Hearing rebates & funding options
Hearing care funding can be confusing. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to access support through private health insurance, the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, DVA, or Medicare. We help you understand the common pathways — clearly and without jargon.
Quick guide
Private Health Insurance
May help with hearing aids, selected audiology consultations, repairs or hearing-related services. Benefits vary significantly between funds and policies — waiting periods, annual limits and claiming frequency apply.
See details ↓Hearing Services Program
Subsidised hearing assessments, hearing devices, fitting and ongoing support for eligible clients — including many Pensioner Concession Card holders and eligible DVA card holders.
See details ↓DVA
Hearing services and devices for eligible Veteran Card holders — Gold Card holders, or White Card holders where hearing loss or tinnitus is an accepted condition.
See details ↓Medicare
Selected diagnostic audiology services, or audiology under a GP care plan. Medicare does not usually cover hearing aid purchases — referral and item requirements apply.
See details ↓Rebate amounts and eligibility rules can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and should always be confirmed with your health fund or the relevant government program before proceeding.
Private health insurance rebates
Some private health insurance Extras policies may provide benefits for hearing aids, audiology consultations, hearing aid repairs or selected hearing-related services. The amount you can claim depends on your health fund, your level of cover, waiting periods, annual limits, provider recognition, claiming frequency and whether you have recently claimed for hearing aids.
Two people with the same health fund may receive very different benefits depending on their policy. Some policies only cover hearing aids; others include consultations or repairs; some don't include hearing benefits at all.
Publicly available examples
| Health fund / cover example | Hearing aid benefit example | Waiting period / frequency notes |
|---|---|---|
| ahm Super Extras | Up to $1,600 per person | 12-month waiting period; benefit applies every 3 financial years |
| ahm Family Extras | Up to $1,200 per person | 12-month waiting period; benefit applies every 3 financial years |
| Australian Unity Prime Extras | 80% back up to $1,500 per person | 12-month waiting period |
| Bupa Top Extras Boost | Up to $1,200 per person | 12-month waiting period; recognised provider and policy rules apply |
| HCF Top Extras | Up to $1,800 | Depends on loyalty and cover; 12-month waiting period; hearing aid benefits generally renew every 3 years |
| HCF Multicover Extras | Up to $1,600 | Check current product summary and eligibility |
| Medibank Top Extras | $400 / $800 / $1,200 | Depending on cover level; 36-month waiting period listed in current public product information |
| nib Top Extras | 75% of charge up to $1,200 per person | 36-month waiting period; two appliances every 5 years |
| Teachers Health Top Extras | $1,200–$1,800 per pair | $1,200 in years 1–5; $1,800 after 5+ years; 12-month waiting period; one pair every 3 calendar years |
The examples above are based on publicly available product information and are provided as a general guide only. They are not a guarantee of your personal rebate.
10 questions to ask your health fund
Before purchasing hearing aids or booking a service, we recommend asking:
We can help: Wang To Hear provides itemised invoices to assist with your private health insurance claim, and clear written quotes so you can check your expected rebate before proceeding.
Australian Government Hearing Services Program
The Hearing Services Program (HSP) provides subsidised hearing services and devices to eligible Australians. It may assist with hearing assessments, hearing devices, fitting services and ongoing support, depending on your eligibility and clinical needs.
You may be eligible if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident (or live on Norfolk Island), are aged 21 years or older, and meet one of the approved eligibility categories:
Please note: holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card alone does not automatically make someone eligible for the Hearing Services Program.
What the program may provide
If you choose a fully subsidised device that is clinically appropriate, there may be no device cost to you. If you choose a partially subsidised device, you pay the gap between the government subsidy and the device price.
2026–27 HSP schedule examples
| Schedule item | Amount |
|---|---|
| First assessment | $164.90 |
| Reassessment | $164.90 |
| Initial fitting with maintenance — one hearing aid | $527.35 |
| Initial fitting with maintenance — two hearing aids | $660.55 |
| Maintenance & battery supply — one hearing aid | $118.25 |
| Maintenance & battery supply — two hearing aids | $236.45 |
| Client maintenance co-payment | $55.55 |
| Client replacement co-payment | $48.35 |
These are program schedule and provider payment amounts — not cash rebates paid directly to clients. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your eligibility, device choice and clinical needs.
Pensioners: many Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for the HSP, which can make hearing care significantly more accessible. Please bring your Medicare card and Pensioner Concession Card to your appointment so we can guide you through the pathway.
DVA hearing support
The Department of Veterans' Affairs may provide hearing support for eligible Veteran Card holders. You may be able to access DVA-supported hearing services if you hold:
DVA support may include hearing assessments, hearing devices, assistive listening devices, repairs, parts and replacement services, depending on eligibility and clinical need. Some services or devices may require prior approval.
Please bring your DVA card to your appointment so we can guide you through the appropriate pathway.
Important: DVA advises clients not to privately purchase hearing devices before approval, as DVA may not reimburse devices that have already been purchased.
Medicare rebates for audiology
Medicare does not usually provide a general rebate for privately purchased hearing aids. However, Medicare may provide rebates for selected audiology services in specific circumstances.
Diagnostic audiology
Some diagnostic audiology services may be eligible for a Medicare rebate when performed by an eligible audiologist following a valid written request from a medical practitioner — for example, when your GP, ENT specialist or neurologist refers you for diagnostic hearing tests.
| Medicare item | Description | Current benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 82306 | Non-determinate audiometry | $17.85 |
| 82309 | Air conduction audiogram | $21.40 |
| 82312 | Air and bone conduction audiogram, or air conduction and speech discrimination audiometry | $30.30 |
| 82315 | Air and bone conduction audiogram with speech discrimination audiometry | $40.05 |
| 82318 | Air and bone conduction audiogram with speech discrimination and additional cochlear tests | $49.45 |
| 82324 | Impedance audiogram, including tympanometry and/or acoustic reflex testing | $16.30 |
Medicare item eligibility depends on the referral, clinical indication and item requirements.
Chronic condition management plan
Audiology may also be included under a GP chronic condition management plan for eligible clients with chronic and complex care needs. The current Medicare benefit for audiology item 10952 is $63.40.
This item generally requires a GP chronic condition management plan or eligible multidisciplinary care arrangement. The service must meet the item requirements, and limits apply across allied health services. Please bring your GP referral or care plan paperwork to your appointment so we can confirm whether audiology is included.
Important Medicare notes
What should I bring to my appointment?
To help us guide you properly, please bring any relevant cards or documents:
Rebates & funding FAQ
Can I claim hearing aids through private health insurance?
You may be able to claim part of the cost of hearing aids if your Extras policy includes hearing aid benefits. The amount depends on your health fund, level of cover, waiting periods, limits and claiming rules. Some publicly available examples range from around $400 to $1,800, depending on the fund and policy. Your personal rebate may be different.
Are pensioners entitled to free hearing aids?
Some eligible pensioners may access subsidised hearing services through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. The program includes fully subsidised hearing device options, where clinically appropriate. If you choose a partially subsidised device, an out-of-pocket gap payment may apply.
Does DVA cover hearing aids?
DVA may support eligible Veteran Gold Card holders and some White Card holders where hearing loss or tinnitus is an accepted condition. Some devices or services may require prior approval. DVA may not reimburse devices that have already been purchased privately without approval.
Does Medicare cover hearing aids?
Medicare generally does not cover the cost of hearing aids. Medicare may provide rebates for selected diagnostic audiology services or audiology services under an eligible GP chronic condition management plan.
Can I use private health insurance and government funding together?
This depends on your personal eligibility, your health fund rules and the type of government support involved. Some health funds may calculate benefits differently if a government subsidy has already been applied. Please confirm directly with your health fund before proceeding.
Can I claim hearing aid repairs?
Some private health insurance policies include benefits for hearing aid repairs, but this varies between funds and policies. Eligible HSP or DVA clients may also have access to maintenance, repairs or replacement support depending on their program eligibility and device arrangements.
Can I claim ear wax removal?
Private health insurance coverage for ear wax removal varies between funds and policies. Some clients may be able to claim selected audiology or ear-related services under Extras cover; others may not be covered. Medicare rebates for wax removal are limited and usually depend on whether the appointment meets specific referral or care plan requirements. We recommend checking with your health fund or GP before booking if claiming is important to you.