As anyone with experience knows, there is almost nothing worse than chronic tooth pain. Left untreated, it can be debilitating and prevent you from even living a normal day-to-day life — let alone enjoying yourself to the fullest.
Getting older — as with most areas of health — only compounds this general risk. And because seniors are more likely to face significant problems if they develop negative issues, it is even more critical to have some good insurance in your back pocket as you enter your golden years.
But for some reason, too many people in the older generations don’t recognize the importance of dental coverage. Perhaps they have been blessed with good teeth and don’t see it as a priority. Perhaps they are worried about extra costs. Perhaps they are just too stubborn. No matter the reasons, going without usually results in an outcome somewhere on the scale between foolhardy, expensive, and disastrous.
Then comes another issue: Ignorance. Many people enter retirement, enroll in Medicare, and think they are fully set for the rest of their life. But while Medicare is an excellent type of coverage in many ways, it does not protect you from everything and it doesn’t not include dental coverage. And this is why so many seniors add a supplementary Medicare dental plan as soon as they enroll.
With such options available in the marketplace, there is no need to risk it. Comprehensive dental coverage that supplements Medicare is easy to get if you just understand the following three things.
1. Securing a Medicare Dental Plan
While Medicare itself doesn’t include protection for you teeth, it is quite simple and affordable to secure a Medicare dental plan. Anyone who is eligible for the federal program is also eligible for this type of dental coverage. (Some location restrictions can apply.)
These offerings effectively serve as supplemental insurance that fits perfectly alongside traditional Medicare or even Part C Medicare Advantage Plans. When it is all combined together, especially from the right provider, you can have a full portfolio that includes virtually every foreseeable health issue you may face after turning 65.
2. Customization and Innovation
Leading plans from well-known providers give you a lot of flexibility. Medicare-approved private insurer Anthem, for example, offers a range of different coverage levels.
If you only want a plan with routine care and small treatments like fillings, that will be available. And for those who want it all, higher-tier options will provide for everything from crowns, bridges, and root canals to more advanced periodontal services, extractions, and even dentures.
3. Fitting Your Budget
The flexibility of different plans also means you should only have to pay for what you need. This is a very important factor for many seniors who need to adjust to retirement life.
And best of all, even many higher-level plans are cost-effective. These plans often offer quite comprehensive protection that even people on a fixed budget can manage to afford.
The Value of Protection
Health coverage is important to have. But as universal as this perspective is, some people fail to go the final mile. Why would you protect everything else and then leave the health of your teeth to chance?
Fortunately, great insurance can be easily obtained — with a supplementary Medicare dental plan — for a fair price. So, now that you know, you can no longer use ignorance as an excuse.
What are you waiting for? Make the right choice and secure the coverage you need today.
