Maine is one of the best states in the country for hearing aid coverage: state-regulated private plans must cover up to $3,000 per hearing aid per ear every 36 months for people of all ages, and MaineCare covers hearing aids for adults too. Even better, a new law (LD 167) means MaineCare now covers two hearing aids — one for each ear — for members with diagnosed hearing loss, phased in starting November 15, 2025 and fully routine as of July 1, 2026. If you don't qualify for either, Vocational Rehabilitation can help with hearing aids for work, and Disability Rights Maine provides free adaptive phone equipment.
By Lilly Seay · Updated July 2026
MaineCare covers hearing aids for adults 21+ with full MaineCare benefits (not those with only MSP-QMB coverage); prior authorization is required for hearing aids for adults over 21. Historically the benefit was effectively one (monaural) hearing aid, but under P.L. 2025 ch. 446 (LD 167, 'An Act to Provide 2 Hearing Aids to MaineCare Members with Diagnosed Hearing Loss'), binaural/two hearing aids are covered for members with diagnosed hearing loss — DHHS issued temporary billing guidance for dates of service Nov 15, 2025 - June 30, 2026, with routine claims and PA processes effective July 1, 2026. Hearing loss must be documented by a primary care provider or licensed audiologist, the aid must be dispensed by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid dealer, and severity criteria apply. MaineCare is largely fee-for-service (no MCOs).
Federal EPSDT law (42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r)(4)) requires every state — Maine included — to cover hearing aids for Medicaid-enrolled children under 21 at no cost to the family. Children under 21 are covered under EPSDT ("Bright Futures" well-child care), including hearing screenings, audiology, and hearing aids with prior authorization guidance that is more lenient than for adults. Maine's CHIP program is part of MaineCare (historically called CubCare) for uninsured kids in families up to about 208% FPL; families apply through My Maine Connection or DHHS offices.
Since January 1, 2020 (LD 38, P.L. 2019 ch. 418), Maine requires state-regulated individual, group, and HMO health plans to cover a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear, for covered individuals of ALL ages, and may limit the benefit to $3,000 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months. Hearing loss must be documented by a physician or licensed audiologist and the aid purchased per state/federal dispensing laws. Before 2020 the mandate applied only to minors. Self-funded ERISA employer plans, Medicare, and MaineCare are not subject to the mandate; the Maine Bureau of Insurance (800-300-5000) can confirm whether a specific plan is covered.
Statute: 24-A M.R.S. §§ 2762, 2847-O, 4255
Remember: state mandates only reach state-regulated ("fully insured") plans. Self-funded employer plans — covering about two-thirds of insured workers — are exempt under federal ERISA law. One question to HR settles which kind you have.
Maine's hearing coverage landscape is among the best anywhere: the three main CoverME.gov insurers — Anthem, Community Health Options, and Harvard Pilgrim — must all cover up to $3,000 per hearing aid per ear every 36 months for members of any age, and MaineCare (which runs fee-for-service, with no managed-care plans) now covers two hearing aids for adults. Medicare Advantage carriers like Martin's Point, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna sit outside the mandate, so their hearing benefits vary by plan.
Maine's largest marketplace insurer, holding about 48% of CoverME.gov enrollment for 2026. As a state-regulated carrier, its individual and group plans must cover hearing aids for all ages up to $3,000 per aid per ear every 36 months; its Medicare Advantage plans are exempt from that mandate, and Anthem reduced its Maine MA offerings for 2026.
Maine's member-governed CO-OP — one of only two ACA CO-OPs left in the country — with about 28% of the 2026 marketplace. Its state-regulated plans must follow Maine's all-ages hearing aid mandate of up to $3,000 per hearing aid per ear every 36 months.
Holds roughly 22% of Maine's 2026 marketplace enrollment. Its state-regulated Maine plans are subject to the hearing aid mandate, covering up to $3,000 per hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear every 36 months with hearing loss documented by a physician or licensed audiologist.
The leading Maine-based Medicare Advantage carrier. Its plans commonly include hearing aid allowances, but Medicare Advantage isn't subject to Maine's $3,000 mandate and Martin's Point discontinued at least one plan for 2026, so check each plan's Evidence of Coverage for the current hearing benefit.
A major Medicare Advantage carrier in Maine, delivering hearing aid coverage through the UnitedHealthcare Hearing network with low copays after a no-cost hearing exam. Like all MA plans it's exempt from Maine's hearing aid mandate, and it cut one Maine MA plan for 2026.
Sells Medicare Advantage plans in Maine, with most routing hearing aid benefits through NationsHearing after an annual covered hearing exam. Aetna also reduced its Maine MA lineup for 2026, so confirm the hearing allowance on the specific plan before enrolling.
Yes. MaineCare covers hearing aids for adults 21 and older with full MaineCare benefits (prior authorization required), and it recently got better: under LD 167, MaineCare now covers two hearing aids — one for each ear — for members with diagnosed hearing loss, phased in starting November 15, 2025 and fully routine as of July 1, 2026. Your hearing loss must be documented by a primary care provider or licensed audiologist, and the aids must be dispensed by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid dealer. MaineCare is largely fee-for-service, so there are no managed-care plan differences to navigate.
Yes — Maine has one of the strongest hearing aid laws in the country. Since January 1, 2020, state-regulated individual, group, and HMO plans must cover a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear, for people of all ages, and may cap the benefit at $3,000 per aid every 36 months. That includes marketplace plans from Anthem, Community Health Options, and Harvard Pilgrim. Hearing loss must be documented by a physician or licensed audiologist. Self-funded ERISA employer plans, Medicare, and MaineCare aren't subject to the mandate — call the Maine Bureau of Insurance at 800-300-5000 if you're unsure about yours.
Start with your insurance, because in Maine it usually helps: state-regulated plans must cover up to $3,000 per hearing aid per ear every 36 months for all ages, and MaineCare covers two hearing aids for adults with documented hearing loss. Beyond that, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation can help pay for hearing aids you need for work, Disability Rights Maine's Telecommunications Equipment Program provides free adaptive phone equipment, and Maine CITE can help you explore and borrow assistive technology. Between the mandate, MaineCare, and these programs, few Mainers should have to pay full price alone.
Not the way your regular insurance must. Maine's $3,000 hearing aid mandate applies to state-regulated commercial plans — not to Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Many Maine MA plans from carriers like Martin's Point Generations Advantage, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Anthem, and Humana do include hearing aid benefits — UnitedHealthcare runs its benefit through the UnitedHealthcare Hearing network, and Aetna typically uses NationsHearing — but allowances and copays vary by plan, and several carriers scaled back their Maine MA offerings for 2026. Check your plan's Evidence of Coverage or call the carrier before scheduling a fitting.
Yes. Thanks to LD 167 (P.L. 2025 ch. 446), 'An Act to Provide 2 Hearing Aids to MaineCare Members with Diagnosed Hearing Loss,' MaineCare covers binaural hearing aids — one for each ear — for members with diagnosed hearing loss. DHHS issued temporary billing guidance for dates of service November 15, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and routine claims and prior-authorization processes took effect July 1, 2026. You'll need hearing loss documented by a primary care provider or licensed audiologist, severity criteria apply, and adults over 21 still need prior authorization, so start with your hearing provider.
While you sort out coverage, the Hearing Buddy app gives you live captions on your phone — free, instantly.