Dental and Vision Insurance

Medicare Part A, your hospital insurance under Original Medicare, covers dental procedures that require a hospital visit. For example, a covered service could be a mouth injury that required emergency care, then Part A would provide limited coverage.

However, the typical services performed at a dentist’s office, like cleanings or a root canal are not covered under Original Medicare.

While services can vary by plan, a typical dental insurance plan may cover:

• Bridges
• Cleanings
• Crowns
• Dentures
• Exams
• Fillings
• Plates
• Root canals
• Tooth extractions

Original Medicare covers some vision services if it’s related to another health problem.¹ However, routine eye exams are not covered. Some examples of covered services include:

• Eye Exams to Detect Diabetic Retinopathy
• Annual Glaucoma Tests
• Macular Degeneration Tests and Treatment
• Some Aspects of Cataract Surgery

Vision Insurance covers services typically performed during routine eye exams, such as vision screenings and dilation. Your eyeglass lenses, frames and contact lenses are also covered.

Most Medicare Advantage Plans provide at least some coverage for dental and vision.² Some people prefer to have an “all-in-one” plan, containing their medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage, instead of separate providers for each aspect of their health coverage.