Congress quietly expands hearing aid access for middle-income Americans
H.R. 7770 — Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act · Filed by Kevin Mullin (D-CA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 3, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a federal tax credit allowing individuals to deduct up to $1,000 per year from their taxes for the cost of purchasing hearing aids, but only if their income is below $150,000–$300,000 (depending on filing status) and they haven't claimed the credit in the prior four years. The credit applies only to FDA-approved hearing aids and cannot be combined with other tax benefits for the same expense.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a targeted tax credit designed to reduce financial barriers to hearing aid purchase for middle-income individuals. It is a straightforward public-health subsidy delivered through the tax code, with no hidden provisions or narrow carve-outs.
What the text implies
- The five-year election cycle may create administrative friction; individuals must actively claim the credit and cannot do so in consecutive years, potentially leaving some eligible taxpayers unaware or unable to time purchases optimally.
- The credit is capped at $1,000 annually but hearing aids often cost $2,000–$6,000 per pair; the credit covers only partial cost, leaving significant out-of-pocket burden for lower-income beneficiaries near the income cap.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
hearing aid manufacturers and distributors; audiology practices and hearing aid retailers