Plan guide
Dental, vision and hearing
Original Medicare skips routine cleanings, glasses and hearing aids. Here is how our clients fill those gaps.
Overview
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, eye exams for glasses, or hearing aids. For many retirees in Indianapolis, these are the services they use most often, and the costs add up quickly. A set of hearing aids can run several thousand dollars, and a crown can cost more than $1,200.
There are two main routes. Many Medicare Advantage plans include some dental, vision and hearing benefits. If you prefer Original Medicare with a Supplement, you can add a stand-alone dental, vision and hearing policy from a private carrier.
Benefits vary a great deal. Some plans cover only preventive cleanings, while others include fillings, extractions, crowns and dentures with waiting periods. We read the fine print on annual maximums, waiting periods and networks before you choose.
What's included
Preventive dental
Cleanings, exams and X-rays, often at 100 percent in network.
Basic and major dental
Fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns and dentures on richer plans, sometimes after a waiting period.
Routine eye exams
An annual exam with an allowance for glasses or contact lenses.
Hearing exams and aids
Hearing tests and a per-ear or per-year allowance for hearing aids.
Network discounts
Reduced fees at participating dentists and optical stores even when benefits run out.
Medically necessary care
Original Medicare still covers eye care for conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Costs to plan for
Sample figures- Stand-alone DVH premium
- $28 to $62/mo
- Annual dental maximum
- $1,000 to $3,000
- Eyewear allowance
- $100 to $250
- Hearing aid allowance
- $500 to $1,500/ear
Indiana range by plan richness (sample)
Per calendar year (sample)
Per year or every two years (sample)
Every one to three years (sample)
Figures are illustrations for Central Indiana. Your actual costs depend on the plan, your ZIP code, age and income. Confirm current amounts at Medicare.gov.
How we help with Dental, vision and hearing
- 1
Note your upcoming care
Planned crowns, dentures, new glasses or hearing aids change which plan makes sense.
- 2
Check your dentist
We confirm your dentist and eye doctor participate in the plan network.
- 3
Compare waiting periods
Some plans delay major dental coverage for 6 to 12 months.
- 4
Coordinate with your medical plan
We avoid paying twice for benefits your Advantage plan already includes.
Is it a fit?
Often a good fit when
- You have Original Medicare and a Supplement
- You expect major dental work or new hearing aids
- Your Advantage plan's extras feel too thin
Watch out for
- Annual maximums cap what the plan pays
- Waiting periods on major services
- Allowances may require in-network providers
Questions about Dental, vision and hearing
Original Medicare does not. Some Advantage plans and richer stand-alone dental policies contribute toward implants, usually up to the annual maximum and often after a waiting period.
Many Advantage plans in Central Indiana include a hearing aid benefit, usually through a partner network with set prices or an allowance per ear.
Yes. Cataract surgery is medically necessary and covered by Original Medicare Part B, including one pair of standard glasses or contacts after surgery with an intraocular lens.
Related coverage
Medicare AdvantagePart C plans from private carriers that bundle hospital, medical and usually drug coverage.Read the guide 
Medicare SupplementMedigap policies that pay some or all of the costs Original Medicare leaves behind.Read the guide 
Special Needs PlansAdvantage plans built for people with Medicaid, chronic conditions or long-term care needs.Read the guide
Questions about Dental, vision and hearing?
A licensed Beacon advisor will compare plans against your doctors, prescriptions and budget. No cost, no obligation.
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