Protect Your Medicare in 2026: Scam watch + breach checklist
Scammers ramp up right after Open Enrollment. Add in a couple of big 2025 security headlines, and January is the perfect time to tighten up your defenses. Here’s a quick, plain-English guide you can send to clients. What changed lately (and why it matters) Change Healthcare breach—now confirmed at ~192.7 million people. HHS says the
The “Do-Over” Window: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1–Mar 31)
If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you get a once-per-year chance (Jan 1–Mar 31) to switch to a different MA plan (with or without drug coverage) or return to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan. Any change generally starts the first day of the month after the plan gets your
AEP’s Over — Now What?
AEP is officially in the rear-view, and now it’s all about making sure your 2026 coverage starts smooth on Jan 1 and knowing your options if something isn’t right. 1) Look for your plan welcome kit & Evidence of Coverage (EOC) Your plan mails an EOC each fall that spells out what’s covered, copays, rules
Healthy Holidays: Smart Eating & Low-Stress Celebrations
The holidays should feel warm and easy, not exhausting or derailing your health. Here’s a simple guide to enjoy the season without the sugar crash, sniffles, or stress spiral. 1) Build a better holiday plate Fill half your plate with veggies/fruit, add lean protein, and keep rich sides to small scoops. Stay moving: adults 65+
What You’ll Pay for Medicare Part A & B in 2026: A Simple Breakdown
CMS has announced the official 2026 costs for Medicare Part A and Part B, including premiums, deductibles, and some coinsurance amounts. If you’re on Medicare now or about to enroll, here’s a simple explanation of what’s changing and what it might mean for your budget. Medicare Part A: Hospital Coverage Medicare Part A helps cover
Part D in 2026: What the New $2,100 Limit Means—And What To Do This Fall
Big Part D changes kicked in for 2025, and they keep evolving for 2026. Use September to review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) (arrives by Sept 30) and prep for the fall shopping season. The headline numbers 2025: Your out-of-pocket (OOP) spending on Part D drugs is capped at $2,000 for the year. 2026:
Important SSA Update: No More Paper Benefit Checks Starting September 30, 2025
If you currently receive your Social Security benefits by paper check, you’ll need to take action soon. Starting September 30, 2025, federal benefit payments will switch almost entirely to electronic payments. This change is happening to make payments safer, faster, and easier for everyone. What This Means for You Paper checks will be phased out.
Reading Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
Every August/September, your Medicare Advantage (MA) or Part D drug plan drops a thick envelope in your mailbox titled “Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).” It’s the plan’s yearly “heads-up” on what will look different starting January 1, and by rule it has to reach you no later than September 30. Why the deadline? CMS
Vaccinations: What Medicare Covers At No Charge
August might still feel like pool-weather, but it’s the perfect month to lock in the vaccines that will carry you safely through flu-season and the winter COVID-wave—and, new this year for many of us, RSV protection. Here’s the quick low-down for Medicare beneficiaries 65-plus (and younger friends with certain conditions). Why Book in August? Peak
Life Changes? Here’s How to Use a Mid‑Year Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
July is the halfway point in the Medicare calendar—smack between last fall’s Annual Election Period (AEP) and this October’s next round. If you’ve had a big life change since January, you don’t have to wait until October 15 to tweak your coverage. Medicare gives you a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) so you can pivot mid‑year and still