Medicare is constantly in flux with legislative and budgetary shifts. Here are a few of the things we can expect to see come along in 2026.
- Medicare Part D Deductibles are Going Up – Those who have a plan with deductibles will pay 100 percent of their gross covered prescription drug costs (GCPDC) until the deductible (of up to $615 for 2026) is met. That maximum is an increase of $25 over the 2025 amount of $590.
- New Limits on special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill (SSBCI) on Medicare Advantage – Medicare advantage plans are known for the extra benfits they supply to subscribers with chronic health issues. Newly codified guardrails for these benefits list non-allowable supplemental benefits, includong but not limited to: Funeral planning and expenses, Cannabis products, and Life insurance.
- Codification of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and IRA-related provisions – Some previsions of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Biden in 2022 need to be codified. The Trump Administration has made some changes, such as Medicare not covering popular weight loss medications, but Medicare price negotiations, and a tweaked version of IRA-related provisions will remain.
These are just a few things we can expect to see in the next year. Read more about 7 Medicare changes to expect in 2026 here.
American seniors face many financial challenges. This is why we support a bill we call the Elder Relief Act. If passe,d this legislation would make retirement more affordable. Learn more here.