My Starkey Hearing Aids (HAs) were from the VA... this pair of HAs did not cost me except for the visits .... I do not have the full disability... as back when I got out of the Marine Corps...I thought I was indestructible... my hearing loss was from big guns ... back in those days we only had cotton to stuff in our ears.. but the remote mic bluetooth system (which is rechargeable like the hearing aids) needs to work with the Starkey APP called "Thrive" on my smart phone..... You have to have a good smart phone to take advantage of all the Thrive app capabilities... My Starkey HAs have a small over the ear part and do not use an earmold.. the part that fits in the ear is clear plastic so you can see the tiny electronics in it... My left ear HA broadcasts to my right ear... the left ear just does not work except at jet airplane decibel noise level... Ken