Dental & vision
The coverage people notice missing at the worst moment
Most medical plans — Original Medicare included — leave routine dental, vision and hearing almost entirely to you.
What these plans cover
Dental
Cleanings and exams, x-rays, fillings and extractions, and a share of major work like crowns, bridges, root canals and dentures. Most plans have an annual maximum worth checking.
Vision
An annual eye exam with an allowance toward frames, lenses or contacts. Modest benefits, but they cover a cost nearly everyone has.
Hearing
Exams and allowances toward hearing aids — a cost Original Medicare does not cover at all, and one that runs to thousands.
If you're already on Medicare
Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision and hearing benefits, and that’s a genuine selling point. But the allowances are often smaller than the marketing suggests.
A plan advertising dental coverage may provide an annual allowance that covers cleanings and not much else. If you need a crown or a bridge, a standalone dental policy frequently covers substantially more.
It’s worth comparing what your Advantage plan actually pays against a standalone policy, particularly if you know significant dental work is coming.
Questions to ask
- What’s the annual maximum benefit?
- Is there a waiting period before major work is covered?
- What percentage of major services is covered?
- Is my dentist in the network?
- Does the allowance reset annually, and when?
Compare standalone against what's bundled in
It takes a few minutes and occasionally saves a great deal.