Does Medicare cover dental? In most cases, no. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care like cleanings, fillings, tooth removals, dentures, or implants. You pay all costs for those. Vision and hearing work the same way. Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or the exams to fit them. Eyeglasses and contact lenses are usually not covered either. Many Medicare Advantage plans add dental, vision, and hearing as extra benefits. If you also have Medicaid, your state may cover some of these services. This page walks through each path and its trade-offs.
When Medicare Does Cover Dental Care
Medicare may cover dental care in a few narrow cases.
- Dental services during a hospital stay. This applies when you are admitted as an inpatient for your dental procedure, either because of your medical condition or because of how serious the procedure is.
- Dental care tied to a covered medical treatment. The dental service must be needed for the medical treatment to work. Examples are an oral exam and dental treatment before a heart valve replacement, or before a bone marrow, organ, or kidney transplant.
- Treating a mouth infection before cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, or treating a complication during head and neck cancer treatment.
- Dental or oral exams before and during dialysis if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Even then, you still pay your share. For a covered service under Part B, that is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible, plus a facility copayment if you get it in a hospital outpatient or other facility setting. A covered hospital stay under Part A has its own deductible and daily costs. On vision, Medicare Part B covers one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames, or one set of contact lenses, after each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens.
What Original Medicare Leaves Out
Original Medicare is built around hospital care (Part A) and medical care (Part B) — doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and equipment. Routine dental, vision, and hearing care sit outside that design. If you stay on Original Medicare alone and want this coverage, you buy it on your own. That can mean a stand-alone dental or vision plan, or paying out of pocket. For the cataract-surgery vision exception, see cataract surgery and the glasses after it. Two other services people often ask about, chiropractic care and acupuncture, are covered only in narrow cases.
Path 1: Medicare Advantage Extra Benefits
Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans add extras that Original Medicare doesn't offer: dental, vision, hearing aids, and fitness programs. Some add meal delivery and rides to medical visits. These extras are one of the main reasons people choose Medicare Advantage.
Two things to keep in mind:
- They're plan extras, not a separate policy. What's included — and how much the plan pays — differs from plan to plan and year to year. Check each plan's own papers for the details.
- They come with the rest of the plan's rules. Medicare Advantage plans often use provider networks and pre-approval. The extras are one factor among many. See Choosing Coverage for a neutral, full look at both sides.
Path 2: What Medigap Does — and Doesn't — Do
A common mix-up: Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans do not cover dental, vision, or hearing. Medigap helps pay your share of costs for services Medicare already covers, like deductibles and coinsurance. It doesn't add new types of benefits. If you have Original Medicare plus Medigap and want dental or vision coverage, you still buy it on your own.
Path 3: Medicaid, for People With Both Programs
Do you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid? That's called dual eligible. Medicaid may then cover services Medicare doesn't — including dental care, vision care, and hearing aids. This varies a lot by state. One state may cover dental or hearing aids. Another may not. See Does Medicaid cover dental for adults? for the federal rule and how to check your state.
Dual-eligible members can also join D-SNPs (Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans). These combine Medicare and Medicaid benefits in one plan, and they often include dental, vision, and hearing. Start with Dual Eligible: Medicare and Medicaid. Then see our Getting Help Paying guide to check if you might qualify.
Common Questions
Does Medicare pay for dentures or hearing aids?
Original Medicare generally does not. Some Medicare Advantage plans include dental and hearing benefits that may help — check the specific plan's materials. If you have Medicaid, ask your state what it covers.
Should I pick Medicare Advantage just for the dental and vision extras?
That's your call, and it depends on your needs. The extras matter most if you need them and can't pay on your own. But weigh the whole trade. Networks, pre-approval, and yearly cost caps differ between the two paths. Choosing Coverage lays out both sides without picking one.
I already have dental coverage from a retiree plan. Does this change anything?
If work or retiree benefits already cover dental, vision, or hearing, plan extras matter less for you. Check how your retiree coverage works with Medicare before you change anything. See Retiring or Losing Coverage.
Where can I get free help comparing my options?
Your SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling. You can also compare plan benefits directly at Medicare.gov.