Medicare provided health coverage to more than 68 million Americans in 2025, according to the Commonwealth Fund.
That total includes nearly all adults aged 65 and older who rely on the federal health insurance program as a foundation for retirement planning.
Despite covering hospital stays, doctor visits, and preventive services through Original Medicare Part A and Part B, the program excludes several major benefit categories entirely.
Original Medicare excludes routine dental care, leaving enrollees to pay out-of-pocket for cleanings, fillings, dentures, and implants.
Cleanings typically cost between $80 and $110, while fillings run approximately $199 to $333, and a set of dentures can reach $3,000.
Routine vision care is also left uncovered by the program, requiring retirees to pay out-of-pocket for eye exams averaging $200 and frames averaging $230.
Hearing care, including hearing exams and aids, is excluded from Original Medicare coverage even though it’s a service that many seniors may need.
Pairs of hearing aids frequently cost between $3,000 and $7,000, placing a heavy financial burden on retirees who lack alternative insurance.
Long-term custodial care that assists with daily activities like bathing and dressing is also omitted from Medicare benefits.
In 2025, the national median for in-home care services was $80,080 per year for 44 hours of care a week, according to Genworth’s CareScout Cost of Care Survey.
Retirees seeking broader coverage can turn to Medicare Advantage plans, which bundle Part A and Part B, and usually include Part D prescription drugs with dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
Medicare supplemental plans, or Medigap plans, generally don’t feature dental, vision, or prescription drug coverage but help cover Medicare out-of-pocket costs like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Prescription drug coverage under Part D excludes over-the-counter medications, medications used for hair loss, and medications used solely for losing weight, though it may cover medications that help with weight loss but are used to treat other conditions, like cardiovascular issues.
Original Medicare excludes routine foot care such as corn and callus removal, flat foot treatment, and the purchase of orthopedic shoes and supportive foot devices.
Cosmetic surgery is generally excluded, except for exceptions that may be made for the prompt repair of an accidental injury, like a treatment for a severe burn or repairing a face after a serious car accident.
Medigap plans help cover Medicare out-of-pocket costs such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles associated with Original Medicare.
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