A few weeks ago, I talked about how Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover long term care. It does cover skilled nursing care, which is the same thing as rehabilitation, up to 100 days. Today I want to discuss another item it does not cover.
As you might have guessed, Original Medicare does not cover general vision care. Under Medicare Part B, Medicare does help with the costs of cataracts and glaucoma. In which case, because Original Medicare covers these, a supplement would then be required to cover these also.
But Original Medicare does not cover regular eye exams or glasses, meaning a supplement would not cover these, either. There are a limited number of supplement companies that would help with discounts, which is better than a stick in the eye (pun intended), but this is not insurance.
My Advantage Plan or Part C, does cover this. With the plan I’ve had, I’ve not paid for my eye exam since starting Medicare. I love saving money! Plus my plan has helped with the cost of the glasses. The bi-focal glasses I am wearing right now, which are basic lenses and a nice Oakley frame, only cost me $82. That’s not bad.
In the past 24 hours, I’ve talked with two clients who are currently on a Mutual of Omaha Supplement (an excellent plan) who want to move to a Medicare Advantage so they can get additional benefits. With their current health, this is something worth talking about, and we’ll be able to have that discussion this fall during the Annual Enrollment Period. But don’t assume this means it would be a good idea for you. We’ve also had 2 clients in the past week for whom a Medicare Advantage plan would have been a bad idea.
To know if this concept works for you, please give us a call. I have over seventeen years of experience and I’m Medicare Certified through the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Providers. Or talk to Crystal Butler who’s been working with me the last three years, and prior to that, worked as a legal assistant for fifteen years. She excels in research. We are both independent agents, meaning we can find the plan that best fits your needs. We don’t work for the insurance companies; we work for the best interest of our clients. I know we can help you.
If you want to know more, you can contact us directly or sign up for one of the Medicare 101 classes we teach. We general offer a couple of classes every four to six weeks.