Does America’s Best Take Medicare or Medicaid? (2027)
Reviewed October 13, 2026. America’s Best doesn’t take Original Medicare for routine eye exams or glasses, because Original Medicare doesn’t cover them; the one exception is glasses after cataract surgery, from a Medicare-enrolled supplier. Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans may work at America’s Best if the plan’s vision carrier is one the store accepts, such as Aetna, Humana, EyeMed, Davis Vision or UnitedHealthcare Vision (Spectera). Acceptance varies by store, so call the location with your member ID before you go.
Quick answer: Original Medicare: no for routine eye care. Medicare Advantage: often, if your plan’s vision benefit runs through an accepted carrier and that store participates. Medicaid: sometimes, through a Medicaid plan whose vision vendor is on America’s Best’s list. America’s Best says its list isn’t comprehensive and not all plans are accepted at all locations.
Does America’s Best take Medicare?
Not for routine care under Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Medicare.gov says Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams (sometimes called eye refractions) for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Part B does cover one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames, or one set of contact lenses, after each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible, plus any extra cost for upgraded frames, and Medicare only pays suppliers enrolled in Medicare. Read Medicare’s eyeglasses coverage page.
If you need post-cataract glasses, ask the store whether that location is enrolled as a Medicare supplier before you order. Learn more in does Medicare pay for cataract surgery and does Medicare cover eye exams.
Does America’s Best accept Medicare Advantage in 2027?
Many Medicare Advantage plans add routine vision benefits, such as a yearly exam and an eyewear allowance, usually run by a vision carrier. America’s Best lists Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare Vision (Spectera) among the plans it accepts, along with carriers like EyeMed and Davis Vision that some plans use. Vision benefits can change every January, so check your plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage for the 2027 exam and eyewear amounts, and the plan’s provider directory for the specific store. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
For a carrier example, see UnitedHealthcare vision coverage for Medicare members.
Does America’s Best accept Medicaid?
It can, but only through your Medicaid plan’s vision vendor. Most states deliver Medicaid through managed care plans, and those plans often contract with a vision benefits company. America’s Best lists several of these companies, including Avesis, Davis Vision, EyeMed, Envolve/Centene Vision Services and UnitedHealthcare Vision (Spectera). If your Medicaid plan uses one of them and the store participates, you may be able to use your benefit there. America’s Best doesn’t publish a state-by-state Medicaid policy, so call the store.
Adult Medicaid vision coverage itself varies by state. Children under 21 get vision care, including eyeglasses, through Medicaid’s EPSDT benefit; for adults, eye exams and glasses are optional benefits each state decides on. Read does Medicaid cover eye exams, glasses and contacts, plus our guides for New York and Colorado.
Vision plans America’s Best accepts
America’s Best’s vision insurance page lists these plans for in-store purchases:
| Plan or carrier | Notes |
|---|---|
| Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare Vision (Spectera) | Carriers that also run vision benefits for some Medicare Advantage plans |
| EyeMed, Davis Vision, Superior Vision, Avesis, Envolve/Centene Vision Services | Vision companies that some Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans use |
| MetLife, National Vision Administrators, Vision Benefits of America, Heritage Vision Plans, General Vision Services, Premier Eye Care, Community Eye Care, Always | Other listed plans |
| VSP | Out of network; staff can submit the claim for you |
America’s Best says the list is not comprehensive and not all vision plans are accepted at all locations. Its FAQ adds that insurance can’t be used for online orders; you get a receipt to file yourself as out of network. See America’s Best’s vision insurance list.
How to check before you go
- Find the vision carrier on your Medicaid or Medicare Advantage ID card or member materials.
- Search your plan’s online provider directory for the specific America’s Best location.
- Call the store and ask whether it accepts your plan for exams and eyewear.
- Ask what your allowance covers and what you’d pay out of pocket for frames or lens upgrades.
- Buy in store. Online orders don’t take insurance as payment.
Medical eye care Medicare does cover
Part B covers some medical eye care, usually from an ophthalmologist or optometrist who takes Medicare rather than a retail store’s routine exam. That includes a glaucoma test once every 12 months for people at high risk (for example, people with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, African Americans 50 and older, and Hispanic Americans 65 and older) and a yearly eye exam for diabetic retinopathy if you have diabetes. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible. Our guide to whether medical insurance covers an ophthalmologist explains the difference. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, see Medicaid vs. Medicare and dual eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Does America’s Best accept Medicare?
Original Medicare doesn’t pay for routine eye exams or glasses anywhere. It pays for glasses only after cataract surgery with an intraocular lens, through Medicare-enrolled suppliers. Medicare Advantage vision benefits may work at America’s Best, depending on your plan and the store.
Does America’s Best accept Medicaid for eyeglasses?
Some locations accept Medicaid plans whose vision benefits are run by carriers on America’s Best’s accepted list. Your state also has to cover adult glasses. Call the store and confirm your specific plan.
Does America’s Best take Humana or Aetna Medicare plans?
America’s Best lists Humana and Aetna among accepted plans. Whether your Humana or Aetna Medicare Advantage plan’s vision benefit works at a given store depends on the plan’s vision network, so check the directory and call ahead.
Can I use my vision insurance online at America’s Best?
No. America’s Best says it doesn’t accept vision insurance for online purchases but provides receipts you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement.
Is America’s Best in network with VSP?
America’s Best lists VSP as out of network, and its staff can submit the VSP claim for you.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with America’s Best or with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Store policies can change, so confirm directly with the store and your plan.