Can I get glasses or hearing aids if I'm on Medicare?
Original Medicare does not pay for routine eyeglasses or hearing aids, with one exception — glasses after cataract surgery with an implanted lens — so most older adults get them through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes those benefits, through state Medicaid, or through a charity such as a Lions Club vision program.
What this means
- Medicare Part B does cover the medical exams: an annual glaucoma test if you are at risk, diabetic eye exams, and a diagnostic hearing exam ordered by your doctor. It is the devices that are not covered.
- Many Medicare Advantage plans include a yearly allowance toward glasses or hearing aids. The allowance amount and the network vary a great deal between plans.
- Over-the-counter hearing aids are now sold without a prescription for mild to moderate hearing loss, which brought prices down sharply.
What to do first
- Call a free SHIP counselor and ask them to compare plans on your actual vision and hearing needs before you switch anything.
- Ask your doctor for a diagnostic exam order, which Medicare does cover, so you know what you actually need first.
- Contact your local Lions Club, which runs free eyeglass and hearing aid programs in many communities.
- Ask your community health center whether it has vision services on the sliding fee scale.
Low-Cost Dental, Vision, and Hearing Care
Medicare does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing. These programs fill the gap.
SHIP: Free, Unbiased Medicare Counseling
A trained local counselor who compares your Medicare options with you and sells nothing.
What you'll need
- Your Medicare card and any plan card
- A current prescription or exam result
- Proof of income for charity or sliding scale programs
Deadlines and timing
- Plan benefits can only be changed during Medicare open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Check the vision and hearing details before that window closes.
Where to go
- Free SHIP counseling: https://www.shiphelp.org/SHIPs/ — they will read the plan documents with you.
- Find a health center with vision services: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 26, 2026
Sources
- Find a Health Center · Health Resources and Services Administration
- State Health Insurance Assistance Programs · SHIP National Technical Assistance Center
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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