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Medicare planning · July 9, 2026 · 5 min

Five things Medicare will not pay for, and how to plan for them

Medicare is excellent at what it covers. The surprises come from what it does not: long-term care, most dental, hearing, vision and overseas care.

Five things Medicare will not pay for, and how to plan for them

Original Medicare covers hospital stays and doctor visits with deductibles and 20 percent coinsurance, and no cap on what you can owe in a year. Everything else on this list needs a plan.

  • Long-term custodial care, the largest uncovered risk
  • Routine dental, vision and hearing
  • Prescription drugs without a Part D plan
  • Care while traveling outside the United States
  • The 20 percent coinsurance without a Supplement

Closing the gaps

A Medicare Supplement plus a Part D plan closes the coinsurance and drug gaps for people who want any doctor. A Medicare Advantage plan bundles extras for people comfortable with a network. Long-term care needs its own funded plan either way.

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