Thinking About an Upgrade? How the 5-Star Special Enrollment Period Works
If a 5-Star Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is offered where you live, you can use a one-time Special Enrollment Period to switch anytime from Dec 8 through Nov 30—including right now in February. It’s a handy option if you missed AEP or your January experience wasn’t what you expected. What “5-Star” means Medicare rates plans 1–5 stars for quality and performance so you can compare options. A 5-Star plan earned the highest overall
New Year, Strong Heart: A Simple Routine You’ll Actually Keep
January’s perfect for a reset you can do at home (or at a mall, rec center, or hallway on rainy days). For adults 65+, aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, 2+ days of muscle-strengthening, and regular balance work. Think brisk walking + light resistance + a few minutes standing on one foot near the kitchen counter. Your 20-minute “most days” plan Warm up (3 min): easy marching, shoulder rolls. Walk (10 min):
Protect Your Medicare in 2026: Scam watch + breach checklist
Scammers ramp up right after Open Enrollment. Add in a couple of big 2025 security headlines, and January is the perfect time to tighten up your defenses. Here’s a quick, plain-English guide you can send to clients. What changed lately (and why it matters) Change Healthcare breach—now confirmed at ~192.7 million people. HHS says the 2024 hack ultimately affected about 192.7M individuals, the largest U.S. health-care breach on record. If your providers or pharmacies used
AEP’s Over — Now What?
AEP is officially in the rear-view, and now it’s all about making sure your 2026 coverage starts smooth on Jan 1 and knowing your options if something isn’t right. 1) Look for your plan welcome kit & Evidence of Coverage (EOC) Your plan mails an EOC each fall that spells out what’s covered, copays, rules (like prior auth), and extras (dental/vision/OTC). Keep it handy for January appointments and refills. Broker tip: If anything looks different
Healthy Holidays: Smart Eating & Low-Stress Celebrations
The holidays should feel warm and easy, not exhausting or derailing your health. Here’s a simple guide to enjoy the season without the sugar crash, sniffles, or stress spiral. 1) Build a better holiday plate Fill half your plate with veggies/fruit, add lean protein, and keep rich sides to small scoops. Stay moving: adults 65+ do best with ~150 minutes/week of moderate activity plus balance/strength work. Ten-minute walks count. Hand hygiene matters at gatherings, clean