(Family Features) With a record number of Americans (4.18 million) reaching retirement age this year, according to the Alliance for Lifetime Income, now is the time to assess health coverage during a critical life transition. While regular preventive care, which includes annual checkups, can help catch early signs of health issues that become more common with age, dental and vision health are also important barometers of overall wellness.
From seemingly minor symptoms like dry mouth to larger complications such as gum disease, ensuring you’re covered during your retirement years can protect your overall health. According to The 2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report from Delta Dental, 67% of those who are covered made a preventive visit to the dentist last year.
“Retirees want to maintain a healthy smile for their lifetime, which includes their natural teeth,” said Dr. Jason Grinter, vice president of dental science and network strategy at Delta Dental of Illinois. “Committing to both at-home oral health care and consistent dental visits ensures healthier smiles and improved overall health.”
While 94% of Boomers agree that oral health is closely connected to overall health, only 47% reported replacing their toothbrush at least every 3 months, a simple at-home oral health care practice. Eye health is important, too, which is why it’s crucial to ensure you prevent health problems from developing into more concerning issues with these four tips for maintaining proper health care coverage in retirement.
1. Choose a Plan that Travels with You
Your smile and eyesight don’t retire when you do. If retirement means more time traveling, choose a plan with a broad, nationwide network of providers. Using in-network providers means you pay less out of pocket to stretch retirement dollars further. Whether it’s road trips, seasonal getaways or visiting family, maintaining access to dental and vision care wherever you are is key.
2. Long-Term Coverage for Evolving Needs
Coverage is a vital part of maintaining not just oral and vision health but general health as well. As your oral and vision health shifts with age, selecting a plan that aligns with your needs provides coverage for both minor and major treatments.
3. Smart Health Coverage for Fixed Incomes
If you’re on a fixed income, it’s important to choose an affordable plan without sacrificing coverage for essential treatments. The focus on preventive care and comprehensive coverage through Delta Dental of Illinois ensures individual dental plans cover preventive checkups and exams at 100% and help reduce out-of-pocket costs for many procedures by sharing the cost with you.
Removing barriers to oral and vision health care includes providing comprehensive coverage for retirees through multiple plan levels so you can make the right choice based on your personal needs and budget. Before selecting a plan, consider both premium costs and out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles and copays, to fit your retirement budget.
4. Preventive Care is Key
Doing your part at home – daily brushing, flossing, avoiding eye strain and maintaining a healthy diet – can go a long way. Retirees should prioritize plans that offer comprehensive preventive benefits like routine checkups, cleanings and screenings. Preventive care plays a critical role in early detection of health issues and reduces the need for more expensive and comprehensive treatments later. This proactive approach helps protect dental and vision health and is important for retirees’ overall health, too.
To ensure you have the critical dental and vision coverage you need during retirement, explore available plans at deltadentalil.com/individual-plans.
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