What Medicare covers
What doesn't Medicare cover?
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Short answer
Original Medicare doesn't cover most dental care, routine eye exams for glasses, hearing aids, long-term custodial care, most care outside the U.S., cosmetic surgery or routine foot care.
Medicare Parts A and B also cover only a narrow set of drugs, so most people get prescription coverage through Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans often add some dental, vision and hearing benefits, Medigap helps pay Original Medicare's cost sharing, and Medicaid covers long-term care for people who qualify.
What are the main gaps in Original Medicare?
| Service | Original Medicare | Where coverage can come from |
|---|---|---|
| Routine dental care (cleanings, fillings, dentures) | Not covered, with narrow exceptions | Many Medicare Advantage plans; separate dental insurance; Medicaid in some states |
| Routine eye exams and glasses | Not covered (glasses after cataract surgery are) | Many Medicare Advantage plans; vision insurance |
| Hearing aids and fitting exams | Not covered | Many Medicare Advantage plans; some states' Medicaid |
| Long-term custodial care | Not covered | Medicaid; long-term care insurance; personal savings |
| Care outside the U.S. | Covered only in rare cases | Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M, N; travel insurance |
| Outpatient prescription drugs | Mostly not covered by Parts A and B | Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage |
| Cosmetic surgery | Not covered unless needed after an injury or to improve a malformed body part | Paid privately |
| Routine foot care | Not covered (some care for diabetic foot problems is) | Paid privately |
Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
In most cases, no: routine cleanings, fillings, dentures, eye exams for glasses and hearing aids aren't covered by Original Medicare. Medicare does cover some medically necessary care, such as cataract surgery, diabetic eye exams and dental care tied to certain covered treatments. What Medicare covers for teeth, eyes and ears.
Does Medicare cover long-term care?
No. Medicare doesn't pay for custodial care, the help with bathing, dressing, eating and other daily activities that most nursing home residents need, when that is the only care you need. It covers short stays in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay. Does Medicare pay for nursing homes?
What other services does Medicare not cover?
- Massage therapy and most alternative medicine (acupuncture is covered only for chronic low back pain).
- Chiropractic care beyond manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation.
- Hearing and eye exams for fitting hearing aids or glasses.
- Concierge or membership fees some doctors charge.
- Most care while you travel outside the U.S.; see Does Medicare cover you abroad?
How can I check whether Medicare covers something?
Medicare covers services that are medically necessary and meet its rules. Use the coverage search on Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. If a provider thinks Medicare may not pay, it may ask you to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) before the service, which tells you that you may have to pay. With a Medicare Advantage plan, ask the plan; its Evidence of Coverage lists what it covers.
Good to know
More questions people ask
Does Medicare cover eyeglasses?
Does Medicare cover chiropractors?
Does Medigap cover dental, vision or hearing?
Does Medicare cover assisted living?
Related questions
- Medicare.gov: What Medicare covers
- Medicare.gov: Dental services
- Medicare.gov: Long-term care
- Medicare.gov: Travel outside the U.S.
Figures are Medicare’s, set nationally, and were checked against these pages on October 2026. For your own situation, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
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This page was last updated: October 2026.