related hearing loss may qualify for hearing aids, TTYs, and telephone amplification devices at the V.A.  Contact your local V.A. medical facility for more information or click here for more information.

1-800-827-1000

Vocational Rehabilitation
Hearing aids may be available through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Services for the Blind, and Department of Labor & Industries if needed for employment-related purposes and included in your Individual Plan for Employment.

1-800-637-5627