Hearing aid users have grown used to seeing traditional brands selling products worth several thousand dollars. This can be discouraging for consumers with lower budgets that need these tools the most. Being able to hear clearly should not be a luxury cost for the hard-of-hearing community.

Furthermore, not all consumers have the privilege of a health insurance plan that covers hearing aid costs. Health insurance only covers hearing aids in certain states, so you can’t rely on your insurance plan to cut costs associated with hearing care. For people without access to a hearing aid insurance plan, direct-to-consumer hearing aids may be the answer to all their problems.

Direct-to-consumer hearing aids are usually sold online through companies such as Audicus or HueHearing. Unlike traditional hearing aids, these products are not subject to the same brick-and-mortar costs associated with traditional retailing. Purchasing hearing aids in-person usually requires taking a hearing test and other procedures before you can purchase them. Paying an audiologist’s salary is part of these expensive procedures. These package costs are responsible for raising the prices of traditional hearing aids to unreasonable heights.

Since direct-to-consumer companies ship directly to consumers, they can greatly simplify the process and reduce prices. Many companies only require an online hearing test. Others do not require a test at all. For example, you can purchase a pair of Hue Hearing Aids for $299.97 at full price and $132 while on sale. If you’re curious about how this new business model affects quality, you can read HueHearing reviews online and decide for yourself.