2027 Medicare Star Ratings: How to Use Them During Open Enrollment
CMS posted 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings on October 8, 2026 - one week before Open Enrollment. Here's what changed, what 4+ stars actually means, and how to use the scores on Medicare.gov without treating them as the only decision…
Medicare OTC Card for 2027: Who Gets One, What It Buys, and How Not to Lose the Money
A Medicare OTC card is an allowance from a Medicare Advantage plan, not from Medicare itself. Here's who actually gets one, what it buys, why unused money disappears, and what changes for 2027 cards.
Medicare Giveback Benefit: How the Part B Premium Reduction Works, Who Gets It and When It’s Worth It
The Medicare giveback is a Part B premium reduction that some Medicare Advantage plans offer. About a third of plans have one, many for under $10 a month. Here's how it works, who qualifies, how the money shows up, and how to judge whether a giveback…
Medicare Flex Card for 2027: What It Really Is, Who Gets One, and the Ads to Ignore
Medicare doesn't hand out flex cards. Some Medicare Advantage plans do, with limits most ads leave out. Here's what the cards pay for, who actually qualifies, the card rules that change in 2027, and how to check a plan before you switch.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027: How to Compare Plans in Your Area
The best Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 is the one that fits your doctors, drugs and budget in your county. Here are the official 2027 numbers, seven checks before you enroll, and how star ratings and enrollment windows work.
Medicare D-SNP Plans for 2027: Who Qualifies, What’s Changing, and How to Enroll
A D-SNP is a Medicare Advantage plan for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. Here's who qualifies, what the extras really look like, the monthly enrollment windows that replaced the old quarterly one, and the D-SNP changes that start in 2027.
Clear Spring Health Left Medicare Advantage in 2026: Where Former Members Stand and What to Do at Open Enrollment
Clear Spring Health's Medicare Advantage coverage ended May 31, 2026, and the special enrollment window closed July 31. Here's how to figure out what coverage you have now, what to check on old claims, and how to use Open Enrollment to fix anything that…
Medicare Advantage Benefit Cuts for 2027: What to Check Before You Enroll
Plans can keep a low monthly premium while trimming OTC, dental limits, networks, or Part B givebacks. Here is how to spot 2027 cuts in your ANOC before December 7.