Author: Director Hae-su Jeong (M.A. in Audiology, M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, Professional Audiologist · Representative Director of hanmihearing Auditory Rehabilitation Center) This content was created in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Law.
How much government subsidy can people with hearing disabilities receive for hearing aids in Giheung-gu?
Q. How much government subsidy can people with hearing disabilities receive when purchasing hearing aids in Giheung-gu?
A. As of 2026, adults registered with hearing disabilities can receive up to 1.31 million won (initial subsidy of 1.11 million won + post-fitting management fee of 200,000 won) every 5 years for one hearing aid through the National Health Insurance Service hearing aid benefit program. However, hearing disability registration must be completed first. According to clinical data, it is difficult to qualify for health insurance hearing aid benefits based on general hearing loss alone; results from hearing tests, disability registration, and specialist judgment are all required.
| Target Category | Initial Subsidy (Purchase + Initial Fitting Management) | Post-Fitting Management Fee | Total Support Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Health Insurance Subscriber | Maximum 999,000 won (10% out-of-pocket) | 50,000 won per year × 4 years = 180,000 won | Maximum 1,179,000 won |
| Basic Living Allowance Recipients · Lower-Middle Income Households | Maximum 1.11 million won (100% covered) | 50,000 won per year × 4 years = 200,000 won | Maximum 1.31 million won |
📌 For children with hearing disabilities aged 15 and under, basic living allowance recipients and lower-middle income households can receive up to 2.22 million won (100%) for both hearing aids combined, while general health insurance subscribers can receive up to 1.998 million won (90%). However, you must meet detailed eligibility requirements, so advance confirmation is necessary.
What order should you prepare to receive the subsidy?
Hearing aid subsidies do not automatically come just because you purchase a hearing aid. According to the official procedures of the National Health Insurance Service and guidance from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Rehabilitation Center Central Assistive Device Center, you must complete the following 6-step process in order.
— STEP 1 | Visit Community Service Center → Submit Disability Registration Application
Visit your neighborhood community service center, submit a disability registration application form, and receive a hearing disability diagnostic referral letter. Take this document to an otolaryngology clinic.
— STEP 2 | Visit Otolaryngology Clinic → Hearing Disability Diagnostic Testing
Undergo hearing disability diagnostic testing at an otolaryngology clinic. It is important to choose a hospital equipped with ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) testing equipment. Hearing disability determination is not made simply because hearing is poor; you must meet the established standards.
— STEP 3 | Submit Documents at Community Service Center → Issue Welfare Card
Submit all documents including the diagnostic report to your community service center, which will be forwarded to the National Pension Service Disability Assessment Center. Once you pass the assessment and receive the "Disability Grade Determination Notice," apply for the welfare card.
— STEP 4 | Purchase Hearing Aid at Public Corporation-Registered Center
Only facilities registered with the public corporation can claim benefits. When purchasing, be sure to keep the transaction statement and receipt.
— STEP 5 | One Month After Fitting → Issue Verification of Fitting Certificate
According to the National Health Insurance Service standard, verification of fitting through sound field testing is conducted one month after hearing aid fitting, and benefits are available only when hearing improvement effects are recognized.
— STEP 6 | National Health Insurance Service Branch → Claim Benefit Payment
Submit the prescription, receipt, verification of fitting certificate, welfare card copy, and bank account copy to the public corporation branch, and the subsidy will be refunded to your account.
— STEP 7 | One Year After Purchase → Claim Post-Fitting Management Fee Annually
According to National Health Insurance Service guidance, from one year after hearing aid purchase, if you receive post-fitting management at least once per year, you can receive an additional subsidy of 50,000 won per year up to 4 times.
📌 Benefit Support Structure Summary According to Ministry of Health and Welfare National Rehabilitation Center Central Assistive Device Center materials, health insurance subscribers receive 90% of the standard amount, while basic living allowance recipients and lower-middle income households receive full coverage within the standard amount.
Standards for Choosing a Center in Giheung-gu That Can Properly Assist with Subsidy Procedures
Even when receiving subsidies, the actual effects of auditory rehabilitation can vary depending on center selection. According to National Health Insurance Service standards, benefits can only be claimed at facilities registered with the public corporation, and to continuously receive related benefits, you must receive post-fitting management annually for 4 years after hearing aid purchase. Compare centers using the criteria below.
| Verification Item | Importance |
|---|---|
| Registration as National Health Insurance Service-Registered Facility | If purchased from a non-registered center, benefit claims are impossible |
| Presence of Professional Audiologist | The accuracy of hearing aid fitting directly determines the effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation |
| Precise Hearing Test Environment | At the time of prescription, results of eardrum and external auditory canal condition, pure-tone hearing threshold, and speech intelligibility tests must be attached |
| Feasibility of Continued Post-Fitting Management | Annual visits for 4 years are both a benefit requirement and essential for maintaining hearing aid effectiveness |
| Ability to Compare Multiple Brands | The optimal hearing aid varies depending on hearing loss type and living environment |
hanmihearing, with 40 years of traditional expertise and double-soundproof booths equivalent to university hospital standards, has professional audiologists holding master's degrees or higher stationed at all locations. From the initial hearing test through preparation of public corporation documents to 4 years of post-fitting management, we guide you every step of the way. You can compare and experience world-verified 6 major brand hearing aids and find the most comfortable hearing aid for your personal hearing condition. We also provide lifetime free home care services for elderly and mobility-impaired clients.
Be Careful If You Fall Into These Categories
Before applying for hearing aid subsidy, if any of the following items apply to you, pre-testing and confirmation at a professional center are necessary. According to relevant clinical data, checking in order whether hearing disability registration exists, an otolaryngology prescription is available, a public corporation-registered product is purchased, and a verification of fitting certificate can be issued is a prerequisite for receiving benefits.
— Those with hearing difficulties but not yet registered as hearing disabled The key condition for hearing aid subsidies is hearing disability registration status. The target recipients are limited to those with hearing disabilities (severe disability and non-severe disability), so an otolaryngology specialist's prescription and hearing test results are needed first.
— Those with hearing difficulties but may fall short of disability registration standards Even if hearing is impaired, if pure-tone hearing thresholds fall short of the standard, you cannot receive a hearing disability grade, and in this case, subsidy payment is also difficult. Accurate understanding of your current hearing condition through precise hearing testing must come first.
— Those who have undergone hearing improvement surgery such as cochlear implants or bone conduction hearing aids According to National Health Insurance Service standards, if there is a history of benefit for hearing improvement surgery such as bone conduction hearing aids, ossicular implants, or cochlear implants, hearing aid benefits are principally impossible. However, for bilateral hearing aid benefit recipients, exceptions may apply if specific standards for the opposite side of surgery are met, so individual confirmation is necessary.
— Those who have already received subsidies but less than 5 years have passed Hearing aid benefits follow a 5-year-once-per-cycle principle. If you have a previous claim history, confirm with the public corporation when you can reapply.
📍 Same procedures apply to Suji-gu, Choin-gu, Suwon, and Dongtan residents The same hearing-impaired person hearing aid benefit program from the National Health Insurance Service applies to Suji-gu hearing aid subsidy, Choin-gu hearing aid subsidy, Suwon hearing aid subsidy, and Dongtan hearing aid subsidy. However, some municipalities may operate separate support projects for low-income elderly over 65, so it is recommended to also check announcements from your residential administrative welfare center. If you live near Giheung-gu, you can check everything at once through a nearby hanmihearing location.
If This Is Your First Time with Subsidy Procedures, Check Through Consultation First
hanmihearing, based on 40 years of traditional personalized auditory rehabilitation expertise, will guide you step by step from initial consultation for those unfamiliar with subsidy procedures in the Giheung-gu area.
Hearing aid subsidies for people with disabilities can only maximize benefits when you accurately connect multiple stages: hearing disability registration, hearing aid purchase, verification of fitting, public corporation benefit claims, and 4 years of post-fitting management. If any documents or procedures are missed in the middle, the subsidy may be reduced or claims themselves may become difficult. It is reassuring to confirm the flow once with a professional center at the start.
Based on a nationwide network of locations, we have professional audiologist directors holding master's degrees or higher stationed at all facilities. For elderly clients with mobility difficulties, you can receive continuous post-management through lifetime free home care services in your home.
If you would like to know the direction that suits you, please check through consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I receive hearing aid subsidies in Giheung-gu without hearing disability registration?
You must be registered with a hearing disability to apply for hearing aid subsidies. The target recipients are limited to those with hearing disabilities (severe disability, non-severe disability), and benefit claims are impossible without registration. Whether your current hearing condition meets the standards is best confirmed through detailed testing and consultation with a professional audiologist.
Q2. How much is the 2026 subsidy exactly, and how is it divided for receipt?
General health insurance subscribers can receive up to 999,000 won (10% out-of-pocket) for initial purchase costs + post-fitting management fees of 50,000 won per year × 4 times, for a total of maximum 1,179,000 won. Basic living allowance recipients and lower-middle income households receive 1.11 million won initially + 200,000 won for post-fitting management, for a total maximum of 1.31 million won, with reapplication possible every 5 years.
Q3. If I purchase from a non-registered center, can I not receive the subsidy?
Benefit claims are only possible when purchased from facilities and products registered with the National Health Insurance Service. If purchased from a non-registered center, benefit claims are impossible, so be sure to confirm registration status before your visit. Registration status can be confirmed immediately during a consultation visit.
Q4. If my child is 15 years old or younger, can I receive subsidies for both hearing aids?
According to clinical data, bilateral subsidy for hearing-disabled children aged 15 and under requires meeting all of the following conditions: ▲bilateral hearing loss below 80dB ▲bilateral speech intelligibility 50% or higher ▲bilateral pure-tone hearing threshold difference 15dB or less ▲bilateral speech intelligibility difference 20dB or less. Whether these conditions apply must be confirmed based on detailed hearing test results.
Q5. Must I receive post-fitting management every year after purchasing a hearing aid?
According to National Health Insurance Service standards, from one year after hearing aid purchase, post-fitting management benefits of 50,000 won per year up to 4 times are paid only if you receive post-fitting management at least once per year. If you do not receive management, you cannot claim benefits for that year, so it is important to continue management at the center where you purchased the hearing aid.
⚠️ The possibility of procedure side effects may vary depending on individual conditions.