West Virginia Medicaid covers hearing aids, exams, and fittings for members under 21 (with prior authorization), but hearing aids are explicitly not covered once you turn 21, and West Virginia has no state law requiring private insurance to cover hearing aids at any age. Adults who need help paying for hearing aids should start with the Division of Rehabilitation Services if they're working or job-seeking, and WVATS for device loans and funding guidance. Kids without Medicaid may qualify for WVCHIP.
By Lilly Seay · Updated July 2026
WV Medicaid provider manual Chapter 530 (Speech and Audiology Services, revised May 1, 2025) lists 'hearing aids, hearing aid evaluations, and fittings for members 21 years of age and older' as non-covered services. The only adult exception is replacement of cochlear implant external components/accessories (headset, headpiece, microphone, transmitting coil and cable) when WV Medicaid paid for the implant before the member turned 21. Adult members are otherwise limited to services like speech therapy evaluations for specific medical conditions. Most members are enrolled in Mountain Health Trust managed care (Aetna Better Health, The Health Plan, WellPoint, Highmark Health Options). No 2024-2026 expansion of an adult hearing aid benefit was found.
Federal EPSDT law (42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r)(4)) requires every state — West Virginia included — to cover hearing aids for Medicaid-enrolled children under 21 at no cost to the family. Hearing aids are covered up to age 21 under Chapter 530 and EPSDT: prior authorization for medical necessity is required, plus a referral from an enrolled physician/APRN/CNS/PA and an audiology evaluation with audiometric results within the past 6 months. The initial price includes fitting, adjustments, orientation, and batteries, with a required 2-year warranty; repairs are covered after the warranty expires (PA needed beyond 4 repairs/year) and replacements are covered for growth, wear, theft (police report required), irreparable damage, or loss by disaster with PA. Cochlear implants are covered up to 21. Separate from Medicaid, WVCHIP covers uninsured children in working families — apply at chip.wv.gov or through WV PATH.
West Virginia has no statute requiring state-regulated private health plans to cover hearing aids for children or adults; it is absent from national mandate trackers (e.g., HearingTracker's state mandate table and American Academy of Audiology updates). Coverage depends entirely on the individual plan, so residents should check their policy or ask their employer.
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.
West Virginia's individual marketplace has narrowed to essentially one carrier — Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield — while Medicaid members are served by four Mountain Health Trust managed-care plans, and about 57% of Medicare beneficiaries get coverage through Medicare Advantage plans from national carriers and the WV-based Health Plan. With no state hearing aid mandate, what any private plan covers is entirely up to the plan.
One of only two insurers on West Virginia's 2026 marketplace, and set to be the only one in 2027 after CareSource's exit. West Virginia has no hearing aid mandate, so hearing aid coverage varies by plan — check your policy documents or call the number on your card.
Offered statewide individual plans in 2025 and 2026 but is leaving West Virginia's individual market at the end of 2026, so members will need to pick a new plan for 2027. Hearing aid coverage is plan-specific since the state has no mandate.
Runs Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, one of the four Mountain Health Trust Medicaid plans, and also sells Medicare Advantage plans in the state. As a Medicaid MCO it follows state rules: hearing aids are covered for members under 21 but not for adults.
A West Virginia-based insurer that serves Mountain Health Trust Medicaid members and offers 2026 Medicare Advantage plans, including a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. Hearing benefits on its MA plans vary by plan — check the Evidence of Coverage.
One of the four Mountain Health Trust managed-care plans serving West Virginia Medicaid and WVCHIP members. Like all the MCOs, it covers hearing aids for members under 21 (with prior authorization) but not for adults 21 and older.
Highmark's Medicaid plan and the newest of the four Mountain Health Trust MCOs. It follows West Virginia Medicaid's benefit rules, which cover hearing aids for children and teens under 21 but exclude them for adults.
One of the major Medicare Advantage carriers offering plans to West Virginia's Medicare beneficiaries. Hearing aid allowances differ from plan to plan, so check a specific plan's Evidence of Coverage or Medicare.gov before enrolling.
Offers Medicare Advantage plans in West Virginia, where 57% of Medicare beneficiaries choose MA coverage. Hearing benefits vary by plan and county, so compare plans on Medicare.gov or review the Evidence of Coverage.
No. West Virginia Medicaid covers hearing aids, evaluations, and fittings only for members under 21 — the provider manual (Chapter 530, revised May 2025) explicitly lists them as non-covered once you turn 21. The single adult exception is replacing external cochlear implant parts when Medicaid paid for the implant before your 21st birthday. This applies no matter which Mountain Health Trust plan you have — Aetna Better Health, The Health Plan, WellPoint, or Highmark Health Options. If you're working or job-hunting, the Division of Rehabilitation Services may help pay for hearing aids instead.
No. West Virginia has no law requiring private health insurance to cover hearing aids for children or adults, so coverage depends entirely on your specific plan. That's true whether you have a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield marketplace plan, employer coverage, or something else — some plans include hearing benefits voluntarily, many don't. Check your policy documents or call the member services number on your insurance card and ask specifically about hearing aids, fitting fees, and any dollar limits. Medicare Advantage plans often add hearing allowances, but those vary by plan too.
Start with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) — if hearing loss affects your ability to work or find work, they may help pay for hearing aids. The West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS) lends devices so you can try equipment and can point you toward funding options. For children, Medicaid covers hearing aids up to age 21 with prior authorization, and kids who don't qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for WVCHIP. If you're 65 or older, comparing Medicare Advantage plans with hearing benefits is also worth your time.
Many do, and that matters here — about 57% of West Virginia's Medicare beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage, well above the national average, with an average of 35 plans to pick from in 2026. Carriers include Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and the West Virginia-based Health Plan. Original Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids at all, so an MA plan's hearing allowance can be a real help. Benefits vary widely by plan and county, though, so compare plans on Medicare.gov or read the Evidence of Coverage before you enroll.
If your child has Medicaid, yes — West Virginia Medicaid covers hearing aids, evaluations, and fittings for members under 21, with prior authorization required. That coverage comes through whichever Mountain Health Trust plan your family is enrolled in. Kids who don't qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for WVCHIP. Private insurance is less certain: West Virginia has no mandate requiring plans to cover children's hearing aids, so an employer or marketplace plan may or may not include them — call your insurer and ask directly before scheduling a fitting.
While you sort out coverage, the Hearing Buddy app gives you live captions on your phone — free, instantly.