Personal Finance

Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7. These last-minute tips can help

Published

5 months ago

December 3, 2024

Business Finance News

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Older Americans have just a few days left to evaluate their Medicare coverage for next year.

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period for health plans and prescription drug coverage runs until Dec. 7. Experts say it’s worthwhile for Medicare’s 67.8 million beneficiaries to make sure they have the best coverage for their needs.

“Now is as good a time as any,” said Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, a provider of health policy research.

While many beneficiaries are comfortable with their plans and may be reluctant to change, it’s still a good idea to look at all the options that are available, she said.

“It’s possible that you could save money,” Cubanski said. For example, you may find a plan that offers lower cost sharing for expensive medications or offers better coverage or extra benefits, she said.

Beneficiaries should start with Medicare.gov as they start to shop for plans, according to Philip Moeller, author of “Get What’s Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs.”

Medicare.gov’s online plan finder can help provide an overview of the plans available in a beneficiary’s geographic area and the monthly premiums and specific costs associated with services provided through those plans, Cubanski said.

Trained counselors are also available to provide free Medicare advice in every state through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, also known as SHIP.

To effectively compare plans, there are some helpful tips that are good to keep in mind, experts say.

Make sure you have access to preferred providers

Beneficiaries may choose to go with original Medicare — Parts A and B with the option to add Part D prescription drug coverage — or private Medicare Advantage plans.

With original Medicare, you can see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare, so access is not an issue, Moeller said.

But with Medicare Advantage plans, there are provider networks that limit the choice of doctors and hospitals from which a beneficiary may choose, he said.

It’s best to check — not assume — that the doctors you want to see will be covered by your plan, Moeller said.

Call Medicare Advantage plans or medical providers directly to find out if they are still covered, as brochures can sometimes be outdated, Cubanski said.

Check if your prescription drugs are covered

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks, during an event on Medicare drug price negotiations, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, U.S., August 15, 2024.

Ken Cedeno | Reuters

Starting in 2025, there’s a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug costs through Medicare Part D.

That change is due to the Inflation Reduction Act, a federal law enacted in 2022.

Consequently, insurance will pay more for about 8% of people who take expensive prescription medications, but they may look for ways to get their money back for the remaining 92%, Moeller said.

That may come in the form of higher co-pays or deductibles or less generous plan benefits.

“The details really matter this year for Part D plans,” Moeller said. “People should do their homework and make sure that their Part D plan still does what they wanted it to do.”

Medicare Advantage plans, on average, will see deductibles for prescription drug coverage increase next year. Typically, those have been around $50 per month on average, though next year that will go up to just over $200, according to Cubanski.

“People in Medicare Advantage on average, will be facing a higher deductible for drug coverage in 2025,” Cubanski said.

Pay attention to your out-of-pocket costs

Open enrollment provides an opportunity for beneficiaries to manage how much their overall out-of-pocket costs — including premiums, deductibles and coinsurance — may increase in 2025.

“Make sure that you have manageable out-of-pocket expenses for the year,” Moeller said.

With original Medicare, beneficiaries typically pay no premiums for Medicare Part A. However, in 2025, the standard monthly Part B premium will go up to $185 per month — a $10.30 increase from $174.70 this year. Annual deductibles for Medicare Part B will go up to $257 in 2025 — a $17 increase from the $240 annual deductible for 2024.

Notably, Medicare Part B typically only covers 80% of expenses for doctors and outpatient costs, which can take a financial toll on beneficiaries, Moeller said. To help defray those costs Medicare doesn’t fully pay for, most people get a Medigap plan, he said.

Medigap, also known as Medicare supplement insurance, provides private insurance to help pay for out-of-pocket costs not covered under original Medicare plans. Average monthly Medigap premiums are $217, according to a recent KFF analysis, though those rates vary by state.

With Medicare Advantage, costs may vary from plan to plan, Moeller said, and you may pay more to see a doctor who is out of network.

Medicare Advantage enrollees face an average out-of-pocket limit of $4,882 for in-network services, according to KFF, or $8,707 for both in-network and out-of-network services.

Bottom line: “Details matter,” Moeller said.

Medicare original vs. Advantage: Choice is personal

Humana shares tumble on lower Medicare Advantage quality rating

Medicare Advantage has received its share of criticism, particularly for restricted access to care and unexpected costs some beneficiaries have encountered.

But experts say the choice between private Medicare Advantage plans and government Medicare original plans is largely personal.

“For some people, Medicare Advantage might be the right call,” Moeller said.

Medicare Advantage has certain upsides. It’s generally cheaper for consumers than traditional Medicare with a Medigap plan, Moeller said. It generally provides out of pocket protection against catastrophic health bills. It may also provide supplemental coverage for hearing, vision and dental, while traditional Medicare does not, he said.

However, Medicare Advantage enrollees may need to get prior authorization before receiving certain types of care, Cubanski said. In contrast, traditional Medicare generally does not use prior authorization.

You may still be able to make changes after Dec. 7

A senior citizen holds a sign during a rally to protect federal health programs at the 8th Annual Healthy Living Festival on July 15, 2011 in Oakland, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

In some cases, beneficiaries may still be able to make changes after the official Dec. 7 end of Medicare open enrollment.

“Dec. 7 is important, but it’s not the end-all date, in case you need to make some changes,” Moeller said.

Medicare Advantage has its own special open enrollment period that will start on Jan. 1 and last through the first quarter. During that time, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries may switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, opt for original Medicare or enroll in a standalone Part D drug plan.

Alternatively, if you have had a life-changing event, such as a move, you may qualify to take advantage of Medicare’s special enrollment periods.

Moreover, people who live in areas that were affected by hurricanes or wildfires in 2024 may have more time to sign up for their 2025 coverage, according to KFF.

Personal Finance

What student loan forgiveness opportunities still remain under Trump

Published

52 minutes ago

April 26, 2025

Business Finance News

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Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Education made regular announcements that it was forgiving student debt for thousands of people under various relief programs and repayment plans.

That’s changed under President Donald Trump.

In his first few months in office, Trump — who has long been critical of education debt cancellation — signed an executive order aimed at limiting eligibility for the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and his Education Department revised some student loan repayment plans to no longer conclude in debt erasure.

“You have the administration trying to limit PSLF credits, and clear attacks on the income-based repayment with forgiveness options,” said Malissa Giles, a consumer bankruptcy attorney in Virginia.

The White House did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Here’s what to know about the current status of federal student loan forgiveness opportunities.

Forgiveness chances narrow on repayment plans

The Biden administration’s new student loan repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, isn’t expected to survive under Trump, experts say. A U.S. appeals court already blocked the plan in February after a GOP-led challenge to the program.

SAVE came with two key provisions that lawsuits targeted: It had lower monthly payments than any other federal student loan repayment plan, and it led to quicker debt erasure for those with small balances.

“I personally think you will see SAVE dismantled through the courts or the administration,” Giles said.

But the Education Department under Trump is now arguing that the ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals required it to end the loan forgiveness under repayment plans beyond SAVE. As a result, the Pay As You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment options no longer wipe debt away after a certain number of years.

There’s some good news: At least one repayment plan still leads to debt erasure, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. That plan is called Income-Based Repayment.

If a borrower enrolled in ICR or PAYE eventually switches to IBR, their previous payments made under the other plans will count toward loan forgiveness under IBR, as long as they meet the IBR’s other requirements, Kantrowitz said. (Some borrowers may opt to take that strategy if they have a lower monthly bill under ICR or PAYE than they would on IBR.)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains

Despite Trump‘s executive order in March aimed at limiting eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the program remains intact. Any changes to the program would likely take months or longer to materialize, and may even need congressional approval, experts say.

PSLF, which President George W. Bush signed into law in 2007, allows many not-for-profit and government employees to have their federal student loans canceled after 10 years of payments.

What’s more, any changes to PSLF can’t be retroactive, consumer advocates say. That means that if you are currently working for or previously worked for an organization that the Trump administration later excludes from the program, you’ll still get credit for that time — at least up until when the changes go into effect.

For now, the language in the president’s executive order was fairly vague. As a result, it remains unclear exactly which organizations will no longer be considered a qualifying employer under PSLF, experts said.

However, in his first few months in office, Trump has targeted immigrants, transgender and nonbinary people and those who work to increase diversity across the private and public sector. Many nonprofits work in these spaces, providing legal support or doing advocacy and education work.

For now, those pursuing PSLF should print out a copy of their payment history on StudentAid.gov or request one from their loan servicer. They should keep a record of the number of qualifying payments they’ve made so far, said Jessica Thompson, senior vice president of The Institute for College Access & Success.

“We urge borrowers to save all documentation of their payments, payment counts, and employer certifications to ensure they have any information that might be useful in the future,” Thompson said.

Other loan cancellation opportunities to consider

Federal student loan borrowers also remain entitled to a number of other student loan forgiveness opportunities.

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program offers up to $17,500 in loan cancellation to those who’ve worked full time for “complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency,” among other requirements, according to the Education Department.

(One thing to note: This program can’t be combined with PSLF, and so borrowers should decide which avenue makes the most sense for them.)

In less common circumstances, you may be eligible for a full discharge of your federal student loans under Borrower Defense if your school closed while you were enrolled or if you were misled by your school or didn’t receive a quality education.

Borrowers may qualify for a Total and Permanent Disability discharge if they suffer from a mental or physical disability that is severe and permanent and prevents them from working. Proof of the disability can come from a doctor, the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

With the federal government rolling back student loan forgiveness measures, experts also recommend that borrowers explore the many state-level relief programs available. The Institute of Student Loan Advisors has a database of student loan forgiveness programs by state.

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Personal Finance

Many Americans are worried about running out of money in retirement

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Business Finance News

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Many Americans are worried they’ll run out of money in retirement.

In fact, a new survey from Allianz Life finds that 64% Americans worry more about running out of money than they do about dying. Among the reasons cited for those fears include high inflation, Social Security benefits not providing enough support and high taxes.

The fear of running out of money was most prominent for Gen Xers who are approaching retirement. However, a majority of millennials and baby boomers also said they worry about their money lasting, according to the online survey of 1,000 individuals conducted between January and February.

Separately, a new Employee Benefit Research Institute report finds most retirees say they are living the lifestyle they envisioned and are able to spend money within reason. Yet more than half of those surveyed agreed at least somewhat that they spend less because of worries they will run out of money, according to the survey of more than 2,700 individuals conducted between January and February.

Meanwhile, a Northwestern Mutual survey reported that 51% of Americans think it’s “somewhat or very likely” they will outlive their savings. The survey polled 4,626 U.S. adults aged 18 and older in January.

Since those studies were conducted, new tariff policies have caused disturbance in the stock markets and prompted speculation that inflation may increase. Meanwhile, new leadership at the Social Security Administration has prompted fears about the continuity of benefits. Those headlines may negatively affect retirement confidence, experts say.

With employers now providing a 401(k) plan and other savings plans versus pensions, it is largely up to workers to manage how much they save heading into retirement and how much they spend once they reach that life stage. That responsibility can also lead to worries of running out of money in the future, experts say.

How to manage the ‘fear of outliving your resources’

Because of the unique risks every individual or couple faces when planning for retirement, the best approach is typically to transfer some of that burden to a third party, said David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM DC Solutions.

Creating a guaranteed lifetime income stream that covers essential expenses can help reduce the financial impact of any events that require retirees to cut back on spending, Blanchett explained.

That should first start with delaying Social Security benefits, he said. While eligible retirees can claim benefits as early as 62, holding off up until age 70 can provide the biggest monthly benefits. Social Security is also unique in that it provides annual adjustments for inflation.

73% of Americans are financially stressed

Next, retirees may want to consider buying a lifetime income annuity that can help amplify the monthly income they can expect. Admittedly, those products can be complicated to understand. Therefore Blanchett recommends starting out by comparing very basic products like single premium immediate annuities that are easier to compare.

“Unless you do those things, you just can’t get rid of that fear of outliving your resources,” Blanchett said.

Without a guaranteed income stream, retirees bear all of the financial risk themselves, he said.

“Retirement could last 10 years; it could last 40 years,” Blanchett said. “You just don’t know how long it’s going to be.”

Among retirees, there has been some hesitation to buy annuities, said Craig Copeland, EBRI’s director of wealth benefits research. Such a purchase requires parting with a lump sum of money in exchange for the promise of a guaranteed income stream.

“We see great increase in interest, but we aren’t seeing upticks in take up yet,” Copeland said. “I do think that’s going to start to change.”

What can help boost retirement confidence

To effectively plan for retirement, it helps to seek professional financial assistance, experts say.

Meanwhile, few people have a plan of their own for how they may live on the assets they’ve worked hard to accumulate, according to Kelly LaVigne, vice president of consumer insights at Allianz Life.

“This is something that you should not plan on doing on your own,” LaVigne said.

While the survey from Northwestern Mutual separately found individuals think they need $1.26 million to retire comfortably, the real number individuals need is based on their personal situation, said Kyle Menke, founder and wealth management advisor at Menke Financial, a Northwestern Mutual company.

In thinking about how life will look in 30 years, there are a variety of things to consider, Menke said. This includes stock market returns, taxes, inflation and medical expenses, he said.

Even people who have enough money for retirement often don’t feel confident in their ability to manage all of those factors on their own, he said. Financial advisors have the ability to run different simulations and stress test a plan, which can help give retirees and aspiring retirees the confidence they’re lacking.

“I think that’s where the biggest gap is,” said Menke, referring to the confidence Americans are lacking without a plan.

Personal Finance

Trump tariffs will hurt lower income Americans more than the rich: study

Published

22 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Business Finance News

Shipping containers at the Port of Seattle on April 16, 2025.

David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tariffs levied by President Donald Trump during his second term would hurt the poorest U.S. households more than the richest over the short term, according to a new analysis.

Tariffs are a tax that importers pay on foreign goods. Economists expect consumers to shoulder at least some of that tax burden in the form of higher prices, depending on how businesses pass along the costs.

In 2026, taxes for the poorest 20% of households would rise about four times more than those in the top 1%, if the current tariff policies were to stay in place. Those were findings according to an analysis published Wednesday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Car prices are going up from Trump's auto tariffs 'unless something changes': Liberty Subaru owner

For the bottom 20% of households — who will have incomes of less than $29,000 in 2026 — the tariffs will impose a tax increase equal to 6.2% of their income that year, on average, according to ITEP’s analysis.

Meanwhile, those in the top 1%, with an income of more than $915,000 a year, would see their taxes rise 1.7% relative to their income, on average, ITEP found.

Economists analyze the financial impact of policy relative to household income because it illustrates how their disposable income — and quality of life — are impacted.

Taxes by ‘another name’

“Tariffs are just taxes on Americans by another name,” researchers at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, wrote in 2017, during Trump’s first term.

“[They] raise the price of food and clothing, which make up a larger share of a low-income household’s budget,” they wrote, adding: “In fact, cutting tariffs could be the biggest tax cut low-income families will ever see.”

Meanwhile, there’s already evidence that some retailers are raising costs.

A recent analysis by the Yale Budget Lab also found that Trump tariffs are a “regressive” policy, meaning they hurt those at the bottom more than the top.

The short-term tax burden of tariffs is about 2.5 times greater for those at the bottom, the Yale analysis found. It examined tariffs and retaliatory trade measures through April 15.

“Lower income consumers are going to get pinched more by tariffs,” said Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics at the Yale Budget Lab and former chief economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers during the Biden administration.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said tariffs may lead to a “one-time price adjustment” for consumers. But he also coupled trade policy as part of a broader White House economic agenda that includes a forthcoming legislative package of tax cuts.

“We’re also working on the tax bill and for working Americans, I believe that the reduction in taxes is going to be substantially more,” Bessent said April 2.

It’s also unclear how current tariff policy might change. The White House has signaled trade deals with certain nations and exemptions for certain products may be in the offing.

Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from most U.S. trading partners. Mexico and Canada face 25% levies on a tranche of goods, and many Chinese goods face import duties of 145%. Specific products also face tariffs, like a 25% duty on aluminum, steel and automobiles.