If You Think It’s Scary Going to the Dentist…
Just think about how your wallet feels!
Because if you don’t have dental insurance - and live on a fixed income - paying a big dental bill may be devastating.
You may have gone to your dentist twice a year faithfully for most of your adult life because you were covered by employer-sponsored health insurance.
But all that changed since retirement…
If you’re like many seniors, you may have given up seeing a dentist regularly to get by on a fixed income when you retired and lost your coverage.
And You’re Not Alone…
More than half of older Americans say they haven’t been to the dentist in the past year, and they cite cost as the top reason1.
Like many people over 50, they may have been surprised to learn that Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental care -- or other procedures such as fillings, tooth extractions, dentures, or other dental devices2.
The unfortunate irony is that older Americans lose their dental coverage precisely when they may need it most.
On Medicare And Collecting Social Security?
Then you already know the estimated average monthly benefit in 2019 from Social Security is $1,461.4
However, you may be surprised to learn that among those who used any dental services, average out-of-pocket spending on dental care was $922.5
And if you don’t have dental insurance, paying a large sum out of your pocket may be overwhelming. Especially when it competes against paying for necessary living expenses, such as food, rent, and prescription drugs.
But forgoing dental care can have serious long-term consequences.
Aging Takes a Toll on Teeth
Too often, we see people put off dental care because they’re afraid of big bills. But delaying treatment can lead to more significant — and more costly — problems later on.
Gum tissue naturally recedes as you age, exposing roots to decay, and a lifetime of crunching and grinding wears away tooth enamel. Also, many medications cause dry mouth, which raises your risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and infection.
A Connection Between Dental Health and Overall Health?
Did you know that your dental health offers clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body?
More importantly, taking good care of your teeth can decrease your risk of serious problems such as heart attack, stroke, and poorly controlled diabetes.6
Keeping up with routine cleanings and exams — which can catch and correct problems early on — are one of the most cost-effective strategies for keeping costs under control.
You Don’t Have to Stop Going to the Dentist When You Retire
You can get affordable Dental features that you can count on from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.
