Author: Elizabeth Blessing
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Nearly a quarter of hospital finance leaders say they have already dropped or narrowed a Medicare Advantage contract
A Black Book Research flash poll of 112 hospital finance leaders found 23.1 percent of Medicare Advantage-exposed organizations have already cut a contract. It is not a probability sample.
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Brown University Health patients have until August 31 to use a special Medicare window after their doctors left UnitedHealthcare’s network
A CMS-approved special enrollment period for Brown University Health patients on UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage closes August 31, 2026, and it reaches a narrow group.
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Income above $109,000 pushes the Medicare Part B premium as high as $689.90 a month, and it is based on your 2024 tax return
The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90, but income above $109,000 adds a surcharge on a six-step ladder topping out at $689.90 a month, scored on a 2024 tax return.
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Medicare’s late drug plan penalty is 1 percent of $38.99 per month, forever
The Part D late enrollment penalty adds 1 percent of the $38.99 national base premium for every full uncovered month, and Medicare adds the result to the premium permanently.
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Medicare covers a skilled nursing stay in full for 20 days, then charges $217 a day and pays nothing past day 100
Part A pays skilled nursing costs in full for 20 days, charges $217 a day from day 21 through 100 in 2026, and covers nothing after that. The 3-day rule decides eligibility.
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The FTC says tax debt relief firms take a fee to settle back taxes for pennies on the dollar, then often do nothing
An FTC consumer alert warns that tax relief firms promise to settle back taxes for pennies on the dollar before reviewing a file, charge a fee, and often do nothing.
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Proposed IRS rules would cap Trump Account fund fees at 0.1 percent
Treasury and the IRS proposed rules defining eligible investments for Trump Accounts: an unleveraged U.S. equity index fund charging no more than 0.1 percent a year.
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Social Security can pursue a dead relative’s overpayment from their estate, and auditors found it skipped that step in nearly half of sampled cases
SSA policy makes a deceased beneficiary’s estate liable for an unpaid overpayment. An August audit found the agency did not follow its required recovery order in 59 of 125 sampled cases.
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People who bought a Google-made device in the United States since May 2016 have until August 27 to file a claim in a $68 million privacy settlement
A $68 million Google Assistant privacy settlement closes its claim window on August 27, 2026. Purchaser claims require the device model, a serial number, and a receipt.
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Mary Washington Healthcare could leave Humana’s Medicare Advantage network September 1
The Fredericksburg system’s contract with Humana Medicare Advantage expires September 1, 2026 unless a renewal is reached. Emergency care stays protected either way.
