Medicare basics, IRMAA, premium cliffs, and planning health costs before and after age 65.
Coverage, costs, and planning around Medicare age.
Jan 21, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 11 min read
Medicare timing mistakes can create permanent penalties and coverage gaps. Here is how the main enrollment windows work, when employer coverage changes the rules, and what to do before 65.
Feb 10, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 12 min read
Early retirees often need health insurance before Medicare. ACA subsidies can make that bridge affordable, but Roth conversions, capital gains, and part-time income can quickly change the math.
Apr 23, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 12 min read
IRMAA is driven by calendar-year MAGI and a two-year lookback. Learn how to plan Roth conversions, capital gains, RMDs, and retirement transitions without accidentally triggering Medicare surcharges.
Enrollment timelines, premium tiers, ACA subsidies, and IRMAA.
May 19, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 12 min read
Medicare's three most notorious coverage gaps — dental, vision, and hearing — can cost $33,000–$106,000 out of pocket over a 20-year retirement without a plan. This guide covers exactly what Medicare does and doesn't cover for each, all 2026 cost benchmarks, the four coverage strategies (standalone insurance, Medicare Advantage bundles, discount plans, HSA spending), the OTC hearing aid revolution, Medigap plan G's relationship to these gaps, and a dental cost strategy framework for retirees.
May 19, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 13 min read
Medicare's coverage of GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) is determined by the diagnosis — not the drug. This guide covers the statutory prohibition on weight-loss drug coverage, exactly which conditions qualify for Part D coverage, the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program launching July 1, 2026 ($50/month for eligible beneficiaries), Bridge eligibility tiers by BMI and condition, what happens after the Bridge ends in December 2027, and how to plan for GLP-1 costs as part of a retirement healthcare budget.
May 19, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 15 min read
The biggest healthcare decision most retirees make. This guide covers the three Medicare coverage paths, all 2026 costs and out-of-pocket limits, the Medigap plan alphabet (Plan G, N, F explained), the medical underwriting trap that makes this decision largely irreversible, prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, IRMAA surcharges, the enrollment calendar, and a four-question decision framework to identify which path fits your situation.
Apr 23, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 12 min read
IRMAA is driven by calendar-year MAGI and a two-year lookback. Learn how to plan Roth conversions, capital gains, RMDs, and retirement transitions without accidentally triggering Medicare surcharges.
Traditional, hybrid, and self-funding strategies for LTC risk.
May 7, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 12 min read
Long-term care can become the largest unplanned retirement expense. Learn cost ranges, insurance mechanics, and how to model out-of-pocket exposure.
May 4, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 10 min read
Traditional long-term care insurance has seen dramatic premium increases for existing policyholders and steep new policy costs. Hybrid life/LTC policies solve the use-it-or-lose-it problem.
May 4, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 8 min read
A MEC isn't the first thing most advisors mention for LTC planning, but for retirees with large low-yield savings it can combine care funding leverage with legacy transfer.
Feb 3, 2026 · Health & Medicare · 10 min read
Assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing sticker prices are only the start. Here is how long care lasts, what Medicare does not cover, Medicaid spend-down, and how to stress-test a couple balance sheet.
Home modifications and accessibility planning.
CCRCs and senior-living entry-fee structures.