State laws › North Carolina
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-285 · statute read October 21, 2026
North Carolina hearing aid insurance law
North Carolina's law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-285) requires the health insurance it names to cover hearing aids. Who it reaches: under 22. The figure it names is $2,500 per hearing aid every 36 months.
- 1Who Under 22
- 2Benefit $2,500 per hearing aid
- 3Replacement Every 36 months
What the statute says
| Citation | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-285 (North Carolina General Statutes, ncleg.gov) |
|---|---|
| Who | Under 22 |
| Duty | The policies named must cover hearing aids |
| Dollar figure | $2,500 per hearing aid |
| Replacement | Once every 36 months |
In the statute's words: “up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per hearing aid”
- One hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear, replaced not more often than every 36 months.
- Applies to all health benefit plans, including the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.
The figure against recorded prices
North Carolina's law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-285) requires the health insurance it names to cover hearing aids. Who it reaches: under 22. The figure it names is $2,500 per hearing aid every 36 months. The statute text was read on October 21, 2026 from North Carolina General Statutes, ncleg.gov.
Because the figure is per hearing aid, a pair for two ears can draw it twice: up to $5,000. Of the 70 models priced on this site, 70 start at or below that amount, 39 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, $5,000 for a pair is $1,666.67 a year. Over ten years the period allows 3 purchase cycles, so the most the figure could add up to across a decade is $15,000 per person.
Among the 14 states on this site whose statute names a dollar figure, North Carolina's $5,000 for a pair ranks 3rd 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.
North Carolina is one of 6 states here whose law reaches children and young adults. The others: Delaware (children less than 24 covered as a dependent, $1,000 per hearing aid, per ear), Massachusetts (21 or younger, $2,000 per hearing aid), New Mexico (under 18, or under 21 if still in high school, $2,200 per hearing aid), Ohio (21 or younger, $2,500 per hearing aid) and Oregon (18 or younger, or 19 to 25 in school, no dollar cap).
Five recorded pairs, measured against $5,000
| 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 | $3,198 (100%) | $0 |
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.
North Carolina questions
Does North Carolina require health insurance to cover hearing aids?
North Carolina's law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-285) requires the health insurance it names to cover hearing aids. Who it reaches: under 22. The figure it names is $2,500 per hearing aid every 36 months. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-285, read October 21, 2026.
How often can hearing aids be replaced under the North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina's insurance regulator can confirm.