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Hearing aid insurance coverage in Canada
May 08, 2026
By Sun Life staff
Getting a hearing aid shouldn't mean choosing between your hearing health and your budget. Let's explore how you can get the support you need.
Key points:
- 1 in 5 Canadians aged 20-79 have hearing loss affecting speech, while rates rise significantly with age, reaching roughly 65% among those aged 70-79.
- Check your workplace benefits first – Sun Life group plans may already cover hearing aids, cochlear implants, hearing tests, fittings, repairs, and assistive devices
- Sun Life PHI plans offer additional coverage – Three tiers available (Basic, Standard, Enhanced) with reimbursement rates from 60-100% and maximum coverage from $400-$600 every 5 years
- All provinces and territories offer support programs – Coverage varies by location and eligibility, with some offering up to 75-100% coverage for eligible residents
The reality of hearing loss in Canada
If you've been asking people to repeat themselves more often, or your family jokes about the TV volume, you're not alone. According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey conducted by Statistics Canada, about 1 in 5 Canadians aged 20-79 have hearing loss affecting speech, while rates rise significantly with age, reaching roughly 65% among those aged 70-79.
How much do hearing aids cost in Canada?
In Canada, hearing aid prices vary significantly based on technology level, features, and the type of device you need.
Typical hearing aid costs
- Basic models: $1,000 - $2,000 per ear
- Mid-range models: $2,000 - $3,500 per ear
- Premium models: $3,500 - $6,000 per ear
What affects the price?
- Technology level – Advanced features like Bluetooth connectivity, noise reduction, and automatic environment adjustment increase costs
- Style and size – Smaller, more discreet devices often cost more than larger models
- Brand and manufacturer – Established brands with proven technology may command higher prices
- Professional services – Audiologist consultations, fittings, adjustments, and follow-up care are typically included
Additional costs to consider
- Batteries or charging accessories: $50 - $200 per year
- Cleaning supplies and maintenance: $50 - $100 per year
- Repairs after warranty expires: $100 - $500 depending on the issue
- Replacement earmolds: $100 - $200 per set
Since most people need hearing aids for both ears, total costs often range from $2,000 to $12,000 – which is why leveraging your workplace benefits and provincial programs can make a significant difference in your out-of-pocket expenses.
Does insurance cover hearing aids in Canada?
Before diving into provincial programs and private insurance, it’s worth checking what you may already have through your workplace benefits.
If you have a Sun Life group benefits plan, you may already have coverage for:
- Hearing aids and replacement devices
- Cochlear implants and processors
- Hearing tests and assessments
- Fittings, repairs, and maintenance
- Assistive devices like FM systems and telephone amplifiers
- Not sure what your plan covers?
- Sign in to my Sun Life to view your coverage details instantly
- Check your plan benefit booklet for specific limits and eligibility
Many Sun Life plans also include Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) or Wellness Accounts that give you flexibility to use funds for hearing-related expenses your base plan might not cover.
Does Sun Life cover hearing aids?
If you don't have coverage through a workplace group plan, or if you're looking to enhance your existing coverage, Sun Life offers Personal Health Insurance (PHI) plans that include hearing aid benefits.
Hearing aid coverage through Sun Life PHI plans
PHI plans are available in three tiers, each offering different levels of coverage for hearing aids:
| Plan Level | Reimbursement Rate | Maximum Coverage | Coverage Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 60% | $400 | Every 5 years |
| Standard | 100% | $500 | Every 5 years |
| Enhanced | 100% | $600 | Every 5 years |
These plans can work independently or complement your existing group coverage, helping you bridge any gaps in your hearing health needs. PHI gives you the flexibility to choose coverage that matches your specific situation and budget.
Want to learn more? Visit Sun Life's personal health insurance page to explore plan options and get a quote tailored to your needs.
Provincial and territorial support programs for hearing loss
In Canada, your province or territory may offer additional coverage on top of your workplace benefits. Here's what's available for each province or territory:
Ontario
Who's covered: All eligible residents can get partial coverage through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP).
What's covered:
- Hearing aids (75% of cost up to $500)
- Frequency Modulation (FM) systems
- Cochlear implant replacement processors
- Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) sound processors with abutments
- Teletypewriters and signaling devices
Quebec
Who's covered:
- Children 11 and under with hearing impairment
- Teens 12-18 with 25+ dB hearing loss
- Students 19+ with 25+ dB loss (pursuing recognized education)
- Adults 19+ with 35+ dB loss in better ear
- Anyone whose hearing loss affects work, study, or social life
What's covered: Full coverage for hearing aids, repairs, adapted alarm clocks, telephone amplifiers, and teletypewriters
British Columbia
Who's covered:
Children under 19 and low-income adults through specific policies.
What's covered:
- Up to $2,000 per ear (3-year replacement cycle for adults, 2-year for children)
- Repairs and maintenance
Alberta
Who's covered:
- Children and teens under 18
- Full-time students 18-24
- Low-income residents 18-64 - Residents 65+ (or spouse/dependant with hearing loss)
What's covered: 75% of hearing aid costs up to $1,200, replacements every 5 years
Saskatchewan
Who's covered: Residents with Supplementary Health Benefits or Family Health Benefits
What's covered: Audiology services, hearing aids, and 30% of replacement costs for lost/broken devices (if over 20)
Manitoba
Who's covered: Children and teens under 18
What's covered: 80% of costs for hearing aids (up to $500 per ear), dispensing fees, and earmolds
Learn more about Children's Hearing Aid Program * link not working here, please provide another one :)
Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)
Who's covered:
- Students up to 21 (all provinces)
- Children under 18 in NL through the Provincial Hearing Aid Program (PHAP)
- Adults in financial need in NL through the PHAP
What's covered:
Special audiology care and discounted devices through APSEA; hearing aids through Newfoundland and Labrador's PHAP.
For more information, please consult these resources:
- APSEA Additional Services
- NL Provincial Hearing Aid Program
- PEI offers free hearing assessments
Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
Who’s covered: All territorial residents are covered for medically necessary hearing-related care. Extended coverage for hearing devices is primarily available to seniors, children, low-income residents, and indigenous people through territorial Extended Health Benefits programs or the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program.
Learn more about Yukon hearing servicesLearn more about NWT/Nunavut programs
Provincial information accurate as of publication date. Contact your local program for current details.
How can you maximize your hearing loss coverage?
The smartest approach is to layer your benefits:
- Start with your workplace plan – This is often your primary coverage
- Add provincial support – Use government programs to cover gaps or additional costs
- Explore HSA or Wellness Account funds – These flexible accounts can cover what other benefits don't
Don't let cost prevent you from addressing hearing loss. You have more resources available than you might think.
Ready to explore your hearing loss support options?
- Sign in to my Sun Life to review your current coverage
- Talk to your HR department about your workplace benefits
- Contact your provincial program to understand local support
You don't have to figure it out yourself. Get personalized guidance on coordinating workplace plans, HSAs, provincial support, and personal health insurance when you speak with a Sun Life advisor.
Your hearing health matters. Let's make sure you have the support to protect it.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice or a substitute for that advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific situation.
Who could be covered?
Residents in one of these situations:
- You have a workplace disability.
- You’re a parent who’s hard of hearing.
- You’re a dependent child whose family is getting premium assistance through the Medical Services Plan.
- You have a hearing loss and provide sole support for an adult with a cognitive impairment. This means trouble remembering, learning new things or making everyday decisions.
- You’re hard of hearing and are registered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
What could be covered?
- Hearing instruments
- Bone-anchored hearing aids
- Cochlear implants and repairs
How much could be covered?
The province could cover the cost of these devices if other resources – like private insurance, PharmaCare, WorkSafeBC, Veterans Affairs Canada – can’t help you.
Visit Medical equipment - hearing instruments to find out how to apply.
Who could be covered?
- Children and teens under 18
- Full-time students at a college or a university, ages 18 to 24
- Residents aged 18 to 64, with a low income
- Residents who are 65 years or older – either you, your spouse or an adult dependant have hearing loss
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids, replacements and repairs
How much could be covered?
- Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) could pay 75% of the cost of a hearing aid. This applies to hearing aids that are worth up to a maximum of $1,200.
- Residents could get coverage for one or two hearing aids once every 5 years. However, seniors with high incomes may only get coverage for one hearing aid every 5 years.
- Visit Benefits covered to find out how to apply.
Who could be covered?
- Children under age 16 with chronic diseases
- Military veterans
- Seniors on Pharmacare
- First Nations people eligible for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids
How much could be covered?
You may be able to get help from one of these sources:
- Health Canada for First Nations
- Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board for workers
- Up to $600 for one hearing aid for seniors on Pharmacare through the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan
- Chronic Diseases for children under age 16
- Blue Cross Health Insurance for military veterans
For more info, visit Hearing services.
Who could be covered?
- First Nations people eligible for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program
- Non-Aboriginal seniors
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids and repairs
How much could be covered?
- First Nations people could get up to $575 for hearing aids and $125 for specific repairs.
- Non-Aboriginal seniors may get hearing aids through the Extended Health Benefits for Seniors Program.
Who could be covered?
- Residents covered under Supplementary Health Benefits and Family Health Benefits
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids
- Hearing tests
- A lost or broken hearing aid
How much could be covered?
- Audiology services, hearing aids and certain supplies.
- If you’re over 20, 30% of the cost of replacing a lost or broken hearing aid.
Visit Supplementary health benefits to find out how to apply.
Who could be covered?
- Children and teens under 18
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids
- Dispensing fees
- Earmolds
- Ear impressions
How much could be covered?
- Children’s Hearing Aid Program could cover 80% of the cost of these items.
- Hearing aids to a maximum of $500 per ear.
Visit Children's Hearing Aid Program to find out how to apply.
Who could be covered?
- All residents
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids
- FM systems
- Cochlear implant replacement speech processors
- Replacement of BAHA sound processors with abutments
- Printing teletypewriters
- Non-printing teletypewriters
- Message-signalling devices
How much could be covered?
- 75% of the cost to a set maximum. For example, 75% of the cost of a hearing aid up to $500.
Visit Assistive devices program to find out how to apply.
Who could be covered?
- Children aged 11 and under with a hearing impairment
- Teens aged 12 to 18 with a hearing loss of at least 25 dB in one ear
- Students aged 19 and up, with a hearing impairment of at least 25 dB in one ear and earning a diploma, certificate or attestation recognized by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur
- Residents aged 19 and up with a hearing loss of a least 35 dB in their better ear
- Anyone with a hearing loss or impairment that affects their ability to work, study or socialize
What could be covered?
- Hearing aids
- Hearing aid replacements and repairs
- Adapted alarm clocks
- Telephone amplifiers
- Teletypewriters
How much could be covered?
- Full coverage for these items. To qualify, you must have a hearing loss of a certain decibel (dB) – that’s the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound.
Visit Hearing aids to find out how to apply.
Who could be covered?
- Students up to age 21 (in all Atlantic provinces)
- Children under 18 in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Adults in financial need in Newfoundland and Labrador
What could be covered?
- Hearing devices
How much could be covered?
- Students could get special audiology care and a price discount on hearing devices through the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) program. Visit APSEA - Additional services for more info.
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Hearing Aid Program (PHAP) offers hearing aids for children, full-time students and adults with low incomes.
- All Prince Edward Islanders could get free hearing assessments.
This provincial and territorial subsidy information is accurate as of May 1, 2019. Please contact your provincial or territorial program for the most up-to-date information.
Does your employee benefits plan cover hearing loss?
Looking for more assistance than what your province offers? Check if your workplace benefits include supplemental health care or a health spending account. These benefits might help pay for medical expenses such as hearing aids, which your province or territory may not cover. Ask your HR department what your workplace benefits offer.
If your plan is with Sun Life, call the Customer Care Centre, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can also find more information about your employee coverage details in your plan benefit booklet or by signing in to your my Sun Life account.
All of the content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, or a substitute for that advice.
