The Defense Department's Retiree-At-Cost Hearing Aid Program (RACHAP) helps retirees buy hearing aids through certain military medical facilities at a government-negotiated cost.
The hearing aids provided are the same as those available to active-duty service members. The program is open to retirees who have hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Dependents of military retirees are not eligible.
Retirees can use any military treatment facility that provides the program and will accept them; you don't need to return to your service affiliation to participate in this program. Contact one near you for more details.
In addition to certain military treatment facilities, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers RACHAP to retirees who live within a 75-mile radius of the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois.
Retirees can obtain hearing aids at significant savings: Two hearing aids usually cost less than $2,000. Exact costs are variable and subject to change at any time without notice. Contact your nearest audiology clinic for further details.
Not every military medical facility is able to provide this program. Care of active-duty members takes precedence at all military treatment facilities. It is recommended that you contact the appropriate military facility before incurring significant travel expenses. Facilities may discontinue this program for any reason.
Note: Your closest clinic could be located hundreds of miles away from your home. The costs to travel for this program need to be considered versus the availability of an audiologist in your local community to assist you with repairs, re-programming, etc.
Retirees who are VA beneficiaries may also be eligible for hearing aids free of charge from the VA. In most cases, there is no cost to the patient.
Dependents of retirees are not eligible for hearing aid services from RACHAP. Retirees eligible for care at a military treatment facility and retiree family members covered by Tricare are eligible for hearing evaluations, and the audiologist can provide them with more information about hearing aids or local providers. They may be able to get discounted hearing aids at a military clinic. Tricare began covering hearing aids for the children of retirees in 2024.
Military retirees from active-duty, National Guard and reserve units who have hearing loss and/or tinnitus are eligible to participate in the RACHAP. Retired commissioned officers of the U.S. Public Health Service may also be eligible.
This program is not a Tricare benefit.
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