A Medicare Advantage plan’s denial of post-acute rehabilitation or skilled nursing care is not necessarily final. Recent federal investigations found high denial rates for certain types of post-acute care, but plans overturned a substantial share of denials when patients appealed. It’s important to understand why these denials occur and the practical steps for challenging them, including requesting the denial in writing, gathering supporting medical records, asking a doctor or facility to document medical necessity, requesting an expedited appeal when appropriate, and seeking free assistance through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Medicare beneficiaries could face higher Part D prescription drug premiums in 2027 after the Trump administration announced that it will end a federal subsidy program that has helped hold premiums down for the past two years.

Learn the warning signs of family conflict over aging parents and practical ways to protect loved ones and prevent disputes.

Federal officials will not allow new enrollments from Medicare hospice or home health agencies until at least after mid-November as part of an effort to avoid fraud.

The lack of affordable ways to pay for long-term care can create difficult choices for families. Without a plan for long-term care expenses, older adults may need to rely on relatives, use retirement savings faster than expected, or turn to Medicaid only after meeting its financial eligibility limits.

Every year, federal officials release a report on the Social Security program’s finances. According to the 2026 report, the reserves used to pay retirement and survivor benefits are being depleted faster than expected. Congress must act before the program becomes unable to pay all scheduled benefits.

If you’ve logged into a MyChart account or a bank app recently, you’ve probably had to confirm your identity with a text message or an authentication app. That kind of extra security step has become routine for everyday accounts. But the federal rule that protects electronic health information doesn’t currently require it.

Medicare generally does not cover routine blood-based Alzheimer’s screening tests under current law. That could change with the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act.

If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, you have the option to enroll in a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). Not every D-SNP works the same way, and the best plan on paper isn’t always the best plan for you.

Abuse and neglect in long-term care can be difficult to detect, especially when a resident has cognitive decline or communication difficulties, or fears retaliation. You do not need to determine whether conduct legally qualifies as abuse before asking for help.