What’s new: The CMS Innovation Center announced new policy and operational changes, as well as a new end date, to the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model to help states achieve their total cost of care (TCOC) targets, while advancing the Center’s commitment to promote choice and competition, increase prevention, empower patients, and protect taxpayer dollars.
Why it matters: Participating states now have more tools to manage Medicare costs (designed to support sustainable growth) and improve quality of care and population health outcomes.
What to expect: Changes will be implemented across all cohorts beginning in January 2026. AHEAD’s end date for all cohorts is now December 31, 2035.
The big picture: Changes made to the model will help to advance the CMS Innovation Center’s strategic pillars
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Many Americans get health insurance through their employers. So when they retire, they’re forced to find another solution. And for a lot of older Americans, that solution is Medicare.
Medicare eligibility typically begins at 65. You can actually enroll a few months ahead of your 65th birthday to ensure that you have coverage in place at that point.
You may be aware that if you’re old enough to get Medicare, it means you’re also old enough to sign up for Social Security. But here’s why you may want to wait on Social Security if you’re signing up for Medicare at 65. Many people end up kicking off retirement with limited savings. If that’s you, you may end up pretty reliant on
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One expense you’ll want to avoid is the Part B late-enrollment penalty. I’ll walk you through what you need to know to steer clear of that costly mistake.
What is the Part B late enrollment penalty?
It’s an extra 10% of the Part B premium for every year you were eligible for Part B but didn’t enroll.
Example: If you went five years without Part B and then decided to enroll, your penalty would be 50%.
2025 Part B premium: $185/month
Part B penalty: $92.50/month
Total: $277.50/month
The late enrollment penalty stays with you as long as you remain enrolled in Part B.
Initial Enrollment Period
If you’re a federal employee who retires before age 65, your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
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