Common Prescriptions and Procedures Medicare Won't Cover in 2027

For most Americans, Medicare is an essential retirement plan element, providing a valuable health insurance foundation. In fact, according to the Commonwealth Fund, Medicare provided health coverage to more than 68 million Americans in 2025, including nearly all adults aged 65 and older. Though Medicare helps ensure retirees are able to access the healthcare they need, the insurance has significant gaps, including common prescriptions and procedures that retirees may need.

Here's what you should know about Medicare coverage, the big exclusions, and what you might want to do in case you need these types of excluded care.

How Medicare works

The Medicare gaps arise because of how the program works. Original Medicare includes Part A for hospital coverage and Part B for medical services. It covers a lot, including hospital stays, preventive services, and doctor visits.

However, Medicare excludes numerous benefit categories, such as personal comfort items, dental services, and foot care services. These services are excluded regardless of a retiree's medical need, rather than being reviewed and denied on a case-by-case basis.

Enrollees might face unexpected out-of-pocket costs if they need such services. Here are some of the major services that Medicare doesn't cover.

Dental services

Preventive and everyday dental services generally aren't covered under Medicare, which means enrollees may have to pay for routine dental cleanings, fillings, dentures, and implants. Those costs may quickly add up, with a cleaning running approximately $80 to $110 and a filling costing approximately $199 to $333. A set of dentures may cost $1,500 to $3,000.

Hearing aids and fitting exams

Hearing care is excluded under Original Medicare, even though it's a service that many seniors may need. Hearing aids often cost $3,000 to $7,000 per pair, so the financial burden on Medicare enrollees may be significant for these services if the enrollee doesn't have alternative coverage.

Routine eye exams, glasses, and contacts

Routine vision care is also excluded. Medicare enrollees must pay for eye exams and prescription glasses or contacts. Eye exams may cost about $200, a pair of frames without insurance averages $230, and a pair of single-vision lenses without insurance averages $107. Costs may vary significantly depending on the product a retiree chooses and the business they purchase it from.

Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery, which is used to enhance appearance, isn't covered by Medicare. However, exceptions may be made for the prompt repair of an accidental injury, like a treatment for a severe burn or repairing a face after a serious car accident.

Routine foot care

Routine foot care isn't covered. That includes flat foot treatment, removing corns and calluses, and the purchase of orthopedic shoes and supportive foot devices. Corn and callus removal could cost $20 to $3,000, depending on the type of procedure needed. Custom orthotics may range from $300 to $800, but personalized systems are available that cost more.

Long-term custodial care

Custodial care, which doesn't require trained medical personnel, might help a retiree with walking, bathing, dressing, feeding, and other daily activities. Medicare doesn't cover long-term custodial care, such as residential care or care provided in a retiree's home.

The costs of such care may be substantial, but they also vary significantly depending on the type of care required and a retiree's location. In 2025, the national median for in-home care services from Genworth's CareScout Cost of Care Survey was $80,080 per year for 44 hours of care a week. Adult day health care services cost approximately $24,700 annually, based on five days of use per week.

Prescription exclusions

Medicare Part D doesn't cover over-the-counter medications. It also excludes medications used for cosmetic purposes, erectile dysfunction, and hair loss. Medicare Part D doesn't cover medications used solely for losing weight, but it may cover medications that may help with weight loss but that are used to treat other conditions, like cardiovascular issues.

The rare exceptions

Though Original Medicare has some significant exclusions, certain services may qualify as rare exceptions. For example, Medicare might cover dental work that's related to a covered medical procedure, or diagnostic hearing tests that a physician orders. These exceptions are few and far between, so consult with your doctor about your coverage ahead of time.

What fills the gaps

Medicare Advantage plans include Part A and Part B coverage, plus they usually include Part D prescription drug coverage and vision, dental, and hearing coverage. These plans are more comprehensive than Original Medicare and may help fill some of the gaps for retirees who need these extra services.

Medicare supplemental plans, also known as Medigap plans, generally don't feature dental, vision, or prescription drug coverage. However, they may help cover Medicare out-of-pocket costs, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Long-term care requires separate insurance, or retirees must self-fund their long-term care costs.

Bottom line

The right coverage for your needs depends on your health, existing conditions, and even your budget and lifestyle. It's important to understand just what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover so you may choose the right plans for your needs. Pairing Medicare with a Medigap plan or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan may help ensure you're able to get the care you need while also giving you peace of mind.

As you shop for a healthcare plan, take the time to verify that your current physicians and prescriptions are covered. Putting a little extra time into finding the best plan for your needs may be an important step that may help you save money in retirement.

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