Topic
The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects the 2027 Part B premium at $209.50 a month — but last year's report projected a very different number for the same year. Here's what the estimate actually tells you, and why the real figure won't be confirmed until November.
By Sarah M. Jenkins · Oct 1, 2026
Open enrollment for 2027 ACA marketplace coverage starts November 1. Premiums are still elevated after enhanced subsidies expired last year — and as of now, they haven't come back. Here's what actually changed and what to check before you enroll.
Sep 30, 2026
WIC and SNAP aren't competing programs — one gives you a food budget, the other prescribes specific nutrition. Here's how to use both without leaving benefits on the table.
Sep 18, 2026
FEDVIP isn't part of your FEHB medical plan — it's a completely separate program, with its own enrollment site and a cost-sharing setup that catches a lot of federal employees off guard.
Sep 15, 2026
Whether you qualify for Medicaid depends less on your income alone and more on which state you live in, your age, and — starting this year — whether you can document 80 hours of work or activity each month.
Sep 13, 2026
The enhanced subsidies that ran from 2021 through 2025 are gone. The 400% income cliff is back. Here's what the ACA premium tax credit actually looks like in 2026 — and what it means for your monthly premium.
Sep 11, 2026
Both involve choosing between competing health plans. Both get called "the government marketplace" in casual conversation. But which one you're actually eligible for depends entirely on who you work for — and mixing them up can cost you a subsidy you never actually qualified for.
Sep 11, 2026
FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the country, and most people who qualify for it have never heard the acronym. Here's how it actually works, and why the few weeks each fall matter more than any other time of year.
Sep 11, 2026
Most disability claims aren't approved by matching a Blue Book listing at all — they go through a separate evaluation called a medical-vocational allowance. Here's how RFC, age, and work history decide the outcome instead.
Sep 10, 2026
COPD disability claims run through a specific SSA document called the Blue Book — but missing its exact criteria doesn't mean automatic denial. Here's how the two paths to approval actually work.
Sep 10, 2026
Applying for CHIP doesn't require knowing if it's CHIP or Medicaid first. Here's exactly what to gather, how to apply, and how long it takes to hear back.
Sep 7, 2026
Think you make too much for Medicaid? CHIP eligibility works differently by state, with no open enrollment window. Here's how the requirements actually work.
Sep 7, 2026