Massachusetts Medicare Coverage Guide
Find dental, vision, hearing aid, and nursing home Medicare benefits available to Massachusetts residents.
Massachusetts Dental Coverage
Massachusetts has one of the most comprehensive Medicaid dental programs in the nation. MassHealth covers extensive dental services for dual-eligible beneficiaries. Boston has world-class dental schools.
Available Programs
- MassHealth Dental
- Medicare Advantage dental plans
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Tufts School of Dental Medicine
- Boston University dental school
Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
$0–$300/year for MassHealth eligible; $400–$1,500 for others
Costs vary by plan, provider, and income. Dual-eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) beneficiaries often pay much less.
Tips for Massachusetts Residents
- Three dental schools in Boston offer excellent low-cost care
- MassHealth covers cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns and more
- Massachusetts SHINE (1-800-243-4636) for plan counseling
Massachusetts Vision Coverage
MassHealth covers vision including exams and glasses for dual-eligible members. Massachusetts MA plans offer strong vision benefits.
Available Programs
- MassHealth vision benefits
- Medicare Advantage vision
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Mass Commission for the Blind
Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
$0 for MassHealth eligible; $100–$300 for others
Costs vary by plan, provider, and income. Dual-eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) beneficiaries often pay much less.
Tips for Massachusetts Residents
- Mass Eye and Ear: 617-523-7900 for specialized eye care
- MCB: 1-800-392-6450 for vision rehabilitation
- SHINE: 1-800-243-4636
Massachusetts Hearing Aids Coverage
MassHealth covers hearing aids for dual-eligible beneficiaries. Massachusetts has excellent audiology and hearing centers.
Available Programs
- MassHealth hearing aid coverage
- Medicare Advantage hearing plans
- Mass Eye and Ear Hearing Center
- Mass Rehabilitation Commission
Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
$0 for MassHealth eligible; $800–$6,000 for others
Costs vary by plan, provider, and income. Dual-eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) beneficiaries often pay much less.
Tips for Massachusetts Residents
- MassHealth covers one hearing aid per ear with prior authorization
- Mass Eye and Ear is a national leader in hearing care
- MRC: 617-204-3600 for hearing rehabilitation
Massachusetts Nursing Home Coverage
MassHealth covers nursing home care for eligible seniors. Massachusetts has high nursing home quality standards and strong PACE programs.
Available Programs
- Medicare Part A SNF
- MassHealth LTC
- PACE Massachusetts (many locations)
- Massachusetts SHINE (1-800-243-4636)
Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
$350–$450/day (among highest in US)
Costs vary by plan, provider, and income. Dual-eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) beneficiaries often pay much less.
Tips for Massachusetts Residents
- PACE programs throughout Massachusetts — a strong alternative to nursing homes
- MassHealth covers nursing home costs for income-eligible individuals
- SHINE: 1-800-243-4636
📊 Live CMS Data Massachusetts Medicare Snapshot
Source: CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment 2024 & CMS MA Landscape 2025 — public data from data.cms.gov
- Tufts Health Plan
- BCBS Massachusetts
- UnitedHealth
Get Free Help in Massachusetts
SHIP Counseling
Your state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers. They can help you compare plans and enroll.
Find Massachusetts SHIP →1-800-MEDICARE
Call 1-800-633-4227 (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24/7 for Medicare questions, plan comparisons, and enrollment help. Free and official.
Medicare.gov →Medicare Plan Finder
Use the official Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov to compare all Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap plans available in Massachusetts by ZIP code.
Compare Plans →Nursing Home Compare
Research and compare nursing home quality ratings, staffing levels, health inspection results, and more for facilities across Massachusetts.
Care Compare →