Can I get glasses for my kids with Medicare?
Can I get glasses with Medicare for kids?
To put it simply, no. Medicare will not cover glasses for your children. According to the Medicare government website, Medicare is only for people over 65 and certain younger individuals with disabilities.
For this reason, Medicare will not cover glasses for children. However, we're going to cover other resources available to help your child get the vision care they need.
SEE RELATED: When should I buy vision insurance for my kids?
What vision insurance is available for children?
There are both private and public insurance plans that will cover eye exams and glasses for kids.
Public health insurance
Medicaid covers the costs of eye exams and eyeglasses for children under 21 who are eligible for Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a state and federal partnership that provides low-cost health insurance coverage for children in families who earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to purchase private health insurance coverage. Vision and dental care, routine checkups and immunizations and emergency services are covered under CHIP.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expands pediatric vision care with nearly all states covering an annual eye exam and one pair of eyeglasses per year, according to Prevent Blindness.
Medicaid, CHIP and ACA are provided on the state or federal level for households below a certain annual income.
Employer vision insurance
Adding your child to your employer's vision insurance program means you'll pay nothing or a small copay for your child's annual eye exam and eyeglasses (if they are prescribed). The cost of coverage is deducted from your paycheck.
Individual vision insurance
You can purchase individual plan vision insurance for your family through private retailers, such as
Vision benefits and coverage varies by provider, so do some research before you make a decision.
How to find the best vision coverage for your family
Eligibility and the cost of vision coverage for your family varies depending on where you live, your annual household income and other factors.
Researching vision insurance options for your child (and your family) takes time and patience, but it’s worth the effort.
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED AN EYE EXAM? Find a children's eye doctor near you who accepts your vision insurance and book an eye exam for your child.
Page published on Saturday, May 2, 2020
