Medicare is a great program that allows millions of Americans to pay less for health care after enrollment. It’s a great way to protect yourself from the high expenses associated with uninsured medical bills. But there are a lot of services that are not covered by Medicare and that you need to be aware of to minimize the risk of becoming sick and having to cover the cost yourself. This article covers seven services that should be on your radar since Medicare does not pay for them:

1. Routine eye exams

Regarding routine eye exams, Medicare does not cover the expense. If you want an eye exam, you can use your employer provided insurance plan to pay for it or pay out of pocket. If you receive Medicare benefits for vision care, your dentist can request routine eye exams from a network optometrist for you. Medicare does not cover this exam, but if you have had eye surgery recently or are scheduled for surgery soon, your new doctor may consult with your old doctor to ensure they are on the same page about what to do next.

2. Long term care

Medicare does not cover long term care services. If you are caring for an adult child, spouse, or other relatives who require long term care, you may face some of the same challenges as people who need to pay for long-term care on their own. Long-term care includes non-medical services that assist with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. This can include help with housekeeping duties such as laundry, cooking, and shopping.

3. Dentures

Most dental work, including dentures, is not covered by Medicare. However, Medicare will cover the cost of these services if you have a toothache and the dentist believes it’s due to an injury or illness. Suppose you need teeth removed due to decay or decay-related infections (called pericoronitis). In that case, your dentist may be able to get approval from Medicare to perform this type of treatment on someone who has never had it before or has not had it in a long time.

4. Overseas health coverage

Overseas health care means that your doctor can treat you outside of the United States, regardless of where you live or your health insurance. If you get sick abroad, the hospital will take care of your emergency room visit and send you home with medicine and other supplies. It also means that if you’re injured overseas, the doctors will treat your injuries in the United States.

5. Hearing aids

Medicare does not cover the expenses of hearing aids. However, if you have a cochlear implant, Medicare will cover the cost of your device and its maintenance.

6. Routine dental exams

Many people think that Medicare covers routine dental exams, but this is not true. The only services covered by Medicare are procedures performed in a dentist’s office. If you want to find out whether your dentist’s office offers other services, you can check with them or ask your local community health center for information.

7. Prescription drugs

Prescription drugs are one of the most expensive parts of your healthcare expenses, and Medicare doesn’t cover them. Medicare only covers medications enrolled in Part B, which covers hospital services. Even if you have a Medicare prescription drug plan, it only pays for brand-name drugs doctors prescribe. If you need to pay out-of-pocket for a prescription drug, you’ll need to get a private insurance plan or pay the total expense yourself.