State laws › Maryland
Md. Code, Ins. § 15-838 · statute read October 21, 2026
Maryland hearing aid insurance law
Maryland's law (Md. Code, Ins. § 15-838) requires the health insurance it names to cover hearing aids. Who it reaches: minor children. The figure it names is $1,400 per hearing aid, per ear every 36 months.
- 1Who Minor children
- 2Benefit $1,400 per hearing aid, per ear
- 3Replacement Every 36 months
What the statute says
| Citation | Md. Code, Ins. § 15-838 (Maryland Code, mgaleg.maryland.gov) |
|---|---|
| Who | Minor children |
| Duty | The policies named must cover hearing aids |
| Dollar figure | $1,400 per hearing aid, per ear |
| Replacement | Once every 36 months |
In the statute's words: “$1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months”
- The aids must be prescribed, fitted and dispensed by a licensed audiologist.
- The insured may choose a higher-priced aid and pay the difference.
The figure against recorded prices
Maryland's law (Md. Code, Ins. § 15-838) requires the health insurance it names to cover hearing aids. Who it reaches: minor children. The figure it names is $1,400 per hearing aid, per ear every 36 months. The statute text was read on October 21, 2026 from Maryland Code, mgaleg.maryland.gov.
Because the figure is per hearing aid, per ear, a pair for two ears can draw it twice: up to $2,800. Of the 70 models priced on this site, 52 start at or below that amount, 21 of them fitted or seller-programmed models. At the median fitted starting price of $2,798, the figure would reach 100% of the pair and leave $0 above it. Against the cheapest OTC pair (Audien Atom One, $98) it would reach 100%; against the cheapest Costco package (Philips HearLink 9050, $1,599.99) it would reach 100%; against the cheapest fitted pair (Liberty Clear Lucid, $1,299.98) it would reach 100%. This is arithmetic on the statute's figure only; the policy's deductible, coinsurance and network rules decide what is actually paid.
Spread over the 36-month period, $2,800 for a pair is $933.33 a year. Over ten years the period allows 3 purchase cycles, so the most the figure could add up to across a decade is $8,400 per person.
Among the 14 states on this site whose statute names a dollar figure, Maryland's $2,800 for a pair ranks 12th of 14 from the top. The highest is Georgia at $6,000 and the lowest Tennessee at $2,000, every 4 years and 3 years respectively.
Maryland is one of 10 states here whose law reaches children. The others: Georgia (18 or under, $3,000 per hearing aid), Louisiana (under 18, $1,400 per hearing aid, per ear), Missouri (under 18, no dollar cap), Montana (18 or younger, no dollar cap), Nebraska (insured children under 19, $3,000 in total benefits over 48 months), Oklahoma (up to 18, no dollar cap), Tennessee (under 18, $1,000 per hearing aid, per ear), Texas (18 or younger, no dollar cap) and Wisconsin (under 18, no dollar cap).
Five recorded pairs, measured against $2,800
| Model | Pair price | Figure could reach | Above the figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audien Atom One | $98 | $98 (100%) | $0 |
| Liberty Clear Lucid | $1,299.98 | $1,299.98 (100%) | $0 |
| Philips HearLink 9050 | $1,599.99 | $1,599.99 (100%) | $0 |
| Phonak Naída Lumity | $2,798 | $2,798 (100%) | $0 |
| Starkey Signature Series | $3,198 | $2,800 (87.6%) | $398 |
Lowest listed pair price for each model, from the seller and date on its page. The policy's own deductible, coinsurance and network rules are not included.
Maryland questions
Does Maryland require health insurance to cover hearing aids?
Maryland's law (Md. Code, Ins. § 15-838) requires the health insurance it names to cover hearing aids. Who it reaches: minor children. The figure it names is $1,400 per hearing aid, per ear every 36 months. Source: Md. Code, Ins. § 15-838, read October 21, 2026.
How often can hearing aids be replaced under the Maryland law?
The text read allows a limit of once every 36 months (3 years) for the benefit it describes.
Does Medicare cover hearing aids in Maryland?
State insurance laws do not change Original Medicare, which is federal. Medicare.gov says: “Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids.”
Medicare and other coverage
State insurance laws apply to the policies they name. Original Medicare is federal, and Medicare.gov states: “Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids.” Some Medicare Advantage plans add a hearing benefit; the plan sets the amount. Medicaid hearing aid coverage for adults was not collected for this page. See Does Medicare cover hearing aids? and the price by channel pages for what each seller's price includes.
Related
This page summarizes statute text read on October 21, 2026 and does arithmetic with seller-printed prices. It is not legal or medical advice: whether a policy covers a device depends on the policy, the plan type and federal rules, which the plan and Maryland's insurance regulator can confirm.