Medicare does not cover all health care services. Services excluded from Medicare coverage include but are not limited to:
- Alternative medicine, including experimental procedures and treatments, acupuncture, and chiropractic services, except when manipulation of the spine is medically necessary Medically necessary refers to procedures, services, or equipment that meet accepted medical standards and are necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of a medical condition. to fix a subluxation of the spine (when one or more of the bones of the spine move out of position)
- Most care received outside of the United States
- Cosmetic surgery, unless needed to improve the function of a malformed part of the body
- Most dental care
- Hearing aids, including examinations for prescribing or fitting hearing aids—though in some cases implants to treat severe hearing loss are covered
- Personal care, including help with bathing, dressing, and eating, when it is the only care you need
- Custodial care (homemaker services), including light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation, when it is the only care you need
- Nursing home care (long-term care), including medical care, therapy, 24-hour care, and personal care Personal care, also known as unskilled care, is assistance with activities of daily living. Providers of personal care (home health aides) are not required to undergo medical training. Medicare only covers personal care if you are homebound and receiving skilled care. , except during a Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are Medicare-approved facilities that provide short-term post-hospital extended care services. stay
- Non-medical services, including a private hospital room, hospital television and telephone, canceled or missed appointments, and copies of x-rays
- Most non-emergency transportation, including ambulette An ambulette is a wheelchair-accessible van that provides non-emergency transportation for people with disabilities. services
- Certain preventive services, including routine foot care
- Most vision care, including eyeglasses (except following cataract surgery) and examinations for prescribing or fitting eyeglasses
You are responsible for the full cost of care if you receive a service that Medicare does not cover. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, your plan may cover some of these services. Ask your plan if it covers any additional services.