Does anyone know the reasoning for Medicare not covering eyes and dental?

[redstatebluegirl]

My mother in law is having lots of problems with her eyes, her glasses cost a fortune last time. I think when it comes time for me to be on medicare I will stay on my husband's eye coverage until he retires. It doesn't make sense to me. I figure there had to be some under the table lobby thing involved in the decision when it was made.

[Wilms]

1. $ n/t

[CountAllVotes]

2. Go to an eye doctor that takes Medicare

The one I go to does and charges a small fee for an RX for glasses. I buy my glasses at Zenni Optical online and have several pair around as I tend to lose/misplace them a lot. I bought two pair recently for $75.00 which is a very good price!

I have an eye disease. For this reason, the eye doctor (who is basically a optometrist with a few extras behind his name) is able to bill Medicare for my visit(s).

Best of luck!

[redstatebluegirl]

10. Thanks we have a doctor near her that takes medicare.

They have diagnosed her eye problem as being related to her diabetes. Thanks for the help!

[CountAllVotes]

12. That should work!

Hopefully he'll give her a break on the eye exam if they want money for it. As for Zenni Optical, highly recommend them if you esp. can get by without needing bifocals. I have about three pairs of them. Glad to have helped --

[ismnotwasm]

3. Apparently, it would take an act of congress

Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, doesn't cover everything. Routine dental care, hearing aids, and eyeglasses are statutorily excluded from Medicare coverage. It would take an act of Congress to include routine dental services, hearing aids, and eyeglasses in Medicare program coverage.

http://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq-why-doesnt-medicare-cover-dental-care-hearing-aids-eyeglasses/

[Demonaut]

4. one of my clients is a cardiologist....well known link between bad teeth and heart valve issues

the state (Colorado) dropped almost 1 million on a medicaid patient who's teeth were in terrible condition, abscesses and very severe gum disease, minor dental could have saved the state a ton of money

[Cirque du So-What]

5. I readily admit to having limited knowledge in this area

but I wonder whether the eye problems you mention could be treated by an ophthalmologist - a medical doctor - and therefore covered under medicare?

[WillowTree]

13. Medical opthalmological diagnoses and treatment is covered under Medicare.

Treatment for cataracts and glaucoma and the like.

Regular eye exams (refractions) and glasses/contact lenses etc are not.

[TexasProgresive]

6. In answer to your question

Certain congresscritters would rather spend megabucks on things like the F35 boondoggle rather than give good health care to the people who built this country by working.

I don't understand why dentistry and optometry are not covered by regular health insurance as well as medicare. At least in my experience it was always separate coverage that was not cheap. Now that I am retired and on medicare we have no dental or eye coverage. We are allowed one eye exam per year (diabetes for me and cataracts for my wife) and eye diseases and injuries are covered. If cataract surgery is done medicare will cover one pair of glasses.

http://www.ehealthmedicare.com/faq-does-medicare-cover-eye-exams/
Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, does not generally cover routine eye exams for eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, Medicare Part B will cover an annual eye exam every 12 months if you have diabetes or are at high risk for glaucoma. Part B coverage also includes diagnostic tests and treatment for certain eye diseases, such as lucentis, aflibercept, and ocular photodynamic therapy.

Because Medicare Advantage plans must offer at least the same coverage as Original Medicare, these plans (offered by private, Medicare-approved insurance companies) also cover the circumstances described above. However, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional coverage, which could include routine vision benefits. Certain Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans may also cover vision-related costs or provide additional eye coverage for an extra cost.

[apnu]

7. Most health insurance policies, wherever they come from, don't cover eyes and teeth.

Because we're stupid idiots in America and can't figure out that eyes and teeth are part of our bodies and important to our health and well being.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Medicare DOES cover one eye exam.

and one pair of glasses.
But
the eye exam is so cheap it does not even eat up much of the deductible
and the eyeglasses are so expensive that what Medicare does pay is too small.
Medicare will pay more if an eye disease like severe cataracts is involved.

I know this because I have Medicare and must use long distance and computer glasses.

So here is what I do to save money:

I pay the eye exam out of pocket. Down here in my small town, it costs like 37.00, cause the eye doctor place...the ONLY eye place in our rural county, makes up for it by charging an arm and a leg for glasses.

By Federal law eye doctors have to give you your eye prescription.


Then I buy my glasses online.


comparison:
I needed prescription sunglasses with Polarized lens..been wearing them for decades, Polarized is the only way to go.
Eye doc charged me $175.00 for the just the lenses, cause I INSISTED they use my old but still good frames.
I also needed regular eyeglasses for inside the house and at night.
They wanted $150.00 plus frame costs.

I went online to Coastal.com and got a pair for 49.00....lenses and frames.
Took same amount of time as did ordering via the eye doc, they are perfect.

This year, I needed computer glasses, to see the puter, and the eye doc just decided I also needed the blue light blocking tint.
He was right about that, blocking tv/computer/e-book light does wonders for sleep.

the exam ( no eye dilation) was 33.00
They wanted $400.00 just for the lenses!!!!!!!!!
I asked if I could just get the glasses without blue block, and they lied to me and said NO.

Went to Coastal, online, picked out the frames I wanted ( 49,00) but the blue tint was gonna cost more, tho it should not have, it only costs lens makes 10.00 for the lenses and maybe 10.00 to add a tint...
That is when I found out you can negotiate prices with online places, so I did, until we hit a price I was ok with...$89.00
No tax, free shipping, new frames, new tinted lenses.
They work great.

Mr. Dixie gets TRI-focals online. He uses zenni.com.

We have saved so much money and best of all not gotten ripped off by the eye care biz.

Here is a post I wrote right after the last glasses came, has lots of good info.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027721473

[WhiteTara]

9. If this is a medical problem

Medicare will cover the exams. Zennia has great prices for glasses and lenses.

[redstatebluegirl]

11. Thank you! I love everyone on this site! It is like an extended family with lots of good advice!

We are driving up this weekend to try and figure out how best to help her. The long distance makes helping her quickly an issue. My husband is going to get her power of attorney this weekend so we can do more than we do now. Her mind is ok, a little slow. She is 85. Thank you again!