Today

Costco enters Medicare, teaming with SCAN Health Plan on a new pilot

Good morning. The big news today is Costco. The warehouse club is stepping into senior health care by offering Medicare plans for the first time. Reports say Costco is partnering with the nonprofit SCAN Health Plan on a limited pilot program, marking its first move into Medicare Advantage coverage for older members.

Medicare talk was everywhere else, too. Two U.S. senators pushed "Medicare for All" at public hearings, while experts debated whether Medicare should add catastrophic coverage to stop families from going bankrupt. Health officials also warned of a new phishing scam aimed at Medicare patients, so please guard your Medicare number carefully.

In nursing homes and senior living, a shortage of legal guardians is keeping some patients stuck in hospitals, costing tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, staffing troubles and low pay continue to drive turnover, and one Oregon insurer is dropping its Medicare Advantage plans after a deal fell through.