Original Medicare does not include routine dental and vision screening as a benefit[0]. This means that corrective lenses (e.g., glasses and contacts), dental cleanings, dentures, and routine eye exams are not covered. Those preventive services aside, it does pay toward some vision care that directly relates to medical conditions like cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Dental procedures are rarely covered unless they are needed before major surgery (e.g., a kidney transplant or heart surgery) or before radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.
Most Medicare Advantage plans offer dental and vision coverage as a supplemental benefit[1]. You will need to read the plan benefits to find out what specific services are covered. There is often a cap set on how much they will pay toward these services each year.
Original Medicare does not include routine dental and vision screening as a benefit[2]. This means that corrective lenses (e.g., glasses and contacts), dental cleanings, dentures, and routine eye exams are not covered. Those preventive services aside, it does pay toward some vision care that directly relates to medical conditions like cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Dental procedures are rarely covered unless they are needed before major surgery (e.g., a kidney transplant or heart surgery) or before radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.
Most Medicare Advantage plans offer dental and vision coverage as a supplemental benefit[3]. You will need to read the plan benefits to find out what specific services are covered. There is often a cap set on how much they will pay toward these services each year.