Coverage options that may help fill the gaps in your Medicare or health insurance.
Routine dental, vision, and hearing care, hospital stays, injuries, serious illnesses, and end-of-life expenses can add up quickly, and they are often not fully covered by your health insurance or Medicare. Additional coverage, such as individual dental, vision, final expense, hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident plans, may help with some of these costs. Coverage and availability vary by carrier, plan, and state.
Health insurance and Original Medicare also don’t cover most long-term custodial care, such as help with bathing and dressing at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing home. Learn about long-term care planning.
Individual Dental Insurance
How dental plans work.
Individual dental plans are designed to help you budget for care such as cleanings, exams, X-rays, fillings, root canals, and orthodontia for children. Covered services and payment amounts vary by policy.
What to consider.
Some plans have waiting periods before certain benefits begin. Review the deductibles, copays, annual limits, and provider network to see if the plan fits your needs and budget.
Individual Vision Insurance
Who may consider vision insurance.
If you do not have vision coverage through an employer, an individual plan lets you get coverage on your own. This may apply if you work part-time, are retired, are self-employed, or are unemployed.
What does vision insurance cover.
Depending on the plan, benefits may help with eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, and in some cases vision correction surgery. Vision plans are not a substitute for health insurance, which generally handles eye injuries and medical eye conditions such as glaucoma.
Dental, Vision, and Hearing Coverage with Medicare
What Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care, including exams, glasses, and hearing aids, though limited exceptions may apply. Coverage under Medicare Advantage plans varies by plan.
Standalone plan options.
Private plans for routine dental and vision care are commonly available, either separately or bundled together. Hearing plans exist but are less common. Some dental and vision plans also include hearing benefits, such as discounts on hearing exams and hearing aids. Compare what each plan covers and any limitations before enrolling.
Final Expense Insurance
How final expense insurance works.
Final expense insurance is a form of permanent life insurance with a smaller benefit, designed to help your beneficiary pay for funeral costs, debts, or other end-of-life expenses. It is separate from Medicare, which generally does not cover funeral costs.
What to consider.
Many policies use simplified underwriting with little or no medical exam. Some pay a graded benefit, meaning the full amount may not be paid if death occurs within the first few years. Review eligibility and benefit terms carefully.
Hospital Indemnity Plans
How hospital indemnity plans work.
Hospital indemnity insurance typically pays a fixed cash benefit for each day you are confined in a hospital. It is meant to be used alongside your other health coverage, not in place of major medical insurance, Medicare, or a Medicare Supplement plan.
What to consider.
You typically choose a daily benefit amount and a maximum benefit period, and higher amounts generally mean higher premiums. Benefits are usually paid to you to use as you choose, subject to the policy’s waiting periods, exclusions, and limitations.
Critical Illness Insurance
How critical illness insurance works.
Critical illness insurance is a supplemental policy that typically pays a lump-sum cash benefit if you are diagnosed with a condition covered by the policy. You may use the money for medical bills or everyday expenses such as rent, groceries, or child care.
What to consider.
Covered conditions vary by policy and may include heart attack, stroke, or certain cancers. Some plans exclude certain conditions, limit benefits for recurrences, or apply waiting periods, so read the definitions and exclusions carefully.
Accident Insurance
How does accident insurance work?
Accident insurance is a supplemental policy that typically pays a set cash benefit if you or a covered family member is injured in a covered accident. The benefit is generally based on the type of injury or treatment, and you can use it for medical costs, transportation, or other needs.
What to consider.
Many policies offer optional riders, such as accidental death and dismemberment or hospital confinement, and some may offer increased benefits for children injured in organized sports. Check the policy for covered injuries and exclusions.
What Original Medicare Doesn’t Cover
Most long-term care, routine dental care, eye exams for glasses, and hearing aids generally aren’t covered by Original Medicare.
Medicare & You Handbook
Want the official overview? Read Medicare’s handbook, then call me with your questions.
Read Medicare Handbook
Prefer to speak with someone from Kaleidoscope Group?
Contact us to learn more about your options.
Contact Us