Medicare is a healthcare program meant to cover the expenses of medical treatment for people 65-years or older and those with certain illnesses or disabilities. It has undergone some changes in recent years and, most notably, will no longer cover certain expenses, such as over-the-counter medications used to treat chronic conditions. Medicare has been around since 1966, but it was not until the Social Security Amendments of 1983 that it became a permanent part of the federal government’s public benefits system. While Medicare does cover certain health needs—such as inpatient hospital care, hospice, lab tests, surgery, and home health care, there are many benefits not covered or subject to the cost of their equipment or care providers, such as:

1. Routine eye exams

Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams. It means anyone who needs prescription eyeglasses will have to pay for them out of pocket. Medicare will cover the expenses if you have an eye exam as part of a regular health checkup. It will also cover for an eye exam if you are being treated for a medical condition that affects your eyesight.

2. Hearing aids

As with routine eye exams, Medicare does not cover hearing aids for anyone who is not having trouble hearing. And if you’re on a fixed income, you can’t opt out of Medicare by choosing to buy your hearing aids. Instead, Medicare will pay for a hearing aid needed to treat a medical condition—such as if you need it to hear better during an illness or disease.

3. Routine dental exams

Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental exams, which means anyone who needs a dentist will have to pay out of pocket. If you need dental work done, Medicare will cover for the procedure if it’s necessary for a medical condition like an infection or toothache. And if you’re having trouble eating or chewing because of tooth loss, Medicare will also cover the cost of dentures.

4. Long term care

Medicare only covers what a long-term care facility charges for staff and services. In other words, it only covers optional nursing home care or assisted living services—not a nursing home. If you live at home and your doctor thinks you need to be in a nursing facility, that’s the only place Medicare pays.it’s worth noting that home health services are a different story: Medicare will pay for visits from a home health aide or other specialists if needed to help treat your illness.

5. Prescription drugs

Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs. It will only cover your medication if you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan, a private insurance option that a third party manages (such as UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, or Cigna) instead of the government. If you are on a traditional Medicare plan that the government administers, you won’t be able to get prescription drug coverage, either.

6. Dentures

Even after you’ve paid all your Medicare-covered medical expenses, you will still have some expenses left over. That’s because Medicare only covers what the dental care facility charges. So if your doctor recommends you get new dentures, they’ll have to be paid out of pocket.

7. Overseas health care

Medicare does not cover expenses for health care services and programs (including medical equipment) not available in the United States. Medicare won’t cover if you need to go overseas for a medical procedure. And if you have a medical condition untreatable in the United States, Medicare will also not cover costs for health care that is received outside the country.

It’s important to remember that Medicare is a government-subsidized medical coverage—not a free medical service. It is restricted in what it will cover and what you must pay. It’s also important to understand your needs and financial situation before enrollment of a Medicare or switching from one plan to another.