Today

Medicare Open Enrollment opens with premium hikes and plan losses looming

Good morning. Medicare's fall Open Enrollment is underway, and this year the choices feel bigger than usual. Several reports warn that some people will pay more for Part B next year, with higher-income retirees facing the steepest increases. A widely shared story says a $90 Part B payment is coming for about 20 million people, but many will not qualify — so it pays to read the fine print.

Plans are also changing. One insurer, Martin's Point, is dropping certain Medicare plans for 2027, and seniors in Hawaii are weighing hard choices after losing an HMSA plan. Local aging offices, senior centers, and insurance officials across the country are offering free help and Q&A sessions to sort through the options before deadlines pass.

There is also news in long-term care. Massachusetts adopted tougher nursing home rules, an assisted living company fired a regional administrator after an Iowan's death, and a bankruptcy plan may limit payments to affected nursing home residents. Together, the day points to one message: check your coverage now, and ask for help if you need it.