Could You Get $1,000 Off Your Hearing Aids? What the New Federal Tax Credit Bill Means for Buyers

Hearing aids cost an average of $2,694 per pair across all purchase channels in the U.S., and as much as $8,000 or more for premium prescription devices from a traditional clinic. Original Medicare covers none of it. Private insurance coverage varies widely. And the existing medical expense deduction largely benefits higher earners who itemize their taxes.

That is the cost landscape Rep. Kevin Mullin introduced H.R. 7770 to address on World Hearing Day, March 3, 2026. Mullin, who is hard of hearing himself, introduced the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act targeting middle- and lower-income buyers with a direct, non-itemized federal tax credit. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and has drawn endorsements from six major professional organizations including ASHA, the American Academy of Audiology, and the Hearing Loss Association of America.

In this guide, we break down exactly what the bill proposes, who would qualify, the honest legislative history, what similar cost-saving tools already exist today, and which hearing aid brands offer the best value regardless of how the bill progresses. For a full picture of current hearing aid costs and what insurance covers, see our companion guides on 2026 audiology billing codes and hearing aid costs and Medicare Advantage vs. OTC hearing aids.

A federal tax credit of up to $1,000 for hearing aids could change the math for middle-income buyers. For now, HSA and FSA funds offer a similar benefit on purchases made today.

What H.R. 7770 Actually Proposes

The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act (H.R. 7770) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit against income tax for the purchase of hearing aids. The bill text, filed March 3, 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, specifies the following:

• Credit amount: Up to $1,000 per qualifying purchase of a hearing aid
• Eligible devices: Any FDA-authorized hearing aid for commercial distribution, including both prescription devices and OTC hearing aids meeting FDA standards under 21 CFR sections 874.3300 and 874.3305
• Frequency: The credit may be elected once every five years per individual
• Income targeting: Designed for middle- and lower-income earners; individuals with income exceeding $200,000 would not be eligible
• Dependents: Eligible for taxpayers purchasing a hearing aid for themselves or for a qualifying dependent
• Effective date: Would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026

A key distinction from the existing medical expense deduction: this would be a tax credit, not a deduction. Deductions reduce your taxable income; credits reduce your actual tax bill dollar-for-dollar. That makes the benefit significantly more meaningful for middle-income buyers who do not currently itemize deductions.

According to the bill’s press release, 94% of medical expense-related tax savings currently go to the top half of income earners, because the existing deduction is only available to those who file itemized returns. A non-itemized credit would extend meaningful federal support to the buyers who most need it.

Who Would Qualify

Based on the bill text and supporting congressional materials, eligible buyers would include:

• Adults purchasing an FDA-registered hearing aid for personal use with household income below $200,000
• Parents or guardians purchasing a qualifying hearing aid for a dependent child
• Buyers of both prescription and OTC hearing aids, provided the device meets FDA authorization standards

Devices that would not qualify include personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) and any amplifier not registered as an FDA-authorized hearing aid. This matters for buyers considering ultra-budget options: a $79 PSAP marketed as a “hearing aid” would not generate the credit. An FDA-registered OTC hearing aid like MDHearing, Audicus, or Jabra Enhance would.

The once-every-five-years election structure means the credit is designed for the initial purchase decision, not as a recurring annual benefit. For most buyers, this aligns naturally with the average hearing aid replacement cycle of five to seven years.

The Honest Legislative Reality

This is where we owe you a clear-eyed assessment that most coverage of this bill skips.

The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act is not a new concept. Virtually identical legislation has been introduced in multiple prior Congresses, including the 112th, 114th, and 115th, typically offering a $500 credit once every five years. In each prior session, the bill was introduced and referred to committee but never advanced to a floor vote. H.R. 7770 has doubled the proposed credit amount to $1,000, has secured a stronger coalition of endorsing organizations, and has the backing of a sponsor who is himself hard of hearing. None of that guarantees passage.

As of April 2026, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and has not yet received a committee hearing date. The current legislative environment, with a divided Congress focused on budget reconciliation and unrelated priorities, makes near-term passage uncertain.

What this means practically: Do not delay purchasing hearing aids you need today based on the expectation that this credit will become available. If the bill passes and is signed into law, it would apply to purchases made in tax year 2027 and beyond. Purchases made in 2026 would not be retroactively covered under the current bill text.

Who Is Behind the Bill

The breadth of professional endorsements for H.R. 7770 is notable and signals genuine cross-sector support within the audiology and hearing health community. Six major organizations have formally backed the legislation:

• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): Barbara Kelley, HLAA Executive Director, stated the bill “would provide meaningful financial relief” to income-qualified consumers purchasing prescription or OTC hearing aids.
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): ASHA 2026 President Linda I. Rosa-Lugo called the credit a step toward reducing “financial barriers that prevent people from obtaining essential communication devices.”
• American Academy of Audiology (AAA): President David Zapala called the credit “a great first step to removing barriers” in hearing health access.
• Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA): President Dr. Jill Davis stated that cost “remains a significant barrier for millions of Americans who need hearing aids.”
• American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS): CEO Rahul K. Shah cited untreated hearing loss risks including “dementia, depression, social isolation” as reasons to prioritize affordability legislation.
• Hearing Industries Association: The trade association representing hearing aid manufacturers also formally endorsed the bill.

The American Academy of Audiology noted that over 50 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, and that without intervention, untreated hearing loss is associated with substantially elevated risk of cognitive decline. A 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia prevention identified hearing loss as the largest potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia among adults under 45, underscoring the public health dimension of cost barriers to hearing aids.

What You Can Do Right Now to Reduce Hearing Aid Costs

Whether or not H.R. 7770 passes, several legitimate cost-reduction tools are available today. These are not contingent on legislation.

HSA and FSA: The Most Immediate Tax Benefit

All FDA-registered hearing aids, including OTC devices, qualify as eligible medical expenses under both Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts. Paying for hearing aids with pre-tax HSA or FSA dollars reduces your effective cost by 22 to 37% depending on your marginal tax bracket. This benefit is available to anyone with an HSA-eligible health plan or employer-sponsored FSA, and it applies to 2026 purchases right now.

For a buyer in the 22% tax bracket purchasing a $1,500 OTC hearing aid pair, HSA payment saves approximately $330. For a $4,000 prescription device purchase, the savings approach $880 in the same bracket. That is a meaningful benefit structurally similar to the proposed tax credit, available without waiting for legislation.

Medicare Advantage Hearing Benefits

If you are a Medicare beneficiary, approximately 97% of Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 include some hearing benefit, with allowances ranging from $500 to $2,500 or more per ear. This is the most significant available coverage for seniors and does not require any new legislation. Open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 each year. Our full breakdown of Medicare Advantage vs. OTC hearing aids explains how to evaluate your specific plan’s benefit.

VA Benefits

Veterans who qualify for VA healthcare may receive hearing aids and related services at no cost through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA is one of the largest purchasers of hearing aids in the U.S. and provides devices across all severity levels, including premium prescription devices that would cost $5,000 or more in the private market.

OTC Hearing Aids: Immediate Price Reduction Without Legislation

The 2022 FDA OTC hearing aid ruling already addressed a significant portion of the access problem by allowing adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to purchase hearing aids without a prescription or audiologist visit. OTC hearing aids from brands like MDHearing (from $297), Audicus (from $699), and Jabra Enhance deliver clinically meaningful improvement at a fraction of traditional clinic pricing. If H.R. 7770 passes, these devices would qualify for the credit. If it does not, they remain the most cost-effective option for mild to moderate hearing loss in 2026.

How the Credit Would Work for OTC vs. Prescription Buyers

The bill’s explicit inclusion of OTC hearing aids is significant. Prior versions of similar legislation focused primarily on prescription devices. H.R. 7770’s coverage of both categories reflects the post-2022 market reality and would specifically benefit middle-income buyers who choose OTC devices precisely because of cost constraints.

The proportional impact is greatest for OTC buyers. A $1,000 credit on a $297 device would, in effect, make that device free for an eligible buyer. For premium prescription devices, the credit is meaningful but covers a smaller percentage of total cost.

Which Hearing Aid Brands Would Qualify

Any FDA-authorized hearing aid for commercial distribution would qualify under the bill’s proposed definition. All of the following BestGuide-reviewed brands sell FDA-registered OTC hearing aids and would qualify under H.R. 7770 as currently written:

• SoundBright: telehealth model with remote audiologist access
• Audicus: from $699, Bluetooth-enabled with licensed audiologist support
• Jabra Enhance: top-rated OTC, from $1,195, 100-day trial
• Eargo: from $799, near-invisible canal-worn design
• Lexie Hearing: from $799, Bose-powered flagship at $999, available in-store
• MDHearing: from $297, lowest FDA-registered entry price with audiologist backup
• Ceretone: budget entry point under $300
• Audien: from $99, NCOA-recognized most affordable OTC brand
• Vivtone: from $199, Bluetooth on select models under $300

Note that PSAPs and non-FDA-registered amplifiers, including most devices priced under $100 that are not explicitly registered as OTC hearing aids, would not qualify under the proposed bill’s device definition.

Sources and Methodology

Legislative information in this article is sourced directly from the bill text of H.R. 7770 as filed March 3, 2026 (available via Tax Notes Research), the official press release from Congressman Kevin Mullin’s office, and prior versions of the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act documented in Congress.gov records from the 112th, 114th, and 115th Congresses. Hearing aid cost data draws from a 2025 HearingTracker survey of 1,733 U.S. buyers. Brand eligibility assessments reflect FDA registration status as of April 2026. Tax savings calculations assume standard federal income tax brackets and do not constitute tax advice.

Final Verdict: Should This Change Your Buying Decision?

The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act is the most substantial federal hearing aid affordability proposal in years, with a doubled credit amount, broad organizational endorsement, and a sponsor with personal standing on the issue. It deserves to be taken seriously as a potential policy development.

It is not yet law, and its legislative predecessors did not pass. Here is how to think about it depending on your situation:

• You need hearing aids now: Do not wait. The bill would apply to purchases in 2027 and beyond if passed. Use HSA or FSA funds to capture an equivalent tax benefit today. Compare current options at our full hearing aid company ranking.
• You have been delaying a purchase and can afford to wait: Monitor the bill’s progress in the House Ways and Means Committee. If it advances to a floor vote, that would signal a meaningful change in its prospects. Check our cluster of guides on hearing aid costs for updates as the legislative picture develops.
• You are on a fixed income with mild to moderate loss: OTC hearing aids from MDHearing at $297 or Audien from $99 give you meaningful improvement today. If the bill passes, they would also qualify for the $1,000 credit in a future purchase cycle.
• You are a Medicare beneficiary: The 2026 Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7) is a more immediate opportunity to reduce hearing aid costs than waiting for federal legislation. See our Medicare Advantage vs. OTC comparison for details.

Ready to compare your options? See our full, reviewed ranking of top hearing aid companies, including verified pricing and trial periods for brands that would qualify under the proposed credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a federal tax credit for hearing aids?
Not yet. The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act (H.R. 7770), introduced March 3, 2026 by Rep. Kevin Mullin, would create a credit of up to $1,000 for income-qualified buyers of FDA-registered hearing aids. As of April 2026, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and has not yet been passed into law. If enacted, it would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Who would qualify for the hearing aid tax credit?
Under H.R. 7770 as introduced, eligible buyers would be income-qualified individuals (households below $200,000 in income) purchasing an FDA-authorized prescription or OTC hearing aid for themselves or a qualifying dependent. The credit could be elected once every five years per individual. PSAPs and non-FDA-registered amplifiers would not qualify.

Is the $1,000 hearing aid tax credit available now?
No. H.R. 7770 is a bill in committee as of April 2026. It has not passed Congress or been signed into law. The existing tax benefit available now is the medical expense deduction for itemizers, or the use of pre-tax HSA or FSA funds, which effectively reduces hearing aid costs by 22 to 37% depending on your tax bracket.

What hearing aids would qualify for the proposed tax credit?
Any FDA-authorized hearing aid for commercial distribution would qualify under the bill’s current language, including both prescription hearing aids from audiologists and OTC hearing aids that meet FDA standards. Brands such as MDHearing, Audicus, Jabra Enhance, Eargo, Lexie Hearing, SoundBright, Ceretone, Audien, and Vivtone all sell FDA-registered OTC devices and would qualify. Devices that are not FDA-registered as hearing aids would not.