Articles
Medicare news, cost updates, enrollment guidance, and practical insights.
Lab Tests You Never Received: How to Spot Medicare Laboratory Fraud
CMS says it stopped more than $1.6 billion in potentially improper Medicare laboratory payments. Here is how to check your Medicare statements for lab tests you do not recognize and report a possible problem through official channels.
Medical Equipment You Never Ordered: How to Spot Medicare DME Fraud
An unexpected box of braces, catheters, or other medical supplies may be a sign that someone is billing Medicare with your information. Learn what to check and where to report a suspicious claim.
Costco and SCAN's Medicare Partnership: What Beneficiaries Should Know Before New Plans Launch
Costco and SCAN announced an expanded Medicare partnership, but future products still need regulatory approval. Learn what is available now and what to verify before choosing any Costco-linked plan.
Medicare Advantage Star Ratings: What 4 and 5 Stars Do and Do Not Tell You
A 4- or 5-star Medicare Advantage rating can help you compare quality, but it does not check your doctors, drugs, costs, or plan rules. Learn how to use the rating without letting it make the whole decision.
Medicare's CJR-X Joint Replacement Model: What Original Medicare Patients Should Know
Starting January 1, 2028, Medicare's nationwide CJR-X model will make most eligible hospitals accountable for hip, knee, and ankle replacement care through 90 days of recovery. Learn what changes, what stays the same, and what to ask before surgery.
Medicare's New Nursing Home Care Compare Icon: What It Means Before You Choose a Facility
CMS plans to add a high-performing facility icon to Nursing Home Care Compare in September 2026. Learn what qualifies a nursing home, what the icon cannot tell you, and what else families should check.
New Medicare Hospice Notice Starts October 1, 2026: What Families Should Check
Starting October 1, 2026, Medicare hospices must automatically give new patients a written addendum explaining which care they consider unrelated to the terminal illness. Learn what to look for before signing.
Get Ready for Medicare Annual Enrollment: What to Review Before October 15
Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Here is a practical checklist for reviewing your drug plan, Medicare Advantage plan, doctors, prescriptions, and total costs before the rush starts.
Final Expense Insurance: What Problem Are You Really Solving?
A practical senior-focused guide to final expense insurance, who it fits, what features matter, and what to watch before buying.
Medicare Prior Authorization Reform in 2026: What Actually Changes
Medicare Advantage prior authorization rules are changing in 2026. Here is what the new timelines, denial reasons, and transparency rules mean for beneficiaries.
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation: What the New Proposed Rule Could Mean for Your Prescriptions
CMS has proposed permanent rules for Medicare drug price negotiation beginning with 2029 prices. Here is what beneficiaries should understand about Part D, Part B drugs, and what changes at the pharmacy counter.
The Medicare Part D Donut Hole Is Gone in 2026. What Replaced It?
The old Medicare Part D donut hole is gone. Here is how 2026 Part D drug costs work now, including the deductible, initial coverage stage, and annual out-of-pocket cap.
CMS Home Health and Hospice Fraud Crackdown: What Medicare Beneficiaries Should Know
CMS says it has suspended payments to hundreds of potentially phony hospices and placed nationwide moratoria on new Medicare enrollments for certain hospice, home health, and equipment suppliers. Here is what beneficiaries should check without losing access to legitimate care.
Why Hospitals Are Walking Away from Medicare Advantage Plans in 2026
Major health systems across the country are dropping Medicare Advantage contracts, forcing seniors to find new coverage or switch to Original Medicare.
The Medigap Birthday Rule: What It Is, Which States Have It, and How to Use It
Some states give Medigap enrollees a yearly window around their birthday to switch plans without medical underwriting. Here's which states have the birthday rule and how it works.
Medigap Premiums Are Surging in 2026. Here Is What Is Driving the Increases.
Medigap premiums are rising faster than they have in years, with Plan G rate increases ranging from 12% to over 26%. Here is what is behind the surge and what you can do about it.
Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026: What the Bill Would Change
A bipartisan bill in Congress would overhaul how Medicare Advantage plans handle prior authorizations, claim denials, and provider payments. Here's what H.R. 8375 proposes and what it would mean for you.
Medicare Advantage Auto-Enrollment: What CMS Is Considering and Why It Matters
CMS is exploring a policy that would make Medicare Advantage the default for new beneficiaries instead of Original Medicare. Here's what the proposal involves, what it could mean for your coverage, and what to watch for.
Medicare's New GLP-1 Bridge Program: Wegovy and Zepbound for $50 a Month Starting July 2026
CMS is launching the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge on July 1, 2026. Eligible Part D beneficiaries can get Wegovy, Zepbound, or Foundayo for a flat $50 monthly copay. Here's who qualifies, how it works, and what to watch out for.
Clear Spring Health Is Exiting Medicare Advantage. Here's What Members Need to Do Before May 31.
Clear Spring Health is shutting down its Medicare Advantage plans effective May 31, 2026. If you're a member, you have a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans. Here's what's happening, what your options are, and the deadlines that matter.
2026 Medicare Costs: What Changed and What It Means
A plain-language breakdown of the 2026 Medicare costs. Part B premiums, Part A deductibles, IRMAA brackets, and the Part D out-of-pocket cap.