Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act of 2026

Key Points

• Congress is proposing a new two-year test program to see if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should pay for over-the-counter hearing aids. Currently, the VA mostly covers expensive prescription hearing aids, but this plan would allow veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to get simpler, more affordable devices.
• To participate, a veteran must be enrolled in VA healthcare and visit a hearing specialist. The specialist must confirm that an over-the-counter device is medically necessary and that the veteran does not have any serious ear conditions that would make using one unsafe.
• The program will be tested at at least two VA medical centers that serve both city and rural areas. The VA will compare a group of veterans using over-the-counter devices against a group using traditional prescription hearing aids to see which works better and how much money the government might save.
• Veterans in the program will need a smartphone and internet access because these specific hearing aids use mobile apps for setup and adjustments. The VA will study how well these devices help veterans hear in noisy places and whether the veterans are happy with the results.
• After the two-year test ends, the VA will report its findings to Congress. This report will help lawmakers decide if they should make over-the-counter hearing aids a permanent benefit for all veterans who need them.

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