Original Medicare (Parts A and B) cover emergency and general medical care. However, there are strict limits to this coverage when it comes to dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
If you experience a medical emergency and are taken to the hospital or a nursing home for treatment, you will receive coverage through Medicare Part A. In this case, emergencies regarding your teeth, eyes, or ears will be covered.
Part B will cover treatments that are deemed “medically necessary” by a Medicare-approved healthcare provider. However, this excludes certain care, including things about dental, vision, and hearing care.
The only potential way you can receive any coverage for dental, vision, and hearing care is through Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage helps pay for your healthcare. You’re plugged into a network of providers, and receive more affordable care through the plan’s network.
When you visit a doctor through your Medicare Advantage network, you can receive a general health checkup. This includes a checkup on your teeth, eyes, and ears.
What can you do? There are insurance plans out there that are made to supplement this gap in Medicare’s coverage. But, if you don’t want to enroll in a separate plan, you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage plan that includes this coverage.
