4 Major Costs Medicare Doesn’t Cover: Save on Vision, Dental, Hearing and Drugs
If you’re on Medicare, or about to enroll, it’s as important to know what Medicare doesn’t cover.
Coverage gaps can quickly add up to huge out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
So what does Medicare not cover, exactly? In general, Original Medicare — which includes Medicare Part A and Part B — doesn’t cover:
- Prescription drugs
- Hearing aids
- Routine vision care, including eyeglasses and eye exams
- Most dental care
Original Medicare beneficiaries can receive prescription drug coverage by selecting an optional Part D plan.
Meanwhile, Medicare Part C — better known as Medicare Advantage – is an alternative to Original Medicare. It’s provided by federally-approved private insurers and bundles elements of Part A, Part B and usually Part D into a single plan. Other benefits, like hearing and dental, may also be included.
However, the amount of coverage for these services varies from plan to plan and can be limited.
Typically, neither Original Medicare nor Medicare Advantage plans cover:
- Long-term care
- Medical marijuana
- Medical expenses outside the United States
- Most cosmetic surgery
- Sterilization, including a hysterectomy, unless it’s deemed medically necessary
Here are a few ways to save money on the things Medicare may not cover, including eyeglasses, hearing aids and dental care.
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How to Save Money on Everything Medicare Doesn’t Cover
Saving money on health care expenses is important, especially if you’re a retiree on a fixed income. What does Medicare not cover? For the most part, it doesn’t include dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses or prescription medications.
Dental Care
Older adults with Original Medicare are mostly on the hook when it comes to paying for dental care.
The federal health insurance program doesn’t pay for routine dental visits, cleanings, fillings, dentures, or most tooth extractions.
Here are four smart ways to save money on dental care with Medicare — without sacrificing that dazzling smile.
1. Visit a Community Health Clinic
Federally funded community health clinics provide reduced-cost or free dental care services to people with low incomes.
Many operate on a sliding scale system while others offer flexible payment plans.
Wait lists can be long, so it’s important to reach out to your local clinic early — preferably before you need urgent care.
You can find a community health clinic in your area by using this search tool.
2. Sign Up for a Dental Savings Plan
Dental savings plans aren’t dental insurance, but if you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, they might be able to save you money.
Here’s how it works.
First, you pay an annual fee for the dental savings plan. Then, you get a 10% to 60% discount on most dental services.
Dental discount plans, like those sold at www.DentalPlans.com, charge an annual membership fee that starts at $79 per year for an individual.
The plan contracts with dentists who agree to reduce their fees, and then you pay the participating dentist directly using your discount.
To be clear: You’re still paying out of pocket for those services. But the idea is that you won’t pay as much as you would without insurance.
Crunch the numbers and see if it makes sense to try a dental savings plan. It might be cheaper to use other discounts instead.
3. Go to a Dental School
Dental schools across the country offer quality work at a fraction of the price.
You can save big by letting a dental student clean your teeth. Licensed dental instructors help students every step of the way, so you’ll be in good hands.
Dental schools offer a variety of services, including cleanings, X-rays, oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments and oral exams.
To find dental schools near you, check with the American Dental Education Association or American Student Dental Association.
There’s no guarantee that a dental program in your area currently offers free or reduced dental care. You’ll need to contact each program directly to see what’s available.
When you call, make sure to ask about any fees up front.
4. Look for Coupons and Ask About Discounts
If you’re trying to save money on dental care, check out discounts and coupons on sites like Groupon and Valpak.
A quick search on Groupon for dental services in Phoenix, Arizona, showed numerous X-ray, exam and cleaning packages for $60 to $120.
It’s also smart to ask if your current dentist offers any discounts.
Dentists may reduce their fees, offer a less expensive treatment or provide a sliding scale option. Ask if you can receive a discount for referring a friend or paying with cash. Or see if they’ll reduce their rate if you leave a positive online review.
5. Ask About a Payment Plan — But Beware
You can also ask your dentist about payment plan options, so you can spread out the costs over time. But be sure to understand the terms including an interest charges or late fees.
If payment is due at the time of service, you could use a Care Credit Card to cover the cost. Care Credit works like a regular credit card for medical and dental expenses but with 0% APR options based on your credit score.
Just be careful if you use a Care Credit Card or something similar because that no-interest offer can come with a nasty catch. Many medical credit cards use deferred interest, so if you don’t pay the full promotional balance before the offer expires, you could be on the hook for all the interest that’s accrued — often at a very high APR. Even a small remaining balance can trigger a sizable interest charge.
Alternatively, consider applying for a 0% intro APR credit card. Similar to the Care Credit Card, these cards offer a promotional period during which no interest is charged, giving you time to pay off balances without accruing interest fees. But the big difference is that at the end of the promotional period, you’ll only start accruing interest on the remaining balance.
So if you put a $2,000 bill on a 0% intro APR card and pay off all but $100 by the end of the promotional period, you’d be charged interest on the remaining $100 instead of $2,000 like you would with a Care Card.
Hearing Aids and Exams
Hearing aids are expensive — and Original Medicare doesn’t cover them.
Prescription hearing aids can range from about $1,500 to more than $7,000 per pair. Ouch!
Thankfully, there are a few ways to save money on hearing aids, including a new class of over-the-counter devices available without a prescription.
1. Check Out Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
In October 2022, a new class of over-the-counter hearing aids hit store shelves, and they’ve been growing in popularity ever since.
These FDA-approved devices are equipped with the same basic technology as traditional hearing aids. However, OTC devices are available without a fitting or hearing exam.
The potential cost savings are significant. Many OTC hearing aids cost less than $1,000 per pair. Consumer Reports gave high marks to several OTC models priced at less than $500 per pair.
OTC hearing aids are available to adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. They’re not meant for everyone or every situation, kind of like drugstore reading glasses.
You can find over-the-counter hearing aids online, at pharmacies and in retail stores.
2. Visit Costco
Costco offers relatively low prices on prescription hearing aids, with current models starting at about $1,600 per pair. Members can also get a free hearing test at Costco Hearing Aid Centers.
Not every Costco location has on-site audiologists or hearing specialists, and you’ll need an appointment. You’ll also need to sign up for a Costco membership, which starts at $65 a year.
3. Apply for The Miracle-Ear Foundation’s Gift of Sound Program
The Miracle-Ear Foundation’s Gift of Sound program provides hearing aids for adults with hearing loss.
You can qualify if your income is under 200% of the federal poverty level with limited assets. For reference, the program’s current eligibility chart lists income limits of $31,920 for a one-person household and $43,280 for two people.
You need to contact your local Miracle-Ear store before starting an application. Supporting documentation from a hearing care professional and an application fee of $200 are required.
For more information about the Gift of Sound program along with eligibility requirements, click here.
Eyeglasses and Eye Exams
If you have a serious eye disease like cataracts or glaucoma, Original Medicare will generally pay for treatment.
But that’s not the case for routine eye exams and glasses.
You’ll be responsible for these out-of-pocket costs, so it’s important to find significant savings.
1. Bust Out Your AAA or AARP Membership Card
AAA and AARP members can receive discounts on eye exams and glasses at participating LensCrafters stores and other retailers nationwide.
Members of AAA and AARP can get the following discounts at LensCrafters:
- 20% off select frames and 50% off lenses with the purchase of a complete pair
- 30% off non-prescription sunglasses.
AARP members also receive these discounts through other providers:
- $200 off a complete pair of glasses with single vision lenses at VisionWorks (or $250 off with multifocal lenses). Minimum purchase of $400 required for single vision lenses ($500 for multifocal lenses)
- $10 off a complete pair purchase or contact lenses at Target Optical.
- 50% off additional pairs of prescription glasses or sunglasses at Target Optical.
2. Check Out Cheap Online Eyeglass Retailers
Buying eyeglasses online can save you hundreds of dollars.
Some online retailers, like ZenniOptical.com, offer single prescription glasses starting at just $7.
Many of these sites offer virtual “try on” features and come with convenient return policies so you can find frames and lenses that work for you.
According to a survey from Consumer Reports1, people who bought glasses online paid a median of $111, while those who shopped in-store spent $215.
We compiled a list of the best places to score cheap eyeglasses online to get you started.
3. Visit Walmart or Costco
Most Costco and Walmart locations have optical centers with affordable pricing on eye exams and glasses.
At Walmart, eye exams average about $75, but prices vary by location.
Costco eye exam costs also vary, but you can expect to pay about $79 to $110 for an exam.
Both stores also offer a wide selection of lenses and frames. Walmart carries some frames for less than $30, while Costco’s current online frames generally start around $75.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs can be pricey, and Medicare does not automatically cover them.
If it feels like you’re overpaying at the pharmacy, here are three ways to save money on prescription drugs.
1. Use GoodRx
GoodRx is a popular app that helps people save money on prescriptions.
GoodRx can’t be combined with Medicare, but you can use the app instead of insurance to receive discounts.
Using GoodRx instead of your Medicare coverage might make sense if:
- Your medication isn’t covered by Medicare.
- GoodRx prices are lower than your Medicare copay.
- You won’t reach your annual deductible this year.
If you decide to use GoodRx instead of Medicare, tell the pharmacist to run the order as a self-pay or cash transaction. Then present the GoodRx coupon on your phone to receive the discount.
2. Find a Patient Assistance Program
Patient assistance programs — which are administered by pharmaceutical companies — can offer free or discounted medications to those who qualify.
Medicare has an online tool you can use to find pharmaceutical assistance programs.
Eligibility for each program is based on several factors including your income, medical insurance status and location.
If you take expensive name-brand drugs, you can also contact the drug company to see if they offer any manufacturer rebates or coupons for your medications.
3. Make Sure You’re In a Good Part D Plan
If you’re paying a lot for your medications, you might want to check out your current coverage and compare Part D prescription drug plans.
The best way to find a drug plan that fits your needs is to use Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder Tool.
Why is it important to review your Medicare coverage every year or so?
Private plan providers can adjust costs from year to year. They can raise your deductible or tweak the pricing tiers of specific medications.
If one of your drugs is dropped or changes tiers in the drug plan’s formulary, you could end up with much higher copays.
This Medicare Plan Finder tool lets you compare costs and coverage among stand-alone Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans in your area side by side.
You can get a customized estimate of your monthly costs based on the medications you take and the pharmacies you use.
You can make changes to your coverage each year during Medicare open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
If you need help picking a Part D plan or comparing your options, you can reach out to your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. They are federally-funded programs staffed by trained nonprofit volunteers.
Rachel Christian is a freelance financial journalist who helps readers make sense of money — from investing and taxes to retirement and everyday personal finance. Her work has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Bankrate, Orlando Business Journal and The Penny Hoarder.
