Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for glaucoma tests in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — for people at high risk. Medicare Part B covers a glaucoma test once every 12 months if you're at high risk: you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, you're African American and 50+, or Hispanic and 65+. You pay 20% after the Part B deductible.
Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans bundle the covered glaucoma screening into a broader routine vision benefit (yearly eye exam plus an eyewear allowance) — something Original Medicare doesn't offer. Check the plan's vision benefit details.
People with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, African Americans 50+, and Hispanic Americans 65+ — the groups Medicare defines as high risk. Glaucoma has no early symptoms; the covered yearly test is how it gets caught before vision loss.
See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.
See 2026 Medicare Costs →Once every 12 months, if you're in a high-risk group: people with diabetes, people with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans age 50 and older, or Hispanic Americans age 65 and older. You pay 20% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible.
No — unlike some preventive screenings, the glaucoma test isn't $0. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible, plus a copayment if it's done in a hospital outpatient setting.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like glaucoma tests — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.
Open the Enrollment Finder →This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: