Does Medicare cover eye tests?
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine eye exams for glasses or contacts, but it does cover specific medical eye tests like diabetic retinopathy exams and glaucoma screenings.
What flips the answer
- Covered when
You have diabetes (annual retinopathy exam) or are high-risk for glaucoma — those screening tests are covered under Part B.
- Covered when
You're on a Medicare Advantage plan with a routine vision benefit that includes an annual exam.
- Not covered when
The exam is a routine refraction to update a glasses or contact-lens prescription, with no medical eye condition involved.
The split is between 'routine' and 'medical.' Original Medicare (Part B) excludes routine vision exams — the kind you get to update your eyeglass or contact-lens prescription. You pay for those yourself.
Medicare does cover eye tests that check for or manage disease. Part B covers a yearly diabetic retinopathy eye exam if you have diabetes, glaucoma screenings once every 12 months for people at high risk, and tests related to age-related macular degeneration. For these, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.
It also covers diagnostic exams when you have symptoms or an eye condition being treated — for example, evaluating an injury, infection, or sudden vision change is medical care, not a routine refraction.
Medicare Advantage plans commonly add a routine vision benefit that includes an annual eye exam plus an allowance toward frames or lenses. Coverage and caps vary by plan.
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