Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Mostly no, with a few specific exceptions worth knowing.
Routine dental, vision and hearing care are among the biggest gaps in Original Medicare. There are narrow exceptions tied to medical treatment, and some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited benefits, but most people need to plan for these costs separately.
Dental
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, extractions or dentures. It can cover dental services that are closely tied to other covered medical treatment, for example certain dental exams before an organ transplant or heart valve replacement, or before some cancer treatments. Part A can cover some emergency or complicated dental procedures done in a hospital.
Vision
Original Medicare doesn't cover eye exams for glasses or contacts. It does cover medically necessary eye care, such as yearly glaucoma tests for people at high risk, diabetic eye exams, macular degeneration treatment and cataract surgery, including one pair of glasses or contacts after cataract surgery with an intraocular lens.
Hearing
Original Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or exams to fit them. Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams when your doctor orders them to decide whether you need medical treatment.
What Medicare Advantage plans may offer
Many Medicare Advantage plans include some dental, vision or hearing benefits. These vary widely: a plan might cover preventive dental visits but limit major work to a yearly dollar maximum, or offer an allowance for glasses or hearing aids through a specific vendor. The plan's Evidence of Coverage spells out the limits. Don't choose a plan for these extras without checking what they actually pay against what you expect to need.
Other ways to cover these costs
- Standalone dental insurance or dental discount plans.
- Vision plans, or discounts through retailers and membership organizations.
- Over-the-counter hearing aids, available without a prescription for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Retiree coverage from a former employer, if it includes these benefits.
- Medicaid, which covers some dental and other services in many states.
Common questions
No. Medigap policies only help pay for services Medicare covers, so they don't add routine dental, vision or hearing benefits.
No, Original Medicare doesn't cover dentures. Some Medicare Advantage plans include limited denture coverage.
Yes. Part B covers cataract surgery with an intraocular lens and one pair of glasses or contact lenses afterward.
Want help with your own choices?
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who give free, unbiased Medicare help and do not sell plans. Find yours on our Medicare by state pages, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Planning the rest of your coverage in retirement? We can help with life insurance later in life and final expense coverage.
Sources
- What's not covered by Part A & Part B, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
- Compare Medigap plan benefits, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
General information about the federal Medicare program, not advice about your situation. Figures are for 2026 unless stated and change every year; last reviewed September 29, 2026. Quote My Policy is a private company. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
Quote My Policy does not sell Medicare plans on this site. For plan-specific help, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.