Kinney Drugs debuts OTC hearing aids across stores in New York, Vermont
Kinney Drugs is partnering with Lucid Hearing to launch a new Hearing Health Center that offers an assortment of over-the-counter hearing aids, personal sound amplifiers and hearing protection in 52 of its stores in New York and Vermont.
In October 2022, hearing aids for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss were FDA-approved for OTC sale to consumers aged 18 years old and older.
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Before then, hearing aids were only available after testing and a prescription from a licensed hearing professional. OTC hearing aids are intended to make hearing healthcare more accessible and affordable. According to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, average prescription hearing aids can range from $2,300 to $4,500 per ear.
In comparison, Kinney’s regular retail prices range from $40 per pair of personal sound amplifiers to around $1,000 per pair of Bluetooth-compatible OTC hearing aids. The company also is offering discounted introductory pricing on many of its new hearing products. Consumers can pay for OTC hearing aids with funds from their Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts, according to IRS guidelines. All of Kinney’s hearing aids and amplifiers feature a 60-day return policy and one-year warranty on parts and labor.
More than half of U.S. adults say they have some difficulty hearing, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. That’s a lot of people who can’t hear birds singing, or soft music, or fully participate in conversations. Until now, hearing solutions were financially out of reach for many.
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“We are thrilled with the FDA’s decision to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter, and Kinney Drugs wants to be the first in our markets to offer them. We have partnered with Lucid Hearing to bring more affordable hearing solutions to our patients and customers – without a hearing exam or prescription,” said John Marraffa, Jr., president of Kinney Drugs. “I do want to point out that OTC hearing aids aren’t for everyone. It’s important for individuals with severe or profound hearing loss, sudden hearing loss, and/or other medical issues such as pain or balance problems to see an ear nose-throat specialist and/or a licensed hearing professional. For people with mild to moderate hearing loss, I believe Kinney has solutions that could really help improve their quality of life."