Does Medigap Cover Vision and Hearing? What the Letters Actually Pay
Like dental, routine vision and hearing care sits outside every standardized Medigap plan. Original Medicare covers eye exams only for medical conditions (diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma surveillance) and hearing tests only when a physician orders them — glasses, hearing aids and routine screenings are your own cost on any letter.
| Service | Medicare/Medigap coverage | Typical self-pay cost |
|---|---|---|
| Routine eye exam + glasses | Not covered | $150–350 exam-and-frame packages |
| Medical eye exams (disease-driven) | Covered under Part B — 20% unless G/N | G pays the 20% |
| Cataract surgery | Covered — Part B surgery with lens | G covers the 20% share |
| Routine hearing test | Not covered | $60–150 |
| Hearing aids | Not covered | $2,000–7,000 per pair (Rx chains less) |
| Audiologist eval (medical) | Covered with physician order | 20% share unless G/N |
The distinction that saves money
Medicare draws a hard line between routine and medical. A glaucoma workup is medical — covered, and Plan G pays your 20%. A routine glasses check is routine — nothing covers it. Seniors frequently leave covered services unclaimed by not framing symptoms medically (floaters, pressure, sudden hearing change are medical; prescription refresh alone is not).
Covering the routine layer cheaply
Retail vision plans ($10–20/month) and warehouse-club optical undercut standalone insurance for the glasses-and-exam routine. For hearing, big-box hearing-aid programs (Costco, VA for eligible veterans) run 40–70% below clinic pricing, and some MA plans include a hearing-aid allowance — one more place where the MA-versus-Medigap trade has a real dollar tag. Standalone hearing ‘insurance’ rarely beats self-pay.
FAQ
Does Plan G pay for cataract surgery?
Yes — cataract surgery is covered under Part B; G pays the 20% coinsurance (standard lenses included; premium lens upgrades cost extra).
Are hearing aids covered by any Medigap plan?
No standardized letter covers them; only MA plans commonly include allowances.
Is a diabetic eye exam covered?
Yes — Medicare covers diabetic retinopathy screening as medical care, with the usual 20% share that G or N handles.
Related reading: Dental file · Medicare FAQs · MA extras · Plan G coverage