Costco Hearing Aid Reviews 2023
Costco Hearing Aid Centers offer cost-effective hearing aids from reputable brands like Phonak, Rexton, and Jabra Enhance.
AgingInPlace.org keeps our resources free by working as an affiliate partner with some companies mentioned on our site. These partnerships or the commission we may earn do not affect our opinions or evaluations of the products we mention. Our reviews are solely based on our research methodology and from input from our AgingInPlace.org Advisory Board. Learn more about our ad policies.
Costco Hearing Aid Reviews 2023
Why Buy Costco Hearing Aids?
The biggest advantage to buying hearing aids at Costco is the price. For instance, most Costco hearing aids are Bluetooth-enabled and cost around $1,599–2,600 per pair. In comparison, the in-person Bluetooth-enabled brands that made our list of the best hearing aids cost between $1,899–$7,500 per pair. And for many shoppers, a low price is essential. “One-in-four seniors forgo hearing aids because they are too expensive,” said Brad Ingrao, a doctor of audiology based in Seattle.
Costco also makes the hearing aid buying process easy by including everything in one place. You’ll receive a free hearing test, which lasts about one hour and is performed by a Costco hearing specialist using a sound booth. If you purchase Costco hearing aids, both in-person and remote follow-up appointments for service or cleaning are free.
Finally, Costco’s trial period and warranties are more generous than your average brand. The six-month trial period is longer than the more common 30- or 60-day trials. Additionally, Costco warranties cover loss and damage without a deductible. We recommend that you ask about the warranty before buying because the length varies by brand and model.
Take an Online Hearing Test
An online hearing test can be a helpful first step in figuring out if you have hearing loss. If you’re not sure whether you have any hearing loss, an online test is an easy and convenient way to find out the status of your hearing.
Alternatives to Costco Hearing Aids
Products carousel
The Downsides of Costco Hearing Aids
According to Rudolf Probst, M.D., a contributor to Audiology Research, there are a few downsides of shopping for hearing aids at Costco that you might not expect. For instance, “There are no audiology consultations,” and the “hearing aids may be defeatured or locked.”
When a hearing aid is considered “defeatured,” it is because it doesn’t have the same features as the brand’s other models. For example, manufacturers might offer Bluetooth technology in the hearing aids they sell directly, but they may remove that feature from the hearing aids they sell at Costco.
When it comes to hearing professionals, you’ll come across two types: audiologists and hearing aid specialists. Hearing aid specialists are not clinically trained but have a state license to conduct hearing tests and fit hearing aids. Audiologists have a doctor of audiology (Au.D.) graduate degree and can diagnose and treat hearing conditions, as well as help you select and fit hearing aids. Their recommendations are usually more tailored to your health needs because of their deep understanding about ear health, hearing, and the brain.
When we spoke with a hearing specialist at Costco, we learned that most locations don’t have an audiologist on staff. And even if you find one that does, Costco Hearing Center employees are not allowed to provide any medical advice, even if they’re an audiologist. So if you need help with your hearing outside of buying a hearing aid, you should find a local audiologist.
Our medical reviewer, Hadassah Kupfer, Au.D., told us, “In the professional world, Costco consultations are viewed more as a purchase of equipment, rather than an all-encompassing medical approach to hearing loss that utilizes hearing aids.”
Additionally, Costco typically locks its hearing aids, meaning you must return to Costco for servicing and repairs. And because Costco’s hearing centers are only available to Costco members, you’ll need to retain a membership for as long as you own your hearing aids. Costco memberships cost $60 per year.
Pros
-
Affordable pricing
-
Six-month trial period with full refunds
-
Bluetooth and telecoil features on certain models
-
Free hearing tests and follow-up appointments
-
Free check-ups and hearing aid cleanings
-
Generous warranties that include loss and damage coverage
-
Options for mild to profound hearing loss
-
Various hearing aid styles, from nearly invisible in-the-canal to more powerful behind-the-ear (BTE) models
-
Virtual hearing support and adjustments with Bluetooth hearing aids
Cons
-
You must keep an active Costco membership, which costs $60/year
-
Requires an initial in-person appointment (no online ordering)
-
Hearing aids may be locked or defeatured (and may be difficult or costly to get adjusted elsewhere)
-
No payment plans or financing
-
Potential appointment wait times
-
No tinnitus masking sounds in any model
Costco Hearing Aid Prices
When we spoke with a Costco hearing aid employee, they told us that a pair of hearing aids ranges from around $1,599–2,600 per pair. Every hearing aid either has Bluetooth streaming built-in or is custom-fit. The custom-fit hearing aids fit inside of the ear and are typically less noticeable than bigger BTE models.
Bluetooth hearing aids at Costco start at just $1,599 per pair and include the wide range of wireless features that exist in other top brands. These include direct connection with your iOS or Android smartphone and accessories like wireless microphones and TV streamers. When you purchase a brand-name Bluetooth hearing aid from an audiologist’s office, you’re looking at closer to $2,000 per pair or more.
While Costco is an excellent choice for value, there are other options for price-conscious shoppers. Online brands like Jabra Enhance, Eargo, and MDHearingAid sell hearing aids directly to you at lower prices than name brands at hearing aid centers, with prices often lower than Costco’s. Additionally, discount networks like Yes Hearing sell leading brands like Oticon, ReSound, and Starkey at competitive prices, but you’ll still need to visit a local hearing center. In this review, you’ll see the following brands that are sold at Costco:
- Rexton M-Core and BiCore: Starting at $1,599 per pair, both hearing aid lines offer Bluetooth streaming and up to 61 days of battery life if you choose the rechargeable option.
- Philips Hearlink: Starting at $1,599 per pair, this line offers a wide range of hearing aid styles. Larger styles have Bluetooth and telecoil while smaller styles hide discreetly in your ear to deliver sound.
- Jabra Enhance Pro: Starting at $1,699 per pair, these hearing aids are rechargeable Bluetooth-streaming devices with a 30-hour battery life.
You’ll also see the Kirkland and Phonak Brio hearing aids that were recently discontinued due to the expired partnership between their manufacturer (Sonova) and Costco.
For other competitively priced hearing aids, head over to our Cheap Hearing Aids Guide.
Why Trust Our Expert Review?
Our experts research and recommend products that can help give you a better quality of life. Using our high standards and rigorous testing methodology, we’ve spent more than 4,000 hours, collectively, researching the best hearing aids to help you find the device that’s best for you. Throughout our research process, we did the following:
- Consulted with audiologists and geriatric care experts
- Mystery shopped the brands
- Surveyed hundreds of hearing aid users
- Tested various models of hearing aids
- Interviewed experts in the field
- Read thousands of verified customer reviews from trusted sites such as Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports
Costco Stopped Selling Phonak Brio and Kirkland Signature 10
The Phonak Brio and Kirkland Signature 10 are no longer sold at Costco. Because they were Costco-exclusive models, you also won’t find them at other retailers.
Sonova, a global hearing aid manufacturer, made the Phonak Brio and Kirkland Signature 10 in partnership with Costco. In late 2022, Sonova and Costco ended their partnership, and both the Brio and Kirkland models were pulled from Costco’s shelves.
Phonak is a prescription hearing aid brand that can be found through an audiologist or online retailers like Yes Hearing, so if it’s a brand you’re interested in, you can choose from other models. While there have been reports regarding Costco’s Kirkland Signature 11 model, Costco has yet to sign a manufacturer for 2023 production. While we wait for this to unfold, there are other Costco hearing aids to consider.
Costco Hearing Aids and Brands to Consider
- Starting price: $1,599 per pair
- Type: RIC, BTE, custom ITE
- Hearing Loss: Mild to profound
- Battery: Disposable or lithium-ion rechargeable
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Telecoil: Yes
The Rexton M-Core and BiCore hearing aids provide the greatest diversity in options among Costco hearing aid brands. You can choose from nearly every type of hearing aid, including BTE, RIC, in-the-canal (ITC), and custom ITE models. What this means is that you have the choice between discretion and visibility, price, fit, and more.
Among these hearing aid types are products with Bluetooth for hands-free call streaming, TV, and other audio directly through your hearing aids, along with some models with telecoils for clearer hearing in public spaces and on your landline phone.
Two additional features set the Rexton hearing aids apart from the other Costco options. First, the BTE rechargeable hearing aids last up to 61 hours per charge (using charging station or portable charging case), compared to less than half of that for most rechargeable options. Additionally, some of the models recognize up to 120 hearing situations, providing seamless transitions as you go about your day.
- Up to 120 hearing environments and automatic transitions
- Rechargeable batteries last up to 61 hours per charge
- Bluetooth connectivity to both Android and iOS devices
- Telecoil wireless available in certain models for hearing in large public spaces and on your phone
- Nearly every type of hearing aid type, from larger and more powerful BTE to custom and virtually invisible ITC options
- Smartphone app for remote support and easy control
- Starting price: $1,599 per pair
- Type: BTE, RIC, ITE, ITC, completely-in-canal (CIC), invisible-in-the-canal (IIC)
- Hearing Loss: Mild to profound
- Battery: Disposable or lithium-ion rechargeable
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Telecoil: Yes
Philips is a brand with 125 years of innovation, with its HearLink hearing aids available at Costco since 2019. Philips HearLink BTE, RIC, and ITE models incorporate cutting-edge technologies to improve your hearing in various settings, while the smaller models (ITC, CIC, IIC) offer discreet fit with less tech advancements due to size.
The larger BTE, RIC, and ITE models use AI sound technology for clearer speech in noisy places—a unique feature compared to other Costco hearing aids. And the new HiFi Music feature intensifies musical beats so that you can better enjoy listening to your favorite tunes. To further enhance your music experience, use the Philips HearLink app’s streaming equalizer to adjust the sound settings.
The BTE and RIC HearLink hearing aids come with both telecoil and Bluetooth wireless functions, allowing direct audio streaming and volume control from your Bluetooth devices and clearer sound in public spaces with loop systems. The ITE only offers Bluetooth connectivity, and smaller models cannot fit either telecoil or Bluetooth technology. Some models let you choose between conventional or rechargeable batteries, and the rechargeable model lasts for a full day.
- Wide range of models to suit various hearing loss levels
- Rechargeable models have a full day of charge
- AI sound technology helps you hear speech more clearly in larger models
- Dual microphones assist in sound location and background noise reduction in all models
- BTE, RIC, and ITE models connect to Android and iOS devices
- Philips HearLink app provides remote control
- BTE and RIC both have Bluetooth and telecoil wireless technologies for direct audio streaming and enhanced hearing in some public venues
- Price: $1,699 per pair
- Type: RIC
- Hearing Loss: Mild to profound
- Battery: Disposable or lithium-ion rechargeable
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Telecoil: In some models
In 2021, GN Group swapped out its ReSound hearing aids with Jabra hearing aids. Both ReSound and Jabra are part of the GN Group, which has over 150 years in sound technology. Because GN manufactures both ReSound and Jabra hearing aids, they have similar advancements and features.
Costco carries the Jabra Enhance Pro RIC hearing aids that work for people with mild to severe hearing loss. The Enhance Pro hearing aids have a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 30 hours, so you only need to remember to charge it each night while you sleep.
Every model comes with Bluetooth technology, so you can accept calls hands-free from your hearing aids and stream music or TV from your Bluetooth stereo system. One model has both Bluetooth and telecoil, which is an excellent addition if you like to go to the theater, church, or other public space with a telecoil loop system, or if you use a landline phone.
Using the Enhance Pro smartphone app, you can speak with your Costco hearing specialist, make hearing adjustments, or control the volume of your hearing aids. There’s an Ultra Focus setting that helps reduce background noise so you can hear more clearly when talking to someone in a challenging environment.
- Rechargeable batteries last up to 30 hours on one charge
- Available in eight colors to match your skin tone or hair color
- All models have Bluetooth connectivity
- Some models have a telecoil
- Three microphones improve sound locating and create a natural sound experience
- Ultra Focus feature supports better hearing during one-on-one conversations
- Connects directly to iPhone and Android phones
- Enhance Pro smartphone app offers remote adjustments and hearing aid control
Online Alternatives to Costco Hearing Aids
- Price: $1,195–$1,995 per pair
- Type: RIC
- Hearing Loss: Mild to moderately severe
- Battery: Disposable or rechargeable
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Telecoil: Available with MultiMic accessory ($275)
Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids, which come in just one RIC model, are similar to what you’ll find at Costco. They come with either standard batteries (Jabra Enhance Select 50) or rechargeable batteries (Jabra Enhance Select 100 and 200), work for people with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, and offer Bluetooth for direct sound streaming. Additionally, ReSound manufactures Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids, so they offer a high-quality construction compared to some online hearing aids.
You’ll need to buy the Android Phone Clip+ ($199) to stream audio from your Android devices since they’re not compatible with Enhance Select 50 hearing aids.
Another similarity between Jabra Enhance and Costco hearing aids is a great trial period and warranty. The Jabra Enhance 100-day risk-free trial and a three-year warranty that includes loss and damage coverage is exceptionally generous for a direct-to-consumer brand and similar to what Costco offers.
One negative with Enhance Select hearing aids is that the traditional battery model doesn’t connect directly to Android phones, so you’ll need to buy the Android Phone Clip+ ($199) if you want to stream audio from your Android devices. Additionally, telecoil is only available if you pay for the MultiMic accessory ($275)—but know that this accessory and similar mics through Costco are valuable for improved hearing in challenging environments.
With a similar price point to multiple brands at Costco, the biggest perk with Jabra Enhance is that you don’t have to go to a physical store. Instead, you may take an online hearing test and use the Enhance Select app for future sound or setting adjustments.
See our full Jabra Enhance Select Hearing Aid Review.
Price: $99–$249 per pair
Type: In-the-canal (ITC)
Hearing Loss: Mild to moderate
Battery: Rechargeable
Bluetooth: No
Telecoil: No
If you’re looking for budget-priced hearing aids, Audien makes several types of these devices that could suit your needs. Audien’s Atom and Atom Pro hearing aids can improve your hearing at a fraction of the cost of other technology.
It’s important to note that Audien’s lower models, the EV1 and EV3, aren’t considered medical-grade hearing aids. Instead, they’re classified as PSAPs, or personal sound amplification products. That means the FDA considers them a different form of hearing device than a technical hearing aid. However, we reached out to Audien and learned that its top two models, the Atom and Atom Pro, are FDA-registered hearing aids.
The Atom and Atom Pro are both small devices that rest inside the ear canal. They use rechargeable batteries that utilize wireless charging pods. The Atom’s batteries last about 20–24 hours on one charge.
Due to the brand’s lower, budget-friendly price, Audien models may not have all the advanced hearing features you’re looking for, like Bluetooth or telecoil. But for many people, obtaining a medical-grade hearing aid at such a low cost is a real benefit. Audien hearing aids also come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
See our full Audien Hearing Aids Review.
- Price: $1,450–$2,950 per pair
- Type: CIC
- Hearing Loss: Mild to profound
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Bluetooth: Limited
- Telecoil: No
Eargo is a direct-to-consumer brand that manufactures nearly invisible hearing aids. These tiny hearing devices fit completely in the ear canal and have rechargeable batteries—something that you won’t find in the Costco hearing aids that are this small. Another difference is that Eargo’s CIC hearing aids don’t require custom fitting, so you can do everything from home, which is a great benefit if you don’t live near a Costco or have limited mobility.
As one of the only online suppliers of invisible hearing aids, Eargo made our list of the 10 Best Hearing Aids of 2023. We appreciate Eargo’s flexible, multilayered ear tips designed to fit most ear canals, along with the free non-working samples available so you can see if you find them comfortable before buying.
Eargo 6 is the brand’s first water-resistant model, you can sweat without worrying about damaging the device. It also has an extended two-year warranty while other Eargo models only have one-year coverage. Whichever model you choose, you’ll get a 45-day trial and lifetime support.
See our full Eargo Hearing Aid Review.
- Price: $299–699 per pair
- Type: BTE and ITC
- Hearing Loss: Mild to moderately severe
- Battery: Disposable or rechargeable
- Bluetooth: Limited (Volt Max only)
- Telecoil: Only in the Air model
MDHearing is a direct-to-consumer brand known for its affordable prices. With some models costing $299.99 per pair, MDHearing hearing aids are more affordable than Costco hearing aids. However, every one of the four MDHearing models is less advanced than the hearing aids at Costco. Plus, you must pay up to $14.99 per month for warranty coverage after the first year, or you won’t have any defect protection.
The Air hearing aid is the least expensive. While it doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities, it does have a built-in telecoil that helps you hear clearly in venues with a loop system, such as many concerts, movie theaters, and churches. But the Air doesn’t automatically adjust to hearing environments, it’s not water-resistant, and it doesn’t have rechargeable batteries.
The other three models—the Volt, Volt Max, and Neo—don’t have telecoils, but they are rechargeable with 15–20 hours of battery life The Volt Max is the only model with Bluetooth connectivity and a smartphone app, which allows you to adjust volume, switch environment settings, and receive remote fine-tuning adjustments from a hearing professional. However, it doesn’t allow Bluetooth streaming. If you want to stream audio and take hands-free calls, MDHearing is not the right choice as none of the hearing aids offer these features.
MDHearing devices lack customized sound settings to suit your unique level of hearing loss prescription, but they do carry a significant advantage in price. If you care more about price than features like Bluetooth or advanced sound technology, MDHearing is one of the best brands around.
See our full MDHearing Hearing Aid Review
Costco Hearing Aid Warranty and Trial Period
One of the biggest selling points of Costco for hearing aids is an incredibly generous six-month trial period. After buying hearing aids, you have six months to try them out. If you decide they aren’t working for you, the return policy allows you to return them for a full refund. Most other brands that we’ve researched offer return policies between 30 and 60 days.
According to a hearing specialist at Costco, most of the hearing aids have a three-year warranty covering defects and a two-year warranty that covers a one-time replacement in the event of loss or damage.
Things to Consider When Buying Costco Hearing Aids
Price
Costco hearing aids range in price from $1,599 to $2,600 per pair. Jabra Enhance and Philips are the more affordable options, while Rexton custom-molded hearing aids have the highest cost. Unfortunately, Costco doesn’t offer any monthly payment plans or financing options, so you’ll need to pay the total price upfront.
Wireless Features
Most Costco hearing aids come with Bluetooth, a telecoil, or both. Every Bluetooth hearing aid at Costco offers the following benefits:
- Direct connection with Android and iOS phones
- Hands-free phone calls
- An app for remote assistance and easy hearing aid control
- Optional accessories like mics and TV streamers
Telecoil is a wireless technology that’s been around much longer than Bluetooth. If you’ve worn hearing aids for years, chances are at least one of the pairs you’ve owned had a telecoil within. Telecoils are small wires inside your hearing aid that allow you to connect to hearing loops found in many public spaces, such as theaters, convention centers, and churches. Most landline and cellular phones also connect to hearing aid telecoils.
Because both Bluetooth and telecoil wireless technologies take up some space in hearing aids, you’re more likely to have both in larger BTE models. Smaller ITE hearing aids usually only have one or the other, and in some cases, neither.
The more severe your hearing loss, the more these wireless features can add to your hearing health and quality of life. When talking with a Costco hearing aid specialist, be sure to discuss these features to see if you should opt for a model with one, both, or neither.
Hearing Aid Type
Your level of hearing loss, ear canal shape, budget, and desired features will influence which type of hearing aid is best for you. When deciding between different styles of hearing aids, it’s helpful to speak with an audiologist or hearing aid specialist to ensure that you find a good fit.
Costco carries five hearing aid styles:
- Open fit: Often called receiver-in-ear (RIE) or receiver-in-canal (RIC), these hearing aids are best for mild to moderately severe hearing loss (or when hearing is partially normal).
- BTE: These are large and powerful hearing aids with a custom-fitted mold that works for mild to profound hearing loss and fits behind the ear.
- ITE: These are custom-molded hearing aids that fit inside of your outer ear and work for mild to severe hearing loss.
- ITC: These are nearly invisible hearing aids that are molded to your ear canal and suit mild to moderate hearing loss.
- CIC: The smallest hearing aid that’s invisible from the outside, CIC hearing aids are custom-molded to fit your ear and are best for mild to moderate hearing loss.
Warranty
Most Costco hearing aids have a three-year warranty covering defects and a two-year warranty for lost or damaged hearing aids. If you lose your hearing aids during the two-year warranty, you’ll get a free one-time replacement.
Battery Life
Hearing aids come in either conventional or rechargeable batteries. Whether you opt for conventional or rechargeable hearing aids, it’s helpful to know how long the batteries last.
With traditional disposable batteries, battery life typically increases with hearing aid size. Additionally, features like Bluetooth dramatically decrease battery life. You can expect these batteries to last between a couple of days to two weeks. We also recommend that you consider the cost of additional batteries over the life of your hearing aids.
Rechargeable hearing aids at Costco have a battery life of between one day and 61 hours. It’s the Rexton brand rechargeable hearing aids that have an incredibly long battery life, so you may want to choose Rexton if you don’t want to charge your hearing aids nightly.
Accessories
Advanced Bluetooth hearing aids can offer exceptional audio quality, but you’ll need wireless accessories to connect to non-smartphone devices. These include:
- TV streamers: These accessories allow you to stream sound from your television or stereo directly to your hearing aids.
- Remote microphones: Wireless microphones are great for improving conversational hearing in noisy environments. There are mics that you can give to your friend or family member when you’re at dinner, or even hand to your preacher or someone who’s giving a talk so you can hear them more clearly.
- Remote controls: While you can use your smartphone as a remote control for your Bluetooth hearing aids, you may prefer the simplicity of a wireless remote. These help you adjust the volume or switch sound settings without needing to have your phone out.
Other accessories that you may need with hearing aids include:
- Batteries for models that aren’t rechargeable
- Cleaning tools or cleaning kits
- Charging cases
- Hearing aid dryers
- Earwax filters
- Exchangeable dome tips for receiver-in-the-ear devices
Costco Hearing Aid Reviews
One of the best ways to get a sense of what to expect with a new hearing aid brand is to read through customer reviews. However, Hadassah Kupfer, Au.D., said to remember your experience could be different. “Your own experience will also depend on your level of hearing loss, and the particular hearing aid settings that you have received.”
On Consumer Affairs, Costco Hearing Aids received 4.1/5 stars with 122 ratings, although these reviews are from people who bought various brands at Costco.
When we read over these reviews, there wasn’t one brand that seemed to have more complaints than another. However, many positive reviews centered on the value of the Kirkland brand. Similarly, in a survey of over 17,000 Consumer Reports members, Kirkland came out on top for overall satisfaction when compared to 15 other hearing aid companies.
Why Should You Choose to Go with a Costco Hearing Aid?
Costco members who are looking for affordable hearing aids may want to explore purchasing their devices from this wholesale giant. There are plenty of options to choose from, and Costco does offer some services to help you maintain your hearing aids.
How We Reviewed Costco Hearing Aids:
We consulted audiologists and geriatric care experts in addition to independently testing various models. We read thousands of verified customer reviews and conducted exhaustive research.
Through this in-depth research, we determined the following to be the most important criteria to consider when shopping for a hearing aid:
- Price
- Types of hearing aids available
- Types of battery used
- Quick-charge options
- Types of hearing loss covered
- Bluetooth compatibility
- Audiologist care
- Comfort and fit
- Warranty
- Customer satisfaction
- Customer service
- Features such as bluetooth capability and rechargeable batteries
- Reliability
Bottom Line
Costco is one of the best places to buy affordable hearing aids, especially if you want high-end features. Costco offers some of the lowest-cost custom-fit and Bluetooth hearing aids, and there are models for people with mild to profound hearing loss.
Costco’s six-month trial period and warranties are also some of the most generous we’ve seen, both compared to in-person hearing clinics and online hearing aid providers. Every Costo hearing aid comes with a warranty for both defects, and loss and damage, which is another perk for shoppers who want to save money over time.
Another benefit of buying Costco hearing aids is that support doesn’t cost more money. So long as you’re a Costco member, you receive free cleanings, hearing tests, and follow-up appointments.
But there are some downsides that may lead you to choose another place to shop. For instance, if you want a pair of hearing aids for under $1,000, you’ll find a better fit with online brands like MDHearing. Additionally, you must go to Costco for an in-person consultation, and there isn’t any financing—two features nearly universal when buying online hearing aids.
Another potential drawback is that Costco’s staff cannot provide medical advice. Typically, you work with a hearing aid specialist at Costco, not a clinically trained audiologist. So if you need hearing medical advice or have a more complicated hearing loss, opt for a local audiologist’s office. Additionally, if one is already dissatisfied with their experience with hearing aids at Costco, they should consult with a private Doctor of Audiology who may be able to provide better results.
Another perk with a local audiologist is that they offer hearing aids with even more technological advancements. For instance, you’d need to visit a non-Costco hearing clinic to buy the tiniest hearing aid on the market, the Phonak Lyric. Independent audiologists have access to various hearing aid brands and styles, and they can advise you on the optimal setup for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
When we spoke with a hearing specialist at a Costco hearing center, we were told that it usually takes one week or less to receive your new hearing aids in the mail. However, if you order custom hearing aids designed to fit your ear’s anatomy, it may take closer to two or three weeks.
-
Costco does not accept insurance directly, but will provide documentation that you can use to try and obtain reimbursement from your insurance. Keep in mind that most insurance providers don’t cover hearing aids. To save money on a new pair of hearing aids, consider using a flexible spending account or health savings account if you have one.
-
Costco does use REMs. Also called, probe-microphone measurements, REMs allow audiologists or hearing specialists to confirm that your hearing aids work well inside your ears. REMs examine the acoustics, or sound pressure, in a patient’s ear when wearing a hearing aid. Our medical reviewer, Dr. Hadassah Kupfer, told us REM services “can significantly improve and customize your hearing aid settings. It can only be done in-person, never over the web.”
-
A Costco hearing test takes roughly one hour. You should find a local Costco Hearing Aid Center and make an appointment to avoid lengthy wait times or possibly being turned away.
-
Most Costco hearing centers do not have an in-house audiologist. Instead, the hearing aid specialists that help you have a state license for hearing tests, fittings, and consultations. Even the Costco locations with an audiologist are not allowed to give out medical advice. So if you require clinical hearing help, you’ll need to go somewhere else.
WRITTEN BY
Nicole is a freelance writer with a passion for wellness, nutrition, and healthy aging. Before entering the writing field, Nicole received her undergraduate degree in Organismal Biology from Scripps College and spent time as a nutrition coach. For the past seven years, Nicole has been a health writer for various wellness experts and publications, including Everyday Health, Health, and fitness icon Thomas Delauer. Much of Nicole’s research and writing work concentrates on healthy aging and sleep health. She uses her experience in biology and research skills to bring Aging In Place readers articles that improve health, wellness, and daily life.
View AuthorMEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Dr. Kupfer is an Audiologist and Hearing Aid Specialist in NYC, where she works with adults and older adults daily. In addition to diagnosing hearing loss, tinnitus and fitting cutting-edge hearing aids in her private practice, she serves as adjunct clinical faculty for the CUNY Audiology Doctoral Program.
View ReviewerDo you want to cite this page? Use our ready-made cite template.