What Original Medicare doesn't cover
One of the biggest surprises for people new to Medicare is how much everyday care it leaves out. Original Medicare — Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) — is built around medical and hospital services, not routine maintenance for your teeth, eyes, and ears. That means three of the most common needs in retirement aren't covered at all when they're routine.
- Routine dental. Cleanings, exams, fillings, extractions, dentures, and crowns are not covered by Original Medicare. It only helps in narrow, medically necessary situations tied to a covered hospital procedure.
- Routine vision. Eye exams for glasses, eyeglasses, and contacts are not covered. Medicare covers cataract surgery and some medical eye conditions, but not the routine exam-and-glasses cycle most people need.
- Routine hearing. Hearing exams for fitting hearing aids and the hearing aids themselves are not covered — even though they're among the most common and costly needs as we age.
What a DVH plan covers
A standalone dental, vision & hearing plan is designed to fill exactly these gaps. Benefits vary by carrier and plan tier, but here's the kind of care these plans are built to help with:
| Benefit area | What's covered |
|---|---|
| Dental | Cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures, crowns |
| Vision | Eye exams, glasses, contacts allowance |
| Hearing | Hearing exams, hearing aids |
Most DVH plans cover preventive care — like cleanings and routine exams — quickly, then add annual allowances toward bigger-ticket items such as dentures, crowns, and hearing aids. The right plan depends on the care you actually expect to use, which is exactly what we help you sort out.
Standalone vs. built into Medicare Advantage
There are two common ways to get dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans include limited DVH benefits bundled in — convenient, but often capped at modest annual amounts that don't go far on dentures or hearing aids. A standalone DVH plan is purchased separately and frequently covers more, with higher allowances and a wider choice of providers.
Standalone plans pair especially well with Original Medicare and a Medigap policy, since Medigap leaves dental, vision, and hearing out entirely. You keep the freedom to see any doctor who accepts Medicare, and add focused coverage for the everyday needs Medigap doesn't touch.
See your real DVH options side by side
We'll compare standalone plans against any benefits your Medicare plan already includes — for free.
Get my plan comparisonHow Honorbrook helps — at no cost to you
We're an independent agency, so we don't push one company's plan. We compare standalone dental, vision & hearing plans from carriers like Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, and ManhattanLife, looking at what each one actually pays for cleanings, dentures, glasses, and hearing aids — and flagging any waiting periods before you enroll. Our help is always free; carriers pay us a commission when we place a policy, and your premium is the same whether you use an agent or not. We're licensed in Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, and West Virginia — and everything can be handled by phone.