Navigating Major Medicare Changes for 2026

Source article: https://www.thestreet.com/health/medicare-changes-millions-of-older-americans-need-to-know-before-2026

The provided text is an article from TheStreet that primarily focuses on significant changes to Medicare programs taking effect in 2026, particularly concerning prescription drug coverage and costs for older Americans.

The core message highlights a "good-news/bad-news scenario," where the cost of several high-priced prescription drugs will be substantially lowered due to negotiated pricing, offering estimated savings of over a billion dollars for beneficiaries. However, the source also points to potentially negative adjustments, such as increased out-of-pocket spending caps for Part D plans and stricter rules for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, including the discontinuation of some non-medical supplemental benefits.

The article stresses the need for beneficiaries to review their plans during open enrollment to maximize savings and prepare for program updates, such as a prior authorization pilot program in Original Medicare and improved network transparency for MA plans.