NoRoutine dental cleanings and dentures
NoEyeglasses and routine eye exams
NoHearing aids and fitting exams
Often yesExtra benefits in Advantage plans
What Original Medicare covers and does not
| Type of care | Generally covered? | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Routine dental (cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures) | No | Dental work that is part of a covered medical procedure, such as certain jaw surgery, or an exam needed before some covered surgeries |
| Eye exams for glasses, glasses, and contacts | No | One pair of glasses or contacts after cataract surgery with an implanted lens; yearly glaucoma screening for people at high risk; diabetic eye exams |
| Hearing aids and exams to fit them | No | Diagnostic hearing and balance exams when your doctor orders them to diagnose a medical problem |
Part B can cover medically necessary eye treatments, such as macular degeneration care or cataract surgery itself. The line is usually between treating a medical condition (covered) and routine or corrective care (not covered).
Where people get this coverage
- Medicare Advantage plans. Many include dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Check the annual dollar limit, the network, and whether your dentist participates before you enroll.
- Stand-alone dental and vision plans sold by private insurers. Compare waiting periods and annual maximums.
- Medicaid. Some states cover adult dental, vision, or hearing for people who qualify.
- Other options: VA benefits for veterans, dental school clinics, community health centers, and over-the-counter hearing aids, which are available without a prescription for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Read the plan details. An Advantage plan advertising "$0 premium" and extra benefits may limit dental or hearing benefits to a few hundred dollars a year. Use the Medicare Plan Finder to see the actual benefits.
Medigap plans follow Original Medicare rules, so they generally do not add dental, vision, or hearing coverage either.