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30 • The Beacon May 29, 2025
Does Medicare cover your vision care and eye exams?
Dear Savvy Senior,
What all does Medicare cover when it comes to vision care? I currently have good vision insurance through my employer but will lose it when I retire.
Almost 65
Dear Almost,
Many soon-to-be retirees are a bit blurry with what Medicare does and doesn’ t cover when it comes to vision care. The good news is Medicare covers most medical issues like cataract surgery, treatment of eye diseases and medical emergencies. But unfortunately, routine care like eye exams
and eyeglasses are usually the beneficiary’ s responsibility. Here’ s a breakdown of what is and isn’ t covered.
Eye exams and treatments
Medicare does not cover routine eye exams that test for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but they do cover yearly medical eye exams if you have diabetes or are at high risk for glaucoma. They also will pay for exams
330-852-0111 10654 Skyline Dr NW | Sugarcreek, OH 44681 to test and treat medical eye diseases if you’ re having vision problems that indicate a serious eye problem like macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, eye infections or if you get something in your eye.
Eye surgeries
Medicare will cover most eye surgeries that help repair the eye function including cataract surgery to remove cataracts and insert standard intraocular lenses to replace your own. Medicare will not, however, pick up the extra cost if you choose a premium multifocal lens that
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BF-305433 restores full range of vision, thereby reducing your need for glasses after cataract surgery. The extra cost for a premium lens can run $ 1,500- $ 4,000 per eye.
Eye surgeries that are usually not covered by Medicare include refractive( LASIK) surgery and cosmetic eye surgery, which are not considered medically necessary.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses
Medicare will not pay for eyeglasses or contact lenses, with one exception: If you have had a conventional intraocular lens inserted during cataract surgery, Medicare will pay for eyeglasses or contact lenses following the operation.
Ways to save Although original Medicare’ s vision coverage is limited to medical issues, there are ways you can save on routine care. Here are several to check into:
— Medicare Advantage plans: Many of these plans, which are alternatives to original Medicare and sold through private insurance companies, cover routine eye exams and eyeglasses,
County lost a gem in Sturtz
Letter to the Editor,
Coshocton County lost a treasure on May 8, 2025. Christina Sturtz had served as the director of the Coshocton Animal Shelter for over 40 years. I knew she had been the director for a long time, but I was amazed. She was very dedicated to this job. Any money she made for payment or donation, she would use for the shelter because there were so many needs. I was overwhelmed by her unselfishness.
In 2021 I sent many letters to various county and government agencies, veterinaries, et cetera, asking them to write letters to nominate her for the Coshoctonian Award. I was very disappointed in our community that she was not even recognized. In my opinion, without her, I am not sure the Coshocton Animal Shelter on Morgan Run Road could have /
but coverage is limited, so be sure you understand the specifics. While I don’ t recommend enrolling in an Advantage plan just to get vision coverage, it is an option you should know about. To locate Advantage plans in your area that provide vision coverage, go to www. Medicare. gov / plan-compare or call 800- 633-4227.
— Purchase vision insurance: If you get routine eye exams and purchase new eyeglasses annually, a vision insurance plan may be worth the costs. These policies typically range between $ 5 and $ 30 per month. Most plans also will have copays or deductibles you’ ll be responsible for.
— Check veterans’ benefits: If you’ re a veteran and qualify for VA health care benefits, you may be able to get some or all of your routine vision care through VA. Visit www. VA. gov / health-care / aboutva-health-benefits / visioncare to learn more.
— Find cheaper shopping options: Many retailers provide discounts, between 10 % and 50 %, on eye exams and eyeglasses if you belong to a membership group like AARP or AAA.
You also can save by shopping at discount retailers like Costco Optical, Sam’ s Club Optical or Target Optical, which are all recommended by Consumer Reports. Or consider buying your glasses online at retailers like www. ZenniOptical. com, www. EyeBuyDirect. com or www. GlassesUSA. com, which offer big savings.
To purchase glasses online, you’ ll need a valid prescription from an eye doctor( no more than a year old), plus your pupillary distance number, which is the distance measured in millimeters between the centers of your pupils in each eye.
— Look for assistance: There also are health centers and local clinics that provide free or discounted vision exams and eyeglasses to those in need. To find them, put a call into your local Lions Club( see Directory. LionsClubs. org) for referrals.
Send your questions or comments to questions @ savvysenior. org or to Savvy Senior, P. O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
letter to the editor
would have survived. I am hoping our community may recognize Chris by a posthumous nomination for this award this year. Forty-plus years with little pay or recognition— remarkable but very sad. I know all our furry friends at the animal shelter will miss her.
Marilyn J. Parkhill Fresno