Editing Medicare (United States) (section)

==== Vision Coverage ====
The [[Build Back Better Act|Build Back Better]] legislation was passed in Congress in November 2021, and adds hearing services subject to Medicare Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance beginning in 2023. The initial proposal of this bill also aimed to address gaps in Medicare such as dental and vision coverage, however both services were removed following objections in the Senate. A study performed by Urban Institute showed that Medicare enrollees spend more on routine vision services ($8.4 billion) than routine hearing services ($5.7 billion), of which $5.4 billion and $4.7 billion were spent out of pocket respectively.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Gangopadhyaya |first1=Anuj |last2=Shartzer |first2=Adele |last3=Garrett |first3=Bowen |last4=John |first4=Holahan |date=November 2021 |title=Are Vision and Hearing Benefits Needed in Medicare? |url=https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/105115/are-vision-and-hearing-benefits-needed-in-medicare_1.pdf |website=Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute}}</ref> In addition, nearly 1 in 3 Medicare beneficiaries used vision services annually, and averages a spending of $411 per person;<ref name=":0" /> as such, the impact of expanding Medicare to include vision services would benefit many people. There is an income gradient seen in those who use vision services and a severe unmet needs for these services in those with lower incomes. Enrollees below the federal poverty level spent $190, whereas those 400% above the level spent $465;<ref name=":0" /> and a likely trend that far fewer non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic beneficiaries use and spend on vision services—which is in keeping with the trend seen with hearing aids.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Arnold |first1=Michelle L. |last2=Hyer |first2=Kathryn |last3=Small |first3=Brent J. |last4=Chisolm |first4=Theresa |last5=Saunders |first5=Gabrielle H. |last6=McEvoy |first6=Cathy L. |last7=Lee |first7=David J. |last8=Dhar |first8=Sumitrajit |last9=Bainbridge |first9=Kathleen E. |date=2019-06-01 |title=Hearing Aid Prevalence and Factors Related to Use Among Older Adults From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos |url=https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2019.0433 |journal=JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery |volume=145 |issue=6 |pages=501–508 |doi=10.1001/jamaoto.2019.0433 |pmid=30998816 |pmc=6583684 |issn=2168-6181}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Reed |first1=Nicholas S. |last2=Garcia-Morales |first2=Emmanuel |last3=Willink |first3=Amber |date=2021-03-01 |title=Trends in Hearing Aid Ownership Among Older Adults in the United States From 2011 to 2018 |url=https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.5682 |journal=JAMA Internal Medicine |volume=181 |issue=3 |pages=383–385 |doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.5682 |pmid=33284312 |pmc=7921897 |issn=2168-6106}}</ref>