Selling your home after 63 can be a punishing Medicare mistake. Why it could cost you thousands in added premiums

Title: Selling your home after 63 can be a punishing Medicare mistake. Why it could cost you thousands in added premiums

Article Snip: "For many retirees, selling their home is one of the biggest financial windfalls they’ll see outside of work — especially if they’ve owned it for decades...IRMAA is calculated based on your household Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). It generally includes capital gains, meaning the net profit from the sale of a home can push your income over the threshold, according to the AARP. ...surcharge becomes a consideration if you sell your home at any point after turning 63."

Reference: www.aol.com

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Dental Cost Advice for New Retirees, From a New Retiree

Title: Dental Cost Advice for New Retirees, From a New Retiree

Article Snip: "...I opted for original Medicare and a Medigap plan when I retired. I made this decision because with a Medicare Advantage plan, I would have been limited to using in-network doctors and other providers. Likewise, while many Medicare Advantage plans include dental care, the coverage is usually restricted to providers in their network.

In addition, Medicare Advantage plans often impose...One option is a stand-alone dental insurance plan...scrutinize the fine print. Most plans will cover only a portion of the cost of certain procedures..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com

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White House nears deals to cut obesity drug prices, gain Medicare access, source says

Title: Lilly, Novo near White House deals to cut obesity drug prices, gain Medicare access, source says

Article Snip: "...expected to announce deals with the Trump administration to cut prices of their weight-loss drugs in exchange for Medicare coverage, a White House source told Reuters on Tuesday.

Patients in the U.S. currently pay the most for prescription medicines, often nearly three times more than in other developed nations, and President Donald Trump has been pressuring drugmakers to lower their prices to what patients pay elsewhere. ..."

Reference: www.reuters.com

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101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls...and How to Avoid Them

Title: 101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls...and How to Avoid Them

Article Snip: "...The 2025-2026 Edition: Updated with crucial law changes affecting Social Security & Medicare in 2025 and 2026

Is a single, overlooked deadline or a simple misunderstanding about the rules costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in retirement?

Navigating Social Security and Medicare can feel like walking through a minefield. The rules are complex, the advice from friends is often outdated, and one wrong step can lead to lifelong penalties, permanently reduced benefits, and unexpected healthcare costs that deplete your hard-earned savings.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls is the clear, practical, and up-to-date roadmap every American needs to secure the retirement they deserve. This guide demystifies the system and empowers you to sidestep the common traps that catch even the most diligent planners.

Thoroughly updated for 2025 to include major law changes! This edition contains essential, must-have information on the monumental changes that make other guides obsolete:

The Social Security Fairness Act: Understand what the full repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) means for public servants and claim the full, unreduced benefits you've rightfully earned.
The Inflation Reduction Act: Learn how to navigate the new, simpler Medicare Part D structure with its $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs, replacing the confusing "donut hole" and saving you money.

Inside this essential guide, you will discover how to avoid costly mistakes, including:

Pitfall #6: Missing your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period and facing permanent, lifelong late penalties.
Pitfall #22: Claiming Social Security benefits too early and permanently slashing your monthly income.
Pitfall #69: Mistakenly believing Medicare covers long-term care—a misconception that can devastate your savings.
Pitfall #15: Getting hit with an unexpected tax bill on your Social Security benefits.
Pitfall #47: Missing your one-time window for Medigap guaranteed issue rights and being denied coverage later.
Pitfall #25: Failing to coordinate spousal benefits for maximum household income and survivor protection.
..and 95 more costly pitfalls..."

Reference: Amazon
101 Social Security & Medicare Pitfalls...and How to Avoid Them,Amazon,Reading,Medicare,

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Health insurers make a major move older Americans won’t like

Title: Health insurers make a major move older Americans won’t like

Article Snip: "In the U.S., most people get their health insurance via their employer, but if you’re self-employed or retired, you’re in a different pool. ...Medicare, the government-run health insurance plan for seniors and Medicaid, coverage for low-income people and people with disabilities.

Many Americans — 33 million people, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) — now use Medicare Advantage, essentially Medicare benefits offered through private insurance companies that contract with CMS. ..."

Reference: www.thestreet.com

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Social Security's Latest 2026 COLA Estimate Is 2.7%, but That Don't Worry, the Government Will Get Most of It Before You See it

Title: Social Security's Latest 2026 COLA Estimate Is 2.7%, but That Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Article Snip: "...Social Security COLAs are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the months of July, August, and September specifically. This year, September's CPI-W is expected to get announced on Oct. 15, after which the SSA can share an official 2026 COLA. ...But for those who are on Medicare and Social Security at the same time, Part B premiums"

Reference: www.fool.com
Will Medicare Steal Your 2026 COLA,The Plight of the Silent Majority (Retirees on Social Security),

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Don’t ignore this upcoming Medicare update (Annual Notice of Change) — it could be the most important message of the year

Title: Don’t ignore this upcoming Medicare update — it could be the most important message of the year

Article Snip: "...The Annual Notice of Change — sometimes called by its “ANOC” acronym — lays out how your costs and coverage will be different next year in your drug (Medicare Part D) or Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which is the alternative to original Medicare sold by health insurers. If you assume the 2026 plan will be identical to your 2025 plan, you’ll be wrong. ..."

Reference: www.marketwatch.com
Annual Notice of Change (Medicare), Important Action Needed, Medicare,

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UnitedHealth sees 78% of members in high-rated Medicare plans

Title: UnitedHealth sees 78% of members in high-rated Medicare plans

Article Snip: "...The estimate of memberships in 4-star or higher-rated Medicare Advantage plans, which cover Americans aged 65 years or older, is consistent with the company's expectations and in line with historical performance, UnitedHealth said. ..."

Reference: www.reuters.com
UnitedHealth, High-rated Medicare plans,Medicare,Medicare Advantage plans,

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Medicare News | CVS Caremark ordered to pay $290M after Medicare fraud scheme exposed by former Aetna whistleblower

Title: CVS Caremark ordered to pay $290M after Medicare fraud scheme exposed by former Aetna whistleblower

Article Snip: "...Philadelphia court triples damages after finding pharmacy benefit manager overcharged Medicare by $95M...A federal judge has ordered CVS Health’s pharmacy benefit manager, Caremark, to pay nearly $290 million after a whistleblower accused the business of overcharging Medicare on prescription drugs more than a decade ago.

Sarah Behnke, a former Aetna actuary, alleged Caremark defrauded Medicare Part D by causing false drug cost reports to be submitted in 2013 and 2014."

Reference: www.foxbusiness.com
Root Causes of Medicare Insurance Increases, CVS Caremark, Medicare Faud Scheme, Aetna whistleblower, Slow Justice,

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Millions of Medicare beneficiaries are facing a rude awakening

Title: Millions of Medicare beneficiaries are facing a rude awakening

Article Snip: "...For the first time in the program’s history, CMS rejected some standalone Part D plan bids, citing “unacceptable, significant increases in cost sharing or reductions in benefits.” The agency also extended its emergency Premium Stabilization Demonstration, which caps how much monthly premiums can rise, though the cap will increase to $50 in 2026 from $35 in 2025. ..."

Reference: www.thestreet.com
Medicare, Part D,

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UnitedHealth says it is cooperating with DOJ investigation into Medicare billing practices

Title: UnitedHealth says it is cooperating with DOJ investigation into Medicare billing practices

Article Snip: "...UnitedHealth Group revealed it is facing a Justice Department criminal and civil investigation over its Medicare billing practices, adding to a string of setbacks for a company that owns America’s largest and most powerful private insurer. ...DOJ interviewed several doctors about UnitedHealth’s practices and whether they felt pressured to submit claims for certain conditions that bolstered payments from the Medicare Advantage program to the company. ..."

Reference: www.cnbc.com
Justice Department criminal and civil investigation (UnitedHealth Group),UnitedHealth,Medicare, Medicare billing Practices,

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Nationwide finds Medicare myth on long-term care could cost Americans dearly

Title: Nationwide finds Medicare myth on long-term care could cost Americans dearly

Article Snip: "...Based on its 2025 Nationwide Retirement Institute Long-Term Care survey, the insurance giant found 58% of adults believe Medicare will cover long-term care costs, despite the program offering only limited, short-term assistance. ...At-home care is a preferred option for many: 77% of respondents said they would rather age in place. But that may be easier said than done. More than four in 10 believe their current home is unsafe or inaccessible for older age, and nearly half say making the necessary retrofits to their residence would be unaffordable."

Reference: www.investmentnews.com

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How You Can Lose Your Medicare Benefits

Title: How You Can Lose Your Medicare Benefits

Article Snip: "...Your Medicare coverage can be disrupted or lost through your own actions or for reasons outside of your control. Don't let that happen to you. ...If you lose your Medicare coverage, you can reapply. Depending on circumstances, you may be able to apply outside of the Medicare open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. You can reapply outside of that window if you've experienced what is considered to be a qualifying life event. In order to do this, you would typically qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Here's a look at the ways you can lose your Medicare benefits. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Medicare

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Medicare fraud possibly tied to 2024 data breach

Title: Medicare fraud possibly tied to 2024 data breach

Article Snip: "...Nebraska SHIP says she has received more than half a dozen recent calls about claims showing up on reports for durable medical equipment that was never purchased or received.

Long tells KNEB News she believes the fraudulent activity is a potential off-shoot of last year’s data breach at Change Healthcare. “It’s the big entity that holds all Medicare numbers, they had a data breach last February. So everybody on Medicare got warned about this breach, and now we’re seeing some possible effects of that,” said Long. ..."

Reference: ruralradio.com
Medicare,Fraud,2024 data breach, Change Healthcare Data Breach,

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13 Things Medicare Gives You for Free

Title: 13 Things Medicare Gives You for Free

Article Snip: "Medicare beneficiaries often pay monthly premiums, copays, annual deductibles and prescription drug costs. But what you may not know is that some services don’t cost anything at all. ...Medicare includes different parts, which provide different types of coverage — hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B), Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), and prescription drug coverage (Part D).

While some services come at a cost, Medicare also offers many services with no out-of-pocket costs at all. That said, some of these freebies may not be available with Medicare Advantage, and there may be limitations on how often you can take advantage of a free service. Still, it’s worth knowing about these 13 things Medicare gives you for free. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Medicare, Free Stuff,

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SSA.gov | How do I sign up for Medicare?

Title: How do I sign up for Medicare?

Article Snip: "...If you already get Social Security benefits, you do not need to sign up for Medicare. We will automatically enroll you in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) when you become eligible. We will mail you the information a few months before you become eligible.

Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down. However, if you decide to sign up for Part B later, your coverage can be delayed and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Residents of Puerto Rico or foreign countries will NOT automatically receive Part B. They must elect this benefit.

If you don’t get Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. The easiest way to apply for Medicare is by using our online application or you can make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information read our Medicare publication.

..."

Reference: ssa.gov
How do I sign up for Medicare?

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Get Started With Medicare | Your Medicare Card

Title: Get Started With Medicare | Your Medicare Card

Article Snip: "... Your card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you — it’s not your Social Security Number. This helps protect your identity.

The card shows:

You have Medicare Part A (listed as HOSPITAL), Part B (listed as MEDICAL), or both.

The date your coverage begins.

Once you’re signed up for Medicare, we’ll mail you your Medicare card in your welcome packet. You can also log into (or create) your secure Medicare account to print your official Medicare card. ..."

Reference: www.medicare.gov

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Medicare coverage will change in 2025. Some boomers are already struggling to keep up with their medical bills.

Title: Medicare coverage will change in 2025. Some boomers are already struggling to keep up with their medical bills.

Article Snip: "...Many insurers are making significant changes in 2025. Deductibles and prescription drug costs will become more expensive for some Medicare recipients — and it could impact whether older Americans can afford healthcare. ..."

Reference: www.businessinsider.com
Medicare, 2025,

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Health Watch | Drugmaker Novo Nordisk Ozempic and Wegovy Maker Courts Black Leaders to get Medicare's Federal Funding Favor

Title:

Article Snip: "...Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has turned to influential Black Americans in pursuit of what would be a lucrative victory: having Medicare cover a new class of weight loss drugs, including the company's highly sought Wegovy, which can cost patients more than $1,000 a month. During a conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation last fall — a jampacked gathering featuring prominent Black lawmakers and President Joe Biden — Novo Nordisk sponsored a..."

Reference: www.npr.org
Novo Nordisk is trying to reverse a 20-year-old ban on coverage of drugs used for weight loss under Medicare, Dangerous Drugs, How Many Drugs Does Your Drug-Pusher Doctor Have You On Now, Duping Americans for Profit, Congressional Black Caucus (Primarily Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill),

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There’s a catch in USPS insurance program for Medicare-eligible retirees

Title: There’s a catch in USPS insurance program for Medicare-eligible retirees

Article Snip: "As preparations ramp up to launch a new health insurance program for the Postal Service, the Office of Personnel Management is anticipating the possibility that some USPS annuitants will opt out of Medicare prescription drug coverage without realizing the full consequences. For USPS employees and annuitants, Open Season will look somewhat different this fall. In tandem with the standard open enrollment period for participants in the existing Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, all USPS employees, annuitants and their family members will have to switch into the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program. ...USPS annuitants who opt out of Medicare Part D will lose underlying prescription drug coverage, according to OPM's regulations. ..."

Reference: federalnewsnetwork.com
Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB),Medicare,Medicare Part D, Drug Coverage, Retirees (Postal),

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