Does Medicare Cover Eye Health?

Medicare will pay for preventive services related to your eye, in some cases. It will also pay for a portion of the costs associated with common age-related eye diseases, including macular degeneration and glaucoma, according to the federal government's official Medicare site.

Basics

• To understand how this type of health insurance covers eye health, examine how Medicare is structured; largely, there is Part A for in-hospital services and Part B for medical insurance, including doctor's visits. It's with Part B, according to Medicare.gov, where patients receive vision services. Though coverage can vary by state, if a service is covered, you'll be responsible for 20 percent of the Medicare-approved costs.

Routine Exams

• Routine exams are typically considered preventive services that are, in this case, related to eye health; however, Medicare does not cover routine vision exams. Additionally, Medicare doesn't cover eyeglasses or contact lenses--unless these eyeglasses and contacts are needed following a surgery, namely cataract surgery--a common, age-related procedure.

Other Exams

• Glaucoma testing, a preventive service and exam related to eye health, is covered. This disease may result in vision loss and is most common in those over the age of 60, according to the Mayo Clinic. For those at highest risk, including African-Americans and diabetics, Medicare will cover a portion of the exam on an annual basis. In addition, another common, age-related disease, macular degeneration, is also covered; specifically, diagnostics and treatment related to the condition.

Options

• Though treatments for both glaucoma and macular degeneration are covered, other prescription drugs related to vision care are only covered in limited amounts by Part B, according to Medicare.gov. If you need help with these and other exam related costs, not covered by Part B, you may find respite in Medicare Advantage plans, which are designed to fill in the coverage gaps. These optional health plans, including Part C and D, may also pay for frames and lenses and other vision services.

Warnings

• As of January 1, 2011, preventive services for seniors were expanded under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the health care reform act. Check your coverage regularly by calling Medicare's support hotline or visiting its site and searching for coverage by your respective state.