Get Dental Work Before You Retire
by Kim Blanton, Squared Away Blog
March 9, 2017
“Caps, gum surgeries, implants, dental exotica – all kinds of things can and do go wrong in retirees’ mouths.
But dental coverage also drops sharply for older Americans, because when people retire, they give up their employer’s dental insurance. Without it, retirees needing dental work can face an unexpected, mini financial crisis.
Medicare does not cover routine dental procedures, a fact that a majority of working baby boomers are unaware of. But most seniors also aren’t covered through a spouse or under, say, a union dental insurance plan for retirees. The private dental insurance market is their only option for care, and very few purchase it.
Uninsured older Americans shell out $1,126 annually, on average, for dental work, which is $400 more than people with coverage spend. Out-of-pocket costs can be much higher in a year when extensive work is required.
There is also a hidden cost to not being covered. Failing to deal with dental problems can cause other serious illnesses, from malnutrition to heart trouble.”
Read more about getting dental work