Controlled market. The audiologists got themselves licensed by the states early on. . . where before they were unlicensed and anyone could sell hearing aids, trumpets, gimmicks, etc. Once they were licensed, they naturally prevented just anyone from selling their panoply of devices to aid hearing. . . and jacked up the prices, regardless of the wholesale pricing. . . and draconian fines and jail time awaiting anyone caught competing with them, enforced now by guys and gals with guns (all state enforcement agencies have guns now since 911) and that allows them to legally charge all that the market will bear.
Look in your local listings and see how few audiologists and hearing aid centers there are competing against each other in large metropolitan areas. . . not many for a large populace of hearing loss consumers. They have gatekeepers on who can enter the retail market for selling hearing aids. Even Costco doesn't discount much in this area.
“hearing aids”
My friend needs some. I’ve tried looking overseas for good and cheap, but didn’t have luck.
I suspect a trip to China and a pair of broken ones would be fruitful.