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Last updated: October 29, 2026
New Jersey has two different state hearing aid programs. The New Jersey Hearing Aid Project (NJHAP) supplies refurbished devices to people who qualify. Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) pays back part of the cost after an eligible purchase. Choosing the wrong route can leave you with a bill you cannot pay.
Bottom Line
If you have Original Medicare and little or no cash, start by asking New Jersey’s Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) about NJHAP, its available providers and every possible charge. Do not buy a hearing aid expecting HAAAD to pay the store. HAAAD is a later reimbursement, not money provided at the counter. If you have NJ FamilyCare or private insurance, check that coverage before applying to either state aid program.
Urgent Hearing Changes
If your hearing suddenly drops in one or both ears, seek immediate medical care. Sudden hearing loss may be a medical emergency. Do not wait for an aid application, hearing-aid store visit or charity decision. See the federal sudden deafness advice.
Start Here
- No money to buy devices? Email DDHH at DDHH.communications2@dhs.nj.gov or call 1-609-588-2648. Ask for NJHAP Form A or B, a current provider near your ZIP code and a written breakdown of any test, mold, battery or visit costs. A videophone route is 1-609-503-4862.
- Have Medicaid or another health plan? Ask the plan for a covered adult hearing evaluation, authorized dispensing provider, device benefit and your expected total cost in writing before any purchase.
- Can pay first and seek reimbursement? Check HAAAD and NJSave rules before buying. Your PAAD approval date and whether you used NJHAP can change the answer.
| Route | What it may provide | Money needed first | Best first action |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJHAP | One or two refurbished aids, based on an audiologist’s findings | The devices are supplied at no charge; testing, molds, batteries, travel or extra visits may cost money | Ask DDHH to check eligibility and provider costs |
| HAAAD | Up to $500 for one aid or $1,000 for two in a calendar year | Purchase first; reimbursement comes later if approved | Confirm PAAD/NJSave and receipt rules before purchase |
| NJ FamilyCare | Medically necessary hearing services and aids under applicable coverage rules | Ask plan or fee-for-service provider to confirm any member charge before service | Request approved adult provider and authorization steps |
| NJ-regulated insurance | Coverage under Grace’s Law when the policy is subject to it | Deductibles, coinsurance and network costs may apply | Ask if policy is fully insured and issued in New Jersey |
| Medicare Advantage or VA | Plan-specific hearing benefits or eligible VA audiology services | Depends on plan, benefit and care eligibility | Check member or VA care team before buying |
NJHAP: Refurbished Hearing Aids, Not a Cash Grant
The New Jersey Hearing Aid Project is run by DDHH with Montclair State University. The program matches donated, refurbished hearing aids to eligible residents. A hearing professional decides whether one or two aids are appropriate. The state does not send the applicant cash to shop for any device they want.
Who can apply?
For 2026, DDHH lists New Jersey residence, hearing loss and annual income of no more than $54,943 for a single person or $62,390 for a married couple. Its program page says age 65 or older, or disability with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). A person age 60 to 64 should not assume age alone is enough. The 2026 Form B also asks whether you already have a functioning hearing aid suitable for your loss; applicants who answer yes are told not to complete that form. Ask DDHH what to do if your present aid is broken, unusable or no longer fits your hearing needs.
Choose the right form
PAAD members use NJHAP Form A; other applicants use Form B. The state NJHAP page lists English and Spanish versions. Submit the signed form and its required proofs. Ask DDHH which delivery route it accepts before sending private records. These forms are different from the HAAAD reimbursement form.
What is free, and what may cost money?
The refurbished instruments themselves are provided at no charge to approved NJHAP participants. But DDHH’s program brochure warns of other possible charges. These include hearing evaluations when not covered by insurance, ear molds, batteries, repairs outside warranty and service visits beyond the initial included visits. The program describes a fitting and limited audiologist visits. The exact costs depend on the provider and device. Ask for written cost confirmation before making an appointment.
Where will you go?
DDHH publishes a list of participating audiologists. Do not assume the nearest private hearing-aid store participates. A state 2026 mobile audiologist flyer lists service in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties. That document gives an appointment email, dr.laurapadham@gmail.com, and 1-848-266-5119. This is a provider-specific contact, not a promise of a home visit or a free evaluation in every town. Confirm where the appointment takes place, whether the provider still takes NJHAP referrals, and any charge or travel need.
The NJHAP FAQ identifies the Montclair State University program contact as NJHAP@montclair.edu or 1-973-655-2093 for device status and follow-up questions. DDHH is still the better first contact for initial eligibility and current referral rules.
HAAAD: Reimbursement Only After You Buy
The HAAAD program can reimburse up to $500 for one hearing aid or $1,000 for two in one calendar year. It is not an advance payment, voucher to present at the store or promise that your full bill will be paid. For someone with no money to buy hearing aids, HAAAD is usually the wrong first path.
HAAAD uses PAAD or Lifeline Utility Assistance eligibility checks. If you are not already enrolled, complete the NJSave application first. NJSave can screen for several older-adult savings programs; an NJSave submission is not the same thing as an approved HAAAD reimbursement.
The date rule can cost you money
A state September 2026 application requires a purchase receipt dated on or after PAAD approval. It also asks whether you already purchased the hearing aid. Applicants answering no are instructed not to complete the reimbursement application. If you buy first and only later seek PAAD approval, you may not satisfy this rule. Confirm your approval date in writing before paying a seller. Ask DDHH which form version to use if its main webpage links a different 2026 edition.
The same form says recent NJHAP recipients should not apply for HAAAD. Do not plan on getting refurbished devices from NJHAP and then claiming HAAAD money for those devices. If you received NJHAP help but now need a different device, get a written ruling from DDHH before spending.
Eligibility exceptions to check
DDHH lists the same 2026 income figures as NJHAP. State materials disagree slightly on whether a person who is exactly 65 qualifies: the HAAAD webpage says “above the age of 65,” while the state’s broader disability resource page and aging guide say “65 or older.” If you are 65, ask DDHH or the Division of Aging Services for a written determination instead of self-excluding or spending first.
HAAAD does not normally reimburse a person whose Medicaid, private health coverage or retirement plan fully covers the aids. Partial benefits may be treated differently. New Jersey’s disability guide also excludes Senior Gold beneficiaries. The program must review your actual coverage; do not subtract an insurance payment and assume HAAAD will automatically pay the balance.
HAAAD asks for a receipt, medical statement or prescription, personal information and signature. Its 2026 FAQ describes payment only after eligibility review. The form lets you request email replies, but that does not prove email is an accepted application-submission route. Check the current mail or fax instructions.
NJ FamilyCare: Check Adult Coverage Before Paying
New Jersey Medicaid, called NJ FamilyCare, includes hearing services and hearing aids among covered services. Coverage is not limited to people under age 21. For seniors, the state has Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid pathways. Your eligibility and the steps for getting a device depend on the coverage you have, medical need and the provider.
Fee-for-service and managed care are not identical
With fee-for-service Medicaid, New Jersey’s hearing-aid rules are set out in N.J.A.C. 10:64. They address hearing and ear examinations, device candidacy, dispensing, repairs, replacement and provider records. A physician or advanced practice nurse makes some examination decisions for beneficiaries 21 and older. Rules for people under 21 must not be copied onto an older adult’s case.
The rules allow replacement in certain cases, such as a lost or damaged aid, one that costs too much to repair or a changed hearing condition. That is not an automatic new pair every time a person asks. Repair, replacement, ear molds and batteries have separate billing rules. An authorized provider and documented need matter.
Managed-care members should ask their plan for the adult hearing policy, network audiologist, approval steps and written cost. Dual-eligible members should check how Medicare and Medicaid coordinate payment. Not every store can bill NJ FamilyCare.
Rule-change caution: New Jersey posted proposed changes to hearing-aid services rules in 2026, with a September 18 comment deadline. A proposal is not itself an adopted rule. Ask your plan or fee-for-service provider for the policy actually effective on your service date.
Four questions for the plan
- Do you cover medically necessary hearing aids for a person my age under my exact member ID?
- Which hearing examination and written order do you require?
- Will you authorize one aid or two when the test supports both? What about repairs and replacement?
- Which nearby provider can bill you directly, and what will I owe for the test, fitting, devices and later care?
If you have not applied for Medicaid, start with the NJ FamilyCare adult eligibility page. PAAD income rules are not Medicaid income rules. Do not assume that being approved for one makes you eligible for the other.
Insurance, Original Medicare, Veterans and Retirees
Grace’s Law covers many insured adults
New Jersey’s Grace’s Law guidance explains a major exception to the common belief that adult hearing aids are never covered. Under an enacted 2024 law change, many New Jersey-regulated, fully insured individual and group policies must cover medically necessary hearing aids for adults. The statute permits one aid for each ear in a 24-month period under specified conditions. Normal contract cost sharing can still apply; this is not a promise of no bill.
Ask whether your policy is fully insured and issued in New Jersey. Self-funded employer plans and Original Medicare are not bound by this state mandate. State and School Employees Health Benefits Program rules also differ: the state’s guidance includes age-limited provisions. Retirees should ask for the rule covering their exact plan, not assume all New Jersey insurance is alike.
Original Medicare does not pay for routine hearing aids or fitting exams, according to Medicare’s coverage page. It may cover certain diagnostic hearing exams when the program rules are met. A covered test does not ensure hearing-aid coverage.
Some Medicare Advantage plans provide hearing benefits. Your benefit can depend on the year, network, device brand, copay, allowance or prior approval. Use the plan’s Evidence of Coverage and request a written quote. Our hearing aid buying guide can help you compare offers after your benefit is clear.
Eligible veterans may receive hearing assessments and devices through VA health care. Start with your VA care team, not a retail store. VA’s hearing aid services page explains repairs and supplies. TRICARE rules differ for active-duty families and retirees; its hearing-aid coverage page explains the distinction. Do not expect military retirement alone to pay for ordinary hearing aids.
Find Local Help Without Assuming a Grant Exists
New Jersey’s county aging office directory lists written contacts. Ask your Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) office for help applying, finding an approved audiologist or arranging a ride. County payment is not assured. The state’s transportation resource page and our New Jersey aging offices guide can help.
Local Lions clubs may choose to help adults with hearing aids, but no statewide payment is promised. Use the Lions club locator and ask the actual club about present funds and eligibility.
New Jersey’s State Plan on Aging says no federally recognized tribe or Title VI aging grantee is based in the state. It does describe outreach to communities with state- or locally-recognized tribes. No general New Jersey tribal/IHS hearing-aid award was verified. A person connected to a specific tribal health system must check that system’s citizenship, patient and service-area rules.
For disability-specific support, see our New Jersey disability guide. It cannot promise device funding.
Check Every Charge Before You Agree
Ask for the total, not just the advertised price of an aid. A device can be supplied without charge while tests, molds or later appointments still cost money. In writing, ask who pays each item and whether the bill comes before or after approval.
| Stage | Ask this | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Screening and test | Is the appointment covered? Is a referral needed? What is the exact patient charge? | A free device means a free audiogram |
| Approval and order | Must I pay a fee, deposit or share of the price? Is any payment refundable? | An application form proves funding is available |
| Fitting and devices | One or two aids? Are molds, programming, batteries or chargers included? | A two-aid need means two aids are already in stock |
| Follow-up and repair | How many visits? What warranty applies? Who pays after it ends? | Every repair and visit remains free |
| Travel and returns | How far must I travel? What is the written return or refund policy? | A provider or charity will repay transportation or financing costs |
Documents, Written Contact and Helper Access
Prepare proof of age, New Jersey address, recent income, insurance, PAAD/NJSave status and hearing need. NJHAP Form B asks about existing functioning aids. HAAAD requires a valid purchase receipt, medical statement or prescription, and signature. Keep copies, not just photographs of the originals.
If you cannot make voice calls, DDHH lists DDHH.communications2@dhs.nj.gov and videophone 1-609-503-4862. Ask about accessible instructions and a secure way to send sensitive records. An email for questions is not automatically an application-submission address.
HAAAD offers an email preference for replies. Confirm the current form’s mail or fax instructions. NJSave has an online form, and county aging offices can help. A helper may need signed authorization to discuss protected records.
Written message: “I live in [county], have [insurance] and can pay no more than $[amount] up front. Which program may fit? Please give the current application path, nearest provider, total costs and written contact options. I cannot use voice calls easily.”
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Identify whether you need a test, new aids, repair or replacement.
- Ask Medicaid or insurance about covered adult services and an approved provider.
- If those benefits do not work, ask DDHH about NJHAP eligibility, Form A or B, available aids, costs and distance.
- Consider HAAAD only after confirming PAAD approval, receipt rules, other insurance and the funds to buy first.
- Keep copies of forms, quotes, decisions and written costs. Ask the county aging office for help with forms or transportation.
For other programs, see our hearing aid payment guide and broader hearing assistance guide. New Jersey decides state program eligibility.
Reality Checks and Common Mistakes
- Published form is not available stock. Current donated-device supply, waiting lists and appointment capacity were not independently confirmed. Ask DDHH or Montclair.
- Free device does not mean free service. NJHAP exams, molds, batteries, travel or later visits can carry charges.
- HAAAD is not money in advance. Do not order based on an expected check. Its receipt must meet the PAAD approval-date rule.
- Programs cannot be combined freely. The September 2026 HAAAD form screens out recent NJHAP device recipients.
- Provider and device limits matter. Audiology findings, insurance authorization and donations affect one- versus two-aid placement.
- At age 65, verify HAAAD. State wording differs. Ask the agency rather than guessing.
- Captioned phones are different. Communication-device programs are not hearing-aid funding.
Before acting, request a written list of charges for testing, ordering, fitting, repairs and follow-up.
If Help Is Denied, Delayed or Unavailable
Ask for a written reason and the next step. With NJHAP, a missing form, a current functioning aid, a provider shortage and unavailable donated stock are different problems. Ask if you can correct the evidence, use another provider or request a later status check.
With HAAAD, check PAAD approval, receipt date, other insurance, Senior Gold status and recent NJHAP use. An appeal cannot make an ineligible purchase date eligible without an official exception.
For Medicaid, Medicare Advantage or private insurance, request the exact rule, a written decision, and the review or appeal process stated in your notice. An appeal cannot create a benefit absent from a contract. Ask your county ADRC about referrals and see our New Jersey benefits guide for help with other household bills.
Four Short Questions to Use by Phone
DDHH / NJHAP: “I am a New Jersey senior who cannot afford hearing aids. Which NJHAP form fits me? Is a suitable device available, and which audiologist near my ZIP code can give a written total cost?”
NJSave / PAAD: “I want to check PAAD eligibility before I buy hearing aids. If I qualify, what is my written approval date, and what HAAAD documents must I submit?”
Medicaid or insurance: “Please tell me the adult hearing-aid coverage for my plan. Which exams, one or two devices, repairs and providers are covered? May I have the policy and my cost in writing?”
County aging office: “I need help with hearing-aid forms or travel to a participating provider. Is there a local service for my county, and can someone help me without a voice call?”
Resumen en Español
Nueva Jersey tiene dos programas distintos. NJHAP ofrece audífonos reacondicionados a personas elegibles, pero puede haber costos por examen, moldes, pilas, transporte o visitas adicionales. HAAAD reembolsa hasta $500 por un audífono o $1,000 por dos después de la compra; no entrega dinero para comprar primero. Para 2026, ambos publican límites de ingresos de $54,943 para una persona y $62,390 para un matrimonio. Confirme la edad, la cobertura y la fecha de aprobación de PAAD antes de comprar. El formulario HAAAD de 2026 también limita la combinación con NJHAP. DDHH ofrece información por correo electrónico a DDHH.communications2@dhs.nj.gov y videoteléfono al 1-609-503-4862. Si pierde la audición de forma repentina, busque atención médica inmediata. Si niegan la ayuda, pida el motivo por escrito y pregunte por otros pasos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can New Jersey give a senior hearing aids without charging for the devices?
Possibly. NJHAP provides eligible residents with refurbished hearing aids at no device charge, but testing, ear molds, batteries, travel and some visits may cost money. Ask for a written cost check before making an appointment. Device supply and provider capacity are not guaranteed.
Does HAAAD give me money before buying hearing aids?
No. HAAAD is a reimbursement after an eligible purchase, up to $500 for one aid or $1,000 for two in a calendar year. The 2026 application requires a receipt dated on or after PAAD approval. Check the rule before you pay.
Can I get both NJHAP hearing aids and HAAAD reimbursement?
Do not assume so. The September 2026 HAAAD application tells people who received NJHAP hearing aids within the last calendar year not to complete the HAAAD form. Ask DDHH for a written answer about your situation.
Does NJ FamilyCare cover hearing aids for adults?
New Jersey lists hearing services and hearing aids as NJ FamilyCare covered services. The exact evaluation, device, repair, replacement, authorization and provider rules depend on the member’s coverage and medical need. Ask the plan or fee-for-service provider before paying.
About This Guide
This guide uses official New Jersey program, agency, law and health-benefit sources, along with federal coverage information and established community resources.
Editorial note
GrantsForSeniors.org is an independent information publisher. We do not run hearing-aid programs, sell devices, decide eligibility or represent a government agency. Our guides use official and other high-trust sources. No approval or funding result is guaranteed.
Verification
Program rules, 2026 income figures and application materials were reviewed October 29, 2026. Current donated-device stock, provider appointment slots and HAAAD reimbursement capacity were not independently confirmed by a live agency representative; ask the operator before relying on availability.
Corrections
To report an error or a changed New Jersey program rule, email info@grantsforseniors.org. We will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer
This guide is general information, not medical, legal, financial or insurance advice. Official agencies and plans make eligibility and payment decisions. Program rules, provider participation, stock and costs can change. Confirm the current facts before you pay or submit an application.
Last updated: October 29, 2026 · Next review: January 29, 2027
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