Key takeaways
- Medicare and dental coverage aren’t one and the same. Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover most dental care, including routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures and implants. In limited situations, Medicare may cover certain dental services that are directly connected to covered medical treatment.
- Don’t assume dental coverage through your job will end on your last day. The timing varies by employer and plan. Find out when your coverage ends and what options you have before you retire.
- Your oral health needs can change as you get older. Issues such as dry mouth, gum disease and tooth decay can become more common with age. Making regular dental care part of your retirement planning can help you stay on top of your oral health.
Retirement is supposed to be the time when life finally slows down. But before you can settle into a slower pace, there are still plenty of important decisions to make. You’re deciding when to claim Social Security, signing up for Medicare, reviewing your finances and sorting through your employee benefits. One expense that’s easy to overlook? Your dental coverage after retirement.
Retirement doesn’t mean your dental care has to stop. In fact, staying on top of your oral health becomes even more important as you get older. While many employer-sponsored dental benefits end when you retire, you may have several options for continuing dental coverage and planning for future dental costs.
Why Having Dental Coverage Matters in Retirement
For the first time in years, you might have to think about how you’ll pay for dental care and whether your current benefits will continue. At the same time, you still need regular dental care to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Did you know?
Original Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care, including routine cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures and implants. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer dental benefits, but what’s covered depends on the plan.
It’s easy to see why some retirees put dental visits on hold, especially while adjusting to a new budget. But regular dental care can help your dentist catch small problems before they become bigger ones, which can help you avoid more complicated and costly treatment later.
That’s one reason dental coverage during retirement can be worth considering. Having a plan to maintain the level of care you’ve had for years can make it easier to keep regular appointments, stay healthy and budget for dental expenses as your oral health needs change.
The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Senior Health
Your oral health is closely connected to your overall health, and that link matters as you get older. Natural changes in your mouth, along with some health conditions and medications, can raise your risk for oral health problems. Knowing what to expect can help you stay ahead of those changes.
Some common oral health concerns for older adults include:
- Receding gums: As your gums pull back, more of your teeth become exposed. This can raise your risk for cavities and other dental problems.
- Dry mouth: Many medications affect your mouth’s ability to make saliva. Without enough saliva, your mouth has a harder time protecting your teeth and gums from issues like tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss.
- Changes in tooth sensitivity: Some dental problems might not cause noticeable pain right away, which can make them easier to overlook.
- Older dental work: Fillings, crowns and other dental work can wear down over time. This can create places where bacteria can collect.
The good news is that regular dental visits give you and your dentist a chance to monitor these changes and address concerns as they come up.
Planning Ahead for Dental Care Before You Retire
For many people, employer-sponsored dental insurance coverage ends when they retire. But exactly when your dental coverage ends depends on your employer and plan. Some employers continue offering retiree dental benefits. Others may end coverage on your retirement date, at the end of the month or on another date determined by your HR team.
Here are a few simple questions to ask as you plan for dental care before you retire:
- When does my dental coverage end?
- Does my employer offer retiree dental benefits?
- Do I need to take any steps before my last day of work to keep or transition my coverage?
- What options will I have if my employer-sponsored dental insurance ends?
Try to get these answers before your last day of work. That way, you’ll know whether your dental insurance will continue or if you’ll need to find another option for retirement.
How Can Retirees Continue Dental Insurance Coverage?
If your employer doesn’t offer retiree dental benefits, you may have other options for continuing dental insurance or planning for dental costs:
- COBRA
Depending on your situation, you may be able to continue your current employer-sponsored dental plan for a limited time. Keep in mind that you’ll typically pay the full premium yourself, so it might cost more than it did while you were employed. - Coverage through a spouse
If your spouse is still working and has dental insurance through their job, you may be able to join their plan. - Medicare Advantage
These are plans offered by companies that contract with Medicare. They include the hospital and medical coverage you get with Original Medicare and usually include extra benefits, like dental coverage. - Individual or family dental plan
You can purchase an individual and family dental plan on your own. Companies like Delta Dental of Arizona offer different plan options based on your budget and dental needs, and you can enroll any time. If you’re coming off employer or COBRA coverage, you may also qualify to have certain waiting periods waived on some plans depending on your prior coverage and how long you’ve gone without coverage. Check the specific plan for eligibility requirements.
Some Delta Dental of Arizona individual dental plan features include:
- Affordable monthly premiums: Choose from plan options at different price points for your dental needs.
- Generous annual maximums: Get more help toward covered dental care on select plans.
- Special health care needs benefit: Most plans include extra preventive care and services for members with qualifying special health care needs.
- Vision insurance add-on: Bundle your dental plan with an individual vision insurance plan to save on eye exams, contacts, frames, lenses and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental insurance isn’t required after you retire, but it can help make the cost of dental care more predictable. Having coverage may also make it easier to budget for regular dental care and unexpected treatment.
That depends on your employer and dental plan. Some employers offer dental coverage after retirement, while others end coverage on your retirement date or shortly after. Check with your employer or benefits administrator before you retire so you know when your coverage ends and what options you have.
Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover most dental care, including routine services, dentures and implants. In limited situations, Medicare may cover certain dental services that are directly connected to covered medical treatment. Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits like dental coverage, but coverage varies by plan.
Yes. If you have Original Medicare or a Medicare plan that doesn’t include the dental coverage you need, you can buy a separate dental plan. Your dental insurance doesn’t have to be part of your Medicare coverage.
Yes. You don’t need an employer to buy dental insurance. Individual dental plans are available to the public, giving you another way to get coverage if your work benefits end when you retire.
Yes. Delta Dental of Arizona offers individual and family dental plans you can buy on your own. You can choose from different plan options based on your budget and dental needs, and you can enroll any time!
