Vermont is one of the best states in the country for hearing aid coverage. State law requires Vermont Medicaid and most state-regulated private health plans to cover hearing aids for people of all ages — generally one hearing aid per ear every three years, including exams, fittings, and prescribed batteries. If your plan is a self-funded employer plan or Medicare, the state law doesn't apply, so check your plan documents first.
By Lilly Seay · Updated July 2026
Coverage is written into state law: 33 V.S.A. § 1901k (Act 108 of 2022) requires Vermont Medicaid to cover medically necessary hearing aids and audiology services, including audiologic examinations, hearing screenings, fitting of hearing aids, and prescriptions for hearing aid batteries. There is no age limit. Vermont Medicaid is administered directly by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) under the Global Commitment to Health waiver rather than through commercial managed-care companies. Prior authorization may apply under DVHA's durable medical equipment policies, and the statute does not set a fixed replacement interval (the state's parallel commercial benchmark benefit uses one aid per ear every 3 years); confirm current PA and replacement rules with DVHA at 1-800-250-8427.
Federal EPSDT law (42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r)(4)) requires every state — Vermont included — to cover hearing aids for Medicaid-enrolled children under 21 at no cost to the family. Children are covered under the same statutory hearing aid benefit (33 V.S.A. § 1901k) plus federal EPSDT requirements for members under 21. Vermont's Medicaid/CHIP program for children under 19 is Dr. Dynasaur, which families apply for through Vermont Health Connect or DVHA; it covers medically necessary hearing exams, hearing aids, fittings, and batteries with little or no cost sharing.
All ages, no dollar cap. Large-group plans must cover a hearing aid for each ear plus professional services (evaluation, fitting, programming, repairs, follow-up adjustments and maintenance, ear mold impressions, auditory rehabilitation and training) and prescribed batteries; plans may limit to one aid per ear every 3 years but must replace sooner if a hearing care professional determines it is medically necessary. You can choose a pricier aid than the plan covers and pay the difference. Cost sharing can be no less favorable than other non-primary-care services. Effective for plans issued/renewed on or after January 1, 2024 (all plans by January 1, 2025). Individual and small-group plans get an equivalent benefit — one set of prescription hearing aids every 3 years plus an annual hearing exam — through Vermont's federally approved essential health benefits benchmark plan starting plan year 2024. ERISA self-funded employer plans and Medicare are exempt.
Statute: 8 V.S.A. § 4088l (Act 108 of 2022)
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.
Vermont's insurer landscape is small but unusually generous for hearing coverage: just two carriers — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care — sell plans on Vermont Health Connect, and both must follow the state's all-ages hearing aid mandate. Medicaid is run directly by the state, with no managed-care companies in between.
One of only two carriers on Vermont Health Connect. As a state-regulated insurer it must cover hearing aids for all ages under 8 V.S.A. § 4088l — generally one aid per ear every three years plus exams, fittings, and prescribed batteries. It is not offering Medicare Advantage plans in Vermont for 2026, focusing instead on Medigap and Blue MedicareRx drug plans.
The only other insurer selling individual and family plans on Vermont Health Connect. Its state-regulated Vermont plans are subject to the same all-ages hearing aid benefit as Blue Cross VT; check your plan documents or call MVP to confirm the process for getting hearing aids covered.
Vermont Medicaid is run directly by DVHA under the Global Commitment to Health waiver rather than through commercial managed-care organizations. State law (33 V.S.A. § 1901k) requires it to cover medically necessary hearing aids and audiology services at any age; call DVHA at 1-800-250-8427 about prior authorization.
Yes — and it's written into state law. Under 33 V.S.A. § 1901k (Act 108 of 2022), Vermont Medicaid must cover medically necessary hearing aids and audiology services with no age limit, including audiologic exams, hearing screenings, hearing aid fittings, and prescriptions for batteries. Vermont Medicaid is administered directly by the Department of Vermont Health Access, so there's no managed-care company in the middle — prior authorization may apply under DVHA's equipment policies. To confirm current prior-authorization and replacement rules before you start, call DVHA at 1-800-250-8427.
Yes, for most plans. Vermont's Act 108 of 2022 (8 V.S.A. § 4088l) requires state-regulated large-group plans to cover a hearing aid for each ear — with no dollar cap — plus evaluations, fittings, programming, repairs, ear mold impressions, auditory rehabilitation, and prescribed batteries, at any age. Individual and small-group plans get an equivalent benefit through Vermont's essential health benefits benchmark: one set of prescription hearing aids every three years plus an annual hearing exam. The exceptions are self-funded employer (ERISA) plans and Medicare, which the state law can't reach — check your plan documents if you're unsure which kind you have.
Start with your insurance — Vermont is one of the best states in the country for this. Vermont Medicaid covers hearing aids at any age, and most state-regulated private plans (including both Vermont Health Connect carriers, Blue Cross VT and MVP) must cover them too, generally one per ear every three years. If hearing loss is affecting your work, HireAbility Vermont — the state's vocational rehabilitation agency — may help fund hearing aids. The Vermont Assistive Technology Program can also help you try devices before committing. If your plan is self-funded through an employer, ask HR what hearing benefit it includes.
Generally every three years — but sooner if you truly need it. Vermont's mandate lets plans limit coverage to one hearing aid per ear every three years, yet requires earlier replacement whenever a hearing care professional determines it's medically necessary. You can also choose a more expensive hearing aid than your plan covers and simply pay the difference, without losing the benefit. Cost sharing on hearing aids can't be less favorable than what your plan charges for other non-primary-care services. Individual and small-group plans follow the same three-year rhythm through the state's benchmark benefit, plus an annual hearing exam.
Yes. Both carriers — the only two selling plans on Vermont Health Connect — are state-regulated, which means Vermont's hearing aid law applies to them. Individual and small-group plans cover one set of prescription hearing aids every three years plus an annual hearing exam through the state's essential health benefits benchmark, and large-group plans must cover hearing aids for each ear with no dollar cap, including fittings, repairs, and batteries. The one caveat: if your employer's plan is self-funded (ERISA), the state law doesn't apply, so confirm with your plan documents or HR before scheduling.
While you sort out coverage, the Hearing Buddy app gives you live captions on your phone — free, instantly.