Do you need hearing aid insurance?
Hearing aids are small, valuable and worn every day, which makes them easy to lose or damage. They can be knocked off when removing a mask or jumper, left in a pocket and put through the wash, dropped in the garden, or chewed by a curious dog. Whether you need separate insurance depends on what cover you already have and how you would feel about replacing an aid yourself.
It helps to start by understanding the three different kinds of protection that people often confuse: a warranty, manufacturer loss and damage cover, and insurance.
Warranty, loss and damage cover, and insurance: what is the difference?
| Type of protection | What it usually covers | What it usually does not |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer warranty | Faults in materials or workmanship during the warranty period | Loss, theft or accidental damage |
| Manufacturer loss and damage cover | Where offered, a limited replacement for loss or damage, often once and with an excess | Repeated claims or claims after the cover period ends |
| Home contents or gadget insurance | Loss, theft or accidental damage, depending on the policy | Anything excluded in the small print, such as items left unattended |
Terms vary between manufacturers and insurers, so treat this table as a general guide and always read the details that apply to you.
Adding hearing aids to home contents insurance
For many people, home contents insurance is the simplest option. Hearing aids are usually worn outside the home, so the key is making sure they are covered away from the house, not only in it.
What to check
- Personal possessions cover. This optional add-on covers items you take out of the home. Without it, an aid lost on a walk or at the shops may not be covered.
- Single item limit. Many policies cap how much they will pay for any one item. If your hearing aids are worth more than that limit, you may need to list them separately as a specified item.
- Accidental damage. Check whether damage such as dropping or washing is covered, as this is not always included as standard.
- New for old. Find out whether the insurer would pay for a like-for-like replacement or deduct an amount for age and wear.
- The excess. If the excess is high compared with the value of one aid, a claim may not be worthwhile.
- Proof of purchase. Keep your receipt, invoice and the serial numbers of your aids, which you can usually find on the invoice or ask your audiologist for.
- Pets. Some policies exclude damage caused by pets. If you have a dog, this is worth checking.
- Claims effect. A claim may affect your premium or no-claims history in future years.
Travelling with hearing aids
If you are going abroad, check whether your travel insurance covers hearing aids, and whether any limit for valuables or personal belongings is high enough for their value. Keep your aids in your hand luggage rather than a checked bag, and take spare domes, filters and your charger or batteries with you.
Manufacturer loss and damage cover
Some hearing aid manufacturers include a form of loss and damage cover with new hearing aids for a limited period. Typically, this allows a one-off replacement if an aid is lost or damaged beyond repair, usually with an excess to pay. The length, conditions and excess vary by manufacturer and by product, and not every hearing aid includes it.
If you are buying new aids, ask your audiologist whether the manufacturer’s cover applies to the model you are choosing and what the conditions are. You can then decide whether you also need to arrange insurance for the period after it ends.
Standalone hearing aid or gadget insurance
Some insurers offer standalone cover for hearing aids, or for gadgets and medical devices more generally. Before buying, compare the cost and excess with simply adding the aids to your home insurance, and check the same points as above: cover outside the home, accidental damage, how replacement works and any exclusions.
Sutton Hearing Care does not sell insurance or give insurance advice, so for policy details speak directly to your insurer or an independent broker.
Simple ways to avoid losing hearing aids
- Always put your aids in their case or charger when they are not in your ears, never in a pocket or tissue.
- Remove masks, scarves and jumpers slowly, and check both aids afterwards. See our guide to hearing aids and glasses for mask tips.
- Keep aids out of reach of dogs, which are often attracted to them.
- Check the hearing aid app, if you use one, as some can show where the aids were last connected to your phone.
- Consider a retention cord or sport lock if you are active.
Hearing aid warranty and aftercare at Sutton Hearing Care
Every pair of hearing aids we supply in Streetly includes a 5-year manufacturer warranty against faults and 5 years of aftercare, covering adjustments, cleaning and servicing. That warranty protects you against faults, so insurance is about the separate risk of loss or accidental damage.
If you have damaged a hearing aid, bring it to us. Our hearing aid repairs service covers most makes, including aids bought elsewhere, and we can tell you whether it can be repaired. To find out more about the cost of hearing aids and what is included, see our hearing aid prices, call 0121 369 0780, or book a free hearing test.