Many people are surprised the first time they need a dental cleaning, a new pair of glasses, or a hearing aid after enrolling in Medicare. Those everyday needs sit outside what Original Medicare was designed to pay for. With the Annual Enrollment Period open October 15 – December 7, 2026 (coverage for plan year 2027 begins January 1, 2027), this is a good moment to understand exactly where the gaps are and what your options look like.
- Dental: routine care (cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures) is not covered by Original Medicare.
- Vision: routine eye exams for glasses are not covered; certain medical eye care is.
- Hearing: diagnostic hearing and balance exams can be covered; hearing aids and fitting exams are not.
- Medicare Advantage: some plans offer extra benefits in these areas. Benefits, limits and networks differ from plan to plan.
What Original Medicare covers and leaves out
Dental
According to Medicare.gov, Original Medicare doesn't cover dental services like routine cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, or items like dentures. In some cases it may pay for dental services that are closely related to certain covered medical services. For example, Medicare.gov notes the exception can apply to dental work connected to care such as a heart valve replacement, an organ transplant, cancer treatment, or kidney dialysis. Whether a specific procedure qualifies depends on the medical situation, so it's worth asking your doctor and dentist before the work is done.
Vision
Medicare.gov states that routine eye exams (sometimes called refractions) for eyeglasses or contact lenses are not covered. Medical eye care is a different story:
- Diabetic eye exams: Part B covers a dilated retinopathy exam once a year for people with diabetes.
- Glaucoma screening: covered once every 12 months for people at high risk.
- Cataract surgery: Part B may cover surgery that implants a conventional intraocular lens.
- Glasses after cataract surgery: Part B covers one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames, or one set of contact lenses, after each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens.
For these covered services you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible. CMS lists the 2026 Part B deductible as $283.
Hearing
Per Medicare.gov, Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams when your doctor or other health care provider orders them to find out whether you need medical treatment. Original Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or the exams for fitting them. After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered diagnostic exams.
Does Medigap fill the gap?
Usually not. Medicare.gov's Medigap coverage page lists vision care, dental care and hearing aids among the things Medigap policies generally don't cover. A Medicare Supplement helps with Original Medicare cost-sharing, such as the Part B coinsurance, but not with these routine services. People who choose Medigap often look at a separate stand-alone dental, vision or hearing plan.
What Medicare Advantage plans may add
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurers and must cover everything Original Medicare covers. Medicare.gov notes that they may also offer extra benefits Original Medicare doesn't, such as some vision, hearing and dental services. What is offered is decided plan by plan. When you compare, look closely at:
- Which services are included: exams only, or also cleanings, fillings, lenses, frames, or hearing aids.
- Annual limits: many plans cap what they will pay for a benefit in a year, and you pay the rest.
- Network rules: your dentist, eye doctor or audiologist may need to be in the plan's network.
- Waiting periods and frequency limits: some benefits apply only after a set time or only once per year or per several years.
- Premiums and trade-offs: plans with richer extras may differ elsewhere, such as in the provider network or drug coverage.
The place to confirm all of this is the plan's own Evidence of Coverage and Summary of Benefits, not a headline or a mailer. We don't quote specific benefit dollar amounts here because they differ by plan, county and year.
Medicare help in your state
Honorbrook is licensed in the 11 states below. Plan availability, costs and some rules vary by state and county, so call us at (571) 354-0146 for what applies where you live.
- Virginia · county pages
- Maryland · county pages
- North Carolina · county pages
- South Carolina · county pages
- Georgia · county pages
- Alabama · county pages
- Louisiana · county pages
- Texas · county pages
- Michigan · county pages
- Indiana · county pages
- West Virginia · county pages
Timing: when you can make a change
If you want a plan with dental, vision or hearing benefits for 2027, the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026) is the main window; changes take effect January 1, 2027, per Medicare.gov. If you're already in an Advantage plan, a separate window runs January 1 – March 31. Our guide to when you can switch Medicare plans covers each window in detail.
We're an independent agency, but we don't offer every plan available in your area. We'll tell you what we can compare, and you can always check Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for the full picture.
This article is general information, not insurance advice. Coverage details can change and vary by plan; a licensed agent can confirm what applies to you.