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09/18/2026

Even if you plan to keep the same Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan next year, that doesn’t automatically mean everything stays the same.

Your Annual Notice of Change explains what may be changing with your costs, benefits, and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year.

Take a few minutes to review it before AEP so you know what your current plan will actually look like next year.

**Disclaimer:**
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide individualized Medicare advice or recommend any specific insurance plan. Plan benefits, costs, coverage, and availability can vary by carrier, plan, and location. Always review your official plan documents or contact Medicare, your plan, or a licensed insurance professional for information specific to your situation.

09/16/2026

Getting an Annual Notice of Change doesn’t automatically mean you need to switch Medicare plans.

The point of the notice is to show you what’s changing with your current coverage for next year.

Review the changes first. Look at your costs, benefits, and prescriptions. Then decide whether your current plan still fits your needs.

**Disclaimer:**
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide individualized Medicare advice or recommend any specific insurance plan. Plan benefits, costs, coverage, and availability can vary by carrier, plan, and location. Always review your official plan documents or contact Medicare, your plan, or a licensed insurance professional for information specific to your situation.

09/14/2026

If you have a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan, there’s an important piece of mail you’ll want to pay attention to this fall: your Annual Notice of Change.

This notice explains what may be changing with your plan for the upcoming year, including things like costs, coverage, benefits, and prescription drug coverage.

The biggest takeaway? A change in your plan doesn’t automatically mean you need to switch, but you do want to know what’s changing before Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period begins.

Take a few minutes to review your ANOC when it arrives and keep it somewhere handy.

**Disclaimer:**
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide individualized Medicare advice or recommend any specific insurance plan. Plan benefits, costs, coverage, and availability can vary by carrier, plan, and location. Always review your official plan documents or contact Medicare, your plan, or a licensed insurance professional for information specific to your situation.

09/03/2026

Medicare.gov now offers three secure identity-verification services for accessing your online Medicare account: ID.me, CLEAR and Login.gov.

If you already have a Medicare.gov account, connecting one of these services can create a few understandable questions:

What happens to your old username and password? Are you creating a new Medicare account? Does anything happen to your coverage or claims?

In this video, I walk through the connection process, compare the three sign-in options and explain what stays safely with Medicare.

The simple way to remember it:

New key. Same house.

Always start directly at Medicare.gov, and never share your password, security code, Medicare number or Social Security number in the comments.

Official information:
https://www.medicare.gov/account/login/help

DISCLAIMER:

Educational purposes only. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov.

08/23/2026

A Medicare Flex Card is not free cash from Medicare.

These cards may provide access to certain supplemental benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan, but they can come with rules around what you can buy, where you can use the card, and which benefits you qualify for.

Think of it as access to a specific plan benefit, not a blank check you can spend however you want.

**DISCLAIMER: Educational only. Not connected with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or the U.S. government. This content is not a complete description of benefits and should not be considered personal plan advice. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or SSA.gov.**

08/22/2026

Extra benefits can be useful, but they shouldn’t be the only reason you choose a Medicare Advantage plan.

Before you focus on things like Flex Cards or other supplemental benefits, make sure the actual health plan works for you.

Look at things like:
- Your doctors and hosptials
- Prescription coverage
- Copays and coinsurance
- Max Out-of-Pocket
- Then the extra benefits

The extras matter. The health plan just matters MORE!

**DISCLAIMER: Educational only. Not connected with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or the U.S. government. This content is not a complete description of benefits and should not be considered personal plan advice. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or SSA.gov.**

08/21/2026

Can a Medicare Flex Card actually help pay for groceries?

Sometimes. Certain Medicare Advantage plans may include healthy-food or grocery-related supplemental benefits, and a Flex Card can be one way that benefit is provided.

But not every Flex Card includes grocery benefits, and there may be rules around who qualifies, what items are eligible, and where the card can be used.

The key is knowing what your specific plan actually covers.

**DISCLAIMER: Educational only. Not connected with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or the U.S. government. This content is not a complete description of benefits and should not be considered personal plan advice. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or SSA.gov.**

08/20/2026

Are Medicare Flex Cards actually real?

Yes, they can be. But they’re not something everyone on Medicare automatically receives, and there isn’t one universal Flex Card that everyone can just sign up for.

These cards may be used by certain Medicare Advantage plans to provide access to specific supplemental benefits, and what they cover can vary by plan.

**DISCLAIMER: ducational only. Not connected with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or the U.S. government. This content is not a complete description of benefits and should not be considered personal plan advice. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or SSA.gov.**

08/19/2026

You’ve probably seen the commercials talking about Medicare Flex Cards, but are they actually real, and how do they really work?

In this episode of The 65 Brief, I break down:
- What a Medicare Flex Card actually is
- Who may have access to one
- What types of expenses they may help with
- Why they aren't just simply "Free Cash"
- Why you should look at the entire Medicare Advantage Plan, not just the Extra Benefits

A Flex Card can absolutely be a useful benefit, but the rules, eligibility, and covered items can vary by plan.

**DISCLAIMER: Educational only. Not connected with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or the U.S. government. This content is not a complete description of benefits and should not be considered personal plan advice. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or SSA.gov.**

08/14/2026

Don’t assume you make too much to qualify for a Medicare Savings Program.

Eligibility isn’t always as simple as comparing your income to one number you found online. Some income or resources may not count, and rules can vary by state.

If Medicare costs are putting pressure on your budget, it may still be worth applying and getting an official eligibility decision instead of ruling yourself out.

**Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, financial, medical, or eligibility advice. Medicare Savings Program eligibility, benefits, income limits, resource limits, and application procedures may vary by state and can change over time. Qualification and benefit determinations are made by the appropriate state Medicaid agency. Contact your state Medicaid office, local SHIP program, or Medicare for current information specific to your situation. This page is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.**

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