Tuesday, August 25, 2026: Millions of seniors face Medicare Advantage cuts and higher drug costs

SeniorLiving.News · 2026-08-25

Millions of seniors face Medicare Advantage cuts and higher drug costs this year — your morning briefing.
 ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏ ‌​‍‎‏

SeniorLiving.News · Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Good morning.

Daily Briefing

Millions of seniors face Medicare Advantage cuts and higher drug costs this year

Medicare is the big story this morning. Reports say some health insurers are dropping Medicare Advantage plans, and nearly 3 million older Americans could be affected. On top of that, most seniors are expected to pay more for their Medicare drug plans. If your plan is changing for 2027, insurers must mail you the details by September 30 — so watch your mailbox closely.

There is also news for people in assisted living and nursing homes. One report says a state health insurer is cutting Medicaid benefits for assisted living, which could push more people into nursing homes. Meanwhile, officials are again looking at advance care planning as a mark of nursing home quality.

In Washington, the debate over Medicare's future continues. One report says the president suggested states could help pay for Medicare, a move critics warn could weaken the program. As always, these are reports — check with your own plan before making any decisions.

Read the full briefing →

Top Stories

Insurers Drop Medicare Advantage Plans, Affecting Nearly 3 Million

Reports say some insurers are ending Medicare Advantage plans, so millions of older Americans may need to find new coverage for the year ahead.

Most Seniors to Pay More for Medicare Drug Plans

Higher drug plan costs could stretch fixed incomes, so it is worth reviewing your options before you renew.

Your 2027 Medicare Plan Changes Must Reach You by September 30

Important cost changes are easy to overlook, so read the notice your plan sends carefully before the deadline passes.

Medicaid Cuts for Assisted Living May Push More Into Nursing Homes

A reported cut to assisted living benefits could force some residents to move, raising worries about care and where people can afford to live.

Report: Trump Suggested States Help Fund Medicare

Critics warn that shifting costs to states could weaken Medicare, a program millions of seniors rely on every day.

Your Topics

Medicare, Social Security & Benefits

Costco announced its first Medicare partnership, aiming to improve the senior care experience and raising questions about whether it will offer better value. Meanwhile, a new proposal could preserve Social Security while reducing full cost-of-living increases for millions of older Americans.

Costco’s first Medicare partnership targets senior care experience · Scripps News

Costco to sell Medicare plans: Does that mean better value for seniors? · Cleveland.com

Millions of US seniors could lose full Social Security COLAs. New proposal may preserve program, but here’s who loses · Yahoo Finance

Health & Wellness

Health and wellness news today highlights the importance of recognizing epilepsy in older adults, and CHI St. Alexius Health Williston has launched a new behavioral health program serving seniors.

Recognizing epilepsy in older adults: Why awareness matters · UKNow

Senior Health, Home Health & Hospice Stocks Q2 Earnings: BrightSpring Health Services (NASDAQ:BTSG) Best of the Bunch · TradingView

CHI St. Alexius Health Williston launches behavioral health program for older adults · American Hospital Association

Caregiving & Family

Caregiving news highlights the varied paths people take to support older loved ones, including friends who step into helping roles. The Alzheimer's Association is also planning a caregiver education series in Potsdam, along with guidance for those facing unusual or especially demanding caregiving situations.

Complex atypical caregiving: navigating the margins of unique caregiver roles and burdens · Frontiers

Alzheimer’s Association to offer caregiver education series in Potsdam · North Country Now

Friends Can Become Caregivers When Older Adults Need Help · The New York Times

Travel & Leisure

A panel of retirement experts named a single top wellness destination for older travelers, while a helpful guide explains whether airlines still offer senior discounts. In business news, Travel + Leisure Co. set pricing on $900 million of senior secured notes due 2031.

We Asked 5 Retirement Pros for the Best Wellness Destination for Seniors—and They All Picked the Same Place · Travel + Leisure

Do Airlines Offer Senior Discounts? Here’s What Travelers Need to Know · Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Co. Announces Pricing of $900 Million of Senior Secured Notes Due 2031 · Business Wire

Money & Retirement

New guidance encourages planning for retirement early, noting that savings needs shift with age. One report finds that four in five people who survive a critical illness end up drawing on their retirement funds.

The best time to think about your pension is before you need one · The Conversation

How Retirement Savings Differ by Age—and What That Means for Financial Planning · Investopedia

Four in five critical illness survivors dip into retirement savings · Healthcare Asia Magazine

Senior Living & Housing

A Riverside development may switch developers, add senior housing, and cut apartment units. Meanwhile, new partnerships aim to expand affordable senior housing, and a Boston firm sold assisted‑living properties for $114 million.

Riverside project could get new developers, senior housing, and fewer apartments · Fig City News

Highlighting partnerships and programs for affordable senior housing · Bay News 9

Boston firm sells assisted living sites for $114 million · The Business Journals

Technology & Online Safety

Communities are stepping up support for older adults, with the City of Kent offering a free technology clinic and SeniorsPlus opening a new education and nutrition center in Lewiston. A separate roundup highlights the top five financial scams that target seniors and ways to steer clear of them.

Top 5 Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults and How to Avoid Them · The National Council on Aging (NCOA)

SeniorsPlus opens education, nutrition center in Lewiston · WGME

City of Kent to offer free technology clinic for older adults · Kent Reporter

On This Day

2017. Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the United States since 2004.

2017. Conflict in Rakhine State (2016–present): One hundred seventy people are killed in at least 26 separate attacks carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, leading to the governments of Myanmar and Malaysia designating the group as a terrorist organisation.

2012. Voyager 1 spacecraft enters interstellar space, becoming the first man-made object to do so.

See more →

Today's Puzzle

Today's puzzle: Word search

Play today's puzzle →


SeniorLiving.News sends one digest a day, every morning around 7 a.m. Eastern. You can change your mind any time.

seniorliving.news

All editions from SeniorLiving.News