TRICARE Hearing Aid Coverage & Eligibility 2026 | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer TRICARE covers hearing aids and related services only for active duty service members (ADSMs) and their families who meet specific hearing loss criteria. Retirees and their family members are generally **not** covered for hearing aids through TRICARE, though they may be eligible to purchase them at government rates through the VA or military hospitals.

Details

### Coverage for Active Duty and Family Members For Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) and Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs), TRICARE covers hearing aids when there is a documented hearing loss that meets specific clinical thresholds. To qualify, the hearing loss must be: * **Adults:** 40 dB or greater in one or both ears (at 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hz); or 26 dB or greater at three of these frequencies in one or both ears; or a speech recognition score of less than 94%. * **Children:** Hearing loss greater than 20 dB in the 500 through 4000 Hz range in one or both ears.

Coverage includes the hearing aid device, initial fitting, adjustments, and repairs. Under the current T-5 contract (effective 2026), these services are managed by **Humana Military** in the East Region and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West Region.

### Coverage for Retirees TRICARE does not cover hearing aids for retirees or their families. However, retirees have two primary alternatives: 1. **Retiree At-Home Hearing Aid Program (RAHHAP):** Many Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) allow retirees to purchase hearing aids at government negotiated prices, which are significantly lower than retail. The retiree pays for the device, but the fitting and evaluation services at the MTF are usually free on a space-available basis. 2. **Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):** Retirees with service-connected hearing loss or those meeting specific VA criteria may receive hearing aids directly through the VA.

### Cochlear Implants Unlike standard hearing aids, cochlear implants are considered a prosthetic rather than a hearing aid. TRICARE covers cochlear implants for all beneficiary types (including retirees) when they are medically necessary to treat profound hearing loss.

### Costs and Requirements (2026 Rates) * **Active Duty:** $0 out-of-pocket for covered hearing aids. * **Family Members:** Copays may apply if using TRICARE Select; $0 if using TRICARE Prime at a military clinic. * **Referrals:** All beneficiaries require a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM) to an audiologist for the initial hearing evaluation.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Fully covered for medically necessary devices. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Covered if meeting hearing loss thresholds. * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) / TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) members:** Coverage mimics the active duty/retiree rules respectively based on their status. * **Retirees:** Generally **not covered** for hearing aids, but eligible for MTF or VA programs. * **Survivors:** Generally follow the same rules as the category of their sponsor (Active Duty vs Retired).

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Hearing Aids Benefit Page](https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/HearingAids) * **Humana Military (East):** [Provider Coverage Guidelines](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [Beneficiary Services](https://www.triwest.com) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Cochlear Implant Policy](https://health.mil)