Health & Medicare

Medicare basics, IRMAA, premium cliffs, and planning health costs before and after age 65.

Medicare & ACA

Enrollment timelines, premium tiers, ACA subsidies, and IRMAA.

6 articles in Health & Medicare

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Dental, Vision, and Hearing in Retirement: Filling Medicare's Biggest Gaps
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.
Medicare GapsDental InsuranceVision Insurance
GLP-1 Drugs and Medicare: What's Covered, the Bridge Program, and Retirement Planning
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.
Glp 1OzempicWegovy
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare + Medigap: The Complete Guide
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.
MedicareMedicare AdvantageMedigap
IRMAA Avoidance and MAGI Planning Across Calendar Years
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.
IrmaaMagiMedicare
ACA Subsidies and Bridge Coverage 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.
AcaHealth InsuranceEarly Retirement
Medicare Enrollment Timelines: IEP, SEP, and Late Penalties
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.
MedicareMedicare EnrollmentIep