Does Medicare Cover Dental, Vision, and Hearing?

The Dental, Vision, and Hearing Gap in Original Medicare

When Congress created Medicare in 1965, dental, vision, and hearing were explicitly excluded from coverage. Despite decades of advocacy to add these benefits, Original Medicare still does not cover routine care in these areas as of 2026. This affects approximately 65 million Medicare beneficiaries who must find alternative ways to cover these essential health services.

This gap matters because dental, vision, and hearing problems are extremely common among seniors:

• 70% of adults over 65 have some form of periodontal (gum) disease
• 1 in 3 people over 65 have vision-reducing eye diseases
• Nearly 50% of adults over 75 have disabling hearing loss
• Poor oral health is linked to heart disease, diabetes complications, and pneumonia
• Untreated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and dementia

What Original Medicare Actually Covers

While Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental, vision, and hearing, there are limited exceptions for medically necessary procedures.

Dental: Very Limited Medicare Coverage

Service	Covered by Medicare?	Details
Routine cleanings	❌ No	Not covered under any circumstance
Fillings, root canals, crowns	❌ No	Not covered
Dentures	❌ No	Not covered (even if teeth removed for medical reasons)
Dental exam before heart valve surgery	✅ Yes	Part A covers when integral to covered procedure
Jaw reconstruction after accident	✅ Yes	Part A covers as inpatient hospital procedure
Tooth extraction before radiation treatment	✅ Yes	Part A may cover when medically necessary

The bottom line for dental: Unless a dental procedure is directly related to a covered medical treatment or inpatient hospital stay, Medicare will not pay for it. A simple tooth extraction or filling? Not covered. A root canal? Not covered. Dentures? Not covered — even if all your teeth need to be removed due to a medical condition.

Vision: Mostly Not Covered

Service	Covered by Medicare?	Details
Routine eye exams	❌ No	Annual vision screenings not covered
Eyeglasses/contacts	❌ No	Not covered (one exception below)
Cataract surgery	✅ Yes	Part B covers surgery + one pair of glasses or contacts after
Glaucoma screening	✅ Yes	Part B covers annually for high-risk individuals
Diabetic eye exam	✅ Yes	Part B covers annual dilated eye exam if you have diabetes
Macular degeneration treatment	✅ Yes	Part B covers diagnostic tests and treatment

The bottom line for vision: Medicare covers treatment for eye diseases and conditions (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration), but NOT routine vision care. If you just need a new glasses prescription or want contact lenses, Medicare won't help.

Hearing: Extremely Limited Coverage

Service	Covered by Medicare?	Details
Routine hearing exams	❌ No	Annual hearing tests not covered
Hearing aids	❌ No	Not covered (average cost $2,000-$7,000 per pair)
Hearing aid fittings	❌ No	Not covered
Diagnostic hearing exam	✅ Yes	Part B covers when ordered by a doctor to diagnose a condition
Cochlear implants	✅ Yes	Part B covers for severe hearing loss when medically necessary
Bone-anchored hearing devices	✅ Yes	Part B may cover as prosthetic device

The bottom line for hearing: Medicare will pay for a doctor to diagnose your hearing loss, but it won't pay for hearing aids to treat it. With hearing aids averaging $2,000-$7,000 per pair and lasting 3-7 years, this is a significant out-of-pocket expense for many seniors.

How to Get Dental, Vision, and Hearing Coverage

You have several options to fill these coverage gaps:

Option 1: Medicare Advantage Plans

This is the most popular option. Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include dental, vision, and hearing benefits as part of their package, often with $0 additional premium. Coverage varies widely by plan:

• Basic dental: Cleanings, x-rays, fillings (most MA plans include this)
• Comprehensive dental: Crowns, root canals, dentures, implants (fewer plans, may have separate premium)
• Vision: Annual eye exams, $100-$300 eyewear allowance per year
• Hearing: Annual hearing exams, $500-$3,000 hearing aid allowance every 1-3 years

Pros: Convenient bundled coverage, often $0 premium, no separate applications
Cons: Network restrictions, benefits may be limited, you give up Original Medicare flexibility

Option 2: Standalone Dental, Vision, and Hearing Plans

If you prefer Original Medicare + Medigap, you can buy separate dental, vision, and hearing insurance from private companies. Common options:

• Dental insurance: $20-$50/month, covers preventive at 100%, major at 50%. Annual maximum typically $1,000-$2,000.
• Vision insurance: $10-$25/month, covers annual exam and eyewear allowance
• Hearing plans: Less common as standalone; some dental/vision plans bundle hearing benefits
• Bundled DVH plans: $30-$75/month for all three, available from companies like AARP/United Healthcare, Humana, Delta Dental

Pros: Keep Original Medicare + Medigap, choose any provider
Cons: Additional monthly cost, annual maximums may not cover major procedures

Option 3: Discount Dental Plans

These aren't insurance — they're membership programs that give you 15-60% discounts at participating dentists. Costs are typically $80-$200/year.

Pros: No waiting periods, no annual maximums, immediate savings
Cons: Must use participating dentists, you still pay out of pocket (just at a discount)

Option 4: Community Health Centers and Dental Schools

For budget-conscious seniors:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): Offer sliding-scale dental services based on income
• Dental schools: UAB School of Dentistry in Birmingham offers reduced-cost dental care supervised by licensed faculty
• State programs: Alabama Medicaid covers some dental for dual-eligible individuals
• Charitable organizations: Remote Area Medical (RAM) and Dental Lifeline Network provide free dental care at events

Cost Comparison: What Dental, Vision, and Hearing Services Actually Cost

Without coverage, here's what you can expect to pay out of pocket in Alabama:

Service	Average Cost Without Insurance
Dental cleaning	$100-$200 per visit
Dental filling	$150-$400 per tooth
Root canal	$700-$1,500 per tooth
Dental crown	$800-$1,500 per tooth
Full dentures	$1,500-$5,000 per set
Dental implant	$3,000-$6,000 per tooth
Eye exam	$75-$200
Prescription glasses	$200-$600 per pair
Hearing test	$75-$250
Hearing aids (pair)	$2,000-$7,000

Will Congress Add Dental, Vision, and Hearing to Medicare?

There has been significant bipartisan support for adding these benefits to Medicare. The Build Back Better Act in 2021 included dental, vision, and hearing provisions, but they were ultimately removed. As of 2026:

• Multiple bills have been introduced to add dental, vision, and hearing to Medicare Part B
• AARP and other advocacy groups continue to push for expansion
• Cost concerns ($350+ billion over 10 years) remain the primary obstacle
• Some progress has been made — Medicare now covers more hearing-related services than in previous years

Our Recommendation

For most Alabama Medicare beneficiaries, we recommend one of these approaches:

1. If you value provider freedom: Original Medicare + Medigap Plan G + standalone Part D + standalone dental/vision plan. Total cost: approximately $350-$450/month but maximum protection and provider access.
2. If you want convenience and savings: Medicare Advantage plan with built-in dental, vision, and hearing. Total cost: $185/month (Part B only) but with network restrictions and copays.
3. If you have limited income: Check if you qualify for Medicaid (which covers dental, vision, and hearing) or Medicare Savings Programs to reduce your overall Medicare costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Medicare Tips Delivered to Your Inbox

Join 5,000+ Alabama seniors receiving expert Medicare guidance and updates. Plus, get our free Medicare Enrollment Checklist PDF when you subscribe.

Subscribe Free

🔒 We never share your information. Unsubscribe anytime.