Medicare is a federal insurance program that helps those aged 65 and above meet their healthcare expenses. Divided into two parts, Part A and Part B, it covers inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, preventive services, medical equipment, and several other costs. However, the plan is not all-encompassing, so individuals are usually advised to purchase supplemental insurance to be on the safer side. Here are six things Medicare does not cover.

Routine dental care
Both Medicare Part A and Part B do not pay for routine dental care, including the costs for dental checkups, routine cleaning, or other dental maintenance services. The program also does not cover X-rays, fillings, root canals, and dentures. However, in some instances, Medicare may include dental surgery or X-rays. This is especially true during accidents, dental exams needed before kidney or heart surgery, or treatment for mouth cancer.

Several Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Part C) may provide routine dental coverage as an extra benefit over Part A and Part B. However, people must purchase these plans from a Medicare-approved private company and pay an additional monthly premium.

Routine vision care
Medicare does not cover routine vision care. So, despite enrolling in the program, members must pay for eye exams (performed to determine if new prescription eyewear is needed) out of their pocket. Those wanting coverage for routine vision care would have to buy a supplemental plan, as in the case of routine dental care.

One must note that the cost of eyeglasses and contact lenses is also excluded. The only exception is when an individual has undergone cataract surgery, and the eye doctor advises them to use such eyewear. Medicare also does not pay for specific chronic eye conditions, including glaucoma tests and eye surgeries, if someone is at high risk for eye diseases.

Cosmetic procedures
Medicare does not cover the cost of cosmetic procedures like face-lifts and tummy tucks when someone signs up for them voluntarily. But understandably, the program pays for these treatments if they are absolutely necessary for health reasons. So, for example, if someone has met with an accident that has caused injuries that need plastic surgery for recovery, Medicare will cover the expenses. The plan will also bear the costs if an individual undergoes breast reconstruction following a mastectomy.

Cosmetic treatments help enhance a person’s appearance. However, since Medicare does not cover the expenses, individuals can invest in supplemental plans or invest in a savings program to avoid financial hardships.

Hearing aids
Hearing aids and routine hearing exams can cost as much as $3,250 per ear. Luckily, certain Medicare Advantage or Part C plans cover hearing aids and equipment fitting exams. Moreover, some discount plans offer coverage or price cuts to help people save on hearing aids. However, by and large, routine hearing examination and equipment costs are not covered by Original Medicare (Part A and B).

Generally, healthcare professionals advise people to get their routine hearing-related expenses covered by external insurance service providers. Besides considering this option, individuals with inherent, underlying hearing problems for a long time can consider investing in an HSA. Doing so can occasionally enable them to get tax benefits for hearing aids and other out-of-pocket hearing expenses.

Overseas care
People undergoing surgeries or other procedures out of the country usually cannot claim reimbursements through Medicare. The costs are covered in a few circumstances only. For example, if someone undergoes a procedure on a cruise ship within six hours of a country’s port, they can claim reimbursements. Specific Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency expenses incurred abroad, so frequent travelers might want to consider them.

To fully cover themselves, people can also purchase travel insurance policies that cover specific health expenses while away from the country. Doing so ensures one will have to rarely, if ever, pay their bills out of their pocket when traveling abroad.

Chiropractic care
Original Medicare does not pay for most chiropractor tests or services, including X-rays and checkups. However, Medicare Part B does pay for a given chiropractic service: the physical and manual manipulation of a person’s spine done by a qualified chiropractor or other qualified medical practitioner to correct a vertebral subluxation. In this condition, the spinal vertebra is partially dislocated from its usual position.