What Medicare Beneficiaries Need to Know About Dental and Vision Coverage

Posted by Steve Nakamoto
Estimated Reading Time 1 minute 8 seconds

Your eyes and teeth are pretty crucial body parts, and that’s why dental and vision services are essential. You might be surprised to learn that Medicare Parts A and B don’t offer coverage for vision screenings, corrective lenses, or dental checkups and procedures.

That might be concerning, considering many of us develop problems with our teeth or eyes after age 65. Here’s what you need to know about dental and vision care and coverage once you’ve enrolled in Medicare.

While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) don’t offer this type of coverage, some Medicare Advantage plans do. Medicare Advantage plans are operated by private insurance companies, based upon standards set forth by Medicare. They must meet these basic standards, but in order to be competitive many providers add additional coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans operate through a network of providers, similar to other health insurance plans. If you opt for an Advantage plan, it will roll coverage for hospitalization, preventive care, and routine treatments into one plan. On top of that, many Advantage plans also include Part D (prescription) coverage, dental and vision care, and even perks such as discounted gym memberships.

If a Medicare Advantage plan isn’t right for you, you can add a Medigap policy to your Original Medicare. These supplemental plans are designed to address your out-of-pocket spending and keep it more manageable. Medigap kicks in to cover costs such as copayments and deductibles, and some plans include dental and vision care coverage. A Medigap policy can even help with the cost of medical care received out of the country when you travel.