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 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, except during a Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) 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 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.