Seniors and retirees need medical coverage, and they need it most in later life. Illness and accidents are more likely, and both can be financially crippling. The same goes for dental care, with most dentists recommending a checkup at least twice a year.
Dental insurance comes with restrictions on what you can claim for, long waiting periods and high premiums. The good news is that seniors have a number of alternatives to consider.
1. Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Most dental problems can be prevented by looking after your teeth and gums and eating a sensible diet. Sugary drinks and acidic foods wear down tooth enamel. Simple habits go a long way here: brushing properly, using the right amount of toothpaste, flossing, and cleaning your tongue.
2. It Can Be Cheaper to Pay Yourself
Insurance companies trade on the fear that dental treatment is unaffordable without a policy. Do the math and you may find that paying out of pocket for a particular procedure costs less than the premiums. Fees vary by dentist and by location, so it is worth checking prices locally before you assume otherwise.
3. Reduce the Frequency of Dental Appointments
Two appointments a year is the usual advice, but for someone with no ongoing dental problems one exam a year may be enough. Your dentist is the person to advise on that.
What you cannot do is skip the exam altogether. Seeing a dentist once a year catches problems while they are still small and still cheap to fix, which beats finding out later that you have a major dental condition.
4. Discount Dental Plans
At first glance, discount dental plans look like another name for dental insurance. They are not the same thing. A discount plan exists to get seniors treated quickly, without the restrictions an insurance policy puts in the way.
Most discount plans charge a small annual fee, and in return you pay reduced prices at network dentists. They also discount plenty of treatment that insurers will not touch. The bigger plans run national networks, so there is usually a participating dentist within reach. Search by your own ZIP code rather than trusting a coverage map, and call the practice to confirm it still takes the plan, because online directories go out of date.
Some plans throw in extras such as hearing and vision benefits at no additional cost. Read the list of what is covered before you sign up, because every plan has its own quirks.
5. Back to School
Most dental schools at colleges and universities offer free or discounted treatment. They suit seniors on a tight budget, or anyone who needs a procedure their existing policy will not cover. The work costs a fraction of the usual price and is done to the same standard.
You are not a guinea pig for students to experiment on. Every procedure is carried out under the supervision of licensed dentists, who check the work as it goes.
Students take it seriously, because their careers depend on it. Before you book, check that the school is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the body that accredits dental education programs in the US.
6. Pay on the Spot
Many dentists will offer a discount if you pay at the time of the visit. Practices have their own battles with insurers and often wait a long time to be paid, so cash on the day has real value to them.
To find dentists who do this, shop around, search online, or ask friends for recommendations. Phoning around and asking directly costs nothing, and many practices will say yes.
7. Don't Be Afraid to Visit Charitable Clinics
A good number of clinics offer free treatment through qualified volunteer dentists. The only thing standing in the way is the stigma of asking for help. Everyone hits a hard patch at some point, and the sensible move is to take the help that is there.
Organizations such as America's Dentists Care Foundation run networks of volunteer dentists providing low-cost care.
8. Dental Tourism
Treatment costs in the US have run ahead of what many seniors can afford. Some countries have well-established dental industries that treat foreign patients for a fraction of the price, including:
- Thailand
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- Hungary
- Poland
- Philippines
- Turkey
- India
Do plenty of research first. Dental tourism is cheap, but it is not a walk in the park. Before you book anything, check:
- Where the dentist trained and qualified, and whether that qualification is recognized.
- Whether the clinic holds a recognized accreditation for international patients.
- What language the staff work in, and whether you will be understood.
- Sterilization and infection control standards, in writing.
- A written treatment plan with the full cost, before you travel.
- What happens if something goes wrong, who fixes it, and who pays.
- How you will get follow-up care once you are home.
Whether you are looking for an individual or a family plan in your area, we can help. Find your ideal dental plan.
