Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids

Eyeglasses

Eye doctors must give patients their eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions at no extra cost immediately after an eye exam. You have a legal right to your prescription, so be sure to request it if it is not provided. Your eye doctor cannot require you to buy your eyeglasses or contact lenses from their practice or any other supplier.

Hearing Aids

Millions of older Americans suffer from hearing loss requiring the use of hearing aids. Purchasing hearing aids can be a confusing, expensive process, but Maine has laws which provide consumer protections for persons who purchase hearing aids.[i]

Audiologists and hearing aid dealers must be licensed by the Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing. If you purchase hearing aids, they must provide you with a written contract that contains the following notices:

1. the seller’s signature, address, and license number;
2. the Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing’s address;
3. specifications of the make and model of the hearing aid;
4. the full terms of sale including the cost of financing;
5. the date of the sale;
6. the full terms of any warranty, including the duration, conditions, and identity and address of the warrantor; and
7. this exact language: “An examination or representation made by a dealer-licensee in connection with the fitting and selling of a hearing aid or aids is not an examination, diagnosis or prescription by an individual licensed to practice medicine in this State and may not be regarded as medical opinion or advice.”

You have the right to return hearing aids within 30 days of the date of delivery. If you notify the seller within 30 days that you wish to cancel the transaction, they must provide you a full refund, minus the reasonable price of any ear mold and lab fees.

You have the right to cancel the transaction within 60 days if you submit a written opinion from a physician or audiologist stating that the hearing aids are not advisable for you. If you do so, you are entitled to a full refund, minus the price of any ear mold and lab fees.

If a seller violates any of these rights, it is also a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. See our guide to this Act for more information about enforcing your rights.