My experience has been that the person at Costco does a far, far better job and knows more about what's available than either of the audiologists at the hearing center. I need to use my insurance (and have a referral) to go to the hearing center, but I don't need any of that to go to Costco. For starters, not only are the same aids far less expensive at Costco, but ALL the return trips for adjustments, different ear molds (not custom), etc. are totally FREE.

Because my kidneys don't work well, I have Part F w/Medicare instead of an Advantage plan. Part F coverage means that there is zero charge, not even a co-pay, for any medical visit, including to a hearing center (once you've been referred). Because dialysis costs about $60,000/mo. (!!!), I need to have Part F that pays !00% of the cost in case my kidneys continue to fail. I know that many Advantage plans pay small amounts toward the cost of an aid, but they don't pay all, and you still can have considerable medical costs. My husband wasn't quite old enough for Medicare when he first went on dialysis, so we clearly understand the difference between insurance that pays SOME of medical costs rather than ALL of them. Fortunately, he turned 65 and went on Medicare plus Part F after just three months, and every cent of dialysis and his kidney transplant was paid by insurance.

As for ear molds, the person at Costco who works with me has never suggested custom molds, but, as my hearing worsened, she provided larger molds with smaller vents that deliver more sound into my ear. There was zero charge for that, nor has there been any charge for any of the multiple visits I've made for adjustments. The last adjustment she made, just before things shut down, made it possible for me to listen to music for the first time in almost a year. When I first had this aid in my so-called good left ear, I thought that what I heard was all I'd ever hear, but subsequent adjustments (as my hearing took a huge downward dip due to Meniere's) have shown me that a knowledgeable person can make real improvements in how well an aid works. FWIW, the two audiologists at the hearing center know zip about Meniere's, aren't aware of speech-to-text apps, simply recommend me buying far more expensive aids until I get a CI. In my book, both of them get "D" grades, while the gal at Costco gets at least a B+, if not better.