What are the 6 things Medicare doesn't cover?

Question

Leslie Helene Sussman · Accepted Answer

Original Medicare does NOT typically cover:  Please see pages 55-56 in your 2025 Medicare and you Handbook.  If you want a digital copy, contact me and I will be happy to forward by email.

1.  Cosmetic Surgery
2. Massage Therapy
3. Hearing Aids and Exams
4. Routine Dental Care
5. Concierge Care
6. Eye Exams (for Prescription Glasses)

Good news is that some of these are covered in a Medicare Advantage plan.   Dental/Vision can be covered in a Standalone Dental/Vision plan.

Contact a local broker to confirm these coverages in your local plan.

Gary Church · Answer

First, Medicare says it has to be medically necessary.

These are some things that Medicare does not cover:

Long Term Care (LTC)
Hearing aids
Cosmetic Surgery 
Dental & Vision exams ( If it's medically necessary, like glaucoma)
Adult Daycare
Cosmetic surgery

Mike Alexander · Answer

Dental, eyeglasses, Long term care, caregiver care or home care hearing aids,
Medical care outdide USA

William Lawler · Answer

The 6 things that Original Medicare does not cover are: Prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing, long-term care. I cannot rememberthe 6th item.

Voss Speros · Answer

Voss Speros here, Greek God of Medicare. You're in luck, I'm Greek. So the question is, what are the six things Medicare doesn't cover?

Original Medicare doesn't cover some things. Various plans will cover them. So the first one is long-term care. If you need assisted living or long-term skilled nursing for more than 100 days, that's not covered. That's private pay or Medicaid. So there's some long-term care insurance to cover that.

The next is dental, vision, and hearing. They're not going to cover routine check-ups. If it's medically necessary, then yes, but just the basic routine, like getting checked out, getting hearing aids, and glasses, Original Medicare is not going to cover that.

The next one is cosmetic surgery. If it's not medically necessary and you're just getting implants done, Medicare is not going to cover that. So keep that in mind when you're going to get some work done. Make sure it's medically necessary if you want the insurance to cover it.

Also, the last one is international travel. I know I touched base on this a little bit a while back, but regional Medicare doesn't cover services like doctor's visits and things like that outside of the country. Emergency coverage is covered in some plans and things in supplementals and Advantage plans, but routine healthcare? No, not outside the country.

So those are the six things you need to know that Original Medicare is not going to cover. Now, those plans cover the majority of that, so you're good on that. Supplementals have some of that built in, but it's straight Medicare. Now, if you have any questions, give us a call. We'd be more than happy to send out an agent. Have a great day!

Charise Karjala · Answer

How did you know this is my favorite question? What are the six things that Medicare doesn't cover? Well, they are dental, vision, hearing, long-term care in a facility and at home, as well as skilled nursing facilities over 190 days. I will go into each of those briefly here.

So dental, for whatever reason, public policy doesn't think eating's important. Unless it's medically necessary, teeth aren't covered. We need to create a budget for that. Vision, prescription glasses, not covered. If you have cataracts or macular degeneration, that's covered by an ophthalmologist. So you need to have something in place for these.

Hearing, hearing aids are not covered at present. There's some pending legislation around that, but it has yet to get legs. So that's something else you need to budget for or have an insurance policy for, which I sell. By the way, I sell all of those policies.

Long-term care, either in a facility or at home, not covered. The only way we in California can get that is by attaching it to a life insurance policy or by having a standalone policy. So if you're 40 or 50, I wanna talk to you. If you're 70, not quite sure we can do something for you. There's underwriting involved.

And then skilled nursing facilities. After 190 days, you don't have any more skilled nursing. That's a problem. So these are things that we need to chat about well in advance of your 65th birthday. Be well advised. This is financial planning at its finest. Let's get together and understand what you need to know.

Lynn C Shurtleff · Answer

Original Medicare does not cover routine eye or hearing exams, nor does it cover eye wear except after cataract surgery or hearing aids. It also does not cover dental except in very limited instances or custodial care in a nursing facility, only rehabilitation. Medicare Advantage plans may cover some of these additional benefits but Original Medicare does not. Over the counter benefits, food cards, and gym memberships are also not covered by Original Medicare. When someone illegally cold calls and tells you Medicare covers these things and you are eligible because you have Parts A and B, hang up, this is not true.

Answered by Lynn C Shurtleff on August 24, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AR, CO & 6 other states

Answered by Lynn C Shurtleff Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Denniston · Answer

Standard Medicare does not cover Dental cleanings, x-rays, crowns or any normal dental. Optometry is not covered for eye exams to correct vision for glasses or contacts. Hearing aids are not covered. Cosmetics are not covered like face lifts etc... LTC （Long Term Care） is not covered by Medicare. If you need these extra benefits you should speak with us.

Answered by Michael Denniston on June 10, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 11 other states

Answered by Michael Denniston Medicare Insurance Agent

Don Hudson · Answer

Medicare does not cover the following:
1) Hearing Aids and cost for fitting them.
2) Routine Physical Exams
3) Long-Term Care
4) Cosmetic Surgery
5) Massage Therapy
6) Most Dental Care

Robert Pennington · Answer

There are more than 6 things Medicare doesn’t cover: Rx Coverage, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Routine Physicals, Podiatry, Chiropractor, Cosmetic Surgery, Massage Therapy, 
Private Duty Nursing.

Mike Odle · Answer

1.  Long-term care, such as end of life care in a nursing home
2.  Routine Dental Care
3.  Routine Vistion Care
4.  Hearing Aids and Exams
5.  Prescription Drugs
6. Cosmetic Surgeries done for appearance

Also, routine foot care, incontinence supplies, acupuncture, most care outside the United States to name a few more

Roger Werking · Answer

Long term care, most dental care, routine vision care, hearing aids, cosmetic  surgery, perscription drugs,

Timothy Brown · Answer

If you are referring  to Original Medicare Part A Hospital/ Inpatient Services and Part B Medical/Outpatient Services the here are the 6 things not covered:

1) Dental 

2) Vision

3) Hearing

4) Prescriptions which is Medicare Part D that has to be acquired through a either a stand alone plan or included in a Medicare Advantage plan

5) Long Term Care

6) Elective or cosmetic surgery not approved by Medicare

Rick Boyd · Answer

Medicare does not cover:
Dental Care
Eye Exams
Hearing Aids
Long-term care
Cosmetic Surgery
Massage Therapy
Concierge Care
Covered Items/Services you receive from an "opt-out" Doctor except in an emergency or urgent case

Barbara Patterson, CFP · Answer

Medicare doesn’t cover Dental, Vision and Hearing coverage.  They also do not cover elective procedures, cosmetic procedures or experimental procedures.

Diana Salisbury · Answer

Number 1 - eye-exams (for eyeglasses)
Number 2 - Long-term care
Number 3 - cosmetic surgery
Number 4 - massage therapy
Number 5 - routine physical exams
Number 6 - hearing aids and exams for fitting them

Geney Ruesga · Answer

Vision - Glasses and Frames are not covered, only Cataract surgery under Medicare Part B. 

Dental procedures are not covered, 

Hearing Aids are not covered; only the exam will be covered under Medicare Part B.

Drug Plan - Medication: Certain drugs that are given to you in the hospital or by a doctor are covered by Medicare Part B.

Nursing Home

Transpiration

Mal Varlack · Answer

Original Medicare doesn’t cover: Medications 
Dental, Vision, Hearing, up to 20% of health costs and there is no limit to that 20%, and it does not cover a traditional yearly physical; instead it covers a one time Welcome to Medicare visit within the first 12 months. Then after the 12 months it covers a Wellness visit which is an assessment and not an exam

David Ryerson · Answer

Medicare does not cover long-term care. Or dental or vision care (except in very limited circumstances). Or hearing care. Or cosmetic surgery, or acupuncture/alternative treatments.

Cody Brown · Answer

I'm Cody Brown, a senior benefits services agent. Today's question is, what are the six things Medicare does not cover? This is probably my favorite question because it's so important to know what your insurance covers. But I think it's even more important to know what your insurance doesn't cover. We all hate surprises, and we don't want to have that unexpected bill one day and regret our decisions with our health care.

So the six things Medicare doesn't cover are dental, vision, hearing, cosmetic surgery, international care, and long-term care. The number one cause of bankruptcy among seniors is medical debt, and one of the biggest contributors to that is long-term care. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn't cover it, and people leave themselves exposed. So it's so important to make sure you're filling those gaps so that whenever you need the insurance, it's going to kick in.

Tammy Stoner · Answer

Medicare doesn't care if you can see, hear, or chew. 
  
Medicare will not cover dental that is not medically necessary, like fillings, crowns, or dentures.
Medicare does not cover contacts or eyeglasses beyond the first basic pair after cataract surgery.
Medicare will not cover hearing aids. 
Medicare will not pay for experimental treatments, routine physical exams, foot treatment, or cosmetic services. 

These items may have coverage inside an Advantage plan, but an advantage plan may not be the best fit if there is a heavy medical need.

Allow me to help you make the right choice for your health coverage.

Harold Randolph · Answer

Great question! 

Medicare does not cover: 
long-term custodial care, 
dental care, 
vision care, 
hearing aids, 
routine foot care, 
and care outside the United States. 

These are considered to be non-medical services so Medicare doesn’t pay for them. 
There are some medically necessary exceptions like glaucoma, and diabetes being covered by Part B when they are typically excluded. 

That’s why many people add supplemental, Advantage, or ancillary plans to fill these gaps.

And don’t forget to fortify your life insurance. :-)

Cathy Barnett · Answer

Long Term Care, Dental, Vision, hearing, prescription drug coverage, free over the counter supply allowance.

John Zentner · Answer

The 6 key areas not covered by Original Medicare are Long-Term Care (Custodial Care), most dental care (such as routine dental cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, and dentures), routine vision care, hearing aids and exams, cosmetic surgery and routine foot care. Also other things excluded are generally Concierge Care, International Coverage, and Alternative Medicine.

Answered by John Zentner on February 2, 2026

Agent Licensed in CA

Answered by John Zentner Medicare Insurance Agent

John Lopez · Answer

Medicare does not cover routine and comprehensive dental care, routine vision care, or routine hearing care. In addition, Medicare does not cover long-term nursing home care, cosmetic surgery, and medical care outside the United States. In addition, prescription drugs are not covered by Parts A and Part B. They are covered by Part D, which require a separate enrollment.

Answered by John Lopez on April 25, 2025

Broker Licensed in DE, MD, NC, NJ, NY & PA

Answered by John Lopez Medicare Insurance Agent

Beth Bohnsack · Answer

1. Long Term Care
2. Personal Care Assistance (non-medical home care)
3. Adult Day Care
4. Cosmetic surgery, prescriptions for hair loss
5. Hearing Aids
6. Routine eye exams and dental cleanings

Fred Manas · Answer

Medicare generally does not cover the following six items:

1. Long-term care: This includes custodial care, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and eating. 

2. Dental care: Routine dental checkups, cleanings, fillings, and dentures. 

3. Vision care: Eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. 

4. Hearing aids: Hearing exams and the cost of hearing aids. 

5. Prescription drugs: Most prescription medications are not covered by Medicare. 

6. Cosmetic surgery: Elective cosmetic procedures, such as facelifts and tummy tucks.

Mary Brown · Answer

Here are the 6 things Original Medicare (Parts A & B) does not cover
- Long Term Care
- Most Dental Care
- Routine Vision Care
- Hearing aids
- Prescription Drugs
- Care outside of the US

Meghan Blankenship · Answer

Medicare does not cover six key categories of care: long-term custodial care, most dental services, routine vision care, hearing aids, cosmetic surgery, and care outside the U.S.

Mark Boone · Answer

Medicare typically will not cover routine dental, vision and hearing aids and related exams. They also will not cover long term care, cosmetic surgery and most chiropractic care. It also won’t cover some routine foot care or acupuncture.

Answered by Mark Boone on August 20, 2025

Agent Licensed in MN, FL, MI & NC, OH, SC & VA

Answered by Mark Boone Medicare Insurance Agent

Suzanne Lamperti · Answer

Medicare doesn't  cover hearing aids, dental, vision exams. It will cover for glaucoma, cataract surgery, and immaculate degeneration.

Jack Mayer · Answer

Routine physicals, Dental, Vision, cosmetic procedures, Hearing aids and long term nursing care. These are some of the items Medicare will not cover.

Andrew Kelly · Answer

Six things that Medicare does NOT cover are: Routine Dental Care, Routine Vision Care, Long-Term Care, Hearing Aids, Prescription Drugs and Dental Procedures (root canals, crowns, etc).

Mel Stevens · Answer

Six things Original Medicare does not cover.  Part A original Medicare covers Hosptial stays, skilled nursing, home healthcare and hospice care.   Part B Original Medicare will cover doctor visits, inpatient surgeries, diagnostic testing, X-rays, CT Scans, Lab work and durable medical equipment. 
Original Medicare does not have any additional coverage for Dental, Vision, Hearing, Physical Therapy, Accupuncture, Chiropractic services among other services.  In addition, Original Medicare has an 80-20% split, meaning Medicare will cover 80% and you cover 20% of the cost.  This cost could become enormous should you need extensive medical care. For example, if you ran up $100,000 worth of medical bills, you could be on the hook to cover 20% or $20,000.   This is the reason people look to either take out a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage pla to cover the 20% that Original Medicare does not.

Toni Cormier · Answer

Long-term care; such as, nursing homes or assisted living), routine dental care, routine vision care (including eyeglasses), hearing aids and related exams, cosmetic surgery and most prescription drugs.

Answered by Toni Cormier on July 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, CA & OK

Answered by Toni Cormier Medicare Insurance Agent

Brent Mowery · Answer

1. Traditional Dental Work
2. Eye Glasses
3. Hearing Aids
4. Long Term Care (Nursing Home)
5. Gym Memberships
6. GLP-1 Medications

Linda Davies · Answer

You can choose a Medicare Advantage plan to cover things that Original Medicare doesn’t cover like dental, vision, hearing, chiropractics services,  and routine foot care.  

Also, Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will only cover cosmetic surgery if it is deemed medically necessary.

Alicia Tyring · Answer

Medicare doesn't assist with dental, vision, or hearing. Prescriptions are not covered, you will need a Part D prescription drug plan. It also doesn't cover long-term or nursing care at home, for that, you'd need medicaid. As with most insurance, is won't cover cosmetics either.

Answered by Alicia Tyring on November 18, 2025

Broker Licensed in IN, AL, AR & 42 other states

Answered by Alicia Tyring Medicare Insurance Agent

Aisha Saleem · Answer

Original Medicare doesn't cover long term nursing home care, routine vision care and eyewear, hearing aids, prescription drugs, most dental services, and shouldn't be relied on for coverage outside the U.S.

Answered by Aisha Saleem on June 1, 2025

Agent Licensed in MD & FL

Answered by Aisha Saleem Medicare Insurance Agent

Joseph Tretola · Answer

Long-term care (nursing homes, assisted living for daily activities)
Most dental work
Routine vision care (glasses, contact lenses, or eye exams)
Hearing aids
Cosmetic procedures
Care outside the United States

Frankie Cochran · Answer

long term care, foot care, labs, cosmetic surgeries, dental vision and hearing, health costs when traveling outside the US. Medicare Advantage or part c can help with most of those but you need to make sure that you are aware of your co payments. Supplements can also be purchased to cover some of these but there may be allowances and waiting periods as well as policies that can cover long term care usually purchased from your financial planner when you are planning for retirement. A broker agent can help with plans that cover most of these costs but it's important to discuss in detail how these plans work

Answered by Frankie Cochran on April 1, 2026

Agent Licensed in GA

Answered by Frankie Cochran Medicare Insurance Agent

Richard Norcross · Answer

Medicare does not cover most routine dental care, Vision care or Hearing care. It also does not cover long term nursing care, care outside of the  United States or routine foot care.

Sandy Hammond · Answer

Actually, Original Medicare does not cover the following:
*Long-term care (also called custodial care or Nursing Home level care)
*Most dental care
*Eye examinations related to prescribing glasses
*Dentures
*Cosmetic surgery
*hearing aids and exams for fitting them
*Routine foot care
*Most care outside of the USA, including cruise ships

I hope this information has been helpful.

Sterling Warmack · Answer

Original Medicare and Supplements do not cover over-the-counter medications, Dental benefits, Vision Benefits, Hearing benefits, Prescription (Drug) coverage, and additional benefits like food cards or gym memberships. 

All of these additional benefits are called supplemental benefits that you can purchase independent of your medicare coverage. 

If you want these benefits but cannot afford the additional coverage, you may consider a medicare advantage plan that often includes most, if not all, of this coverage.

If you have any additional questions regarding coverage in the Upstate of South Carolina, please contact me to schedule an appointment today!

Vicki Wuest · Answer

Even with Medicare, there are some costs you’ll need to plan for.
Here are six common things Original Medicare (Parts A & B) doesn’t cover:

1. 🦷 Dental care – cleanings, fillings, dentures, etc.

2. 👓 Routine vision – eye exams or glasses.

3. 👂 Hearing aids and exams.

4. 🚗 Long-term care – like nursing homes or assisted living.

5. 💊 Most prescription drugs – you need a Part D plan for that.

6. 🌴 Care outside the U.S. – Medicare usually doesn’t pay for foreign travel emergencies.

✅ Tip: Many people add a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan to help cover these gaps.

Dorthea Hughes · Answer

Medicare does not cover the following services:Dental ,
Vision , Hearing , Cosmetic surgery ,
Most prescription drugs, or Long term care.

Margaret Brown · Answer

1. Long term care
2. Dental care
3. Vision care
4. Hearing care
5. Prescription drugs
6. Cosmetic surgery

Penny Wegner · Answer

There are 6 things that Medicare does not cover:  Cosmetic Surgery, Hearing Aids, Routine Eye Exams, Routine Dental Work, Long-term Care, and all most all prescription drugs.

Barbara Bolden · Answer

Original Medicare does NOT cover:
1. Prescriptions 
2. Dental Cleaning
3. Dentures
4. Vision
5. Hearing/Hearing Aids
6. Food Care

Bonnie Beliveau · Answer

Original Medicare does not cover preventative and comprehensive dental care, routine vision care - routine annual exam (unless you are Diabetic) and glasses/contacts, hearing aids, long term care and care outside of the US. Medicare Advantage plans typically will include coverage for Dental/Vision/Hearing within the plan. There are ancillary plans that offer dental, vision, hearing, long-term care and coverage outside of the US. Another reason to utilize an Independent Health Insurance Broker.

Answered by Bonnie Beliveau on May 26, 2026

Broker Licensed in NC, PA, SC & TN

Answered by Bonnie Beliveau Medicare Insurance Agent

Aaron Young · Answer

Original Medicare Parts A & B generally does not cover vision care, dental care, routine physical exams, cosmetic surgery, long-term care or prescription drug coverage.

Tracy Brown · Answer

❌ 1. Long-Term Care (Custodial Care) Such as nursing homes, assisted living, or help with bathing, dressing, and eating. Medicare covers short-term rehab, not ongoing personal care.

❌ 2. Dental Care  (Ask me for good PPO dental) Medicare Advantage plans have preventative dental cleanings x-rays and annual visits, but Original Medicare does not.

❌ 3. Vision Care.  No routine eye exams, glasses, or contacts. Some Advantage plans have this. Medicare only covers eye care for conditions like cataracts or glaucoma.

❌ 4. Hearing Aids & Exams. Audiology exams may be covered but fitting hearing aids and the hearing aids themselves are not covered. Medicare Advantage has hearing benefits but they are rare the good devices or high-level hearing aids.

❌ 5. Prescription Drugs (Outpatient) Original Medicare doesn’t cover retail prescription meds.  You need a stand-alone, Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage.

❌ 6. Care Outside the U.S. Medicare usually doesn’t cover medical services while traveling internationally. Some Medigap plans (like Plan G or Plan N) offer limited emergency coverage abroad.  The key word is "Emergency".  Tracy's tip; Buy a travel plan before leaving the USA

Laverne Ward · Answer

Here are 6 common things Original Medicare does not cover:
🦷 1. Routine Dental Care
Medicare doesn’t cover cleanings, fillings, dentures, or other routine dental services.  Only limited dental work related to a covered medical procedure (like jaw surgery) may be paid for.
👓 2. Vision Care
No coverage for routine eye exams, eyeglasses, or contact lenses.  Medicare will only cover eye exams if you have a medical condition like diabetes or glaucoma.
👂 3. Hearing Aids
Medicare doesn’t cover hearing exams for fitting a hearing aid, or the devices themselves.  Many Medicare Advantage plans do offer hearing benefits.
💊 4. Prescription Drugs (under Original Medicare). 
Part A and Part B doesn’t include most prescription medications.  You’d need to enroll in a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage.
🌍 5. Medical Care Outside the U.S.
Original Medicare doesn’t pay for care received while traveling abroad (with very few exceptions).  Some Medigap and Advantage plans include limited foreign travel coverage.
🏡 6. Long-Term or Custodial Care
Medicare doesn’t cover stays in nursing homes or assisted living facilities if the care is primarily custodial (help with bathing, dressing, eating, etc.).  Only short-term skilled nursing or rehab after a hospital stay is covered.

Roberto Alvarez · Answer

Original Medicare does not cover dental, vision, hearing, long term care and final expenses. A Medicare Advantage plan can give you extra benefits and many with no additional costs to you.

Wayne Victor · Answer

Long-term care (like custodial care in a nursing home).

Most dental care, including dentures.

Routine vision care and eyeglasses.

Hearing aids and exams for fitting them.

Cosmetic surgery (unless medically necessary).

Care outside the U.S., except in very limited situations.

However, a Medicare Advisor can show you have to get some of these benefits.

Adrian Heredia · Answer

1. Original Medicare doesn't cover long-term care. 

2. Routine dental Care like cleaning feelings dentures in most oral surgeries are excluded. 

3. Eye exams for glasses or contact lenses aren't covered exceptions exist for medical conditions like cataracts but routine vision Care is out of pocket.

4.  Hearing aids and exams tests and hearing aids are not included.

5.  Foreign travel medical care is not covered.

6. Prescription drugs are not included with original Medicare, you will need a part D plan or a Medicare advantage plan with drug coverage.