Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: five questions before choosing 2027 coverage

Open enrollment decides your 2027 coverage, so a short checklist of questions can help you compare plans and avoid costly surprises.

Task force to remove 750,000 enrollments it calls fraudulent

A federal anti-fraud effort says it will cut hundreds of thousands of enrollments, a move that could affect coverage for many people.

Get ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment scams

Scammers use enrollment season to steal Medicare numbers, so knowing the warning signs protects your money and your benefits.

New Medicare lab payment rates bring cuts as high as 23%

Medicare is changing what it pays for lab tests, and reported cuts could affect where and how some tests are done.

CMS eases path for Medicare Advantage takeovers

Making it simpler for companies to take over Medicare Advantage plans could change who runs the coverage millions of seniors rely on.

Medicare, Social Security & Benefits

Vermont has expanded eligibility so more low-income seniors can get help paying for Medicare. Elsewhere, Eli Lilly reports that 700,000 seniors have begun taking GLP-1 medications since Medicare began covering them, while an advocacy leader is pushing to update how Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment works.

More low-income seniors in Vermont are now eligible for help paying for Medicare · Vermont Public

Eli Lilly CEO says 700,000 new seniors have started GLP-1s after Medicare coverage, and 70% are on Lilly drugs · CNBC

Senior Citizens League director targets annual Social Security policy: “COLA only happening once a year puts l · Diario AS

Money & Retirement

New figures highlight how much Americans in their late 40s and early 50s have saved for retirement, while younger generations are placing retirement ahead of homeownership. California's governor also rejected a bill to boost pensions for police and firefighters, pointing to the state's pension shortfall.

Newsom cites pension crisis as he vetoes bill to enhance retirement for police and firefighters · CalMatters

Retirement Savings Benchmarks for Americans Ages 45-54: Account Participation and Median Balances · Investopedia

Gen Z, Millennials Prioritize Retirement Savings as Homeownership Slips Further Out of Reach · planadviser.com

Senior Living & Housing

Senior living is in the spotlight today with a look at how six operators build community and culture for residents, a feature on balanced living at Palace Assisted Living Modi'in, and news that a new senior living facility is among the latest permits filed in the Austin area.

Creating Culture: How 6 Senior Living Operators Bring People Together · Senior Housing News

Living the perfect balance at Palace Assisted Living Modi'in · The Jerusalem Post

A new senior living facility, steakhouse and coffee shop: 5 Austin-area permits filed this week · Community Impact

Health & Wellness

Communities are expanding support for older adults, with Steele County promoting healthy aging and Benefis Health System opening a new Goodnow Healthy Aging Center for Montana's growing senior population. Guidance is also available on preparing for Medicare open enrollment.

STEELE CO. PUBLIC HEALTH: Healthy aging in Steele County: Supporting a growing older adult community · southernminn.com

Benefis Health System to open Goodnow Healthy Aging Center to serve Montana's growing senior population · KRTV

Sponsored: How to Prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment with Senior Health Services · KHOU

Caregiving & Family

Today's coverage highlights the often-unseen value of everyday caregiving and domestic work, and asks how veterinary teams can support families through the strain of a pet's illness. A separate report tells of a caregiver accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a 93-year-old Brevard County woman.

The Value of Caregiving and Domestic Work We Do Every Day · U.S. Government Accountability Office (.gov)

Q&A: Caregiver burden can begin early in pet illness. Are veterinary teams equipped to support clients, and how can veterinary social workers help both parties? · dvm360.com

Caregiver accused of stealing thousands from 93-year-old Brevard County woman · WFTV

Travel & Leisure

Fresh rankings spotlight the 20 best countries for older travelers and retirees to explore, while retirement experts agree on a single top wellness destination for seniors. In company news, Travel + Leisure Co. announced a new senior secured notes offering.

These Are the 20 Best Countries for Senior Travelers and Retirees to Visit · Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Co. Announces Launch of Senior Secured Notes Offering · businesswire.com

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

Technology & Online Safety

Efforts to help older adults use technology safely are growing, with Fresno offering free digital literacy classes and OpenAI touring the country to teach older Americans about artificial intelligence, alongside fresh reporting on the online scams most often aimed at seniors.

Fresno offers free digital literacy classes to help seniors navigate technology · ABC30 Fresno

What Are the Top Online Scams Targeting Older Adults? · The National Council on Aging (NCOA)

Exclusive: OpenAI launches road tour to educate older Americans on AI · USA Today

Food & Nutrition

Today's coverage focuses on malnutrition among older adults, describing how to recognize and prevent it and calling it a hidden threat to healthy longevity. Another report highlights a county IT team helping a senior nutrition program run more efficiently.

How Older Adults Can Detect and Prevent Malnutrition · The National Council on Aging (NCOA)

County IT Team Helps Senior Nutrition Program Improve Efficiency · Santa Clara County (.gov)

Malnutrition in Older Adults: The Hidden Threat to Healthy Longevity | U.S. News Health · US News Health