Does Medicare Cover Eyeglasses and Vision Care?
December 3, 2024 | Kathy Ingulsrud
Do you foresee a new pair of glasses in your future? Maybe your current ones are barely staying together or perhaps you’re finally ready to admit that squinting at the TV isn’t as effective as it used to be. But before you run off to try on a dozen pairs of trendy frames, you’re probably wondering if your Medicare plan will help cover the cost. Let’s cut through the fine print (because who can read that without glasses anyway?) and find out what kind of vision care Medicare covers. Spoiler alert: it’s not always 20/20!
When signing up for health insurance, knowing what’s covered and what’s not is imperative to knowing whether supplemental insurance is necessary. Regarding Medicare coverage, in particular, it’s important to note whether it extends to cover eyeglasses and vision care. With years of experience working with Medicare recipients, our team at Twin City Underwriters knows the specifics of each plan and the vision coverage that accompanies them. At a glance, original Medicare provides limited coverage for vision care and eyeglasses while additional coverage options are available and are often elected by many seniors.
Understanding Medicare
Before we get into the details of how Medicare covers eyeglasses and vision exams, it’s important to know the different parts so you can understand what is covered by each part. Medicare coverage is split into four parts:
- Part A – Hospital stays, hospice, nursing (part of Original Medicare)
- Part B – Outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative services (part of Original Medicare)
- Part C – Medicare Advantage Plans which combines coverages of A and B and may include vision, hearing, dental, and fitness
- Part D – Prescription drug coverage
Knowing about each part of Medicare helps you decide what plan works best. Understanding them ensures that you get the appropriate coverage for your medical needs.
Original Medicare Coverage and Vision Care
Usually, Original Medicare doesn’t cover eyeglasses, contact lenses, or routine eye visits. Eye exams are covered (at 80%) if medically necessary. If a patient gets cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens, Medicare Part B insurance covers the surgery and one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames provided by a Medicare-enrolled supplier.
Related: How Often Should Seniors Get Vision Screenings?
Extra Vision Care Benefits from Medicare Advantage Plans
While Original Medicare doesn’t generally cover vision care, there are Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) that often include vision, hearing, and dental. To get Medicare Part C, you must first have Original Medicare Part A and B, be a citizen or resident of the U.S., and live in the area your plan covers. Medicare Advantage plans often have vision benefits that include coverage for an annual visit and allowance for corrective eyewear. Anything spent past the allowance amount comes out of pocket. You will have copays for medically necessary eye appointments and want to stick to an in network eye provider. All Medicare Advantage plans are designed differently, so it’s important to understand the specifics of the coverage included.
Get The Right Medicare Coverage
Choosing a Medicare plan can be difficult. Twin City Underwriters helps Medicare recipients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Florida find the Medicare plan that meets their unique needs. Attend an online Medicare webinar, in-person Medicare workshop, or schedule a one-on-one meeting with one of our Medicare insurance brokers to get your questions answered!
Do you need help with Medicare, insurance and health plans? Explore your options with Allina Health Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota, Medica, UCare, United HealthCare and more. We work with you to find the best plan for your needs and budget. Contact us today to get started.
