Why Your Medicare Drug Costs Are Going UP (Even With the New $2,100 Cap)
If you checked your 2026 Medicare drug costs and thought, “Why am I paying more next year? Isn’t there a cap now?”. You’re not wrong to be confused. Yes, the new Part D cap is real. Yes, it will help a lot of people.But your month-to-month prescription costs can still...
Your Doctor Might Not Be In-Network for 2026 — Here’s Why (And How to Check Properly)
If you checked your 2026 Medicare Advantage plan and wondered why your doctor is suddenly missing, here is the simple truth. Networks are tightening for 2026 across many plans. Doctors are leaving, plans are shifting contracts, and some PPOs are now operating with...
The Overrated Medicare Advantage Benefits You Should Never Pick a Plan For (and the Ones That Actually Matter)
If you are reviewing 2026 Medicare Advantage plans and feel overwhelmed by grocery cards, flex cards, givebacks, OTC credits, dental allowances, and all the shiny perks, you are not alone. These benefits show up in every commercial, but they rarely protect your health...
Why Your 2026 Medicare Advantage Costs Are Going Up — Even If Your Plan Stayed ‘The Same.’
If you checked your 2026 Medicare Advantage plan and thought everything looked the same, you are not alone. Many people assume that if the plan name, card, and monthly premium stayed steady, the coverage stayed steady too. It did not. Across the country, members are...
Who Actually Pays The Medicare Part B Deductible?(Most Get This Wrong)
If you’re getting ready to retire, turning 65, or simply budgeting for next year’s healthcare, here’s a detail that trips up a lot of people: the Medicare Part B deductible. The 2026 deductible just went up to $283, and depending on your type of coverage, you might...
I Told You 2 Million Would Lose Coverage… Now It’s 3 Million
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan for 2025, here’s the blunt truth: there is a real chance your plan is ending, shifting, or being replaced for 2026. Almost three million people are being moved, dropped, or placed into plans they did not choose. This is the...
2026 IRMAA Brackets — Income Limits, Costs, and Appeal Rules
If you opened a letter from Social Security and saw a higher Medicare bill than expected, or you’re turning 65 in 2026 and trying to figure out if you’ll pay extra, here’s the truth: IRMAA is triggered by your yearly income, and it can raise your Part B and Part D...
2026 Medicare Part B Deductible — What It Means and Who Actually Pays It
If you are turning 65 in 2026, retiring in 2026, or trying to figure out what Medicare will cost next year, the big question is simple. Do you pay the new $283 Part B deductible, or not? The answer depends entirely on the type of coverage you choose, and this is where...
2026 Medicare Part B Premium — Official Number, IRMAA Tiers, and What It Means
If you are turning 65 in 2026, retiring in 2026, or working past 65 and trying to plan ahead, the big question is simple. How much is Part B going to cost you, and does anything change for your coverage? Here are the numbers that actually affect your wallet in the new...
Medicare Plans Are Disappearing! What It Means for Your Coverage
If you’ve been shopping for Medicare this year and thought, “Where did half my options go?”, you’re not imagining things. Plans really have disappeared, changed names, or stopped showing up in the places you normally compare them. And yes—this absolutely affects your...
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap: What You Need to Know Before Dec. 7
Thinking about switching back to Medigap? You’re not alone. Every fall, people realize their Medicare Advantage plan isn’t quite what they expected. Maybe your doctor’s no longer in-network, or you’re paying more out of pocket than you thought. Or maybe you just want...
Extra Benefits in 2026: Which Ones Really Matter?
Everyone talks about the “extras” — but do they really help you? Every fall, when Medicare Advantage plan updates come out, people focus on the shiny extras — grocery cards, dental coverage, gym memberships, even help paying for utilities. It all sounds great on...
Avoid the IRMAA Medicare Surcharge Trap: How $1 Can Raise Medicare Costs
Here’s a question most people don’t know to ask until it’s too late: “Why did my Medicare premiums suddenly go up hundreds of dollars?” You didn’t change your plan, you didn’t make a mistake—yet your bill jumped. The culprit might be a little-known rule called...
Comparing Medicare Advantage Networks: HMO vs PPO in 2026
Every year around Annual Enrollment, I hear the same concern: “If I change plans, will I still be able to see my doctor?” That’s the right question to ask — and it usually comes down to which type of Medicare Advantage plan you pick: an HMO or a PPO. The letters sound...
Q&A: Answering the Top 10 Questions from 2026 Plan Changes
You’re not imagining it. The 2026 Medicare changes feel bigger. Every fall, people tell me the same thing: “I just got my plan notice and I have no idea what any of this means.” If that’s you, you’re not alone. Medicare plans change every year — sometimes a little,...
Medicare Giveback Plans: Why “More in Your Check” Can Cost You Later
Let’s cut to it: Will a giveback plan actually save you money—or take it back somewhere else? If you’re seeing “lower your Part B cost” ads, that sounds great. But the real question is: What happens to your doctors, your drug costs, your network, and your...
Resources
Copyright © 2021-2026. MF Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
19 North Grant Street Suite 3A Hinsdale, IL 60521
This publication is in no way associated, endorsed, or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This publication is in no way sponsored, associated, authorized, approved, endorsed nor, in any way affiliated with any company, trademarked names or other marks. Any such mention is for purpose of reference only. Any advice, generalized statistics, or opinions expressed are strictly those of the author, utilizing nearly two decades of daily Medicare insurance experience. Although every effort has been made to ensure the contents of this publication are correct and complete, Medicare rules, premiums, and coverages change quickly and often. The publication isn’t meant to replace the sage advice of healthcare, insurance, financial planning, accounting, or legal professionals. You are responsible for your financial decisions. It is your sole responsibility to independently evaluate the accuracy, correctness or completeness of the content, services, and products of, and associated with this publication. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author only, and are not the thoughts and opinions of any current or former employer of the author. Nor is this publication made by, on behalf of, or endorsed or approved by any current or former employer of the author.
PrepareForMedicare.com may contain affiliate or referral links. MF Media LLC may receive a referral fee for IRMAA-related services. If you book a Medicare consultation through this site and choose to enroll in a Medicare plan, the licensed agent—through Brickhouse Agency, LLC—may earn a commission. Learn more in our Privacy Policy and Terms.