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Buying Hearing Aids: ENT Audiologist vs. Costco

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That was exactly my thinking in moving to Costco, except I’d say that the entry model at the audiologist is 2.5 times as expensive as the top-of-the-line model at Costco. For like top-of-the-line models, the audiologist is more like 4x the Costco price. Hard to justify, to me, anyway.

Edited

2015: offers hearing aids for $5000 I decline

2015: purchase Rexton hearing aids at Costco, $2400 tops

2023: purchase Jabra hearing aids at Costco, $1600 and got some money back through insurance

Today, 2026: still haven’t spent $5000

Costco: free follow ups. Free supplies (non-battery). Free maintenance if you don’t . Free warranty repairs. Free adjustments

biased towards Costco

I’ve had both. At first the audiologist sold me top tier hearing aids when I had minor hearing loss. I replaced them twice with Costco hearing aids, they were great-reasonably priced spectacular warranty and lasted 5 years+ each pair. As my hearing got worse, the Costco aids didn’t serve me as well. I researched Costco aids and comments here and got Oticon Intent 1. It has made a significant difference. I hear better, the programs make a difference in clarity, and I can hear the TV at volume 8 instead of 14. They were 3 times more expensive, but I have no buyers remorse.

Same as the chicken. At first, it seems like an incredible deal. But, for $2 more at Sprouts ——

Thank you everyone for your helpful comments and insights on this topic—I really appreciate the time and perspectives shared. It was very useful to hear both sides (/Audiologist vs. Costco).

Let me share my personal journey, which might help others:

  • I was first tested in 2013 and had mild hearing loss.

  • I tried hearing aids through an ENT/audiologist (~$7,000) with a 3‑month return option. I returned them and paid about $700.

  • In 2022, I got Costco KS10 and slowly started wearing them. (I have still have them as backup)

  • About two years ago, I switched to Philips 9050, which I now use daily.

  • My hearing has slightly improved, and my overall experience has been positive.

What made a big difference for me:

  • I started using a TV adapter, which significantly improved speech clarity while watching TV.

  • I also began using transmitters (brands like Avantree, Moerlink, Homuspot), especially when traveling to hear hotel TVs.

  • We even had Auracast installed at our town hall for public meetings, which has been very helpful.

My takeaway

It appears that both options can work well:

  • ENT/Audiologist route: Good for those who can afford it directly or through insurance.

  • Costco route: A very practical and effective option for those without insurance coverage.

I chose the Costco route and I’m happy with my decision.

Additional resources I found helpful

Apps / Online:

Book:

I’ve also been reading more about the connection between hearing loss and cognitive health, which highlights the importance of addressing it early. There’s no need to feel bad about having hearing loss—taking steps to manage it and being open about it with others is perfectly okay.

Thanks again to everyone—this discussion has been very helpful!

I’m sorry about the above posts where I repeated my posts a few times. I was trying to figure out how to use quotes from earlier posts to respond to a sentence or two, and didn’t realize I had repeated myself. (I am 87 and things don’t come easily)

I am beginning to change my mind about Costco. After reading many posts about Costco, I’ve decided that the 100 miles drive may be worth saving a couple of thousand dollars. I’m still driving and the mileage is probably not too far for me. (my wife of 80 says she may need to be tested for hearing loss soon - we have to repeat things a lot day after day, so she will go with me.

I’ve looked all over the place here for a clinic that follows “best practices”, but I can’t find one. ( I looked at Hearing Up by Dr. Cliff, and there is one here, but it does not honor my Advantage 75). So its very frustrating. The last place I called, the lady didn’t know much at all. I had to explain to her what “locked aids” were, and then when I asked a few questions, such as warranty period, trial period, and price range, she said she would check and call me back. But she never did. (I wish these clinics would take a few hours explaining the terminology to the secretaries who answer the phone in these hearing clinics)

So, now all I have to do is wait a few weeks for the war with Iran to end (and fix the Strait of Hormuz) so that the price of gas will drop below $4.00 again. (ha ha) Either that or to wait until Costco builds a warehouse somewhere is SW Virginia where I am. (The nearest Costco is in Greensboro, NC)

If someone has a better suggestion, then I’ll be glad to hear it.

Driving 100 miles to save a few thousand dollars makes sense. But, it could end up being a repetitive trip that could turn in driving a few thousand miles with a saving of a few hundred dollars. Or, a big pain with no saving at all.

My advice, find an audiologist that you can have easy access to.

Also, don’t wait for the war to end. Might be a long wait.

In reply to @comeagain

I’m 84, so I appreciate technical (and electronic) challenges. One other thing about Costco: I tried both the Jabra Pro 30 and Philips Hearlink 9050 hearing aida at my local Costco (a 40 minute drive) and concluded that the fitters there couldn’t set them up to allow me to hear and understand my wife, my grandkids, guests at the museum where I volunteer or high school students at STEM competitions. I would up going back and forth to Costco every week or two for 6 months before I decided to “bite the bullet” and go to an audiologist clinic (30 minutes away) in hopes of being able to get new hearing aids (Oticon) fit satisfactorily. Yes, the cost is MUCH greater, but at this age, these are probably the last hearing aids I’m going to be around to get, so they are worth it. I can’t tell you the results yet because I have the initial fitting with the new hearing aids next week. Good luck, just be aware, that getting fitted at Costco could involve a number of trips.

@Lour said:

Good luck, just be aware, that getting fitted at Costco could involve a number of trips.

As it can with any hearing aid fitting. Well written post, thanks

I am curious how the Oticons do for you. Not knowing your has us at a disadvantage understanding the fitters challenge.

Thanks for the response and recommendations.

Correct me if I’m wrong. Jabra Enhance are obtainable and are among the best rated. They also have a 3 year warranty, plus unlimited appointments and adjustments via easy-to-use app, according to their website. Also a 100 day risk free trial, all of which sounds very good to me.

That seems to be my first choice for now, unless I decide to soon take the trip to Costco. Speaking of Costco, what is your opinion if I decide to call, tell of my situation and need for just 1 or 2 trips at most, and see if they can set me up to possibly be fitted in the first trip there? Do you think they would accomodate an old geezer like me?

Just remember that the Jabra are easily , you could also consider this, of course not for everyone but it’s not hard,with a bit of research and reading the user guides most people can successfully fulfill a project.

Can anyone comment on the remote adjustments of hearing aids through Costco?

I remember having my aids / account set to allow remote adjustments but never did that.

To avoid confusion, Jabra Enhance Select 700 are aids. Jabra Enhance Pro 30 are prescription aids. OTC is for mild to moderate hearing loss. The prescription aids can be programmed if interested. That can be handy even for small tweaks if far from Costco.

Let Costco know that you travel from far away. They will likely work with you when possible such as mailing you supplies to limit trips. You can also go to any Costco if you are at another one at a different time.

In reply to @comeagain

@comeagain

What smartphone are you using? The Jabra 30s require a fairly high end model. I upgraded my older Samsung phone to a Samsung S25 last year before upgrading my older Resound . Just something to consider ahead of time.

Also, Costco requires a membership, which is something you do the first time you enter the store. Allow a little extra time at the service counter for that, ahead of your first appointment.

Plan on the first visit getting tested and doing a quick in store trial with a demo set of HAs (assuming your phone is up to the task). If satisfied, you will order the new aids and schedule another appointment about 3 weeks later to pick them up and do some additional fitting.

You will almost certainly then schedule a follow up two or three weeks later. Discuss remote adjustments with your fitter as well. Mine prefers I make an in store appointments instead of doing remote adjustments.

In reply to @MDB

Then there is the issue that certain levels of hearing loss cannot be accommodated by hearing aids. This is a big problem I have with forums like these. They are often NOT addressing the issues that must be treated by Audiologists as opposed to an OTC situation. On top of that there are hearing issues that warrant wearing hearing aids with custom ear molds. These are issues are also not often addressed in the forums I have found. Happy for those who can chose another route but I feel I am in the dark a lot.

@MeBPatB said:

Then there is the issue that certain levels of hearing loss cannot be accommodated by OTC hearing aids. This is a big problem I have with forums like these. They are often NOT addressing the issues that must be treated by Audiologists as opposed to an OTC situation.

This is common knowledge on this forum. Maybe it’s new to you.

MDB is one of our very knowledgeable members who helps many. I am not sure why you picked on him. Maybe you are having a bad day??

Edited

  1. Spending 20 extra minutes/round-trip to save $2,000/ear ($4,000) may not be a bad tradeoff for you.

  2. No matter where you buy your , you’ll probably need multiple trips for adjustments. My Costco audi is highly skilled, and I’ve been working with her for 2 years, so one trip for adjustments in the s/w was enough, but I’m about to go for my 3rd trip for a new pair of molds, since the 1st pair doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do.

  3. The top of line Jabra is called the 700, so it’s eminently possible for it to be a copy of the Vivia 7, which doesn’t use the noise-processor. If so, it’s not as capable as the Jabra Enhance Pro 30. (IIRC, there’s a thread here in which it was reported that the OTC 500 was the equivalent of the Vivia 5.)

  4. You probably had a hard time with the ‘locked’ terminology since it’s been years since Costco locked their aids.

  5. If you have Jabra 10s or 20s that are working well, a fitter may just copy your settings to your new 30s. That won’t implement IF - it may have to be turned on manually. That’s what the audi I work with did.

  6. A class doesn’t provide much training in anything. The real world has always harder than the classroom, IME. My bet is that my audi learned to set up IF manually because she blew it once or twice for an earlier customer. I think your luck will determine if the service provider you work with is experienced or not.

  7. The customer has a big part to play, too. If you can’t describe what’s wrong with your aids, you’re unlikely to get the fault corrected.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I have been studying these for a few days now.

I’ve finally decided that Costco is not an option at present. I’ll wait for new brands to be introduced before the year is over. (Technology is advancing at a very fast rate)

Not to get off on a laborious topic here, (and bore everyone to death), it may be possible that can be done REMOTELY, believe it or not. I was reading at several places that “Soon it may be possible for effective follow-ups and programming when in-person visits are not possible (because of gas prices, immoblle condiitions, etc.) Patients can be given instructions to use pre-recorded speech signals (e.g., Rainbow Passage) with their own probe mic, and send results back to the fitter to adjust the settings.”

It’s not there yet, but just wait. This reminds me of how sleep apnea (which I have) advanced about a couple of decades ago. My first cpap machine could only be programmed by the DMV seller, for the patient was not qualified to do so. After many years of more high tech advancements, no patient would dare to own a machine that was not capable to be programmed by himself. (every user is now their own clinician).

In my opinion, this same thing will happen to the hearing loss population, because of , and rapid advancement, we’ll be our own programmers. (that’s the way the world is going)

thanks

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