Today Medicare open enrollment begins as safety alarms ring at some senior facilities.Good morning. Medicare's open enrollment season is underway, and the message to older adults is to slow down and get help. Officials in several states urge seniors to review their plans carefully and watch for scams and fraud, which reports say can harm the very people Medicare is meant to protect. Free help is available, and experts say it is worth using before choosing a plan. At the same time, serious problems surfaced at care facilities. In Massachusetts, reports say 30 residents of one assisted living community were hospitalized over a few weeks following a woman's death, and a local health director is demanding answers. State regulators are also moving to pull the licenses of a nursing home chain after reports of declining care. There is business news too. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas plans to stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, and changes to some Maine plans may affect patients. These shifts are a reminder to check what your plan covers each year. |