Article
Before retiring, establish baseline measurements through a comprehensive physical that includes blood pressure, cholesterol testing, and a cardiovascular risk assessment.
Complete all cancer screenings for your age and risk factors, update vision and hearing assessments, visit your dentist, and ensure preventive vaccinations are current.
Review all medications with your doctor, evaluate your mental health status before the retirement transition, and establish a baseline of your cognitive function.
The months before retirement offer an ideal opportunity to take stock of your health and address any issues before you leave employer health insurance. This is your chance to establish a baseline for your health, identify and treat problems that might worsen in retirement, and set yourself up for the healthiest possible retirement years. Use this checklist to make sure you've covered all the important health assessments before your retirement date.
Get Your Baseline Physical
Start with a comprehensive physical before your retirement date. Schedule enough time for your doctor to do a thorough evaluation including your complete health history, a full physical exam, and baseline measurements.
Your doctor should measure your blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, and body mass index. They should listen to your heart and lungs. They should examine your abdomen to check for any abnormalities. They should assess your balance and coordination, which become important as you age.
During this visit, share a complete health history including any surgeries you've had, significant illnesses, accidents or injuries, and any health problems affecting your parents or siblings. Mention any medications you're taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. If you've been diagnosed with any chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, discuss how well those conditions are controlled.
Use this visit to ask questions about your family health history and your personal risks. If your mother had breast cancer, if your father had heart disease, if your siblings have diabetes, tell your doctor. This information helps them assess your individual risk for various diseases.
Complete Cardiovascular Screening
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for older adults, so cardiovascular screening is critical before retirement:
Blood pressure checks help establish your baseline and allow discussion of your cardiovascular risk factors.
Cholesterol panel measures total cholesterol, LDL (bad), HDL (good), and triglycerides. Elevated cholesterol increases heart attack and stroke risk.
10-year risk assessment uses age, gender, race, cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking status to guide medication versus lifestyle decisions.
Carotid artery screening is appropriate if you have significant smoking history to detect plaque buildup in neck arteries indicating stroke risk.
EKG or stress test becomes important if you have multiple heart disease risk factors, to check your heart's function.
Cancer Screening Based on Your Age and Risk
Cancer screening recommendations vary by age and individual risk factors. Before retiring, don't assume you've already completed all necessary screening. Review the recommendations below to ensure your cancer screening is complete and current:
Breast cancer screening is recommended for women age 40 and older, typically every other year. More frequent screening is recommended with family history or when additional imaging like ultrasound or MRI is needed.
Bone density screening is recommended for women age 65 and older to screen for osteoporosis using quick, painless low-dose X-rays.
Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for everyone age 45 and older. Options include colonoscopy every 10 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years with annual stool testing, or annual stool-based tests.
Prostate cancer screening for men age 50 and older should be discussed with your doctor to determine whether screening aligns with your values and personal preferences.
Lung cancer screening is recommended if you have a significant smoking history. Annual low-dose CT scans are recommended for ages 50-80 who have smoked 20 or more pack-years and currently or recently smoked.
Skin cancer screening with a full-body skin check is recommended if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer.
Get Your Vision and Hearing Checked
As you approach retirement, ensure your vision and hearing are optimized. These senses profoundly affect quality of life and independence in retirement.
Schedule an eye exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. They can check your visual acuity, screen for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy if you have diabetes. If you need glasses or contact lenses, ensure your prescription is current. If you're a candidate for cataract surgery, ask about timing.
Get your hearing tested by an audiologist. Hearing loss often develops gradually, and people sometimes don't realize how much they're missing. Age-related hearing loss affects about one-third of adults aged 65 to 74 and nearly half of those over 75. Untreated hearing loss is linked to depression, isolation, cognitive decline, and increased fall risk. If hearing loss is identified, discuss hearing aid options or other devices that can help.
Dental Checkup and Cleaning
Visit your dentist for a thorough checkup and cleaning. Poor dental health is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, and other health problems. Gum disease is increasingly recognized as a systemic health issue, not just a local problem in your mouth.
Ask your dentist about the health of your teeth and gums. Discuss any symptoms you're having like bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, or pain. If you need significant dental work like crowns, bridges, or implants, consider whether you want to complete this work before retiring when you might be more likely to have employer dental insurance coverage.
If you're considering cosmetic dental work, budget for this before retirement since your insurance coverage might change.
Complete All Preventive Vaccinations
Ensure you're up-to-date on vaccines before retiring. These protect against serious diseases that can complicate retirement:
Flu vaccination involves an annual shot starting in autumn to prevent pneumonia, hospitalization, and death in older adults.
Pneumococcal vaccination protects against pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. The specific vaccines recommended depend on your age and health status.
COVID-19 vaccination with updated doses is recommended, particularly if you have risk factors for severe illness.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended if you're a healthcare worker, have specific risk factors, or haven't been vaccinated previously.
RSV vaccination is recommended for everyone 75 and older. Adults 60 to 74, and adults 50 to 59 with certain health conditions, should ask their doctor whether it's right for them.
Travel vaccinations may be needed if you're retiring internationally. Ask about hepatitis A, typhoid, and other destination-specific vaccines.
Ask your doctor which vaccines are appropriate for your age, health status, and planned retirement activities.
Screen for Diabetes and Metabolic Problems
If you haven't been screened recently, get an A1C test, which shows your average blood sugar over the past several months.
If you're overweight or have other risk factors for diabetes like high blood pressure or a family history of diabetes, discuss diabetes risk with your doctor. If you're at risk but don't have diabetes yet, ask about diabetes prevention programs. These programs, which combine modest diet and exercise changes, reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent in people at high risk.
If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, ensure it's well controlled before retirement. Work with your doctor to achieve target blood sugar levels. Discuss your diet, medication, and exercise routine.
Get your thyroid function checked with a blood test, particularly if you're female or have symptoms of thyroid problems like fatigue, weight changes, or mood changes.
Evaluate Your Mental Health
Retirement is a major life transition that affects many people's mental health. Before you retire, assess how you're doing emotionally and mentally.
Your annual preventive care visit includes depression screening, but don't wait. If you're concerned about mood, anxiety, sleep problems, or other mental health issues, discuss these with your doctor now. Addressing mental health issues before retirement allows you to establish care and find effective treatment.
If you have a history of depression or anxiety, meet with your mental health provider to ensure your treatment plan is working well. Discuss your concerns about the retirement transition.
If you're facing major losses or stressors before retirement, such as death of a loved one, job stress, or anxiety about retirement itself, consider talking with a therapist or counselor before you retire. Having established mental health support before your life changes significantly is valuable.
Assess Your Cognitive Health
Cognitive function becomes increasingly important as you age. Before retirement, establish a baseline of your memory, attention, and thinking skills.
During your physical exam, your doctor will do some basic cognitive screening. If you have concerns about memory or thinking, mention this to your doctor. They can do more comprehensive testing if needed.
Discuss what's normal memory loss with aging versus warning signs of cognitive decline. If you have family members with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, let your doctor know since family history is a risk factor.
Consider cognitive activities you enjoy that you can pursue in retirement, as staying mentally active helps maintain cognitive function.
Review All Your Current Medications
Make a complete list of every medication you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. Include the dose and how often you take it.
Meet with your doctor or pharmacist to review this list. Sometimes medications interact with each other, and sometimes people take duplicate medications without realizing it. Sometimes medications are no longer necessary and can be stopped.
Ask your doctor about any medications you take whether they're still appropriate for you and whether the dose is right. Ask about side effects and what to watch for.
If you take multiple medications, ask about simplified dosing schedules. Some people take medication at different times, making compliance difficult. Your doctor might be able to adjust your regimen so medications are taken together.
Discuss what your medication costs will be in retirement and what your coverage will be. Medicare Part D covers most medications, but you'll have copays and possible gaps in coverage. Understanding your costs helps with budget planning.
Get a Hearing Aid Assessment if Needed
If hearing testing shows hearing loss, don't delay getting hearing aids fitted. Modern hearing aids are much more advanced than older models, and treating hearing loss early provides better outcomes.
Hearing loss is associated with depression, social isolation, falls, and cognitive decline. Treating hearing loss improves quality of life significantly and protects your health.
Assess Your Home Safety
Before retiring, look at your home environment and think about safety. Will your home be safe if your mobility, strength, or balance changes? Are there stairs that will become difficult if you develop arthritis? Are bathrooms equipped with grab bars if you fall or have difficulty with balance?
Making these assessments now allows you to make modifications before you need them. Installing grab bars, ensuring good lighting, removing trip hazards, and making other modifications while you're still working is often easier and less disruptive than doing it after an accident.
Ask your doctor whether a physical therapy or occupational therapy assessment would be helpful. These professionals can identify risks in your home and recommend modifications.
Discuss Advance Care Planning
Use your pre-retirement appointments to discuss advance care planning with your doctor. This means thinking about what kinds of medical care you'd want if you became seriously ill or injured and couldn't make decisions for yourself.
Put your wishes in writing through advance directives and a healthcare power of attorney. These documents specify what kind of life-sustaining treatment you'd want or not want, and who should make medical decisions for you if you can't.
This conversation is important to have while you're healthy so your doctor understands your values and can work with you to maintain the quality of life you want as you age.
Create Your Baseline Health Record
As you complete all these checkups and screening, organize the results into one comprehensive health record. Include dates of screening tests and results, vaccination dates, medication lists, and any diagnoses or conditions.
Share this information with all your doctors so they have complete information about your health. This becomes especially important when you transition to Medicare and might change providers.
Keep a copy for yourself. This record becomes invaluable if you move or change insurance, and it helps you remember what's been tested and when follow-up testing is due.
Take Care of Any Identified Problems Now
If any of your pre-retirement screening identifies health problems, address them before you retire if possible. Starting treatment for newly diagnosed conditions before you retire allows you to establish care with your current doctors and might be covered differently by your employer insurance than by Medicare.
If you need specialist care, surgery, or other interventions, consider whether retirement can wait until these issues are addressed. Making major health decisions while you're still working and have employer insurance and income might be easier than doing it after you retire.
Establish Care with Your Medicare Doctors
If you'll be changing doctors when you transition to Medicare, establish this care before you retire. Schedule an initial appointment with your new primary care doctor before your retirement date so you have an established relationship and they understand your health history before you need care.
This appointment becomes your first Medicare preventive visit and is covered at no cost, giving you an opportunity to make sure you have the right doctor in place.
Plan for Ongoing Preventive Care
Before you retire, understand what preventive care services are available through Medicare and plan how you'll stay on top of them. Schedule your first annual wellness visit as a Medicare beneficiary. Set calendar reminders for when you need repeat screenings like mammography, colonoscopy, or bone density testing.
Medicare covers most preventive care at no cost, so plan to use these benefits. Establishing good preventive care habits before retirement helps you start your retirement with the best possible health and the best chance of staying healthy throughout your retirement years.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start this checklist?
Start at least six months before your planned retirement date. This gives time to schedule appointments, get results, and address any identified problems before your retirement date.
Does my employer insurance cover all this screening?
Most employer health insurance covers preventive care at no cost, but check your specific plan. If not, discuss costs with your doctor's office.
What if screening finds a problem?
Discuss treatment options with your doctor. Some problems identified before retirement might be addressed before you retire while your coverage is different.
Should I establish Medicare coverage before retiring?
Yes. Apply for Medicare three months before turning 65 or before your employer coverage ends, whichever comes first. Establish your Medicare plan choices well in advance.
Do I need specialized screening if I have a chronic disease?
Yes. Talk with your doctor about what screening is appropriate if you have existing health conditions. Different conditions require different monitoring.
How often will I need these screenings after retiring?
Frequency depends on your results and health status. Discuss with your doctor how often you need follow-up screening and preventive care.
Can I do all this screening at one doctor's office?
Some screening can be done at your primary care doctor's office, but you'll likely need to visit an eye doctor, dentist, audiologist, and possibly other specialists. Plan accordingly.
What should I do with my screening results?
Keep organized records and share all results with all your doctors so they have your complete health picture.
Is pre-retirement screening really necessary if I feel healthy?
Yes. Many serious diseases develop without symptoms. Screening catches problems early when they're most treatable.
Will Medicare cover follow-up care if screening finds a problem?
Medicare covers medically necessary diagnostic and treatment services. Discuss potential costs with your doctor before retirement so you understand what your coverage will be.
Prepare for retirement health confidently with Retirelens. Use our comprehensive guide to address health screening alongside all other retirement dimensions at retirelens.com.
*This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances.*
Sources:
USPSTF - A and B Recommendations
CDC - Healthcare Professionals:
CDC - Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations