Losing Dental and Vision at 65? Your Options in New Jersey
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, glasses or hearing aids. Here is what it does cover, what New Jersey adds, and the ways to fill the gap at 65.
Key takeaways
- Original Medicare does not cover routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures, routine eyeglasses or hearing aids. You pay the full cost of non-covered services.
- Medicare Part B does cover one pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses after each cataract surgery with an implanted lens; you pay 20% after the $283 Part B deductible (2026).
- Many Medicare Advantage plans include some dental, vision or hearing benefits. Medigap plans do not.
- New Jersey's HAAAD program reimburses up to $500 for one hearing aid or $1,000 for two per calendar year for eligible residents with 2026 income up to $54,943 single or $62,390 married.
- A stand-alone dental, vision or hearing policy can sit alongside Original Medicare, a Medigap plan or a Medicare Advantage plan.
For many people, the first surprise of Medicare is the dentist. Your job-based plan probably covered two cleanings a year, a share of fillings and crowns, and an eye exam. At 65, when you move to Medicare, most of that stops.
The gap is not small. Original Medicare leaves out most dental care, routine glasses and hearing aids entirely, and those are exactly the services people use more as they age.
Here is what Medicare does and does not cover, what New Jersey programs add, and the three main ways to fill the gap: a Medicare Advantage plan with extras, a stand-alone policy, or state help if your income qualifies.
What does Original Medicare cover for teeth, eyes and ears?
Very little routine care. Medicare.gov says that in most cases Medicare does not cover dental services like routine cleanings, fillings and tooth extractions, or items like dentures and implants (dental services). It does not cover hearing aids or the exams for fitting them (hearing aids).
| Service | Original Medicare | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanings, fillings, extractions | Not covered in most cases | Full cost |
| Dentures and implants | Not covered | Full cost |
| Dental care tied to certain covered treatments (for example an exam before a heart valve replacement) | May be covered | 20% after the $283 Part B deductible |
| Routine eyeglasses and contact lenses | Not covered | Full cost |
| Glasses or contacts after cataract surgery with an implanted lens | One pair per surgery | 20% after the Part B deductible; extra for upgraded frames |
| Hearing aids and fitting exams | Not covered | Full cost |
Source: Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services): Medicare.gov: Eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Do Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans cover dental and vision?
Medicare Advantage plans often do; Medigap plans do not. Medicare.gov notes that some Medicare Advantage plans offer extra hearing benefits Original Medicare does not cover, and many plans add dental and vision allowances too. The details vary widely from plan to plan.
- Check the yearly dollar limit on dental. Some plans cover cleanings well but cap major work such as crowns or dentures.
- Check the network. Your dentist or eye doctor may not be in it.
- Check whether hearing aids must come from a set supplier.
- Check the 2027 version. Extras change every January 1, and your Annual Notice of Change lists the changes.
What help does New Jersey offer for hearing aids, dental and glasses?
For hearing aids, the state's Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) program reimburses up to $500 for one hearing aid or up to $1,000 for two in a calendar year.
- HAAAD reimbursement, one hearing aid
- $500
- HAAAD reimbursement, two hearing aids
- $1,000
- 2026 income limit, single
- $54,943
- 2026 income limit, married
- $62,390
To qualify you must have hearing loss, live in New Jersey, be 65 or older (or 18 to 64 and getting Social Security disability), meet the income limits, and be enrolled in PAAD or Lifeline. If you are not, you start with the NJSave application. HAAAD does not reimburse if another plan already covers hearing aids in full.
For dental and glasses, people who qualify for NJ FamilyCare through the Aged, Blind, Disabled programs get dental and eyeglasses as covered benefits (2026 ABD brochure). Our post on Medicare and NJ FamilyCare has the income limits.
Is a stand-alone dental, vision or hearing plan worth it?
It can be, especially if you want to keep Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, or your Medicare Advantage plan's extras are thin. A stand-alone policy works alongside any type of Medicare coverage.
Questions to ask about a dental policy
- Is there a waiting period for fillings, crowns or dentures?
- What is the yearly maximum the policy pays?
- Can I see my own dentist?
- How much is the premium after the first year?
Questions to ask about vision and hearing
- How often does it pay for an eye exam and new lenses?
- Is there an allowance for frames or contacts?
- Does it cover hearing exams and hearing aids?
- Which providers or suppliers can I use?
Add up what you expect to spend in a year (cleanings, the work your dentist has already flagged, new glasses) and compare that with the yearly premium and the policy's limits. Coverage is subject to each policy's terms.
The bottom line
At 65, Original Medicare leaves routine dental, glasses and hearing aids to you. Your options are a Medicare Advantage plan with extras, a stand-alone dental, vision or hearing policy alongside any Medicare coverage, or New Jersey help such as HAAAD and NJ FamilyCare if your income qualifies. Price what you expect to use in a year before you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover dental cleanings?
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings and extractions in most cases. Many Medicare Advantage plans include some dental benefits, and stand-alone dental policies are available.
Does Medicare pay for glasses?
Only after cataract surgery with an implanted lens: Part B covers one pair of glasses with standard frames or one set of contacts after each surgery. You pay 20% after the $283 Part B deductible (2026).
Does New Jersey help pay for hearing aids?
Yes. The HAAAD program reimburses up to $500 for one hearing aid or $1,000 for two per calendar year for eligible residents with 2026 income up to $54,943 single or $62,390 married who are enrolled in PAAD or Lifeline.
Does a Medigap plan cover dental?
No. Medigap plans pay your share of Medicare-covered care, and Medicare does not cover routine dental, so Medigap does not either.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Dental services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medicare.gov: Eyeglasses and contact lenses Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medicare.gov: Hearing aids Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled Programs brochure, 2026 New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services
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