Getting ready for Medicare: What you need to know

With open enrollment for Medicare starting Oct. 15, the time is now to review the changes for 2026 before updating your Medicare coverage. Understanding your options for Medicare coverage is essential to getting the coverage you need.

This year, there’s been a lot of conversation about what would happen to Medicare. Here’s what you need to know:

With so many changes on tap for 2026, you should review all your plan options before selecting coverage. To see how plans compare, go to Medicare.gov for a side-by-side comparison of plan coverage, costs and quality ratings.

Offered through the federal government, Medicare is health insurance available to those who meet at least one of the following requirements:

Medicare covers medical, hospital and drug costs through three components.

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