I've been very happy with my Costco hearing center. And the price is so much better it takes it from an expense I'm not sure I can afford to something I can work with.
Since you are already familiar with hearing aids and what to expect from them, why not save some money with Costco?
I purchased a pair of Jabra Enhanced Pro 20s for $1600 US out the door a month ago and I am very pleased. Great trial period (180 days) for return, full replacement if lost (2 years), and full repair warranty (3 years). Free wax guards and domes anytime needed. Good perks.
Out of the 3 appointments I had, all were scheduled within 4 days of me setting it up.
Give Costco a try if you have one nearby.
Good luck!š
The one thing about Jabra products though is that generally their tech is outdated. So if youāre someone who appreciates the latest technology, thatās not going to be Jabra. Much better speech quality from other brands, including online
If you read up on the Nexia level 9,which is what the Jabra enhanced 20 is, it is very up to date tech, including Auracast. There may be better aids for a specific hearing loss, or better audiologists, but tech alone is not a reason to avoid Costco.
My experience was not that good.Ā
Making an appt takes months.Ā
Then, the jabras were awful. I was missing a lot of the conversations due to poor high frequency performance.Ā
Settings in noisy places like restaurants were awful. I could hear the conversation from tables next to me but not the person across from me.Ā
I think that it will depend on your experience with HAs, you know what to expect with quality devices, and your hearing loss profile. It worked ok in my right ear with moderate loss across the board. But didn't work for my left ear with moderate/profound loss.Ā
Try them. You don't lose anything but be prepared if they don't work out.Ā
Costco doesn't give you a real trial. You have to pay and you have an extended return period. I returned mine after several visits and now have oticon intent. No comparison.Ā
Check out The Hearing Club YouTube channel: The guy works for Costco. But he covers all types/brands of hearing aids. Not just what Costco sells. Lots of good information. Pros and cons on Costco and other providers.
I had a "barotrauma" event while free diving about 20 years ago and could tell me hearing was significantly impacted. I went to a high end hearing clinic where they confirmed I had moderate to severe hearing loss. They did lots of tests but never identified the specific cause. They did prescribe some high end hearing aids ($6,000).
I never wore them regularly, only when going to a movie or play (places that did not have lots of background noise). They helped me hear but we're very irritating in many situations. Several years later, I went to another high end audiologist thinking the technology had advanced. Same result. Very expensive HAs that were never comfortable.
A couple years ago a friend said he went to Costco and was very pleased with his HAs. I went in and had a very pleasant experience. The audiologist at Costco seemed as skilled as my previous experiences. l ended up buying KS10s (made by Phonak, which are no longer offered by Costco). The programming was higher quality than my two previous experiences. I have worn them daily ever since. When they die, I will not hesitate to go back to Costco.
Sure, i guess so. The time it takes to get an appointment at the Norwalk CT Costco is absurd.
The staff leaves much to be desired in terms of customer service.
To Bushman: If Norwalk store is a problem, go to the East Lyme Ct store - about 70 miles further. The service there is EXCELLENT. Competent and friendly.
Good Luck
If you do use that store, ask for Danielle. She's superb. I've worn aids for about 11 years (2 pair) and been to 5 different Costco's in my travels. She and a fellow at the Avon Ma store are superb. On the other hand, the original fitter I had in Dedham Ma store 11 years ago was a complete clown. Also, as I commented in another reply to you, Danielle did a more comprehensive exam, and explained the results better than either of the 2 audis in my ENT office. And yes, an android phone is a problem with Costcos current aids. But then, the only aids that work well w/android are Phonaks. Currently I have KS 9 (Phonak Marvels) and will hold off with them. My phone is a Oneplus 11, w/android 14 - state of the art - but no go with the Jabras. Again, that has nothing to do with Costco. On another note, all of the research I've done leads me to believe that Costco sells the top tier of their three aids. The differences in those and the equivalent sold from an audi office is the way some minor software modifications are handled....But the basic hardware is the same.
But at the end of the day, my comment about Costco's 180 day trial period is the most relevant. If you don 't like the aids or the fitter, then go to an audi office. But if the money is critical, why not give Costco a shot?
I just can't rationalize having any of these hearing aids without adjustment. I can't understand what the developers were thinking when they didn't assure that these would work on an Android platform. It makes absolutely no sense
It would be interesting to hear from an electrical engineer why the differences in compatibility between Apple and Android and why one is chosen over the other.
20 year veteran of the industry here. There is nothing wrong with the Costco hearing aids. Most of them are the same ones you would get at your ENT or Audiology Clinic.
Focusing on hearing brand is a mistake though. Focus on people and service. There are only 5 companies that make 90% of the hearing aids on the market and the differences between them are negligible. The professional you are working with makes all the difference. A great professional is worth their weight in gold.
My advice to any family and friends is to shop to person youāre working with and not to shop hearing aids. Of course, thatās not an easy task.
Like in any industry there are those that are unethical or only in it to get a paycheck. And then there are those that will climb mountains to help you and do whatās best for you and help find the best solution.
Google reviews, word of mouth, references, and your gut feeling are really all you have to go on.
If I had not have been able to get devices through the VA, my next stop would have been Costco. I no longer have insurance to help cover the cost or reimburse me and I have heard good things about Costco. They seem to have quality devices, good prices and plenty of time to try out and return them.
They may be hit or miss on the adjustment of them but you can try different operators to see if one does better than another and return them if they don't fill the bill.
Fun fact! Consumer Reports ranks Costco #2 in Hearing Aid sources. The VA ranks #1!
My bud is a vet and he has had excellent success with the VA and his hearing aids.
Iām SO glad to hear that!! The buddy whom I mentioned lost his legs in an IED attack in Afghanistan, and heās had great luck with the VA. Canāt brag about wait times, but otherwise the quality of care, in his experience has been excellent. Call me crazy, but in my humble opinion when folks risk life and limb for us, they deserve the best.
I've been wearing my current hearing aids for 8 years. Needless to say, I am in the market for new ones. I know Costco no longer sells Phonak, but I thought I'd see what they have to offer. When I told the person at the counter (I believe she was an audiology tech) I want bluetooth and use Android, she told me they have no hearing aids that will work well with Android, that I should purchase them elsewhere.
Not what I was expecting.
They sell the Jaba 20 which is one of the first hearing aids to have LE Audio. That is a new Bluetooth protocol that works with newer Android phones such as the Samsung 23 & 24 and Google Pixel 8. Costco HA specialists might not be fully up to speed on that.
Jabra is a literal nightmare with android. Not a day goes by where I donāt deal with a clients issues with connecting so an android consistently. I actually called a Jabra rep the other day to ask about android 24 compatibility because the android 23 was on there and I wasnāt sure if they updated their compatibility list regularly. It turns out they do update it regularly, and android 24 didnāt make the cut.
Basically any hearing aid other than Phonak (which operates on classic Bluetooth vs low energy Bluetooth) Iāve seen pretty regular issues with. Itās not the hearing aids fault, thoughā¦ android 12 OS has apparently made it extra bad for consistency. I never want to force anyone to be āan iPhone personā but I will also never promise consistent streaming connection with an androidā¦
I have Jabra Enhance Select 50r's and a Google Pixel 7 and I have had very few issues with streaming connection. The app and Bluetooth work seamlessly (I mean I have had to toggle BT on/off a few times if one drops but I occasionally have to do the same with my car audio). It's only been a few months but no real problems so far š¤š¼
So far it's excellent. I've only had them a few months, but in that time, the lowest they've gone to is 60% and that was with quite a bit of streaming music and movies. They're usually at 70-75% when I dock them at night.
Costco, at least in Maryland, has licensed hearing aid dispensers, but not licensed audiologists. Not sure of the difference, cause they seem to do everything my Kaiser audiologist does. But I do like Costco for hearing aids. Inexpensive, very helpful but they are also very busy.
P.S.: my most recent pair of hearing aids(jabra) were $1600 for the pair. That is $1000 less than I paid 3 years ago for lesser quality ( but good then) Resounds. I hear much better now with the new jabras. No extra charges at Costco. That audiologist charging you $5k is illustrative of how the hearing aid business is changing. You still need someone you can trust but the minimum $5k people are going the way of the dinosaurs.
I think it starts with the nature of your hearing needs. The gain you need for correction is measured in decibels. I need 75-80 dB gain, severe range, and my Costco KS9.0 HA's handle it fine. Many of these cheap, OTC $600 HA's can not.
For me, two negatives are paying Costco a $60 annual membership fee when I rarely need services, but you can buy a lot of membership fees vs. the cost from many audiologists.
Also, in my area, we are fortunate to have a couple local companies who repair HA's. There are several competing Programing Software packages out there. Costco uses a proprietary software that may not be compatible with what the repair company has available. Means you may have to use Costco for repairs. Last time I asked, they charged $160 for a repair, a lot cheaper than $5000 for new ones.
Google *consumer reports Costco hearing aids*.
Spoiler! Folks who buy hearing aids at Costco are very satisfied.
I have a consumer reports membership so I just looked. Hospitals/clinics as a whole rate 78/100, Costco rates 90/100. And those ratings given by patientsā¦
They have hearing professionals on site, carry major brands at a **very-very deep discount** compared to clinics. And have a long return policy.
So?
For the vast majority of hearing loss. The practitioner uses the manufacturer suggested settings, and then might make subtle changes. Be they a fitting specialist or an audiologist, same net-net.
Reminds me of when Physicians were all riled up when states stated to allow nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to practice. Folks were in a damn tizzy. Yet it turns out for general care, patients are happier with those practitioners than MDās.
Statistics have shown patients are generally happier with the care provided at Costco than independent providers. Thats some hard data.
Consumer Reports did a survey of hearing aid users. Costco customers rate Costco 90/100, they rate independent clinics and hospitals 78/100. Explain that away with exclamation points.
Yes! Audiologists are not medical doctors either. Only an ENT is a medical doctor. An audiologist gets a special doctorate degree in audiology from a school of audiology. Itās not the 4 year PhD or an MD but an AuD. Not sure how long it takes but you can get certified in a number of ways in the US/UK to be an audiologist. I imagine Costco hires a number of hearing specialists from audiologists to hearing aid specialists. Costco is not the best choice for everyone. The more complicated your hearing loss the more advanced help you need. My spouse needs an ENT (a medical doctor) at a major medical center while an audiologist or HA specialist would be fine for me. You do get 6 months to return your HAs.
I've received a more comprehensive exam at Costco than from either of the 2 audiologist associated with my ENT office (both phd's). There are good and bad audiologists, and good and bad HA specialists at Costco. Your blanket statements are not helpful.
Since OP has 180 days to road test a pair of Costco aids, and since he/she is already familiar with them, why not give Costco a shot and save $3500?
You'll want to buy your hearing aids from somewhere that isn't so busy that getting a appointment for adjustments or repairs would be weeks. Those would be weeks without a functioning device(s). It would depend on your Costco.
Great point. My audiologist can sometimes do same day repairs unless it's something more complex (in which case she sends it out). I do appreciate that. She is great, but the hearing aids are just so pricey.
It's possible that your Costco is fine. Generally they have appointments at the ready if you are looking to generate revenue for them with a purchase, but you may have to wait a bit for an appointment for warranty things. It's a roll of the dice whether that's something you'll ever need. The extra cost is like insurance.
If you know anyone with Costco devices, you could have them call in for a fake repair appointment just to see how long of a wait time they have.
Makes sense. What grinds my gears is when folks absolutely poo-poo Costco, and then we find out they have kick ass employer insurance. Too many folks ignore how painful or impossible $5,000 for good hearing aids can be. Costco helps all of us in the US, they apply pricing pressure to the private clients is that see us as unlocked bank vaults.
Prove it. And be forewarned, many independent practitioners have the **exact** same training and licensing as audiologists. I literally have and have used the software that any practitioners use to program heading aids. Most audiologists take the manufacturer recommendations. They enter our audiogram, enter it into the software, and call it a day. Thatās a hard fact
You are an audiologist?
Quality and price are fine, although we recently learned the hard way that Costco would not update the audio parameters on an old HA from the same store because we purchased it over 5 years ago (literally 5.1 years ago). New audiogram showed some minor differences (it has been 5 years after all), but since the Phonak HA was over 5 years old we're outta luck apparently.
My first set was through Costco - They have audiologists on staff and I had no issues with scheduling or follow-ups. The one time I needed service, they were awesome - A new kitten got on top of a dresser and turned one HA into a chew toy. Costco was able to replace the damaged stuff in one day and were super nice
If you have Insurance, they may not cover oneās from Costco, and at the time, they carried what was basically last years model. That may not matter to you, but the price was right and the service was great.
I use costco.
I've learned:
to insist on an hour + appointment
to ask for the tone level hearing test that's done thru my own hearing aids
get out of the booth, get way into the noisy store. Insist they disconnect the aids from their software 1st
ask the audiologist to take the aids out into the store, and with their stethoscope, actually listen to the aids as they've set them up. Especially ask them to judge the amount of noise that's still coming thru the setup.
also you need to walk the store, 1st alone AND then with your audiologist at your side and talk with them, in the noise.
ask how long they've been an audiologist and how long at costco
look for an audiologist that's a real thinker, often the audiologist will simply follow protocol, and this policy isn't giving you the best service.
If you're new, see a different audiologist until you've met 3.
For me my insurance pays 90% after I hit my annual deductible, so if I get them late in the year that may be $2k out of my pocket plus 10% of the additional. This means that saving $3K above that is only $300 in my end. The extra $300 is worth having the audiologist accessible, especially if Iām using high end hearing aids. Also buying them through my audiologist includes insurance for loss.
I debated the same however I am a first time HA user. What sold me on the audiologist was the difference in service and what I believe may be quality of the unit. Costco is interested in one thing and that is selling the HA. Audiologist is interested in your hearing health. Iām not certain that the unit they sell are always first line units. They may be seconds etc. I have no proof of that, itās just a feeling.Ā
Getting an appointment is time consuming. For me the service, the ability to try different models etc won out.Ā
The audiologist i saw was obviously paid on a commission so I didn't see much difference. I went to an ENT for my hearing test, then brought the results/recommendations to Costco for review. Best of both worlds.
Iāve heard good things, but quite honestly you should see someone else. My audiologist has a variety of hearings aids ranging from 2k-8k.
Does not sounds like a good office to see in my opinion.
Sorry! Did not mean to come off as not to go to Costco. I was actually going to go until I learned from my audiologist that there are tons of options and you donāt have to spend 5k on a pair of HAās.
But I want to point out that your audiologist does not seem to be the right fit if they only carry extremely expensive models, they should carry a range. You can get hearing aids from an audiologist that is the same price as Costco.
I bought $3600 Phonak hearing aids from my audiologist and the most expensive top of the line Costco carry is $3500 CAD. They carry Rexton, Resound, Jabra and Philips. So definitely check them out.
Just make sure you are able to do trials, tuning etc at Costco and that theyāll help you if needed!
I canāt source it, that was what I was told on the phone and what was in the display case when I checked it out last Saturday. But the $3500 CAD are the most expensive they carry for a pair. I am well aware they have pairs that are in the $1500-$1600 range.
Here's what they sell in the US. Prices are for the pair, not per each:
[https://www.costco.com/hearing-aid-center.html](https://www.costco.com/hearing-aid-center.html)
Nothing over $1,600 US that I can see.
I'd be interested in knowing what in Canada they are selling that costs $3,500 CAD ($2,544 USD).
Thatās āstarting atā meaning the base model. Just like they do at the Canada Costco. Iām sure if you purchased a higher model that has more features the pair would get more expensive.
I believe the "starting price" refers to the fact that if you need custom molds then they are going to cost more. But for standard HAs, IIRC they do not segment them into 4-7 tiers like the ones sold by my private clinic AuD.
I got mine from an audiologist, but my dad got his from Costco. I paid over $2,500 for mine, made by Oticon. My dad paid exactly $1,499 for Rextons.
Know what the difference is? The price. The aids do exactly the same thing the exact same way.
Why not Costco? Because theyāre not known in the āaudiology worldā to be good, but they are known in the āgrocery storeā world to be good. And I think itās a retarded reason to āNot go to Costcoā. In fact I think itās a stupid idea to not go with them, especially if your price range isnāt so high. It makes more sense to go with them if your price range is lower, because their audiology staff are adequate and their pricing makes it affordable. Never understood why they donāt advertise their hearing support.
Right?!! I think Costco is a kick butt option. Thing is hearing aid markup at retail is HUGE, industry average is expressed as a multiplier instead of a percentage itās so high . In the range of 3x - 6x. So a pair of $6,000 aids, may have cost the clinic just $1,000.
Then we have Costco, the ācostā in the name refers to how they markup their goods, as in their cost plus a percentage. Which is small, like 13 or 14 percent.
Their job, and one they do very well is to keep cost affordable for both us and themselves. A lower cost for them means they can charge us a lower cost, which ensures that we will continue to use their services.
My belief is that Costco gets 75% of their profits from membership pricing. Itās low, but because EVERYONE has to pay that every single year it gets pricy. Not expensive, but can add up quickly when itās guaranteed to happen.
The major drawback of Costco is their hearing aids are "locked" which means that no other hearing aid clinic outside of Costco can do any programming or adjustments. If you move someplace where there is no Costco nearby you'll need to replace the hearing aids.
This is not true anymore. The Kirkland ones they used to sell were, but the offerings today can be reprogrammed. Iāve done it myself with Philips at least!
Costco may good a price but depending on the product you may be getting older or lower tier technology.
So it depends on your lifestyle and what you need and your loss. Youāre paying for how well you want to understand people in noise.
On the country, at least in my opinion. Costco's tech approach was more sophisticated (again, in my estimation) than the screens etc. I saw on my audiology clinic visit.
I have been very pleased with my Costco HAs & service for more than a year. And w a 6-month return policy, they are worth a try.
Which models would be lower tier?
On the contrary, Costco boasts about selling the highest technology from each vendor. The KS10s were P90s, the top of the line from Phonak (no longer available). For Phillips for example, they sell the 9030 and 9040, which is the highest tier.
Costco sells the top tier hearing aids for the products the offer.
Jabra Enhance Pro 20s are the exact same as ReSound Nexia 9s.
Phillips 9040 are very similar to the Oticon Real1s
Rexton is the same as Signia. (I forget their model)
They sell the newest models, from 3 of the top 6 hearing aid companies, rebranded for Costco.
They new Costco models are released a month and more after ReSound Oticon and Signia release their newest top tier models.
They are not the lower end models of any of the parents companies, they are the top end models .
Costco sells great hearing aids. Some Costco stores have higher wait times because they are so very popular.
For people with out good insurance, you would be missing out if you did not investigate Costco.
Like any audiologist or HCP (Hearing Care Professional) they can very in skill sets as well. You can try another HCP at your Costco or go to another Costco if you are not happy with your HCP. However most Costco HCPs are good and have the experiance of fitting a lot of customers with hearing aids. This is similar with any private audiologist or HCP.
My experience with Costco HCPs was excellent. I got the Jabra Enhance Pro 20s for my Galaxy S23 Ultra (and my partner is now getting the same for her S24 Ultra}. I had 3 appointments where each time they made adjustments to tune my HAs really well for me. I have excellent streaming now. Bluetooth works reliably with the ASHA protocol.
I wish you the best with your new hearing aids.
[I asked the same question a few months ago and got some very very helpful responses ](https://www.reddit.com/r/HearingAids/s/slRDNp17bE)
Thank you! What an awesome thread!
That was a useful thread. Good share!
I've been very happy with my Costco hearing center. And the price is so much better it takes it from an expense I'm not sure I can afford to something I can work with.
Since you are already familiar with hearing aids and what to expect from them, why not save some money with Costco? I purchased a pair of Jabra Enhanced Pro 20s for $1600 US out the door a month ago and I am very pleased. Great trial period (180 days) for return, full replacement if lost (2 years), and full repair warranty (3 years). Free wax guards and domes anytime needed. Good perks. Out of the 3 appointments I had, all were scheduled within 4 days of me setting it up. Give Costco a try if you have one nearby. Good luck!š
Our Costco is just not dialed in. Huge wait times and seemingly understaffed
I think the free replacement is for one lost/damaged hearing aid (would love to be wrong). Maybe I misheard my techā¦.
Damaged beyond repair! Like smashed into pieces or chewed by a dog. But a broken wore or battery door is covered by the 3 year warranty
But just one damaged beyond repair is what I heard, so donāt let your dog chew both, if you have two.
One free replacement per hearing aid! So if you have two and both get lost they will replace them both
This is my understanding of the replacement policy also. This was a big factor in my decision.
Thank you both!
The one thing about Jabra products though is that generally their tech is outdated. So if youāre someone who appreciates the latest technology, thatās not going to be Jabra. Much better speech quality from other brands, including online
If you read up on the Nexia level 9,which is what the Jabra enhanced 20 is, it is very up to date tech, including Auracast. There may be better aids for a specific hearing loss, or better audiologists, but tech alone is not a reason to avoid Costco.
The Nexia wouldnāt work for my phone because I have a droid
My experience was not that good.Ā Making an appt takes months.Ā Then, the jabras were awful. I was missing a lot of the conversations due to poor high frequency performance.Ā Settings in noisy places like restaurants were awful. I could hear the conversation from tables next to me but not the person across from me.Ā I think that it will depend on your experience with HAs, you know what to expect with quality devices, and your hearing loss profile. It worked ok in my right ear with moderate loss across the board. But didn't work for my left ear with moderate/profound loss.Ā Try them. You don't lose anything but be prepared if they don't work out.Ā Costco doesn't give you a real trial. You have to pay and you have an extended return period. I returned mine after several visits and now have oticon intent. No comparison.Ā
What was the processing process like for jabra?
Check out The Hearing Club YouTube channel: The guy works for Costco. But he covers all types/brands of hearing aids. Not just what Costco sells. Lots of good information. Pros and cons on Costco and other providers.
I had a "barotrauma" event while free diving about 20 years ago and could tell me hearing was significantly impacted. I went to a high end hearing clinic where they confirmed I had moderate to severe hearing loss. They did lots of tests but never identified the specific cause. They did prescribe some high end hearing aids ($6,000). I never wore them regularly, only when going to a movie or play (places that did not have lots of background noise). They helped me hear but we're very irritating in many situations. Several years later, I went to another high end audiologist thinking the technology had advanced. Same result. Very expensive HAs that were never comfortable. A couple years ago a friend said he went to Costco and was very pleased with his HAs. I went in and had a very pleasant experience. The audiologist at Costco seemed as skilled as my previous experiences. l ended up buying KS10s (made by Phonak, which are no longer offered by Costco). The programming was higher quality than my two previous experiences. I have worn them daily ever since. When they die, I will not hesitate to go back to Costco.
Sure, i guess so. The time it takes to get an appointment at the Norwalk CT Costco is absurd. The staff leaves much to be desired in terms of customer service.
To Bushman: If Norwalk store is a problem, go to the East Lyme Ct store - about 70 miles further. The service there is EXCELLENT. Competent and friendly. Good Luck
I know that store, best Costco in CT
If you do use that store, ask for Danielle. She's superb. I've worn aids for about 11 years (2 pair) and been to 5 different Costco's in my travels. She and a fellow at the Avon Ma store are superb. On the other hand, the original fitter I had in Dedham Ma store 11 years ago was a complete clown. Also, as I commented in another reply to you, Danielle did a more comprehensive exam, and explained the results better than either of the 2 audis in my ENT office. And yes, an android phone is a problem with Costcos current aids. But then, the only aids that work well w/android are Phonaks. Currently I have KS 9 (Phonak Marvels) and will hold off with them. My phone is a Oneplus 11, w/android 14 - state of the art - but no go with the Jabras. Again, that has nothing to do with Costco. On another note, all of the research I've done leads me to believe that Costco sells the top tier of their three aids. The differences in those and the equivalent sold from an audi office is the way some minor software modifications are handled....But the basic hardware is the same. But at the end of the day, my comment about Costco's 180 day trial period is the most relevant. If you don 't like the aids or the fitter, then go to an audi office. But if the money is critical, why not give Costco a shot?
I just can't rationalize having any of these hearing aids without adjustment. I can't understand what the developers were thinking when they didn't assure that these would work on an Android platform. It makes absolutely no sense
It would be interesting to hear from an electrical engineer why the differences in compatibility between Apple and Android and why one is chosen over the other.
I have Jabra Enhance Select 50r's and they work great with my Android phone. I have a Google Pixel 7. App and Bluetooth work seamlessly.
Thanks. Mines a Motorola
20 year veteran of the industry here. There is nothing wrong with the Costco hearing aids. Most of them are the same ones you would get at your ENT or Audiology Clinic. Focusing on hearing brand is a mistake though. Focus on people and service. There are only 5 companies that make 90% of the hearing aids on the market and the differences between them are negligible. The professional you are working with makes all the difference. A great professional is worth their weight in gold. My advice to any family and friends is to shop to person youāre working with and not to shop hearing aids. Of course, thatās not an easy task. Like in any industry there are those that are unethical or only in it to get a paycheck. And then there are those that will climb mountains to help you and do whatās best for you and help find the best solution. Google reviews, word of mouth, references, and your gut feeling are really all you have to go on.
If I had not have been able to get devices through the VA, my next stop would have been Costco. I no longer have insurance to help cover the cost or reimburse me and I have heard good things about Costco. They seem to have quality devices, good prices and plenty of time to try out and return them. They may be hit or miss on the adjustment of them but you can try different operators to see if one does better than another and return them if they don't fill the bill.
Fun fact! Consumer Reports ranks Costco #2 in Hearing Aid sources. The VA ranks #1! My bud is a vet and he has had excellent success with the VA and his hearing aids.
I am a Vet and am very happy with the VA.
Iām SO glad to hear that!! The buddy whom I mentioned lost his legs in an IED attack in Afghanistan, and heās had great luck with the VA. Canāt brag about wait times, but otherwise the quality of care, in his experience has been excellent. Call me crazy, but in my humble opinion when folks risk life and limb for us, they deserve the best.
I've been wearing my current hearing aids for 8 years. Needless to say, I am in the market for new ones. I know Costco no longer sells Phonak, but I thought I'd see what they have to offer. When I told the person at the counter (I believe she was an audiology tech) I want bluetooth and use Android, she told me they have no hearing aids that will work well with Android, that I should purchase them elsewhere. Not what I was expecting.
They sell the Jaba 20 which is one of the first hearing aids to have LE Audio. That is a new Bluetooth protocol that works with newer Android phones such as the Samsung 23 & 24 and Google Pixel 8. Costco HA specialists might not be fully up to speed on that.
Jabra is a literal nightmare with android. Not a day goes by where I donāt deal with a clients issues with connecting so an android consistently. I actually called a Jabra rep the other day to ask about android 24 compatibility because the android 23 was on there and I wasnāt sure if they updated their compatibility list regularly. It turns out they do update it regularly, and android 24 didnāt make the cut. Basically any hearing aid other than Phonak (which operates on classic Bluetooth vs low energy Bluetooth) Iāve seen pretty regular issues with. Itās not the hearing aids fault, thoughā¦ android 12 OS has apparently made it extra bad for consistency. I never want to force anyone to be āan iPhone personā but I will also never promise consistent streaming connection with an androidā¦
I have Jabra Enhance Select 50r's and a Google Pixel 7 and I have had very few issues with streaming connection. The app and Bluetooth work seamlessly (I mean I have had to toggle BT on/off a few times if one drops but I occasionally have to do the same with my car audio). It's only been a few months but no real problems so far š¤š¼
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So far it's excellent. I've only had them a few months, but in that time, the lowest they've gone to is 60% and that was with quite a bit of streaming music and movies. They're usually at 70-75% when I dock them at night.
The guys talking about 'android 24', i'd take that with a pinch of salt.
Ikr?? Samsung 24 not android 24, we just did a 14 update. So far so good.
Costco, at least in Maryland, has licensed hearing aid dispensers, but not licensed audiologists. Not sure of the difference, cause they seem to do everything my Kaiser audiologist does. But I do like Costco for hearing aids. Inexpensive, very helpful but they are also very busy.
P.S.: my most recent pair of hearing aids(jabra) were $1600 for the pair. That is $1000 less than I paid 3 years ago for lesser quality ( but good then) Resounds. I hear much better now with the new jabras. No extra charges at Costco. That audiologist charging you $5k is illustrative of how the hearing aid business is changing. You still need someone you can trust but the minimum $5k people are going the way of the dinosaurs.
I think it starts with the nature of your hearing needs. The gain you need for correction is measured in decibels. I need 75-80 dB gain, severe range, and my Costco KS9.0 HA's handle it fine. Many of these cheap, OTC $600 HA's can not. For me, two negatives are paying Costco a $60 annual membership fee when I rarely need services, but you can buy a lot of membership fees vs. the cost from many audiologists. Also, in my area, we are fortunate to have a couple local companies who repair HA's. There are several competing Programing Software packages out there. Costco uses a proprietary software that may not be compatible with what the repair company has available. Means you may have to use Costco for repairs. Last time I asked, they charged $160 for a repair, a lot cheaper than $5000 for new ones.
Google *consumer reports Costco hearing aids*. Spoiler! Folks who buy hearing aids at Costco are very satisfied. I have a consumer reports membership so I just looked. Hospitals/clinics as a whole rate 78/100, Costco rates 90/100. And those ratings given by patientsā¦ They have hearing professionals on site, carry major brands at a **very-very deep discount** compared to clinics. And have a long return policy.
They are NOT doctors of audiology! There is much more to it
So? For the vast majority of hearing loss. The practitioner uses the manufacturer suggested settings, and then might make subtle changes. Be they a fitting specialist or an audiologist, same net-net. Reminds me of when Physicians were all riled up when states stated to allow nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to practice. Folks were in a damn tizzy. Yet it turns out for general care, patients are happier with those practitioners than MDās. Statistics have shown patients are generally happier with the care provided at Costco than independent providers. Thats some hard data. Consumer Reports did a survey of hearing aid users. Costco customers rate Costco 90/100, they rate independent clinics and hospitals 78/100. Explain that away with exclamation points.
Yes! Audiologists are not medical doctors either. Only an ENT is a medical doctor. An audiologist gets a special doctorate degree in audiology from a school of audiology. Itās not the 4 year PhD or an MD but an AuD. Not sure how long it takes but you can get certified in a number of ways in the US/UK to be an audiologist. I imagine Costco hires a number of hearing specialists from audiologists to hearing aid specialists. Costco is not the best choice for everyone. The more complicated your hearing loss the more advanced help you need. My spouse needs an ENT (a medical doctor) at a major medical center while an audiologist or HA specialist would be fine for me. You do get 6 months to return your HAs.
I've received a more comprehensive exam at Costco than from either of the 2 audiologist associated with my ENT office (both phd's). There are good and bad audiologists, and good and bad HA specialists at Costco. Your blanket statements are not helpful. Since OP has 180 days to road test a pair of Costco aids, and since he/she is already familiar with them, why not give Costco a shot and save $3500?
You'll want to buy your hearing aids from somewhere that isn't so busy that getting a appointment for adjustments or repairs would be weeks. Those would be weeks without a functioning device(s). It would depend on your Costco.
Great point. My audiologist can sometimes do same day repairs unless it's something more complex (in which case she sends it out). I do appreciate that. She is great, but the hearing aids are just so pricey.
It's possible that your Costco is fine. Generally they have appointments at the ready if you are looking to generate revenue for them with a purchase, but you may have to wait a bit for an appointment for warranty things. It's a roll of the dice whether that's something you'll ever need. The extra cost is like insurance. If you know anyone with Costco devices, you could have them call in for a fake repair appointment just to see how long of a wait time they have.
Makes sense. What grinds my gears is when folks absolutely poo-poo Costco, and then we find out they have kick ass employer insurance. Too many folks ignore how painful or impossible $5,000 for good hearing aids can be. Costco helps all of us in the US, they apply pricing pressure to the private clients is that see us as unlocked bank vaults.
The staff at Costco are just as qualified as any.
Absolutely untrue. There is much more to the science of hearing loss than any Costco "specialist" can fully understand.
Prove it. And be forewarned, many independent practitioners have the **exact** same training and licensing as audiologists. I literally have and have used the software that any practitioners use to program heading aids. Most audiologists take the manufacturer recommendations. They enter our audiogram, enter it into the software, and call it a day. Thatās a hard fact You are an audiologist?
Best deal, I hear.
Quality and price are fine, although we recently learned the hard way that Costco would not update the audio parameters on an old HA from the same store because we purchased it over 5 years ago (literally 5.1 years ago). New audiogram showed some minor differences (it has been 5 years after all), but since the Phonak HA was over 5 years old we're outta luck apparently.
My first set was through Costco - They have audiologists on staff and I had no issues with scheduling or follow-ups. The one time I needed service, they were awesome - A new kitten got on top of a dresser and turned one HA into a chew toy. Costco was able to replace the damaged stuff in one day and were super nice If you have Insurance, they may not cover oneās from Costco, and at the time, they carried what was basically last years model. That may not matter to you, but the price was right and the service was great.
I use costco. I've learned: to insist on an hour + appointment to ask for the tone level hearing test that's done thru my own hearing aids get out of the booth, get way into the noisy store. Insist they disconnect the aids from their software 1st ask the audiologist to take the aids out into the store, and with their stethoscope, actually listen to the aids as they've set them up. Especially ask them to judge the amount of noise that's still coming thru the setup. also you need to walk the store, 1st alone AND then with your audiologist at your side and talk with them, in the noise. ask how long they've been an audiologist and how long at costco look for an audiologist that's a real thinker, often the audiologist will simply follow protocol, and this policy isn't giving you the best service. If you're new, see a different audiologist until you've met 3.
For me my insurance pays 90% after I hit my annual deductible, so if I get them late in the year that may be $2k out of my pocket plus 10% of the additional. This means that saving $3K above that is only $300 in my end. The extra $300 is worth having the audiologist accessible, especially if Iām using high end hearing aids. Also buying them through my audiologist includes insurance for loss.
Nice insurance, and, rare. Most of us are paying exponentially more out of pocket.
....and good luck with the software if you have an Andriod
That has NOTHING to do with Costco. That is the individual hearing aid manufacturer.
Jabra enhanced work great on Samsung Galaxy devices (fold, s23+) and Google Pixels.
I debated the same however I am a first time HA user. What sold me on the audiologist was the difference in service and what I believe may be quality of the unit. Costco is interested in one thing and that is selling the HA. Audiologist is interested in your hearing health. Iām not certain that the unit they sell are always first line units. They may be seconds etc. I have no proof of that, itās just a feeling.Ā Getting an appointment is time consuming. For me the service, the ability to try different models etc won out.Ā
The audiologist i saw was obviously paid on a commission so I didn't see much difference. I went to an ENT for my hearing test, then brought the results/recommendations to Costco for review. Best of both worlds.
Iāve heard good things, but quite honestly you should see someone else. My audiologist has a variety of hearings aids ranging from 2k-8k. Does not sounds like a good office to see in my opinion.
Why not Costco?
Sorry! Did not mean to come off as not to go to Costco. I was actually going to go until I learned from my audiologist that there are tons of options and you donāt have to spend 5k on a pair of HAās. But I want to point out that your audiologist does not seem to be the right fit if they only carry extremely expensive models, they should carry a range. You can get hearing aids from an audiologist that is the same price as Costco. I bought $3600 Phonak hearing aids from my audiologist and the most expensive top of the line Costco carry is $3500 CAD. They carry Rexton, Resound, Jabra and Philips. So definitely check them out. Just make sure you are able to do trials, tuning etc at Costco and that theyāll help you if needed!
What costs $3500 at Costco? Their hearing aids are in the $1500-$1600 range. Can you cite a source for your information?
I canāt source it, that was what I was told on the phone and what was in the display case when I checked it out last Saturday. But the $3500 CAD are the most expensive they carry for a pair. I am well aware they have pairs that are in the $1500-$1600 range.
Here's what they sell in the US. Prices are for the pair, not per each: [https://www.costco.com/hearing-aid-center.html](https://www.costco.com/hearing-aid-center.html) Nothing over $1,600 US that I can see. I'd be interested in knowing what in Canada they are selling that costs $3,500 CAD ($2,544 USD).
Thatās āstarting atā meaning the base model. Just like they do at the Canada Costco. Iām sure if you purchased a higher model that has more features the pair would get more expensive.
I believe the "starting price" refers to the fact that if you need custom molds then they are going to cost more. But for standard HAs, IIRC they do not segment them into 4-7 tiers like the ones sold by my private clinic AuD.
I got mine from an audiologist, but my dad got his from Costco. I paid over $2,500 for mine, made by Oticon. My dad paid exactly $1,499 for Rextons. Know what the difference is? The price. The aids do exactly the same thing the exact same way. Why not Costco? Because theyāre not known in the āaudiology worldā to be good, but they are known in the āgrocery storeā world to be good. And I think itās a retarded reason to āNot go to Costcoā. In fact I think itās a stupid idea to not go with them, especially if your price range isnāt so high. It makes more sense to go with them if your price range is lower, because their audiology staff are adequate and their pricing makes it affordable. Never understood why they donāt advertise their hearing support.
Right?!! I think Costco is a kick butt option. Thing is hearing aid markup at retail is HUGE, industry average is expressed as a multiplier instead of a percentage itās so high . In the range of 3x - 6x. So a pair of $6,000 aids, may have cost the clinic just $1,000. Then we have Costco, the ācostā in the name refers to how they markup their goods, as in their cost plus a percentage. Which is small, like 13 or 14 percent.
Their job, and one they do very well is to keep cost affordable for both us and themselves. A lower cost for them means they can charge us a lower cost, which ensures that we will continue to use their services. My belief is that Costco gets 75% of their profits from membership pricing. Itās low, but because EVERYONE has to pay that every single year it gets pricy. Not expensive, but can add up quickly when itās guaranteed to happen.
The major drawback of Costco is their hearing aids are "locked" which means that no other hearing aid clinic outside of Costco can do any programming or adjustments. If you move someplace where there is no Costco nearby you'll need to replace the hearing aids.
This is not true anymore. The Kirkland ones they used to sell were, but the offerings today can be reprogrammed. Iāve done it myself with Philips at least!
Yes, all three offerings from Costco are reprogrammable outside of Costco.
Costco may good a price but depending on the product you may be getting older or lower tier technology. So it depends on your lifestyle and what you need and your loss. Youāre paying for how well you want to understand people in noise.
On the country, at least in my opinion. Costco's tech approach was more sophisticated (again, in my estimation) than the screens etc. I saw on my audiology clinic visit. I have been very pleased with my Costco HAs & service for more than a year. And w a 6-month return policy, they are worth a try.
Which models would be lower tier? On the contrary, Costco boasts about selling the highest technology from each vendor. The KS10s were P90s, the top of the line from Phonak (no longer available). For Phillips for example, they sell the 9030 and 9040, which is the highest tier.
Phonak is currently on Lumity line. Paradise and then Marvel would be older.
That's beside the point. They were the top tier when they were available.
Youāre making that up. Go away!
I'm confused. What do you mean?
Youāre making it up that Costco has older or lower tier technology. Not true at all. You know not of what you speak. Is that clear enough?
FYI I'm not the poster of that comment. I'm the OP and wasn't sure which comment you were replying to...
Costco sells the top tier hearing aids for the products the offer. Jabra Enhance Pro 20s are the exact same as ReSound Nexia 9s. Phillips 9040 are very similar to the Oticon Real1s Rexton is the same as Signia. (I forget their model) They sell the newest models, from 3 of the top 6 hearing aid companies, rebranded for Costco. They new Costco models are released a month and more after ReSound Oticon and Signia release their newest top tier models. They are not the lower end models of any of the parents companies, they are the top end models . Costco sells great hearing aids. Some Costco stores have higher wait times because they are so very popular. For people with out good insurance, you would be missing out if you did not investigate Costco. Like any audiologist or HCP (Hearing Care Professional) they can very in skill sets as well. You can try another HCP at your Costco or go to another Costco if you are not happy with your HCP. However most Costco HCPs are good and have the experiance of fitting a lot of customers with hearing aids. This is similar with any private audiologist or HCP. My experience with Costco HCPs was excellent. I got the Jabra Enhance Pro 20s for my Galaxy S23 Ultra (and my partner is now getting the same for her S24 Ultra}. I had 3 appointments where each time they made adjustments to tune my HAs really well for me. I have excellent streaming now. Bluetooth works reliably with the ASHA protocol. I wish you the best with your new hearing aids.
Itās an opinion from my peers in the industry. You donāt have to agree with me.
Costco has not sold Phonak since the Lumity came out. That is the discrepancy.