Effective January 1, 2026, Start Hearing will replace Amplifon Hearing Health Care (Amplifon) as the national provider of digital and digitally programmable analog hearing aids and supplies for your patients who have a hearing aid benefit with their Cigna Healthcare^® medical plan.¹

Our partnership with Start Hearing allows us to continue offering access to affordable, quality hearing aids, which is crucial for those experiencing hearing loss, as it can significantly enhance an individual’s health and quality of life. Using hearing aids not only contributes to better health outcomes but also helps mitigate the complications associated with untreated hearing loss, ultimately reducing long-term health care costs.

What this means beginning January 1

Start Hearing will be our single in-network point of contact for ordering hearing devices. Providers who participate in the Cigna Healthcare network will be required to work with Start Hearing to order these items for their patients with Cigna Healthcare-administered plans.

How the Start Hearing ordering process will work

There will be no change to the current process, except providers will contact Start Hearing instead of Amplifon, as outlined below. Note that providers do not need to be contracted with Start Hearing to procure devices from them.

• Provider verifies the patient’s benefit and eligibility information by calling Start Hearing at 888.304.8539.
• Provider and patient determine the best hearing device for the patient’s condition.
• Provider shares with the patient a disclosure form received from Start Hearing, which outlines the patient’s cost share, if any.
• Provider places an order with one of the manufacturers that Start Hearing represents using Start Hearing’s remittance order number.
• Patient pays Start Hearing their estimated cost share.
• Manufacturer ships hearing aids and supplies directly to the provider’s office.
• Provider dispenses, fits, and adjusts hearing aids to the patient.
• Start Hearing submits a claim for the devices and supplies to Cigna Healthcare.
• Cigna Healthcare sends an explanation of payment (EOP) with reimbursement for the hearing aids and supplies to Start Hearing,² and an explanation of benefits to the patient.
• Start Hearing pays the dispensing fee for hearing aids directly to the provider 60 days after the device has been dispensed, provided the patient does not return the hearing aids.

Repairs and replacements

Depending on the purchase date, where to order the repair and replacement of hearing aids will be different, as outlined below.  

Additional information

1  Also includes patients in states where hearing aid coverage is mandated.

2  For patients with Shared Administrative Pricing or third-party administrator plans, Cigna Healthcare sends the EOP to the claim administrator.