What does Medicare cover?
The honest answer is: it depends on which kind of Medicare you have. Here's what Original Medicare, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage each cover for the four things people ask about most — in plain language.
The basics: three kinds of coverage
- Original Medicare (Parts A & B) covers hospital stays and medical care like doctor visits. It does not cover most dental, routine vision, or hearing aids.
- Medigap is add-on insurance that helps pay Original Medicare's deductibles and copays. It doesn't add new benefits like dental or vision.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are run by private insurers. They must cover everything Original Medicare does, and most add extras like dental, vision, and hearing — but the details vary plan by plan and county by county.
Does Medicare cover dental?
Original Medicare: essentially no. It doesn't cover cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures, or implants. It only pays for dental work that's part of a covered medical procedure — for example, a tooth extraction needed before jaw surgery.
Medicare Advantage: often yes. Most plans include some dental, but there's a big difference between "cleanings only" and coverage that includes fillings, crowns, and dentures. Check each plan's Summary of Benefits for annual dollar limits and which services are covered.
Dental coverage varies enormously between plans in the same county. Compare plans in your county →
Does Medicare cover vision?
Original Medicare: mostly no. Routine eye exams and glasses aren't covered. It does cover eye care for medical conditions — glaucoma tests for people at risk, diabetic eye exams, and treatment for macular degeneration.
Medicare Advantage: often yes. Many plans include a yearly routine eye exam and an allowance toward glasses or contact lenses. The allowance amount differs by plan.
If glasses or contacts matter to you, compare each plan's eyewear allowance. Compare plans in your county →
Does Medicare cover hearing aids?
Original Medicare: no. Hearing aids and the exams to fit them are not covered — one of the biggest gaps in Original Medicare, since hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars.
Medicare Advantage: sometimes. Many plans include hearing exams and a hearing aid benefit, but the allowance and how often you can use it vary widely. Some plans offer a set dollar amount every one to three years; others use copays through specific suppliers.
Hearing benefits differ more than almost any other extra — worth comparing closely. Compare plans in your county →
Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?
Yes — this one is covered. Cataract surgery is medical care, not routine vision, so Original Medicare Part B covers it (you pay the Part B deductible and typically 20% of the approved amount). Medicare even covers one pair of glasses or contact lenses after the surgery.
With Medicare Advantage, cataract surgery is also covered, but your copay or coinsurance is set by the plan, and you'll usually need to use the plan's network. A Medigap plan paired with Original Medicare can cover most or all of that 20%.
If surgery is on the horizon, compare each plan's outpatient surgery copay. Compare plans in your county →
Quick summary
| Original Medicare | Medigap | Medicare Advantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine dental | No | No | Often — varies by plan |
| Eye exams & glasses | No | No | Often — varies by plan |
| Hearing aids | No | No | Sometimes — varies by plan |
| Cataract surgery | Yes (Part B) | Helps pay your share | Yes — plan copay applies |
Because Medicare Advantage extras vary plan by plan and county by county, the only way to know what's available to you is to look at the plans where you live.