Thinking About an Upgrade? How the 5-Star Special Enrollment Period Works
If a 5-Star Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is offered where you live, you can use a one-time Special Enrollment Period to switch anytime from Dec 8 through Nov 30—including right now in February. It’s a handy option if you missed AEP or your January experience wasn’t what you expected. What “5-Star” means Medicare […]
The “Do-Over” Window: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1–Mar 31)
If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you get a once-per-year chance (Jan 1–Mar 31) to switch to a different MA plan (with or without drug coverage) or return to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan. Any change generally starts the first day of the month after the plan gets your […]
AEP’s Over — Now What?
AEP is officially in the rear-view, and now it’s all about making sure your 2026 coverage starts smooth on Jan 1 and knowing your options if something isn’t right. 1) Look for your plan welcome kit & Evidence of Coverage (EOC) Your plan mails an EOC each fall that spells out what’s covered, copays, rules […]
Important SSA Update: No More Paper Benefit Checks Starting September 30, 2025
If you currently receive your Social Security benefits by paper check, you’ll need to take action soon. Starting September 30, 2025, federal benefit payments will switch almost entirely to electronic payments. This change is happening to make payments safer, faster, and easier for everyone. What This Means for You Paper checks will be phased out. […]
