Eargo

Eargo is a relatively newcomer to the hearing aid market; their devices are sold directly to customers, so you won't have to go to an audiologist or get a prescription. 

The company is working towards making their devices accessible for everyone by cutting their prices in half compared to other companies. 

 

About Eargo

Eargo has been in the market since 2015, making them relatively new to the hearing health technology industry. They are headquartered in San Jose, California. All their devices were designed by Florent Michel, an ear, throat, and nose surgeon, made for people with mild to moderate hearing loss in the high-frequency range. The hearing aid was inspired by a fly fishing feather, making the hearing aid soft, flexible, and self-adjusting. In addition, they are self-fitting, so there are two designs that fit most ears. 

The hearing aid is approved by the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, and they classified the product as a medical device. This is significant since most insurance policies will cover the cost, including federal health insurance.

Hearing aids come with four settings built-in; Phone, outdoor, TV, and group settings. All you have to do is tap your ear twice to move from one setting to the other, and the hearing aid will let you know which mode you are on. In addition, the latest model can be connected to a smartphone app, and you'll get to control it from there.

The Better Business Bureau gave Eargo a rating of A+. They have also "answered" about 87 customer complaints.
 

How Eargo Works

1. Find out if Ergo is the best fit for you

Take the screening hearing check to see if you are a match; this hearing aid is designed for people with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss.

If you have any questions or concerns, book a telecare checkup. Then, you'll be able to talk to them directly by phone or video. 

2. Order your device

Shop around and choose the device that best fits your needs; once you find the right one, you can order it via phone or online. Eargo hearing aid will arrive within 2-3 days. You'll get a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you won't have to overthink the purchase; if you like it, you keep it; if not, you can send it back and get a full refund. 

3. Recieve your device

Your Eargo will arrive fully charged and ready to use; although they are easy to use, someone will be there to help you adapt to using them. You will be paired with a licensed hearing professional to help you get adjusted; they can access the device remotely and help answer any questions you have.

What comes in the Eargo Kit?

The hearing aid comes in a kit, and it includes: 

• User manual
• Left and right hearing aids
• Charger with a USB cord
• Portable container
• Cleaning brush and cloth
• Extra wax guards and a wax guard changing tool 
• Extra Flexi TetraPalms

How to charge and clean your Eargo device

Before you start using the hearing aids, you must make sure there is no wax build-up; this is because wax interferes with the performance of your hearing aids. If you can't remove all of the wax on your own, you could go to a medical professional, where a nurse can clean it. 

The hearing aid must be cleaned periodically; when you make a purchase, you'll get a kit that has a cleaning brush and cloth. When you charge your device, make sure to wipe it clean. The internal wax guard has to be changed once every 3 to 6 months, depending on how much wax you have built up. You'll get an extra wax guard with a wax guard changing tool to help you replace it. The Flexis also needs to be changed every couple of months.

The product is designed to be taken out and charged overnight in the portable charger provided to you. You need to charge it for six hours to use it for 16 hours. The charger doesn't have to be constantly plugged into the USB cord, but you'll have to make sure to recharge it on a weekly basis fully. Eargo has made it easier to place your hearing aids inside the portable box by adding LED lights. 
 

Eargo Hearing Aid Devices

Eargo Max

• 9.4 mm in height, 18.4 mm in length, 6.8 mm in width
• 1.1 grams
• Fiber ear tips
• Contact charger
• 1-year warranty 
•  Mild to moderately high-frequency hearing loss
• Completely in Canal
• Nearly Invisible
• Can't adjust the hearing setting

Eargo Neo

• 6.8 mm in height, 19.3 mm in length, 12 mm in width
• 1.2 grams
• Palm ear tips
• Contact charger
• 1-year warranty
• Mobile app
• Mild to moderately high-frequency hearing loss
• Completely in Canal
• Nearly Invisible
• Switch through settings by tapping or mobile app

Eargo Neo HiFi

• 6.8 mm in height, 19.3 mm in length, 12 mm in width
• 1.2 grams
• Tetrapal ear tips
• Contact charger
• 1-year warranty
• Mobile app 
• Mild to moderately high-frequency hearing loss 
• Completely in Canal
• Nearly invisible
• Change settings through tapping or mobile app

Eargo 5

• 6.8 mm in height, 17.8 mm in length, and 12 mm in width
• Petal ear tips
• Inductive charging 
• 2-year warranty 
• Mobile app
• Sound match 
• Remote adjustment
• Completely in Canal
• Nearly invisible
• Personalized settings 
• Noise reduction 
• Change settings through tapping or mobile app

Eargo Costs

The device prices at Eargo range from $1,500 to 3,000; their prices are a lot cheaper compared to other devices on the market.

Their price range is: 

• Eargo Max: $1,500
• Eargo Neo: $2,000
• Eargo Neo HiFi: $2,500
• Eargo 5: $2,950

Insurance

Getting your insurance to cover tour Eargo hearing aid is tricky since you are not required to take a special health assessment and fitting, so it might not be covered under the traditional hearing aid coverage.

The following insurance companies reimburse your hearing aids: 

• GEHA
• MHBP
• BCBS Federal Employee Program 
• NALC Health Benefit Plan
• APWU Health Plans

The following companies might have hearing aid coverage; you'll have to send your details to Eargo to confirm: 

• Aetna
• Cigna
• United Healthcare
• Blue Cross
• Anthem
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• Union Health Benefits Plans

The following do not provide any Eargo hearing aid coverage: 

• Medicare
• Tricare
• Veterans Affairs 
• Medicaid
• Kaiser
• AARP
• Humana

Financing

Eargo allows you to finance your device; you can choose from 12, 24, or 36 months financing; plus, you can get about 0% APR. The monthly payments are affordable as you can pay as low as $70 per month, and they have a 90% approval rate. Once you contact their customer support that's dedicated to financing, you can get an answer in seconds to whether or not you have been approved, and you won't have to pay anything on the spot.

Discounts and warranty

Eargo offers you a 10% discount on the Eargo 5 and Eargo Neo HiFi for first responders, nurses, doctors, and the military. You can receive a $300 discount on the Eargo 5 and Eargo Neo HiFi if you are referred by a friend who uses Eargo.

All Eargo devices, apart from the Eargo 5, come with a 1-year warranty. The warranty covers unlimited repairs on the hearing aid and one-time loss or damage coverage per hearing aid. During the warrantied timeframe, your hearing aid will be inspected, repaired, and exchanged. Unfortunately, while there is a 45-day-money-back guarantee, you won't get a refund if you lose or damage your device.
 

Eargo Customer Support

To talk to a specialist, you can reach them at +1-855-205-5536. Unfortunately, there is no mention of operating hours on their website.

Their website is full of step-by-step guides to help you get started; if you are a visual learner, there are also video guides. In addition, FAQs cover almost any question you might have; if you don't find your answer there, you can ask their live chat.
 

Conclusion

Eargo is constantly improving its products with innovative ways to give you the best hearing aid devices. There aren't a lot of devices that accommodate people with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss, so this product could be what you are looking for.