Does Medicare cover it?
Does Medicare cover glasses?
Usually not. Original Medicare leaves everyday glasses and contact lenses, and the eye exam to prescribe them, to you. The exception is one pair of glasses with standard frames, or one set of contacts, after each cataract surgery that implants a lens. The estimator prices that pair from the 2026 fee schedule of your state.
What this service costs you
You pay
$195
| Medicare-approved amount | $195 |
| Part B deductible used | $195 |
| Deductible left after this | $88 |
Purchase at your state’s fee schedule: you pay 20% of the approved amount after the deductible.
How this is calculatedOriginal Medicare does not pay for eyeglasses or contact lenses in general, and it does not pay for the routine eye exam, also called a refraction, used to prescribe them: you pay all of those costs. Part B makes one exception. After each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens, it covers one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames, or one set of contact lenses, at 20% of the Medicare-approved amount once the $283 Part B deductible is met. The approved amount comes from the CMS fee schedule for medical equipment, state by state. In Florida in 2026, a standard frame is allowed $99 and each single-vision lens $48, so the pair is approved $195 and your share is $39; if the deductible has not been touched yet, the whole pair falls inside it and you pay $195. A frame that costs more than the standard allowance is an upgrade, and the difference is yours. Medicare pays only when the supplier participates in Medicare, whether you or the supplier files the claim. Some Medicare Advantage plans add a vision benefit for everyday glasses.
Glasses after cataract surgery
You pay
$39
| Approved (frame + 2 lenses) | $195 |
| Frame allowance in the state | $99 |
| Upgrade above it | $0 |
Costs computed by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the costs are calculated
The general rule: glasses are a personal expense
Medicare Part B does not usually cover eyeglasses or contact lenses. Medicare places routine eye exams for glasses on its list of things Original Medicare does not pay for, so the visit where your prescription is measured is also at your own cost. Whatever the optician charges for frames, lenses, coatings or a spare pair is outside Medicare.
Exams that look for or follow an eye disease are another matter: a yearly exam for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma tests for people at high risk, or exams to diagnose an eye condition are medical services under Part B. They are covered on the eye exams page, not here.
The one exception: after cataract surgery
When a surgeon removes a cataract and implants an intraocular lens, Part B covers corrective lenses afterwards: one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames or one set of contact lenses, after each such surgery. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the deductible. The surgery itself is priced on the cataract surgery page.
The approved amount is set by the CMS fee schedule for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies. It lists a fee for the standard frame, coded V2020, and one for each lens, such as V2100 for a single-vision lens. Those amounts differ slightly by state:
| State | Frame allowance | Approved pair | Your 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $99 | $195 | $39 |
| California | $102 | $198 | $40 |
| Iowa | $81 | $177 | $35 |
| Wyoming | $90 | $218 | $44 |
Upgrades and the frame allowance
Medicare is clear that you pay any additional cost for upgraded frames. In practice, the allowance works like a credit toward the frame you choose: if your frame costs more than the standard amount, Medicare still approves only the standard amount and the rest is yours. The mini tool takes the price of the frame you have in mind and adds the upgrade to your share.
Buy from a supplier that participates in Medicare
Medicare will only pay for contact lenses or eyeglasses from a supplier that participates in Medicare, and this holds whether you or the supplier submits the claim. Asking the shop before you order costs nothing and settles the question. A participating supplier must accept assignment, which limits what it can bill you to the deductible and the 20% on the approved amount, plus any upgrade you chose.
Vision benefits outside Original Medicare
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits Original Medicare does not cover, vision among them. Such a benefit can pay toward everyday glasses or the routine eye exam, under the plan's own limits; contact the plan for details. A Medigap policy does not add a vision benefit: it can pay your 20% on post-cataract glasses, since they are a covered item, but nothing toward everyday glasses.