8 must-know facts about hearing aids and private health

23 Jul 2025

A hearing aid is applied to a woman's ear

In short

If you work in emergency services, you're more likely to experience hearing loss. This guide covers 8 key things to know about claiming hearing aids and repairs with Emergency Services Health.

It includes what’s covered, how much you can claim, waiting periods, how to submit claims, and extras like docking stations and school hearing devices—so you can make the most of your cover.

1. Hearing aids and coverage

The three most important thing to remember are that Emergency Services Health;

Only pays benefits for hearing aids where a member has been diagnosed with hearing loss
When the supply of a hearing aid is provided by or overseen by a recognised audiologist or recognised audiometrist,
It's part of our extras so you need to have our Rolling Extras or Gold Combined cover(read our FAQ here).

2. Waiting periods

There are waiting periods for hearing aids and hearing aid repairs. Emergency Services Health's waiting period for hearing aids is 12 months. Like all private health funds, Emergency Services Health has waiting periods for new members, including people transferring from another insurer when taking out a higher level of cover.

Waiting periods also apply to current members upgrading their cover.

You can learn more about waiting periods here.

3. How much you can claim for hearing aids with Emergency Services Health

If you have Emergency Services Health's Rolling Extras or Gold Combined cover, you can claim 80% of the cost of hearing aids, up to $1,200 over 5 calendar years*.

The five-year limit will increase from $1,200 to $1,800 per person, on your policy, after ten continuous years of Extras cover.

*All benefits may be subject to Waiting Periods, Limits and other conditions. Providers must be recognised by us. Review the cover tables on the Combined, Hospital and Extras pages, and your State Premium and Benefit Guide or contact us for more information.

4. What you can claim

Did you know that there's more you can claim than just hearing aids? This includes the following for rechargeable hearing aids;

Docking stations - used to securely hold and recharge hearing aids when they’re not in use, often while also drying or sanitising them
Charging stations - recharges the batteries of rechargeable hearing aids, typically by placing the aids in designated slots overnight
In addition you can claim devices that children require for school - specialised accessories that help them hear clearly in classroom settings, such as a Phonak Roger Device

5. How to claim

Emergency Services Health gives you a few ways to claim, the best ways are to;

Claim on the spot with HICAPS
Make a claim through the Emergency Services Health App or our Member Portal

If you want to receive your benefits faster, make sure you provide us with your bank account details so your benefit is paid directly to your bank account.

6. Hearing aid repairs

Like hearing aids, hearing aid repairs are part of our Extras cover so you'll need Rolling Extras or Gold Combined.

7. Here's some other helpful info

You can claim 80% of the cost of repairs (up to $100 per person)
Rollover benefits don't apply
When claiming, the claim needs to describe the repair being made to the hearing aid
Batteries and a general service are not considered a repair

8. How to claim

Like hearing aids, you have a few ways to claim on hearing aid repairs;

Claim on the spot with HICAPS
Make a claim through the Emergency Services Health App or our Member Portal