Why Medicare Advantage Plans Are So Attractive — Especially at First When people first become Medicare-eligible, many are shocked by how quickly the costs start adding up. Medicare is often described as “free” or “government health insurance,” but that illusion disappears the moment Part B begins. In 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is [...]
If you look at the statistics, it feels obvious. The majority of people enrolling in Medicare today choose Medicare Advantage plans. That alone would make you assume they must be the better option. More people choose them.More ads promote them.More agents talk about them. But popularity does not mean superiority—especially when it comes to [...]
Many Medicare beneficiaries believe that once they choose a plan, it will always be there. Unfortunately, that’s not how Medicare works. Every year, plans can: Exit a county Be discontinued by the carrier Merge into a different plan Change in ways that effectively end the coverage you relied on When this happens, people are [...]
Many people assume that if their Medicare plan worked last year, it will work again this year. That assumption feels reasonable.It’s also one of the most common Medicare mistakes. Unlike many types of insurance, Medicare plans are allowed to change every single year—even if you make no changes at all. What actually changes from [...]
Many people on Medicare say the same thing when asked about prescription coverage: “I don’t take many medications, so I’ll worry about that later.” Unfortunately, that mindset leads to one of the most expensive and frustrating Medicare mistakes — ignoring prescription drug coverage until a problem appears. By the time it [...]
One of the most painful Medicare surprises happens after enrollment — when someone goes to schedule an appointment and hears: “We no longer accept your plan.” For many Medicare beneficiaries, that moment comes out of nowhere.They chose a plan, paid their premium, and assumed their doctors would remain available. Unfortunately, that assumption leads to one [...]
One of the most common things people say when choosing a Medicare plan is: “I just want the cheapest option.” On the surface, that makes sense.Why pay more if you don’t have to? But in Medicare, focusing only on the monthly premium is one of the fastest ways to end up paying far more over [...]
One of the most damaging Medicare mistakes doesn’t involve choosing the “wrong” plan.It happens before you ever compare options. That mistake is missing an enrollment deadline — often without realizing one even existed. Unlike many insurance decisions, Medicare deadlines are not flexible. When you miss them, the consequences can be automatic, permanent, and expensive. Why [...]
Medicare Mistake #1: Assuming Enrollment Is Automatic at 65 Turning 65 is often described as a milestone where Medicare “just starts.” For many people, that assumption is the first and most expensive Medicare mistake they’ll ever make. The truth is simple—but rarely explained clearly: Medicare is not automatic for everyone. And if you get this [...]
