What dental and vision benefits does Medicare cover?

Since its inception, Medicare has explicitly excluded coverage of dental services, with limited exceptions. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly two-thirds of the Medicare population – 37 million beneficiaries – have no dental coverage at all. That means if you need a regular dental exam or a vision exam for standard contact lenses or eyeglasses, Medicare will not usually pay for it. It also does not cover co-pays related to the health of your eyes, ears and smile. Here’s some information on what Medicare does cover.

With concerns on cost and lack of dental coverage, beneficiaries sacrifice routine and other dental procedures. What most people do not know, is lack of dental care can exacerbate chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, contribute to delayed diagnosis of serious medical conditions, and lead to preventable complications that sometimes result in costly emergency room visits.

Dental

Medicare usually only pays for dental care that is needed to diagnosis or treat an illness.

Unless you have dental coverage you will have to pay for your regular dental cleanings, exams, and X-rays.

If you need more expensive procedures, that you don’t receive as regularly, such as fillings, bridges, crowns, plates, or dentures, Medicare does not pay for these procedures either.

Vision

Medicare usually only pays for vision exams or eyewear related to specific illnesses or surgeries such as those related to cataracts, diabetes, or macular degeneration.

You will need additional vision insurance outside of basic Medicare to help pay for your regular eye exams, glasses, lenses, and contacts.

Nevada Medicare can help

Fortunately there are affordable dental, vision and hearing insurance options in Nevada. It provides benefits from Day One and the benefits grow over time as well. It’s also easy to apply for, and requires no health questions.

 

At Nevada Medicare we can make it easy for you – call us for a hassle-free help in understanding your benefits and what’s available to you. Contact Us today.

Can I See Any Dentist?

Most dental plans we have allow you and your family members to see any dentist you choose, regardless if they are in- or out-of-network. Family members do not need to see the same dentist.

Choose your own dentist on our easy dental, vision and hearing plans that has no network restrictions. You can use it at any provider’s office. It’s why we feel that we have many top dental plans available for those on Medicare.

How does the Dental Plans work?

Here are some of the great features of the individual dental plans available to those on Medicare:

  • Affordable dental plans as low as $31- $65/month
  • Up to $2,500 per year in coverage (many other plans cover only $1000/year)
  • No waiting periods for preventive or basic dental services
  • Family dental plans are available
  • Basic eye exams covered immediately
  • Basic hearing exams covered immediately
  • Choose your own providers – no networks!
  • No underwriting or health questions. You will be approved!
  • Guaranteed renewable to age 85 – policy auto-renews annually
  • Dental insurance that can be used immediately
  • 97% of members enrolled in dental, vision or hearing
    benefits a year ago are still with us today
  • Some plans also include benefits for hearing and vision insurance for those on Medicare as well
  • Some Medicare plans come with Dental, Vision, & Hearing built right in

We speak to those on Medicare about dental insurance with no waiting periods. Cavities can occur at any time and they want to treat them without delay. Some of the plans are  popular because you will have no waiting periods for preventive care. More importantly, it has no waiting period for fillings and tooth extractions.

Can I get Dental coverage if I leave the US?

We have plans that provide Worldwide support. provides you with dental and vision provider referrals and appointment coordination when you’re traveling outside the U.S. Some of our carriers has offices in more than 30 countries,  answering calls 24 hours a day. Immediately after a call comes in, an assistance coordinator assesses the situation, provides credible provider referrals and can even help with making the appointment.

What's a Dental Health Report Card?

Find out where your dental health stands and how to improve it. After 12 months of using your dental benefits, we will provide you with a dental health report card. It was developed through the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry and includes feedback on your dental health status and dental care tips specific to you.

What about Medicare Vision coverage?

We have dental and vision plans and standalone vision insurance for seniors. Usually, a combined Dental and Vision insurance plan provides a better value. The vision insurance portion of your policy includes things like:

  • Basic eye exam or eye refraction
  • Eyeglasses
  • Contact Lenses

Need an eye exam? You can get a dental and vision plan and get coverage immediately for your eye exam. The benefit also grows over time so that your coverage for eye exams increases.

Just like the dental insurance benefit, you can choose your own eye doctor.

How does Medicare Vision work?

Some Medicare plans come with vision insurance built right in. We also have vision coverage that can be added on separately to a Medicare plan. These plans can help you plan for regular care and help you see clearly.

  • Some plans are separate from Medicare plans and may be added on to some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans
  • You can also add some plans on to a plan that does not have vision benefits.
  • Some plans may include low-or-no co-pays for vision exams, eyeglasses, lenses, or contacts, or help paying with other Medicare-covered services.

 

At Nevada Medicare we can make it easy for you – call us for a hassle-free help in understanding your benefits and what’s available to you. Contact Us today.

Does Medicare cover Hearing?

Hearing aids and Original Medicare, Part A and Part B

In general, Original Medicare and most Medicare Supplement Plans don’t cover hearing aids, routine hearing exams, or fittings for hearing aids. This means that without other insurance, you could pay 100% of the cost for routine hearing exams, fittings, and hearing aids.

Medicare Part B does, however, cover diagnostic hearing tests that your doctor orders for a medical need like a recent hearing loss due to illness or injury. If your doctor orders a diagnostic hearing test, then you would pay 20% of the amount approved by Medicare, plus the Medicare Part B deductible.

  • Always make sure your doctor accepts Medicare assignment; that is, he or she is participating in the Medicare program. If a non-participating doctor orders a hearing test for you, you might have to pay all the costs of the test.
  • Regardless of the outcome of the diagnostic test, Medicare still does not cover the hearing aid itself.

 

Hearing loss affects one in five Americans ages 12 and older, according to a 2011 study from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. More than 85 percent of people who could benefit from using a hearing aid do not actually use them, often because of the high cost. Hearing aid coverage is another benefit that seems like it should be covered by Medicare. As we age, our hearing is sometimes not what it used to be. Hearing aids for seniors on Medicare can be expensive.

 

 

At Nevada Medicare we can make it easy for you – call us for a hassle-free help in understanding your benefits and what’s available to you. Contact Us today.

Hearing Coverage

Hearing insurance is included in some Dental, Vision and Hearing plans. It will cover exams, hearing aids and necessary repairs or supplies. These program could help you access hearing aids that can improve quality of life. Getting a regular hearing exam can help you to identify problems and when we experience a loss of hearing, hearing aid coverage is something we’d like help with. There are some Medicare plans that include Dental, Vision & Hearing coverage.

 

At Nevada Medicare we can make it easy for you – call us for a hassle-free help in understanding your benefits and what’s available to you. Contact Us today.