Now Hear This: Order Hearing Aid Batteries Online from VA

Hearing loss does not just affect older Veterans. Many of our young Veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom also suffer from hearing loss. One recent VA report estimates that the number may be as high as 59,000.

Given the higher incidence of hearing loss among Veterans of all ages, VA has an extensive network of services and benefits for Veterans to cope with hearing loss. In fact, VA provided an estimated 59 million hearing aid batteries last year.

Did you know that VA offers a quick and easy way to reorder your hearing aid batteries online? Check out our step-by-step explanation of the order process.

Register for eBenefits

The eBenefits website, is a sister site to My HealtheVet. It was designed as a one-stop shop for Veterans, Servicemembers, and their beneficiaries. This site can help Veterans request, track and obtain a variety of benefits, so signing up is a good idea. To start:

• Go to eBenefits
• On the blue bar at the top of the page, select the link, Register Now!
• Follow the prompts to apply for a Premium Account

Note:

To apply for a Premium account, you must have an upgraded* My HealtheVet account. If you already have an upgraded My HealtheVet account, you do not need to be authenticated again. Simply follow the instructions under the tab Veteran with a My HealtheVet Account to obtain a DS Logon.

*To upgrade your My HealtheVet VA account, you will need to go through Authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to their VA health record. Learn how to upgrade your account by visiting the authentication page at My HealtheVet.

Access your eBenefits Medical Equipment Portal

Once you have your logon, sign in to your eBenefits account and select "My Personal Dashboard." This will bring up an individualized page featuring information relevant to your medical profile.

My Personal Dashboard

On the dashboard, you can navigate to the "Apply for Benefits" column and select from the subcategory called "Health" an option called "Order Medical Equipment."

Order Medical Equipment

This link will take you to a page where you can order hearing aid batteries and prosthetic socks. Select the product you want to order.

Order Medical Equipment (cont'd)

For example: If you selected 'order hearing aid batteries,' it will bring up a small screen that will list the devices on your medical record. A confirmation email will be sent to the address you have on file once the order is processed. If there is a problem, an error message to that effect will pop-up and direct you to a help line to call and complete your order.

Once ordered, your batteries should arrive within 7-10 days.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

"One of the mistakes most commonly made is that Veterans try to re-order too soon after their previous order. We typically send a 6-month supply of batteries, and only allow them to refill their order every five months for the same battery size." said Jim Richardson, Senior Programmer and Analyst at VA's Denver Acquisition & Logistics Center. "If you need those batteries sooner, call us. We may advise you to get your hearing aid looked at to see why it's using so much power, and then make sure you get the batteries you need."

Keep in mind that this restriction does not apply to different battery types if you use multiple kinds of hearing aids.

Additionally, know that the very first time you order, the system must match your identity to your record. If the verification process can't be completed the first time you submit your data, you will need to speak to someone directly to make sure that you are cleared.

Tips for Pros

• You can't change your address online. You'll need to call or send an email to make sure that your batteries are shipped to the right place.
• When you do place an order for a specific battery type, know that you will receive a five to six month supply of batteries based on the assumption that you have hearing aids in both ears. So if you only use a hearing aid in one ear, you will receive nearly a year's supply with just one order.

In Person Authentication: Learn how to upgrade your My HealtheVet account.

eBenefits: My HealtheVet's sister website for managing benefits.

Remote Order Entry System: Order hearing aid batteries without using eBenefits