Sam’s Club is expanding its hearing solutions with the launch of over the counter (OTC) hearing aids beginning today at its in-club hearing aid centers and online. This marks the first time in the U.S. hearing aids will be available to members and their dependents who are 18 years and older with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss without a medical exam or fitting adjustment needed by an audiologist. The availability of OTC hearing aids expands Sam’s Club’s already robust hearing services that include hearing centers at 474 clubs, a full selection of hearing technologies, accessories, and personal sound amplifiers at member-only prices.
Sam’s Club will offer an assortment of OTC hearing aids from Lucid Hearing, ranging from $199 - $799 per pair. Lucid Hearing’s hearing aids will offer cutting-edge technology like Bluetooth, background noise reduction, and discreet, sleek designs at value-based pricing.
The availability of OTC hearing aids follows an August ruling by the US Food & Drug Administration to improve access to hearing aids, thereby, helping lower health care costs for millions of Americans who suffer from hearing impairment. Nearly 30 million American adults could benefit from using hearing aids, making it an essential part of many Americans’ healthcare priorities.1 People with hearing loss are more likely to suffer from social isolation and depression, are three times more likely to be at risk of dementia and have an increased risk of falling and hospitalization.2
"A person’s 'whole health' is a combination of many factors, including hearing, that influence physical and mental well-being. Offering easy access to OTC hearing aids - something that seems quite small - is a solution that can improve our customer’s health outcomes and their ability to live better and healthier."
Dr. John Wigneswaran, Chief Medical Officer at Walmart.
Cost is one of the many barriers faced when access to hearing aids is needed, particularly since coverage is limited with most health insurance plans. A more affordable, easily accessible option can open the door to millions of people who need assistance.
Providing access and affordability to members are two driving factors in Sam’s Club’s approach to healthcare. Sam’s Club’s Hearing Aid Centers offer a variety of services including hearing evaluations, repair services, follow-up tests and more. The Hearing Aid Centers complement a suite of healthcare services available to members including Sam’s Club Optical Centers and Pharmacies.
For more information on OTC hearing aid options available at Sam’s Club, visit SamsClub.com.
1 "FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 16 Aug. 2022, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizes-historic-rule-enabling-access-over-counter-hearing-aids-millions-americans.
2 Baker, Hari. "The United States of Hearing Loss: Your Hearing Network." Nationwide Hearing Care Network, 3 May 2022, https://yourhearingnetwork.com/the-united-states-of-hearing-loss/.
3 "Depression and Hearing Loss." The American Academy of Audiology, 27 May 2022, https://www.audiology.org/consumers-and-patients/hearing-and-balance/depression-and-hearing-loss/.
