Understanding IRMAA (2026): What It Is and How It Affects Your Medicare Premiums

by Matt Feret | Aug 29, 2025 | Medicare Advice, Medicare Part D, Original Medicare

Short version: If your Medicare bill is higher than you expected, you may have been hit with IRMAA — an extra charge on top of your Part B and Part D premiums because of your income. Let’s answer what most people actually care about: Why am I paying more? Will this...

Medicare Advantage Changes in 2026: What You Really Need to Know

by Matt Feret | Aug 28, 2025 | Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advice

There’s a lot of noise out there about Medicare Advantage in 2026. You may have even seen headlines about a “5.06% CMS payment boost.” Honestly? That number matters to insurance companies, not to you. What matters to you is: Will my plan still be available? Will my...

IRMAA Thresholds and What Counts Towards IRMAA

by Matt Feret | Aug 26, 2025 | Medicare Advice, Original Medicare

Short version: IRMAA is an income-based surcharge added to your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. It’s based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years ago—so your 2024 tax return is used for 2026. The higher your income bracket, the larger the...

Medicare Advantage Plans Are Ending in 2026 for Millions: Here’s What to Do

by Matt Feret | Aug 20, 2025 | Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advice, Service Area Reductions

In 2026, millions of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage will lose their current plan. Why? Because of something called a Medicare Service Area Reduction (SAR). That’s the technical term. What it really means for you is simple: your insurance company has decided...

Can You Use GoodRx With Medicare?

by Matt Feret | Aug 20, 2025 | Medicare Part D

How Does GoodRx Work With Medicare? If you’re on Medicare and you’ve seen GoodRx ads, you might wonder: should I use a discount card at the pharmacy, or my Medicare Part D benefit? Here’s the plain-English answer: GoodRx can lower a cash price, but it does not work...