How Can Medicare Help with Vision Impairment or Vision Loss?
The health of your eyes and your vision is important to your standard of living. It’s one of our five key senses, after all. With many seniors facing vision loss from some sort of cause, and the number expected to grow to 70 million by 2030, it’s likely that many of us will face some sort of vision struggle in our lifetimes. This makes preventing issues and finding affordable treatment options, for any vision concerns that may pop up, extremely important.
If you’re on Medicare, either through Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, you’ll have many health care options covered by the your plan. Unfortunately, with vision coverage, that’s not 100 percent certain. So, what types of services are covered, and which aren’t?
Routine Checkups and Lenses
A few times in the past, we’ve discussed Medicare’s coverage, or lack thereof, regarding routine vision checkups and lenses. Generally speaking, Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye checkups. It also doesn’t cover contact lens and eyeglasses. The lack of coverage for checkups makes sense when you consider they’re usually for contact lens and eyeglass fittings, not for medical purposes.
Generally speaking, Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye checkups, but there are a few ways to get them covered.
There are a few ways regular vision checks can get covered. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer at least basic routine vision care coverage. If you’ve just signed up for Original Medicare, a routine eye exam is also often included in your Welcome to Medicare visit.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
When it comes to preventing and treating common vision conditions, Medicare is a little more comprehensive. This is especially true for macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss in the United States. Macular degeneration is when part of your retina is damaged, impairing your central vision. While there’s no cure for macular degeneration, you can treat it to prevent further damage or potentially reverse some of the blurriness.
Not only does Medicare cover macular degeneration diagnostics tests, it can help with medically necessary treatments.
This is where Medicare can help. Not only does Medicare cover diagnostics tests for macular degeneration so you can catch the condition early, it can help with medically necessary treatments. This includes treatments that include certain injected drugs, too. If you qualify for Medicare coverage with macular degeneration, you’ll pay 20 percent of the amount for the drugs and services, or a copayment in a hospital outpatient setting. Your Medicare Part B deductible also applies.
Cataracts
Another common condition that causes visual impairment is a cataract. By age 70, more than 30 percent of seniors have cataracts. Cataracts are cloudy spots on the lens of your eye which can cause blurriness, weaken night vision, and even cause blindness if left unchecked. They’re caused by the breakdown of tissue in the lens of your eye. Often, this is the result of aging, but injuries and illnesses can also cause cataracts.
By age 70, more than 30 percent of seniors have cataracts.
Usually, treatment for cataracts isn’t necessary, since you can easily live with cataracts through a combination of prescription glasses and lifestyle changes. If they progress to the point where treatment becomes necessary, cataract surgery is an option. Luckily, if you need cataract surgery, Medicare will likely cover you. In these cases, Medicare covers the surgery, while you’ll owe 20 percent for the corrective lens that are part of the surgery. Your Part B deductible will also apply. Medicare only covers the lens if the supplier is enrolled in Medicare. You or a supplier can’t submit a claim later.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that cause visual impairment and blindness by damaging your optic nerve. Roughly three million Americans live with glaucoma, making it the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. What makes glaucoma so damaging is that it often presents no symptoms in early stages, which is why it’s called the “silent thief of sight.” By the time symptoms are present, the damage may have already been done.
Glaucoma often presents no symptoms in early stages, which is why it’s called the “silent thief of sight.”
Early detection is critical for treating glaucoma. To assist with this, Medicare covers an annual glaucoma screening if you’re in a high-risk population for glaucoma. You’re considered high-risk if:
- You have diabetes
- You have a family history of glaucoma
- You’re African American and aged 50+
- You’re Hispanic and aged 65+
If you fall into these categories, Medicare will cover all but 20 percent of the exam, with the Part B deducible applying, and a copayment if in a hospital outpatient setting. If glaucoma is found, surgery may be necessary. If your doctor decides that glaucoma surgery is medically necessary, it may be covered by Medicare, though this may be a case-by-case condition. Other treatment options include medications, which may be covered by Part D.
Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetes, complications with your vision and eyes is not only possible, it’s common. This is called diabetic retinopathy, which is caused by damage to the light-sensitive tissues in the retinas. Similar to glaucoma, early stages of the condition rarely produce symptoms, but eventually, you may have blurred or fluctuating vision, dark areas in your sight, or even vision loss.
Medicare can cover an annual screening for diabetic retinopathy if you have diabetes.
To combat the risk of vision loss in diabetic patients, Medicare can cover an annual screening, like for glaucoma. This exam is only covered if you have diabetes. You’ll also owe 20 percent of the costs of services and a copay in an outpatient setting. A Part B deductible applies. Medically necessary treatments may be covered depending on circumstances, whether that treatment is medicinally or surgical.
● ● ●
If you’re struggling with vision impairment or loss, monitoring or treating your condition can be essential to ensuring your ability to maintain your standard of living. With the help of your Medicare coverage, this monitoring and treatment may become affordable, removing at least one concern and helping you focus on enjoying your life!
Featured Blogs
- Learning to Ski
- The Stories Behind Classic Christmas Carols
- 4 More Tips to Make Christmas Tree Hunt Less Stressful
- Why Do We Celebrate That? Other Festive Holidays
- A Senior Guide to Boston
- A Senior Guide to Edinburgh
- How Does Medicare Cover Osteoporosis?
- What are Ulcers?
- Medicare's Coverage of Parkinson's Disease
- What is a Cognitive Screening?
- Spooky Spots for Halloween 2023
- 4 Ways to Keep Trick-or-Treating Safe
- 10 Classic Horror Books for Halloween
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2024
- 10 Safety Rules for Seniors Who Enjoy Hunting
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- A Senior Guide to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- A Senior Guide to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- All About Enrolling in Social Security
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Madrid
- Does Medicare Cover Open-Heart Surgery?
- Exercise Tips for Summer
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lisbon
- Hosting a Safe Summer Barbecue
- Senior Summer Barbecue Tips
- Does Medicare Cover Biopsies?
- 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have High Blood Pressure
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Finger Lakes
- Does Medicare Cover Endoscopies?
- Ways Seniors Can Recover from a Workout
- Is Chocolate Healthy for You?
- Understanding Adult ADHD
- How Does Medicare Cover Hypertension?
- The Symptoms and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
- How to Determine What Temperature to Use When Cooking
- Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Keeping Fit on Vacation
- Is Your Tonsillectomy Covered by Medicare?
- Tips for the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Kitchen First Aid Tips
- What Does FDA-Approved Mean?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Guide to New York City
- How to Caramelize Onions
- Why Do We Celebrate That? April Fools’ Day
- Medicare and Powers of Attorney
- The Essential Role of Eggs in Cooking
- What are Different Types of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine? - Tips for Remembering to Take Your Medicine
- What is Medicare Part E?
- Building Your Basic At-Home Senior Gym
- How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to New Orleans
- How to Navigate & Read Academic Articles
- Phytonutrients: What Plant Color Says About Nutrition
- How to Prevent or Reduce Inflammation
- Osteoporosis: Risk Factors, Signs, and Treatment
- How to Make Homemade Pretzels
- Researching Your Ancestry and Family Tree
- How Medicare and Social Security Work Together
- What is Nordic Walking?
- Food Questions You've Been Embarrassed to Ask
- How Medicare Changed for 2023 and Beyond
- Tips for Using a Microwave
- How to Clean Your Ears Safely
- Skiing as a Healthy Hobby for Seniors
- 3 More Great Places to Celebrate New Year's Eve
- Why Do We Celebrate That? More New Year's Eve Traditions
- Panettone, the Italian Christmas Dessert
- A Simple Homemade Gingerbread Recipe
- How to Make Christmas Decorating Jollier
- The Science of Winter Weight Gain
- Seasonal Picks: 3 Foods You Should Try This Winter
- 5 Tips to Make Getting Your Christmas Tree Stress-Free
- Show-Stopping Potato Side Dishes for Thanksgiving
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Boeuf Bourguignon
- Holiday Travel Tips to Reduce Stress
- Does Medicare Cover Pain Management?
- Is Hunting a Healthy Senior Hobby?
- Ways You Can Get More Politically Involved
- What are Medicare's Lifetime Reserve Days?
- Spooky Spots for Seniors Halloween 2022
- How to Make Soul Cakes for Halloween
- Jack O' Lantern Carving Tips for Halloween
- Easy Ways to Peel a Potato
- 2023 Social Security COLA Largest in Decades
- Exercise Tips for Autumn
- How to Make Candy Apples at Home
- Why are Medicare Insurance Sales Calls Recorded?
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2023
- CMS Updates Medicare Enrollment Rules for 2023
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to London
- Does Medicare Cover Insomnia Treatment?
- Healthy and Easy Homemade Dog Treats
- The FDA Finalizes Ruling to Increase Access to Hearing Aids
- What the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Means for Medicare
- Tips to Make Flying and Airports Less Stressful
- CMS Projects Lower 2023 Part D Average Costs
- The 15 Golden Rules of Airplane Etiquette
- How Often Should You Shower?
- What are Medicare Pilot Programs?
- How to Care for Your Cast Iron Cookware
- Confronting a Loved One About Hurtful Behavior
- What Does Creditable Coverage Mean for Medicare?
- Using Za'atar in Your Cooking
- Dealing with Canceled Flights
- Protecting Your Vacation from Flight Disruptions
- Do Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Medicare Coverage?
- Which is Better: A Bath or Shower?
- Are Weight Loss Medications Healthy?
- Healthy Strategies for Anger Management
- The Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- The Difference Between Common Cooking Papers and Foils
- What are Medicare I-SNPs?
- Identifying Toxic Relationships in Your Life
- Healthy Ways to Spice Up Your Water
- All About Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans
- Medicareful Travels: A Senior Guide to All-Inclusive Resorts
- Does Medicare Cover Occupational Therapy?
- Lower 2023 Medicare Part B Premium Could Be on the Way
- Which is Better: Natural or Artificial Sweeteners?
- Tips for Vacationing with Pets
- Is It Better to Work Out Harder or Longer?
- Tips for Traveling with Your Pet
- Are Medicare Part B Giveback Plans Worth It?
- Introducing the Medicareful Living Family Cookbook!
- Medicare Coverage for Treatment of PTSD
- The Causes and Treatments of Nasal Congestion
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Spring Rolls
- Medicare Freezes Late Enrollment Penalties for Qualifying Enrollees
- What is a 5-Star Medicare Plan?
- What is PTSD?
- What is Inflammation?
- What is Medicare's Secondary Payer Program?
- What You Should Know When Buying Cast Iron Cookware
- What Does MACRA Mean for You?
- What to Do If You Receive a Terminal Diagnosis
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Homemade Lobster Ravioli
- Reading and Understanding Your Blood Pressure
- How to Be a Snowbird in Retirement (18 Questions to Ask!)