A Retirement Expense Many People Forget to Budget For

One common healthcare expense can surprise retirees, and Medicare provides very limited help

When people map out retirement spending, they often miss some costs. In discussions with older adults about their finances after leaving the workforce, dental expenses come up again and again. That is easy to understand: Oral health tends to decline with age, but Medicare generally does not pay for dental care, aside from emergency dental treatment for hospitalized patients.

During retirement, there are three primary ways to handle dental bills: purchase dental insurance, enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental coverage, or pay the costs yourself.