Hearing aids
Being able to hear well is important to feel good and live your life the way you want. Sometimes a hearing aid is needed for this. The good news is that health insurance (partially) reimburses this.
The reimbursement varies according to your age and the type of 'equipment': in one ear (mono), in both ears at the same time (stereo), or in the ear not yet equipped (contralateral).
Health insurance reimbursement
- Any contracted hearing care professional can deliver a quality hearing aid at the fixed rates below.
- Anyone who does not receive an increased allowance will receive a reimbursement that is 25% lower from a non-contracted hearing care professional.
- The excess is higher if you purchase the device from a non-contracted hearing care professional , unless you are entitled to the increased allowance . If you choose a more sophisticated device, you will pay a supplement on top of the excess.
Hearing aid prescription
Contact an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to have your hearing tested. If the tests show that there is enough hearing loss to qualify for reimbursement, the doctor will write a prescription to test one or more hearing aids.
Contact a hearing care professional . Hand over the prescription from the ENT specialist and fill in the questionnaire . The hearing care professional will help you choose the right device. When you get your first device, you will use a trial device for at least 28 days. When you renew, the trial period is at least 14 days. A test report will be drawn up stating the actual hearing gain.
You submit the test report and the completed questionnaire (if applicable) together with the prescription to the ENT specialist. He or she will prescribe a hearing aid if necessary .
Approval of the consulting physician
Before you buy a hearing aid, the application for a refund must be submitted to the CM advisory physician. This application consists of:
- an application form with both prescriptions from the ENT specialist (for testing the hearing aid(s) and for the hearing aid itself)
- the test report of the hearing care professional
- the completed questionnaire (if applicable)
The consulting physician will communicate his decision in writing to you and your hearing care professional.
Hearing aid placement
After permission from the consulting physician, have your permanent hearing aid fitted by the audiologist.
You will then receive :
- a certificate of delivery, read by you and signed in agreement and intended for CM.
- a detailed document to be kept by you, stating the reimbursement by the health insurance, the personal contribution and the supplements.
Refund request
After delivery of the final hearing aid, CM will investigate your request for reimbursement. This can be done as soon as we have in our possession:
- the certificate of delivery
- the application form with the approval by the consulting physician
How much will you get back?
Hearing aid on one ear
fee: 1,451.56 euros
refund: 1,451.56 euros
deductible: 0 euros
Hearing aid on both ears
fee: 2,875.21 euros
refund: 2,875.21 euros
deductible: 0 euros
Contralateral hearing aid
fee: 1,423.65 euros
refund: 1,423.65 euros
deductible: 0 euros
Hearing aid on one ear
fee: 940.31 euros
refund: 884.59 euros
excess: 55.72 euros
Hearing aid on both ears
fee: 1862.54 euros
refund: 1751.01 euros
excess: 111.53 euros
Contralateral hearing aid
fee: 922.23 euros
refund: 866.51 euros
deductible: 55.72 euros
Hearing aid on one ear
fee: 893.24 euros
refund: 837.52 euros
excess: 55.72 euros
Hearing aid on both ears
fee: 1769.30 euros
refund: 1657.77 euros
excess: 111.53 euros
Contralateral hearing aid
fee: 876.06 euros
refund: 820.34 euros
excess: 55.72 euros
Then you pay a supplement on top of the excess.
Example : you are 66 years old and buy hearing aids for both ears, total price 2,000 euros. If the conditions are met, you will receive a refund of 1,604.20 euros and you will pay 573.21 euros yourself. Of this, 107.92 euros is the statutory excess; the rest (465.29 euros) are supplements.
What are the conditions?
- You received prior approval from the CM consulting physician (also when purchasing a hearing aid in a neighboring country).
- You have a hearing loss of at least 35 decibels (since June 1, 2024) in the ear for which you need a hearing aid.
- The device provides at least 5 decibels of hearing gain (in some situations, only the added value of the device needs to be demonstrated). With a second hearing aid, there must also be sufficient improvement in 'directional hearing'. You prove this with a localization test in which you can indicate more precisely where the sound is coming from with the second device.
- The device is on the list of products eligible for refund.
- The follow-up (checking and adjusting your device) is included in the price you paid for the device. For manufacturing defects, the audiologist offers a two-year warranty. This does not apply to cables, back ear pieces and molded hearing pieces.
- A new refund is only possible after three years (if under 18 years of age) or five years (if over 18 years of age), unless in exceptional situations after approval by the consulting physician.
Important
- The above procedure also applies when purchasing a hearing aid in a neighbouring country.
- BUT: without prior approval from the consulting physician, no reimbursement is possible. A foreign hearing care professional may not be sufficiently familiar with the Belgian regulations to fully comply with them. In that case, there is a risk that one of the conditions is not met.
- BUT: the refund for a purchase abroad may differ from a purchase in Belgium. After all, you are buying from a provider without a RIZIV agreement.
- If no device is delivered after the mandatory test period because it does not provide a solution for your hearing problem, the audiologist can charge a flat rate for the material costs incurred. The health insurance provides a refund for this so that in many cases you do not pay a deductible.
