by Matt Feret | Aug 29, 2025 | Medicare Advice
Medicare isn’t “set it and forget it.” A wrong tur, like assuming it’s free, missing a deadline, or trusting a slick ad—can cost thousands and limit your future options. Here are the five mistakes I’ve seen over and over in 20+ years, and how to avoid them so you keep...
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...
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...
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...
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...
by Matt Feret | Aug 12, 2025 | Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advice, Medicare Part D
Every fall, people shopping for Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans run into the “Medicare Star Rating” system. It looks simple — one to five stars, just like Amazon reviews. But here’s the real question: Do these stars actually help you figure out which plan is...
