If you’re counting on dental, vision, or hearing benefits, read this first.
One of the biggest reasons people choose Medicare Advantage is the extra benefits—especially dental, vision, and hearing. But here’s the honest truth: not every plan covers these extras the way you think they do.
Before you assume your cleanings, glasses, or hearing aids are fully covered next year, let’s break down how these benefits actually work, what’s realistic, and how to compare plans without getting distracted by flashy promises.
How Extras Are Structured on Medicare Advantage Plans
Dental, vision, and hearing benefits usually fall into a few buckets:
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Allowances — a set dollar amount you can spend
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Networks — only certain dentists or providers are covered
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Caps — annual maximums that reset each year
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Copays or coinsurance — you pay a portion of the cost
These extras aren’t unlimited, and they’re not meant to replace full dental or vision insurance. They’re “value-adds” wrapped around your medical coverage.
But if you don’t read the fine print, you might be surprised at how quickly a “generous” benefit dries up.
Typical Annual Maximums and Common Limitations
Here’s the part most ads don’t highlight:
Medicare Advantage extras almost always come with limits.
Dental
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Annual maximums typically range from $500 to $2,000
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Major services like crowns, root canals, or implants might only be covered at 50%—or not at all
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Dentists must be in-network or you pay full price
Vision
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Coverage usually includes a yearly exam
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Allowances for frames or contacts typically run $100–$300
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Upgrades (like progressives) often cost extra
Hearing
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Exams may be covered, but the real cost is in the hearing aids
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Many plans give a fixed allowance, like $500–$1,500 per ear every 1–3 years
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You must use specific providers or brands
In other words, the coverage is helpful—but it’s not magic.
Realistic Examples: What’s Actually Covered?
Let’s look at a few everyday scenarios to make this clearer.
Dental cleanings:
Most plans cover cleanings twice a year. Easy win.
Crowns or implants:
This is where people get sticker shock. A crown can cost $1,200–$1,800. If your plan covers 50% and your annual max is $1,000, you’ll hit that cap fast. Implants? Many plans don’t cover them at all.
Glasses:
You’ll likely get a full eye exam and either frames or contacts, but expect to pay extra for lenses with upgrades.
Hearing aids:
Even with an allowance, you may still pay thousands out-of-pocket depending on the model you choose.
The point isn’t that these benefits aren’t valuable—they are. The point is to have realistic expectations so you’re not disappointed when the bill arrives.
How to Compare Extras Without Losing Sight of Medical or Drug Coverage
This is critical:
Don’t pick a Medicare Advantage plan just because the dental or vision benefit looks amazing.
Your top priorities should always be:
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Are your doctors in-network?
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Are your medications on the formulary at affordable tiers?
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Is the plan’s Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) reasonable?
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Are prior authorizations going to slow you down?
Extras should decide between two good plans—not make you pick a bad one.
A huge dental allowance means nothing if your specialists aren’t covered or your medications jump tiers next year.
When Medigap + Stand-Alone Dental Might Be Better
If dental, vision, and hearing are big priorities for you—or you expect to need major dental work—sometimes Original Medicare + Medigap + a separate dental/vision plan can give you better protection.
Consider Medigap if you want:
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Nationwide freedom to see any provider who accepts Medicare
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Fewer prior authorizations
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More predictable out-of-pocket costs
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The option to buy a more robust dental plan separately
Medicare Advantage extras are great for routine care. But if you need more than the basics, a hybrid approach may serve you better.
Compare Plans With Someone Who Knows the Fine Print
Dental, vision, and hearing benefits can look impressive on paper, but the details matter. A Brickhouse advisor can help you compare plans side-by-side and understand:
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Exactly what’s covered
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Which dentists, optometrists, and audiologists are in-network
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What you’ll realistically pay out-of-pocket
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Whether a Medigap path would serve you better
Compare plan benefits with a Brickhouse advisor. Schedule your free, no obligation consultation today.
