What we're following

• •Medicare open enrollment begins with fewer plans and higher costs expected This year's enrollment period opens with warnings that many people will see fewer plan choices and pay more, making careful review more important than usual. Read it
• •Medicare Advantage plans are disappearing — what it means for you Some Medicare Advantage plans are being discontinued, so people enrolled in them may be forced to find a new plan for the coming year. Read it
• •Buyer beware: new Medicare plans may have fewer benefits and higher costs Reports urge shoppers to read plan details closely, because some new offerings reportedly trim benefits while charging more. Read it
• •Switching from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare can be difficult People wanting to leave Medicare Advantage may face obstacles, including trouble getting a Medigap policy to cover out-of-pocket costs. Read it
• •Kansas man sentenced to 19 years for $1 billion Medicare fraud A lengthy prison sentence in a massive fraud case is a reminder of how much money is at stake in programs older adults rely on. Read it