Medicare is a public health insurance program that covers important healthcare costs for people who meet specific eligibility requirements. If you’re eligible for Medicare, chances are you have many questions about what it covers, what it doesn’t, and how it works. After all, the program is quite different from traditional healthcare insurance and has some rather unique eligibility requirements. However, there are some things that Medicare does not cover at all. In this article, we will explore what isn’t included in Medicare coverage:

1. Routine eye exams

Medicare does not cover routine eye exams. This is because a person who is enrolled in Medicare Part A (inpatient hospital coverage) or Part B (outpatient care) has the option of receiving these services from a private provider. To receive these services, however, the enrollee must be able to afford them. These eye exams are primarily used to detect and monitor vision problems, such as cataracts and glaucoma. In some cases, the eye exam can detect early signs of diabetes, leading to blindness if left untreated. Therefore, Medicare beneficiaries need to understand that they will not be able to receive routine eye exams with Medicare insurance coverage.

2. Hearing aids

Hearing aids are not covered under Medicare. Medicare pays for some necessary hearing aids but does not cover those not medically necessary. It will, however, pay for certain hearing aids, such as cochlear implants. It will also pay for certain medical devices and supplies used with a cochlear implant, such as the equipment needed to clean the device and test its performance.

3. Routine dental exams and dentures

Medicare does not cover routine dental exams. You will have to pay for these exams out of pocket. However, Medicare covers some dental treatments for seniors and people with disabilities. Dentures are also something medicare won’t cover. These prosthetic devices used to replace missing teeth are custom made from metal, plastic, or porcelain and can be worn by people who have had all their natural teeth removed. If you need dentures and are enrolled in Medicare, you will have to pay for them out-of-pocket during your lifetime.

4. Long term care

Medicare does not cover long term care. If you need to stay in a nursing home or other long term care facility, you will need to pay for any care yourself. However, it’s important to note that Medicare covers certain services for people living in a nursing home. For example, Medicare covers medical supplies and equipment and some medical services for people in a nursing home. Therefore, you must understand the services that Medicare covers before enrolling.

5. Prescription drugs

Medicare does not cover prescription drugs. The way Medicare works is that it pays for the cost of a hospital stay, and then the beneficiary pays a copayment or coinsurance for all other medical services. The beneficiary must pay a deductible and out-of-pocket limit before Medicare reimburses any amount. The beneficiary may also have to pay a coinsurance, copayment, or deductible amount for certain drugs covered by Medicare.

6. Overseas health care

Medicare does not cover medical care services provided overseas. Medicare will not pay for medical services or treatments in other countries. This means that Medicare cannot be used to pay for medical care costs associated with a serious illness, injury or condition you suffer while traveling or living abroad, except in a few exceptions.