Hearing health
Hearing aids and health insurance: what does your cover pay?
By Elbe Akustik Team · approx. 4 min read · April 6, 2026
Hearing aid provision: who pays for what?
The question of cost is one of the most common we hear at Elbe Akustik, and one of the most important. The good news is this: if you have a hearing loss, your health insurer covers a substantial share of the cost. Exactly how much depends on your type of cover and the hearing aid you choose.
The route to cost coverage, step by step
Before a health insurer covers the cost, a few conditions have to be met:
- See an ENT doctor: your ear, nose and throat specialist diagnoses the hearing loss and issues a medical prescription (the ENT prescription)
- Choose a hearing care professional: bring that prescription to us. We carry out a detailed hearing assessment and advise you
- Comparative fitting: we present you with at least one device available at no additional charge, plus alternatives across different price brackets
- Trial period: test the device in your everyday life, with us for at least four weeks
- Decision and paperwork: we handle the entire process with your health insurer
Worth knowing
The ENT prescription is valid for 6 months. It is best to come to us soon after your ENT appointment so we can get the process started.
Statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV)
Around 90 percent of people in Germany have statutory cover. The following rules apply:
The fixed allowance
Statutory health insurers pay a fixed allowance (Festbetrag) per hearing aid. It currently amounts to:
- Approx. 685 EUR per ear for a first fitting (children and adolescents receive higher allowances)
- For a fitting on both sides that comes to approx. 1,370 EUR in total
Your contribution
As a statutory patient you pay a statutory personal contribution of 10 EUR per hearing aid, so 20 EUR for a fitting on both sides. That is the minimum amount you will pay yourself in any case.
What do you get for the 10 EUR contribution?
For the fixed allowance you receive a fully capable, modern hearing aid that meets every medical requirement:
- Digital signal processing
- At least 4 channels
- Noise suppression
- Feedback management
These devices are considerably better than their reputation suggests. At Elbe Akustik we make sure that devices carrying no additional charge are also fitted optimally to your needs.
Paying extra for premium devices
If you want more comfort, better AI features, Bluetooth streaming or rechargeable operation, a private additional payment applies. Typical brackets:
| Class | Additional payment per ear | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (fixed allowance) | 10 EUR | Solid standard provision |
| Comfort | 300 to 700 EUR | Better sound quality, more channels |
| Premium | 800 to 1,500 EUR | AI, Bluetooth, rechargeable, leading brands |
| High end | 1,500 to 2,500 EUR | Latest technology, every feature |
Private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV)
Privately insured patients often have an easier time, but benefits vary considerably by policy:
- Full cost coverage: some policies cover the entire cost up to a defined ceiling
- Percentage reimbursement: others reimburse 80 to 100 percent of the cost
- Fixed allowance as in the GKV: some basic policies follow the statutory fixed allowance
Our tip: check your policy before you buy, or call your insurer. We are happy to help you clarify it and will prepare all the necessary cost estimates.
Ongoing costs: what comes after the purchase?
Costs arise after the purchase too, though the insurers cover most of them:
- Repairs: free within the warranty period, then partly covered by your insurer
- Replacement: every 6 years you are entitled to new hearing aids (sooner if your hearing has demonstrably worsened)
- Servicing and cleaning: free at Elbe Akustik, as long as you bought your devices from us
- Batteries and rechargeables: statutory insurers contribute a flat rate towards batteries
How Elbe Akustik helps you
We know the paperwork around cost coverage can be overwhelming. That is why we handle the entire process for you:
- Preparing all cost estimates
- Billing your health insurer directly
- Advising you on your individual entitlement
- Supporting you with appeals (if your insurer refuses a benefit)
Our team at all five stores (Glückstadt, Horst, Wedel, Barmstedt and Itzehoe) knows these procedures inside out.
Next step: free advice
Get no-obligation advice on what costs to expect and which hearing aid best suits your needs and your budget.
Book a free consultation, we will take care of the rest.
The next step
Do not wait until hearing loss noticeably limits your daily life. The earlier you act, the better the results.
Book a free hearing test