What Medicare doesn't cover: dental, vision, hearing and long-term care
The major gaps in Original Medicare, how people fill them, and what Medigap and Medicare Advantage do and don't add.
Original Medicare covers a lot, but some common needs are excluded entirely. Knowing them helps you budget and choose coverage.
The main exclusions
| Service | Original Medicare | Common ways to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| Routine dental (cleanings, fillings, dentures) | Not covered | Standalone dental plans, Medicare Advantage extras, discount plans |
| Routine eye exams and glasses | Not covered (except after cataract surgery) | Vision plans, MA extras |
| Hearing aids and exams for fitting | Not covered | MA extras, over-the-counter hearing aids, discount programs |
| Long-term custodial care | Not covered | Long-term care insurance, Medicaid, savings |
| Care outside the U.S. | Generally not covered | Medigap foreign travel benefit, travel insurance |
| Cosmetic surgery | Not covered | Self-pay |
What Medigap adds
Medigap fills cost-sharing gaps for services Medicare covers. It does not add dental, vision or hearing benefits. Some insurers offer separate dental or vision policies alongside Medigap.
What Medicare Advantage adds
Many Medicare Advantage plans include limited dental, vision and hearing benefits. Check annual limits: a dental benefit capped at $1,000 a year will not cover implants. More on the trade-offs in networks and prior authorization.
Long-term care is the big one
Neither Medicare nor Medigap pays for long-term custodial care, such as help with bathing and dressing at home or in a nursing home. Medicare covers only short-term skilled care after a hospital stay; see the skilled nursing rules.
Questions people ask
Does Medicare cover dental?
Not routine dental care; some Medicare Advantage plans include limited dental.
Does Medigap cover vision?
No. Medigap does not add vision, dental or hearing benefits.
Does Medicare pay for nursing homes?
Only short-term skilled care, not long-term custodial care.
Are hearing aids covered?
Not by Original Medicare.
Independent educational site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or any insurance company. Figures are 2026 amounts published by CMS unless noted; check Medicare.gov for your situation.