Does Medicaid cover contacts?

Medicaid does not cover the cost of contact lenses, except in special circumstances. However, Medicaid does cover eyeglass frames depending on the coverage available in each individual state and the age of the person receiving benefits, such as patients under the age of 21.

Medicaid covers the cost of eye exams and glaucoma screenings as well as a portion of the cost of surgery for cataracts as determined on a case-by-case basis. Medicaid doesn't cover contact lenses because they are not considered to be of a medical necessity. However, it does cover the cost of one pair of eyeglasses or one pair of contact lenses after cataract surgery.