This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws and regulations including the Medical Service Act.
How much government hearing aid subsidy can you receive in Giheung-gu based on 2026 standards?
If you are registered as a person with hearing disability, the National Health Insurance Service hearing aid benefit standard amount as of 2026 is 1.31 million won. Within this limit, general health insurance subscribers can receive approximately 1.179 million won (90% of the standard amount), while those in the near-poor class or medical aid beneficiaries can receive the full 1.31 million won once every 5 years.
However, this subsidy does not come without conditions. According to related information, benefit claims are only possible when purchasing products registered with the Health Insurance Service from businesses registered with the Service. If you purchase a hearing aid before registering as hearing disabled, the subsidy will not apply. Therefore, adhering to the correct procedure order is of utmost importance.
2026 Benefit Subsidy at a Glance
| Classification | Benefit Standard Amount | Patient's Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| General health insurance subscribers | Approximately 1.179 million won (90%) | Approximately 131,000 won (10%) |
| Near-poor class and medical aid beneficiaries | 1.31 million won (100%) | None |
| Benefit frequency | Once every 5 years | — |
The procedure is said to be complicated — 5 steps from hearing disability registration to benefit claims
According to the official National Health Insurance Service standards, to receive hearing aid subsidies, you must complete the following 5 steps in order. If the order is incorrect, benefit claims may be rejected. Please carefully verify each step.
— Step 1: Hearing test and hearing disability diagnosis at an otolaryngology clinic
Undergo detailed hearing testing including pure-tone audiometry and receive a hearing disability diagnosis from an otolaryngology specialist.
— Step 2: Apply for hearing disability registration through a community center or welfare center
Bring the diagnosis and test results to your local community center to apply for disability registration, and complete the review by the National Pension Service to be registered as a person with hearing disability.
— Step 3: Obtain a hearing aid prescription from an otolaryngology specialist
After completing hearing disability registration, obtain a separate hearing aid prescription from an otolaryngology clinic. The prescription must be obtained before purchase.
— Step 4: Purchase hearing aid from a Health Insurance Service-registered business
Bring the prescription and purchase a registered product from a business registered with the National Health Insurance Service. At this step, you must verify the registration status.
— Step 5: Issue verification report (sound field test) one month after use, then claim benefits from the Health Insurance Service
According to National Health Insurance Service standards, you can only claim benefits from the Service after obtaining a verification report through a sound field test conducted one month after actual use of the hearing aid.
Related articles also note that "if the procedure order is incorrect, the subsidy claim may be rejected, and in particular, pre-purchase before hearing disability registration will not qualify for benefits." When the gap between purchase and disability registration timing is close, it is safer to confirm with the Health Insurance Service separately whether a refund is possible.
To actually utilize subsidies in Giheung-gu and Yongin — hanmihearing's approach
Receiving government subsidy does not mean the hearing aid issue ends there. Related materials cite as a common case "situations where hearing aids obtained with difficulty using subsidies end up in a drawer due to disappointment in noisy environments." The real value of the subsidy depends on how well you wear the hearing aid after purchase, and choosing the right center is crucial for this.
The Health Insurance Service-recognized post-fitting management benefit also provides separate support once per year for up to 4 times after purchase, so you should also examine whether the center can systematically implement post-fitting management.
hanmihearing, which has 40 years of expertise and employs audiologists with master's degrees or higher in audiology, conducts precise hearing tests with university hospital-grade double soundproof booths and allows direct comparison trials of the world's 6 major hearing aid brands before selecting the product that suits each individual. We systematically guide you through Health Insurance Service-registered products and post-fitting management services.
| Items to Check When Selecting a Center | Reason |
|---|---|
| Availability of Health Insurance Service-registered products | Non-registered products cannot claim benefits |
| Precise hearing test environment | Accurate testing is the starting point for hearing aid fitting |
| Possibility of comparing various brands | Selection tailored to individual hearing and living environment is necessary |
| Capability to implement post-fitting management | Adjustment and management after use determines satisfaction |
| Home care service availability | Particularly important for elderly individuals with mobility limitations |
Before purchase, you should verify whether your family qualifies for the subsidy — 4 conditions to check
Before purchasing a hearing aid, checking the following 4 conditions in order can prevent missing out on subsidies. This is organized based on the National Health Insurance Service benefit recognition standards.
| Verification Item | Confirmation Content | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| ① Hearing disability registration status | Are you officially registered as a person with hearing disability currently? | If purchased before registration, benefits will not apply |
| ② Possibility of otolaryngology specialist prescription | Is prescription issuance possible (after disability registration)? | Purchase without prescription results in claim rejection |
| ③ Confirmation of Health Insurance Service-registered products and businesses | Are the product and business you wish to purchase registered with the Health Insurance Service? | Purchase from non-registered business results in benefit claim rejection |
| ④ Capability to undergo verification one month after use | Can you undergo a sound field test after one month of actual use? | Without verification report issuance, claim is rejected |
In particular, simple age-related hearing loss alone may not meet the hearing disability registration standards. It is practical to first confirm with an otolaryngology clinic whether disability registration is possible before starting the procedure.
The same procedures and standards apply not only to those in Giheung-gu but also those considering hearing aid purchases in Suji-gu, Cheoin-gu, and Dongbaek. There is no difference in procedures by region, so you can start after verifying the above 4 conditions.
To fully utilize subsidies in Giheung-gu, hearing aid selection and post-fitting management must align
hanmihearing provides lifetime free home care service after purchase, visiting areas near Giheung-gu and Yongin directly. The real value of government subsidies is revealed not at the moment of purchase, but through post-fitting management over 4 years and daily wearing satisfaction. The process of receiving post-fitting management benefits recognized by the Health Insurance Service (once per year, maximum 4 times) without omission and adjusting the hearing aid according to changes in hearing condition is equally important.
Please feel free to contact us if you have difficulty visiting the center due to mobility constraints, if you are unfamiliar with the subsidy procedure and unsure where to start, or if you want to re-examine hearing testing. We will guide you through the entire process from testing to post-purchase management so you can properly utilize the subsidy in Giheung-gu.
Most frequently asked questions from those coming to receive subsidies in Giheung-gu
Q1. Can you receive a hearing aid subsidy in Giheung-gu without being registered as hearing disabled?
No, only those officially registered as persons with hearing disability are eligible for health insurance benefits. Hearing aids purchased without registration cannot claim subsidies. The first step is to undergo hearing testing and obtain a diagnosis from an otolaryngology clinic, then apply for disability registration at your local community center.
Q2. Can you purchase hearing aids for both ears using the subsidy?
For adults, in principle, benefits are recognized only for one ear (unilateral). However, for children and adolescents under 19, bilateral support may be possible if separate conditions are met. Whether bilateral support is available is determined based on the otolaryngology specialist's judgment and Health Insurance Service standards, so it is good to confirm in advance.
Q3. What happens if you purchase a hearing aid more expensive than the Health Insurance Service standard amount of 1.31 million won?
Any amount exceeding the standard is paid entirely by you. For example, if you purchase a 2 million won hearing aid, based on general subscriber standards, you receive approximately 1.179 million won from the Health Insurance Service and must pay the remaining approximately 821,000 won out of pocket. Whether to select within the subsidy limit or bear the excess to choose a higher-specification product should be decided after consultation with a professional audiologist based on your hearing condition and living environment.
This content was prepared in compliance with Article 56 of the Medical Service Act and Article 23 of the Enforcement Decree, and results may vary depending on individual circumstances.