Medicare Vision Coverage for Medicare Recipients
Does Medicare cover vision needs?
Yes and no. In simple terms, it depends on the service you need. Generally speaking, Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) does not cover routine vision care such as standard annual eye exams, eyeglasses or contacts.That being said, Medicare Part A does provide vision coverage when the circumstances require inpatient hospitalization, and Medicare Part B generally covers doctors’ services, medical supplies and outpatient care. The following are covered by Part B, but not at 100% coverage:
- Eye Exams for Diabetic Patients – Covers annual exam for diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma Tests – Covers annual exam if you’re deemed high-risk (i.e. you have diabetes, family history of glaucoma, are African-American and age 50+ or Hispanic and 65+)
- Macular Degeneration Tests and Treatment – covers individuals with age-related macular degeneration and includes certain types of injectable drug treatments
- Corrective Lenses Following Cataract Surgery – Covers one pair of eyeglasses or one pair of contact lenses if cataract surgery is used to implant intraocular lens.