I got Phonak Hearing aides...

Good luck. My hearing loss began a year ago and the loss is substantial. I got Signia hearing aids because that is what was supported by my insurance and being a newbie I had no idea what to buy. Having since done some research I've found that Phonak, Oticon, Resound, Widex and Starkey seem to get the highest marks, I will need to get new ones as the Signia ones leave a lot to be desired. I'm still pretty ignorant but becoming deaf at 77 is a challenge so I'm looking for any help I/we can get regarding what brand to buy.
I did also hear that Costco has much better pricing and I think they carry Phonak among others. Also, I read that Costco is not tied to any particular brand so you get the best product for your individual case. Anybody else hear that?

@doug48 ...i have severe hearing loss...i was told to consider cochlear implants....that said, my audiologist highly recommended Phonak, top of the line. Ill say, they're a tremendous help considering how bad I am.
Everyone's needs are to be fine tuned according to your individual needs. What helps me, may not help you....so thats where a good licensed audiologist comes in. They can adjust your aides to suit only you.
I also did an AI search on some models you've mentioned, and Phonak scores best, imo.
Do your homework and have an audiologist guide you.
My aides were $6800... my secondary insurance picked up $1500 per each aide...huge help.
Again, it was my audiologist that looked into it and filed the claim for me.
My Phonak aides are no where near 100 percent for my needs, but I do pretty ok while out in public, restaurants, stores, and there's a Phonak app that goes straight to my phone helping me hear so much better, and the ringing goes straight to my aides as well...i never miss a call.
For T.V, and music...not so good...i need clarity, not volume. There are things you can add for that if you choose.
Hopefully this sheds a little light for you...and please dont settle for just anything or any price. My very best to you!!

@doug48

Costco has great prices for hearing aids but are mostly for mild to moderate hearing loss. Their choices for profound hearing loss are minimal and, even though they carry top of the line like Phoanak , they may not work for a profound loss. That being said ,Costco has a great trial period and is a good starting point for anyone new to hearing loss.

My loss is profound and I do get my hearing aids from an ENT practice because the phonak aids I have are more powerful than the ones that Costco sells. They are definitely more expensive and my audiologists over the years agree that prices are extremely expensive, Some ENT practices will sell you refurbished earring aids so you could ask if that is an option. Also they will extend the ridiculous 30 day trial period . The companies want you to buy their aids and are more than willing to extend the trial period.
If you need bilateral aids like I do, find out which ear is the worst. Perhaps you could benefit from a pricy aid for the worst ear and a Costco aid for the
better ear. Don’t let anyone tell you that mixing brands wouldn’t work.

The goal is to find a good audiologist who is a good programmer and will work with you with numerous adjustments, if necessary. If the aid is a Behind the Ear type, a well fitting mold makes all the difference in the world.

I have been lucky with my audiologists over the years. My current one said I would not benefit from the latest brand and don’t need all the bells and whistles that an upgraded aid provides.

I do visit my ENT practice 3-4 times a year to make sure my ears are free from wax and debris. Learn all you can about hearing aids and your loss. Keep a journal of how the aids work in different environments. If your aids use tubing, learn how to retube them yourself. YouTube has tutorials.

I would love to use an audiologist at Costco but I have had hearing loss for 40 plus years and know that I need all that an ENT office had to offer. If, at any time, you are not comfortable with your current hearing aid provider, get another one. You are in the drivers seat and there are too many hearing aid providers around ( at least in my state of Florida there are)

@dazlin Even Phonak by itself was not good enough for my situation. I have trouble making out what is said when several people are speaking at the same time or there is background noise. Then, I obtained a companion device - a Bluetooth microphone (the Phonak people call it Roger). It makes a big difference, if the speaker can hold it close to himself/herself. Even otherwise (e.g., the microphone in my hand, pointing at others) when among 3-4 people clustered in a conversation, it makes a difference.

I've mentioned it before on here, that if you are looking at getting your first pair or 3rd pair of hearing aids, be sure to insist on getting a pair that includes a telecoil and is Auracast ready or even Auracast turned on. Don't let the Aud or Hearing Aid person talk you out of getting a telecoil instead or in place of having Auracast. There are many more places where you'll potentially use your telecoil whether a facility has a hearing loop but in particular if they have an FM system as you'll still be able to check out a receiver and neckloop to connect with your telecoil. Auracast, while slowly getting installed it's still a long ways off before it becomes the primary assisted listening system. If you only have Auracast, you'll only be able to use it where there is an Auracast installed. If you still have telecoils and go into a place with Auracast, they are still supposed to have receivers and neckloops that will connect to your telecoil. Read up on this and many other aspects of hearing aids at CenterForHearingAccess.org. Best, unbiased, educational focussed site available for someone to browse through, ideally before getting hearing aids. Too may AuD's and Hearing Aid specialists won't even tell you about telecoils, and if asked, too many tell you it's old technology, there aren't many places where you live with hearing loops (you still need it for using a neck loop in a place with FM vs trying to use a headset over your hearing aids), and there's new technology coming. Yes, but maybe you travel, it's still the gold standard, and the new technology, Auracast, is here and slowly being installed with a handfull of hearing aids that have it, but there are even fewer places with Auracast than there are hearing loops.

@imallears
Thank you for your feedback. Very valuable. I hope I am able to find a good audiologist and ENT. It sounds like yours are in two separate offices. I am not sure the audiologist I've used is much more than a sales person.