Medicare Costs Not Covered in 2025: What You Need to Know

Medicare helps millions of Americans access healthcare, but it's important to understand what it *doesn't* cover. In 2025, several common healthcare needs remain outside the scope of traditional Medicare. These include:

* **Routine Dental Care:** Medicare typically doesn't cover dental exams, cleanings, fillings, dentures, or most other dental services.
* **Vision Care:** Standard Medicare usually doesn't cover routine eye exams for glasses or contacts. It may cover eye exams for specific medical conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration.
* **Hearing Aids and Exams:** Medicare generally doesn't cover hearing aids or the exams required to get them.
* **Long-Term Care:** While Medicare may cover some short-term skilled nursing care, it typically doesn't cover long-term custodial care, such as assistance with activities of daily living.
* **Cosmetic Surgery:** Procedures considered cosmetic, rather than medically necessary, are generally not covered.

Because of these gaps in coverage, many people choose to supplement their Medicare coverage with other insurance options, such as Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), Medigap policies, or stand-alone dental, vision, and hearing plans. Carefully consider your healthcare needs and budget when deciding how to address these potential out-of-pocket expenses. Planning ahead can help you avoid unexpected healthcare costs in retirement.