Hearing Aid Funding Options

Information supplied by Capital and Coast District Health Board

Costs of hearing aids

The cost of purchasing a hearing aid or aids is dependent on wide range of reasons.  These can include: 

• The degree of hearing loss
• The type of hearing loss
• The different environments that the hearing aid will be used in
• The wearer’s personal preference
• The number of hearing aids needed

The costs associated with hearing aids have been affected by the advances in technology during the past decade.  Broadly speaking, hearing aid costs can be broken up into the following categories:

• Basic Aids: $2,000 to 3500.00

• Mid range: $3000 to 6000

• Advanced: $5500 to 8000

Free children’s hearing aids (Ministry of Health)

Children under the age of 18 (or under the age of 21 if still in full time education) receive free hearing aids and fittings through a provision in the health system known as the special aid fund. This also includes children who are deaf from birth.

Adult funding options

Universal hearing aid subsidy

A basic subsidy of $500 per aid is available every six years to all adults who require hearing aids.  It is available for new and replacement hearing aids.

Accident compensation corporation (ACC)

Phone:  0800 101 996.  ACC may be able to help if you fit their eligibility criteria.  They are able to assist if the hearing loss is a result of any of the following:

• Exposure to a noisy work environment
• Exposure to a sudden, extremely loud noise
• Sudden accident

ACC doesn’t cover congenital hearing loss, age-related or illness-related hearing loss. 

To apply for ACC funding, contact your general practitioner who can initiate a claim for you.  If you do think you have a hearing loss associated with noise exposure you should act quickly even if you don’t think you need a hearing aid when you make your claim. It may be very difficult to prove the hearing loss was caused by noise exposure alone if you claim later.

War Pension

Phone 0800 553 003, Fax: 0508 402 402.  Hearing aids and other hearing assistance devices such as amplified telephones are available to veterans who have a hearing disability as a result of their military service.  To claim this funding you must complete a War Pensions Disability Application Form which is available from the War Pensions Services.  The war pension funding covers the following:

• Audiologist fees
• The cost of the aids (up to a certain limit)
• Cost of repairs
• A battery allowance
• Replacement aids

Accessable

• Hearing Aid Funding Scheme: the price of the hearing aid is paid by the Ministry for eligible adults and children
• Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme: the subsidy of $511.11 (incl GST) is paid by the Ministry towards the cost of each hearing aid for eligible adults

For more information contact Accessable
Phone: 09-620 1700, Freephone 0508-001 002, Fax: 09-609 1702.
E-mail: hearing@accessable.co.nz
www.accessable.co.nz./hearing

WINZ (Work and Income Support)

Phone: 0800 559 009. A WINZ subsidy is now available to anyone. $500 per aid.

Hearing aid bank

The New Zealand Audiologist Society and the Wellington Hearing Association jointly administer a hearing bank for those people who are unable to affording hearing aids and are ineligible for other funding.  Your audiologist will be able to help you access this funding should you require it.