21 days ago
Selling appreciated stock and donating cash still leaves the full capital gain in Medicare's MAGI, potentially triggering IRMAA surcharges two years later.
A couple adding a $90,000 gain to $200,000 in normal income can face $5,770 in extra annual Medicare premiums, even after donating every dollar to charity.
Donating appreciated shares held over a year directly to charity keeps the gain out of MAGI entirely, avoiding IRMAA; those over 70.5 can also use a QCD up to $111,000.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ***** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
A 72-year-old retiree has held Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-B) shares for decades. This fall he sells $100,000 worth of stock he bought for $10,000, then writes a check for the full amount to his church's building fund. He ***** umes the gift wipes out the income Medicare sees. For his income tax bill, the gift helps. For Medicare, the $90,000 gain stays on his return, and it will raise his premiums two years from now.
#medicare #magi #Stock
A couple adding a $90,000 gain to $200,000 in normal income can face $5,770 in extra annual Medicare premiums, even after donating every dollar to charity.
Donating appreciated shares held over a year directly to charity keeps the gain out of MAGI entirely, avoiding IRMAA; those over 70.5 can also use a QCD up to $111,000.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ***** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
A 72-year-old retiree has held Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-B) shares for decades. This fall he sells $100,000 worth of stock he bought for $10,000, then writes a check for the full amount to his church's building fund. He ***** umes the gift wipes out the income Medicare sees. For his income tax bill, the gift helps. For Medicare, the $90,000 gain stays on his return, and it will raise his premiums two years from now.
#medicare #magi #Stock
22 days ago
Giving out checks to Americans has emerged as one of President Trump's major messages in the final weeks of the campaign season.
But Americans are skeptical, as multiple polls show voters harbor serious doubts about whether Trump will deliver and whether the cost would hurt the economy.
The president is nevertheless determined to escalate the issue with 29 days until the midterm elections. This past weekend, he mentioned checks at every campaign stop and made a new pledge to send $90 to millions of seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B.
The payment is intended to offset October Medicare premiums and will be deposited this month, but Trump emphasized that it will come in the form of cash.
"Over 20 million seniors on Medicare will soon be receiving a deposit of nearly $100 directly into their bank accounts," he announced on Truth Social. "You'll get your money almost immediately."
#medicare #Trump #whether #part
But Americans are skeptical, as multiple polls show voters harbor serious doubts about whether Trump will deliver and whether the cost would hurt the economy.
The president is nevertheless determined to escalate the issue with 29 days until the midterm elections. This past weekend, he mentioned checks at every campaign stop and made a new pledge to send $90 to millions of seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B.
The payment is intended to offset October Medicare premiums and will be deposited this month, but Trump emphasized that it will come in the form of cash.
"Over 20 million seniors on Medicare will soon be receiving a deposit of nearly $100 directly into their bank accounts," he announced on Truth Social. "You'll get your money almost immediately."
#medicare #Trump #whether #part
22 days ago
President Trump has announced that the administration will send a one-time $90 payment to 21 million people enrolled in Medicare Part B coverage. The payments will be issued automatically to qualified Medicare beneficiaries starting this week.
Not everyone enrolled in Medicare Part B will be paid. There are over 70 million people enrolled in Medicare, with almost 63 million in Part B, which covers general medical care and preventive health services.
In a White House statement, the president said the "premium rebates" are intended to help "enrollees pay for their Medicare Part B premiums."
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 for 2026, up from $185 in 2025.
Read more: Medicare changes coming in 2027: What to know before open enrollment
#part #president #premium #House
Not everyone enrolled in Medicare Part B will be paid. There are over 70 million people enrolled in Medicare, with almost 63 million in Part B, which covers general medical care and preventive health services.
In a White House statement, the president said the "premium rebates" are intended to help "enrollees pay for their Medicare Part B premiums."
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 for 2026, up from $185 in 2025.
Read more: Medicare changes coming in 2027: What to know before open enrollment
#part #president #premium #House
22 days ago
Clark Howard calls Medicare Advantage plans "disadvantage plans," warning the new SCAN Costco HMO prioritizes cost savings over patient care through prior authorization denials.
In a serious illness year, a $0-premium Advantage plan can cost $6,807 more than Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G, which caps costs at $283 annually.
Choosing Advantage at 65 may permanently lock you out of Medigap coverage if you get sick later, since most states allow insurers to deny or upcharge applicants.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
"Costco. Do you know what you're doing here? You know who you're messing around with?" Consumer advocate Clark Howard, usually one of the warehouse club's biggest fans, said that on his show on October 5.
#clark #plan #plans
In a serious illness year, a $0-premium Advantage plan can cost $6,807 more than Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G, which caps costs at $283 annually.
Choosing Advantage at 65 may permanently lock you out of Medigap coverage if you get sick later, since most states allow insurers to deny or upcharge applicants.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
"Costco. Do you know what you're doing here? You know who you're messing around with?" Consumer advocate Clark Howard, usually one of the warehouse club's biggest fans, said that on his show on October 5.
#clark #plan #plans
23 days ago
When it comes to the battle for control of the U.S. Senate, Republicans are mostly playing defense. The lion's share of the races that will decide which party secures a majority in November are in red states — including Texas, Iowa and Ohio — where the GOP is hoping to hold on against ascendant Democratic challengers.
Minnesota is one of the few states in the country where the party is in a position to go on offense and potentially turn a blue seat red.
In pursuit of that goal, the GOP has put its hopes in Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster and NFL sideline reporter turned politician who polls suggest has a real chance of winning in a state that has been dominated by Democrats in recent election cycles.
Tafoya is running for the seat currently held by Democrat Tina Smith, who is not pursuing re-election. Instead her opponent will be Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, a progressive who supports policies like Medicare for All and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Minnesota has been at the center of some of the biggest controversies of President Trump's second term, particularly his administration's sweeping immigration crackdown. Though a majority of Minnesotans disapprove of Trump's performance as president, Tafoya has steadily chipped away at Flanagan's lead in polls since the primary.
#tafoya
Minnesota is one of the few states in the country where the party is in a position to go on offense and potentially turn a blue seat red.
In pursuit of that goal, the GOP has put its hopes in Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster and NFL sideline reporter turned politician who polls suggest has a real chance of winning in a state that has been dominated by Democrats in recent election cycles.
Tafoya is running for the seat currently held by Democrat Tina Smith, who is not pursuing re-election. Instead her opponent will be Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, a progressive who supports policies like Medicare for All and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Minnesota has been at the center of some of the biggest controversies of President Trump's second term, particularly his administration's sweeping immigration crackdown. Though a majority of Minnesotans disapprove of Trump's performance as president, Tafoya has steadily chipped away at Flanagan's lead in polls since the primary.
#tafoya
25 days ago
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the US government will send a one-time $90 payment to more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.
Trump said on social media late on Friday the payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said was given $2 billion by Congress to improve the Medicare fee-for-service program.
The announcement is the latest in a series of financial promises the Republican leader has made to voters heading into the November midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Trump's Republican Party currently has a narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives but his approval rating has been low over his handling of the high cost of living for Americans during the US-Israeli war on Iran that has spiked oil and gas prices.
#americans #insurance #program #singh
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the US government will send a one-time $90 payment to more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.
Trump said on social media late on Friday the payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said was given $2 billion by Congress to improve the Medicare fee-for-service program.
The announcement is the latest in a series of financial promises the Republican leader has made to voters heading into the November midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Trump's Republican Party currently has a narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives but his approval rating has been low over his handling of the high cost of living for Americans during the US-Israeli war on Iran that has spiked oil and gas prices.
#americans #insurance #program #singh
1 month ago
LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) announced an exclusive healthcare collaboration on September 15 that initially makes virtual-health membership benefits available to approximately 29 million eligible AT&T wireless and fiber customers across 11 states. Customers must be 18 or older, and some services have additional eligibility and state restrictions. A nationwide expansion planned for January 2027 would extend eligibility beyond 100 million customers.
The $19 monthly membership fee is waived, but customers must enroll. Visits, prescriptions, and other services remain separately payable. For LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD), the opportunity is converting access to a large audience into recurring demand for paid care.
The partnership gives LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) a distribution channel through the website, mobile app and customer-benefits program of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Reaching customers through an established relationship could reduce reliance on advertising and lower acquisition costs per paying patient.
Removing the membership charge also reduces the financial commitment required to try the service. Announced visit prices start at $29 for message-based care, $49 for urgent and primary care video visits, and $79 for specialty care. Customers may use insurance, Medicare, or discounted cash-pay rates for visits and prescriptions.
LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) could benefit from repeat consultations and prescription fulfillment when clinically appropriate. Primary care, chronic-condition management and other services create opportunities for continuing patient relationships. If satisfied patients return, the revenue earned over those relationships could exceed the cost of acquiring and serving them.
#Services
The $19 monthly membership fee is waived, but customers must enroll. Visits, prescriptions, and other services remain separately payable. For LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD), the opportunity is converting access to a large audience into recurring demand for paid care.
The partnership gives LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) a distribution channel through the website, mobile app and customer-benefits program of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Reaching customers through an established relationship could reduce reliance on advertising and lower acquisition costs per paying patient.
Removing the membership charge also reduces the financial commitment required to try the service. Announced visit prices start at $29 for message-based care, $49 for urgent and primary care video visits, and $79 for specialty care. Customers may use insurance, Medicare, or discounted cash-pay rates for visits and prescriptions.
LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) could benefit from repeat consultations and prescription fulfillment when clinically appropriate. Primary care, chronic-condition management and other services create opportunities for continuing patient relationships. If satisfied patients return, the revenue earned over those relationships could exceed the cost of acquiring and serving them.
#Services
1 month ago
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Losing your job at age 60 is difficult enough. Losing it when you've saved practically nothing for retirement can turn the next few years into a financial scramble.
Consider George, a single man from Little Rock, Ark., who found himself in that position after losing his job in a company restructuring. At 60, he was still two years away from being eligible to claim Social Security and five years away from Medicare eligibility — with little retirement savings to fall back on.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
#single
Losing your job at age 60 is difficult enough. Losing it when you've saved practically nothing for retirement can turn the next few years into a financial scramble.
Consider George, a single man from Little Rock, Ark., who found himself in that position after losing his job in a company restructuring. At 60, he was still two years away from being eligible to claim Social Security and five years away from Medicare eligibility — with little retirement savings to fall back on.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
#single
1 month ago
Medicare's two-year income lookback makes age 63 the last year a Roth conversion won't directly raise your Medicare premiums at 65.
Married couples can convert roughly $133,000 annually within the 22% bracket, but crossing the $218,000 IRMAA threshold triggers surcharges for both spouses.
Delaying Social Security to 70 preserves low-income years for conversions, since every dollar of benefits claimed adds an invisible marginal rate on top of conversion income.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
A 63-year-old with $1.4 million in a traditional 401(k) has a narrower Roth conversion window than the calendar suggests. Medicare enrollment at 65 uses a two-year lookback on modified adjusted gross income, which means the conversion executed at 63 is the one that sets Medicare premiums at 65. The real deadline arrives earlier than most people expect.
#income #roth #lookback
Married couples can convert roughly $133,000 annually within the 22% bracket, but crossing the $218,000 IRMAA threshold triggers surcharges for both spouses.
Delaying Social Security to 70 preserves low-income years for conversions, since every dollar of benefits claimed adds an invisible marginal rate on top of conversion income.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
A 63-year-old with $1.4 million in a traditional 401(k) has a narrower Roth conversion window than the calendar suggests. Medicare enrollment at 65 uses a two-year lookback on modified adjusted gross income, which means the conversion executed at 63 is the one that sets Medicare premiums at 65. The real deadline arrives earlier than most people expect.
#income #roth #lookback
1 month ago
When planning for retirement, most people account for housing, travel, daily living expenses and general healthcare costs. However, it's easy to overlook one retirement expense: the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, commonly known as IRMAA.
If you have a large pension, substantial tax-deferred retirement accounts, or other variables that may elevate your retirement income, IRMAA is a factor you may encounter starting in your mid-60s. While it is unlikely to derail a well-constructed financial plan, failing to understand IRMAA and how to plan ahead for it can lead to frustrating annual surprises.
In the United States, most adults become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Medicare is divided into several parts, but IRMAA specifically applies to two of them: Part B (which covers doctor visits, outpatient care and preventive services) and Part D (prescription drug coverage).
For the average retiree, Medicare Part B carries a standard monthly base premium ($202.90 per month in 2026). Part D coverage varies depending on the specific private plan selected, but carries a national average base premium of roughly $38.99 per month. Combined, a standard retiree pays roughly $242 per month for basic Part B and Part D coverage, per Medicare.
However, Medicare premiums are not one-size-fits-all. If your income exceeds specific threshold limits set by the federal government, you will be required to pay an additional surcharge on top of your base monthly premiums. That additional surcharge is IRMAA.
#income #base
If you have a large pension, substantial tax-deferred retirement accounts, or other variables that may elevate your retirement income, IRMAA is a factor you may encounter starting in your mid-60s. While it is unlikely to derail a well-constructed financial plan, failing to understand IRMAA and how to plan ahead for it can lead to frustrating annual surprises.
In the United States, most adults become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Medicare is divided into several parts, but IRMAA specifically applies to two of them: Part B (which covers doctor visits, outpatient care and preventive services) and Part D (prescription drug coverage).
For the average retiree, Medicare Part B carries a standard monthly base premium ($202.90 per month in 2026). Part D coverage varies depending on the specific private plan selected, but carries a national average base premium of roughly $38.99 per month. Combined, a standard retiree pays roughly $242 per month for basic Part B and Part D coverage, per Medicare.
However, Medicare premiums are not one-size-fits-all. If your income exceeds specific threshold limits set by the federal government, you will be required to pay an additional surcharge on top of your base monthly premiums. That additional surcharge is IRMAA.
#income #base
1 month ago
When a spouse dies, Social Security drops to one check, but fixed costs like taxes, amenity fees, and utilities do not drop at all.
A surviving single filer's standard deduction drops from $31,500 to $15,750 and Medicare surcharges kick in at half the income threshold.
Run the survivor math now: fixed costs minus survivor income, divided by 3.5% withdrawal rate, reveals if the portfolio actually covers it.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
People often ask about retiring to a place like The Villages in central Florida, and the math usually works for a healthy couple. What almost **** ody asks, until it is too late to plan for, is what happens when the couple becomes one person in the same house. Widowhood, divorce, a spouse moving into memory care. One of you will almost certainly face it. Here is what the numbers actually look like on the other side of that day.
#income
A surviving single filer's standard deduction drops from $31,500 to $15,750 and Medicare surcharges kick in at half the income threshold.
Run the survivor math now: fixed costs minus survivor income, divided by 3.5% withdrawal rate, reveals if the portfolio actually covers it.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
People often ask about retiring to a place like The Villages in central Florida, and the math usually works for a healthy couple. What almost **** ody asks, until it is too late to plan for, is what happens when the couple becomes one person in the same house. Widowhood, divorce, a spouse moving into memory care. One of you will almost certainly face it. Here is what the numbers actually look like on the other side of that day.
#income
1 month ago
AARP projects a 3.6% Social Security COLA for 2027, adding roughly $75 monthly to the average check, while the Senior Citizens League forecasts 3.5%.
The official COLA drops October 14, but the Medicare Part B premium that offsets it won't be announced until November, leaving budgeters with incomplete data.
Hold-harmless rules protect most retirees from net payment cuts, but higher-income enrollees facing IRMAA surcharges and newly enrolled Medicare recipients get no such protection.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
The projected Social Security raise for 2027 is the biggest in years, and it is also a moving target, according to recent reports. In the same week, two of the most closely watched forecasters revised their estimates in opposite directions. Neither is official, and the actual number will not be announced until October; the Medicare premium that determines how much of the raise reaches a retiree's bank account will not be announced until November. Anyone budgeting today is working with half the picture.
#medicare #announced #november
The official COLA drops October 14, but the Medicare Part B premium that offsets it won't be announced until November, leaving budgeters with incomplete data.
Hold-harmless rules protect most retirees from net payment cuts, but higher-income enrollees facing IRMAA surcharges and newly enrolled Medicare recipients get no such protection.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
The projected Social Security raise for 2027 is the biggest in years, and it is also a moving target, according to recent reports. In the same week, two of the most closely watched forecasters revised their estimates in opposite directions. Neither is official, and the actual number will not be announced until October; the Medicare premium that determines how much of the raise reaches a retiree's bank account will not be announced until November. Anyone budgeting today is working with half the picture.
#medicare #announced #november
1 month ago
Walmart and SCAN Health Plan announced a partnership on Wednesday to offer co-branded Medicare Advantage plans in two states, targeting a pool of more than two million Medicare enrollees.
The plans, pending regulatory approval, may include pharmacy, vision, food, and over-the-counter benefits, the companies said. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins Oct. 15, according to MarketWatch.
A central feature of the partnership is Walmart's Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI tool designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance based on members' shopping preferences and self-reported wellness goals. The companies said they plan to make that capability available to participating plan members as part of broader coaching and wellness support.
"By combining Walmart's technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN's Medicare product experience, we have an opportunity to develop products that translate those insights into meaningful support that helps members make more informed choices about their health and well-being," said Zack Myers, national general manager of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement.
Walmart Group Director for Consumer Health and Data Solutions Pravene Nath said the collaboration is distinct because of Walmart's role in customers' everyday lives. "Because customers regularly turn to Walmart for groceries and other everyday essentials, we have an opportunity for those who choose to participate, to use insights from their shopping experiences to make nutrition guidance more relevant and actionable," Nath said in a statement.
#Wellness #members #scan #advantage
The plans, pending regulatory approval, may include pharmacy, vision, food, and over-the-counter benefits, the companies said. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins Oct. 15, according to MarketWatch.
A central feature of the partnership is Walmart's Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI tool designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance based on members' shopping preferences and self-reported wellness goals. The companies said they plan to make that capability available to participating plan members as part of broader coaching and wellness support.
"By combining Walmart's technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN's Medicare product experience, we have an opportunity to develop products that translate those insights into meaningful support that helps members make more informed choices about their health and well-being," said Zack Myers, national general manager of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement.
Walmart Group Director for Consumer Health and Data Solutions Pravene Nath said the collaboration is distinct because of Walmart's role in customers' everyday lives. "Because customers regularly turn to Walmart for groceries and other everyday essentials, we have an opportunity for those who choose to participate, to use insights from their shopping experiences to make nutrition guidance more relevant and actionable," Nath said in a statement.
#Wellness #members #scan #advantage
1 month ago
Sept 15, 2026, 2:38 pm EDT
For months, investors and banking industry executives have privately speculated Wells Fargo could be poised to acquire a smaller lender.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Insurers like Humana are canceling some Medicare Advantage plans. How to make the best of it.
#sept #wells #reserved #humana
For months, investors and banking industry executives have privately speculated Wells Fargo could be poised to acquire a smaller lender.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Insurers like Humana are canceling some Medicare Advantage plans. How to make the best of it.
#sept #wells #reserved #humana
1 month ago
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) says its newly launched oral obesity drug Foundayo has captured more than 30% of new U.S. patients starting oral weight-loss medicines, a notable early gain against Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill. Reuters reports that Wegovy initially held roughly 90% of the oral market, making Lilly's rapid share capture an important sign that the oral GLP-1 market is becoming a two-player competition rather than a Novo-dominated segment. The broader U.S. obesity-drug market is expected to exceed $100 billion annually by 2030, with oral treatments potentially accounting for more than one-third of GLP-1 use.
The timing is strategically important for Lilly because Foundayo was only launched in the U.S. in April 2026. The drug starts at $149 per month for self-pay patients and can cost as little as $25 for eligible commercially insured patients, while Medicare beneficiaries can access it through the GLP-1 Bridge program at $50 per month. Lilly's SEC filing says Mounjaro and Zepbound already represented 65% of its revenue in the first six months of 2026, highlighting both the importance of the incretin franchise and the opportunity for Foundayo to broaden Lilly's cardiometabolic revenue base.
The strongest bullish implication is that Foundayo appears to be overcoming the biggest behavioral barrier in obesity treatment: patients' preference for an oral medicine over an injection. Capturing more than 30% of new oral patients only months after launch suggests Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is establishing meaningful competitive positioning before the oral GLP-1 market fully scales. Foundayo's formulation also has a practical advantage because it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while Lilly's clinical data showed an average 27.3-pound, or 12.4%, weight reduction at the highest dose among patients who remained on treatment in ATTAIN-1.
The commercial opportunity could become considerably larger if Foundayo gains indications beyond obesity. Lilly reported that in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced a 57.1% greater relative reduction in A1C and a 73.6% greater relative reduction in body weight compared with oral semaglutide 14 mg. Lilly submitted Foundayo for type 2 diabetes in the U.S., EU, and **** an, potentially expanding the addressable market beyond weight management.
The early oral-market traction also complements Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s existing injectable franchise rather than simply cannibalizing it. A Lilly trial found that patients switching from maximum-tolerated Wegovy to Foundayo maintained all but 0.9 kg of their previous weight loss after one year, while patients switching from maximum-dose Zepbound to Foundayo maintained all but 5.0 kg. That suggests Foundayo could serve as a maintenance or lower-burden treatment within Lilly's broader obesity portfolio, increasing lifetime value per patient rather than limiting the opportunity to new prescriptions.
#patients #weight #c
The timing is strategically important for Lilly because Foundayo was only launched in the U.S. in April 2026. The drug starts at $149 per month for self-pay patients and can cost as little as $25 for eligible commercially insured patients, while Medicare beneficiaries can access it through the GLP-1 Bridge program at $50 per month. Lilly's SEC filing says Mounjaro and Zepbound already represented 65% of its revenue in the first six months of 2026, highlighting both the importance of the incretin franchise and the opportunity for Foundayo to broaden Lilly's cardiometabolic revenue base.
The strongest bullish implication is that Foundayo appears to be overcoming the biggest behavioral barrier in obesity treatment: patients' preference for an oral medicine over an injection. Capturing more than 30% of new oral patients only months after launch suggests Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is establishing meaningful competitive positioning before the oral GLP-1 market fully scales. Foundayo's formulation also has a practical advantage because it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while Lilly's clinical data showed an average 27.3-pound, or 12.4%, weight reduction at the highest dose among patients who remained on treatment in ATTAIN-1.
The commercial opportunity could become considerably larger if Foundayo gains indications beyond obesity. Lilly reported that in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced a 57.1% greater relative reduction in A1C and a 73.6% greater relative reduction in body weight compared with oral semaglutide 14 mg. Lilly submitted Foundayo for type 2 diabetes in the U.S., EU, and **** an, potentially expanding the addressable market beyond weight management.
The early oral-market traction also complements Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s existing injectable franchise rather than simply cannibalizing it. A Lilly trial found that patients switching from maximum-tolerated Wegovy to Foundayo maintained all but 0.9 kg of their previous weight loss after one year, while patients switching from maximum-dose Zepbound to Foundayo maintained all but 5.0 kg. That suggests Foundayo could serve as a maintenance or lower-burden treatment within Lilly's broader obesity portfolio, increasing lifetime value per patient rather than limiting the opportunity to new prescriptions.
#patients #weight #c
1 month ago
The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) cut its full-year 2026 identical-sales forecast excluding fuel to 0.2%–0.8% from 1%–2%, reflecting a sharper-than-expected slowdown in consumer demand. Second-quarter identical sales rose just 0.2%, down from 3.4% a year earlier and below the 0.9% ****** yst estimate.
The weakness reflects pressure on middle- and lower-income consumers, while a Cyclospora outbreak reduced quarterly identical sales by roughly 35 basis points and Medicare prescription-drug pricing changes created an approximately 140-basis-point headwind for pharmacy revenue. Importantly, Kroger maintained its full-year adjusted FIFO operating-profit forecast of $5.0 billion–$5.2 billion and delivered adjusted EPS of $1.09, ahead of the $1.06 consensus.
The strongest bullish argument is that The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is currently protecting earnings despite the deterioration in sales momentum. Second-quarter adjusted EPS increased 5% year over year to $1.09, while adjusted FIFO operating profit was $1.076 billion. Kroger's gross margin rate actually increased by 13 basis points, although the overall gross-margin percentage was 22.4% versus 22.5% a year earlier, suggesting that pricing, sourcing, and cost-management initiatives are helping offset weaker volumes. The company's higher-margin businesses are also becoming increasingly important: adjusted e-commerce sales grew 20% in the quarter, and Kroger Precision Marketing profit increased 24%. That mix shift gives Kroger an earnings lever even when supermarket traffic and comparable sales are weak.
There is also evidence that management is actively responding to the competitive pressure rather than simply accepting slower growth. CEO Greg Foran has been pursuing tighter sourcing, simpler operations and lower prices, with Reuters reporting plans to cut prices across thousands of products to regain shoppers from Walmart, Costco and Aldi. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)'s balance sheet provides room to fund that strategy: its net debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio was 1.91x, below its stated target range of 2.30x–2.50x, while the company repurchased $1.0 billion of shares in the second quarter and $1.2 billion year to date. It also raised its dividend 11%, marking the 20th consecutive year of increases. If sales stabilize while e-commerce, retail media and cost efficiencies continue expanding, the unchanged $5.0 billion–$5.2 billion operating-profit forecast could prove more important to valuation than the reduced top-line outlook.
#year
The weakness reflects pressure on middle- and lower-income consumers, while a Cyclospora outbreak reduced quarterly identical sales by roughly 35 basis points and Medicare prescription-drug pricing changes created an approximately 140-basis-point headwind for pharmacy revenue. Importantly, Kroger maintained its full-year adjusted FIFO operating-profit forecast of $5.0 billion–$5.2 billion and delivered adjusted EPS of $1.09, ahead of the $1.06 consensus.
The strongest bullish argument is that The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is currently protecting earnings despite the deterioration in sales momentum. Second-quarter adjusted EPS increased 5% year over year to $1.09, while adjusted FIFO operating profit was $1.076 billion. Kroger's gross margin rate actually increased by 13 basis points, although the overall gross-margin percentage was 22.4% versus 22.5% a year earlier, suggesting that pricing, sourcing, and cost-management initiatives are helping offset weaker volumes. The company's higher-margin businesses are also becoming increasingly important: adjusted e-commerce sales grew 20% in the quarter, and Kroger Precision Marketing profit increased 24%. That mix shift gives Kroger an earnings lever even when supermarket traffic and comparable sales are weak.
There is also evidence that management is actively responding to the competitive pressure rather than simply accepting slower growth. CEO Greg Foran has been pursuing tighter sourcing, simpler operations and lower prices, with Reuters reporting plans to cut prices across thousands of products to regain shoppers from Walmart, Costco and Aldi. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)'s balance sheet provides room to fund that strategy: its net debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio was 1.91x, below its stated target range of 2.30x–2.50x, while the company repurchased $1.0 billion of shares in the second quarter and $1.2 billion year to date. It also raised its dividend 11%, marking the 20th consecutive year of increases. If sales stabilize while e-commerce, retail media and cost efficiencies continue expanding, the unchanged $5.0 billion–$5.2 billion operating-profit forecast could prove more important to valuation than the reduced top-line outlook.
#year
1 month ago
Retiring at 62 and living off a 401(k) until 70 keeps a couple in the 12% tax bracket, with an effective federal rate near 8% on roughly $133,000 in annual withdrawals.
Delaying Social Security to 70 grows each spouse's benefit by 8% per year, producing roughly $6,200 combined monthly in guaranteed, inflation-adjusted income plus a maximized survivor benefit.
Medicare's two-year income lookback means couples must keep joint MAGI below $218,000 or face IRMAA surcharges that add over $160 per month in Part B premiums.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
A 62-year-old couple with $1.8 million in a traditional 401(k) and matching $3,100 monthly Social Security benefits available at full retirement age is looking at one of the most tax-efficient windows in the entire retirement code. The plan: retire now, live off the 401(k) for eight years, and switch to two delayed Social Security checks totaling roughly $6,200 a month at 70. It sounds aggressive. The math says it is close to optimal.
#security #year #benefit
Delaying Social Security to 70 grows each spouse's benefit by 8% per year, producing roughly $6,200 combined monthly in guaranteed, inflation-adjusted income plus a maximized survivor benefit.
Medicare's two-year income lookback means couples must keep joint MAGI below $218,000 or face IRMAA surcharges that add over $160 per month in Part B premiums.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
A 62-year-old couple with $1.8 million in a traditional 401(k) and matching $3,100 monthly Social Security benefits available at full retirement age is looking at one of the most tax-efficient windows in the entire retirement code. The plan: retire now, live off the 401(k) for eight years, and switch to two delayed Social Security checks totaling roughly $6,200 a month at 70. It sounds aggressive. The math says it is close to optimal.
#security #year #benefit
1 month ago
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) says its newly launched oral obesity drug Foundayo has captured more than 30% of new U.S. patients starting oral weight-loss medicines, a notable early gain against Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill. Reuters reports that Wegovy initially held roughly 90% of the oral market, making Lilly's rapid share capture an important sign that the oral GLP-1 market is becoming a two-player competition rather than a Novo-dominated segment. The broader U.S. obesity-drug market is expected to exceed $100 billion annually by 2030, with oral treatments potentially accounting for more than one-third of GLP-1 use.
The timing is strategically important for Lilly because Foundayo was only launched in the U.S. in April 2026. The drug starts at $149 per month for self-pay patients and can cost as little as $25 for eligible commercially insured patients, while Medicare beneficiaries can access it through the GLP-1 Bridge program at $50 per month. Lilly's SEC filing says Mounjaro and Zepbound already represented 65% of its revenue in the first six months of 2026, highlighting both the importance of the incretin franchise and the opportunity for Foundayo to broaden Lilly's cardiometabolic revenue base.
The strongest bullish implication is that Foundayo appears to be overcoming the biggest behavioral barrier in obesity treatment: patients' preference for an oral medicine over an injection. Capturing more than 30% of new oral patients only months after launch suggests Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is establishing meaningful competitive positioning before the oral GLP-1 market fully scales. Foundayo's formulation also has a practical advantage because it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while Lilly's clinical data showed an average 27.3-pound, or 12.4%, weight reduction at the highest dose among patients who remained on treatment in ATTAIN-1.
The commercial opportunity could become considerably larger if Foundayo gains indications beyond obesity. Lilly reported that in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced a 57.1% greater relative reduction in A1C and a 73.6% greater relative reduction in body weight compared with oral semaglutide 14 mg. Lilly submitted Foundayo for type 2 diabetes in the U.S., EU, and ***** an, potentially expanding the addressable market beyond weight management.
The early oral-market traction also complements Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s existing injectable franchise rather than simply cannibalizing it. A Lilly trial found that patients switching from maximum-tolerated Wegovy to Foundayo maintained all but 0.9 kg of their previous weight loss after one year, while patients switching from maximum-dose Zepbound to Foundayo maintained all but 5.0 kg. That suggests Foundayo could serve as a maintenance or lower-burden treatment within Lilly's broader obesity portfolio, increasing lifetime value per patient rather than limiting the opportunity to new prescriptions.
#weight
The timing is strategically important for Lilly because Foundayo was only launched in the U.S. in April 2026. The drug starts at $149 per month for self-pay patients and can cost as little as $25 for eligible commercially insured patients, while Medicare beneficiaries can access it through the GLP-1 Bridge program at $50 per month. Lilly's SEC filing says Mounjaro and Zepbound already represented 65% of its revenue in the first six months of 2026, highlighting both the importance of the incretin franchise and the opportunity for Foundayo to broaden Lilly's cardiometabolic revenue base.
The strongest bullish implication is that Foundayo appears to be overcoming the biggest behavioral barrier in obesity treatment: patients' preference for an oral medicine over an injection. Capturing more than 30% of new oral patients only months after launch suggests Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is establishing meaningful competitive positioning before the oral GLP-1 market fully scales. Foundayo's formulation also has a practical advantage because it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while Lilly's clinical data showed an average 27.3-pound, or 12.4%, weight reduction at the highest dose among patients who remained on treatment in ATTAIN-1.
The commercial opportunity could become considerably larger if Foundayo gains indications beyond obesity. Lilly reported that in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced a 57.1% greater relative reduction in A1C and a 73.6% greater relative reduction in body weight compared with oral semaglutide 14 mg. Lilly submitted Foundayo for type 2 diabetes in the U.S., EU, and ***** an, potentially expanding the addressable market beyond weight management.
The early oral-market traction also complements Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s existing injectable franchise rather than simply cannibalizing it. A Lilly trial found that patients switching from maximum-tolerated Wegovy to Foundayo maintained all but 0.9 kg of their previous weight loss after one year, while patients switching from maximum-dose Zepbound to Foundayo maintained all but 5.0 kg. That suggests Foundayo could serve as a maintenance or lower-burden treatment within Lilly's broader obesity portfolio, increasing lifetime value per patient rather than limiting the opportunity to new prescriptions.
#weight
1 month ago
Walmart and SCAN Health Plan announced a partnership on Wednesday to offer co-branded Medicare Advantage plans in two states, targeting a pool of more than two million Medicare enrollees.
The plans, pending regulatory approval, may include pharmacy, vision, food, and over-the-counter benefits, the companies said. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins Oct. 15, according to MarketWatch.
A central feature of the partnership is Walmart's Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI tool designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance based on members' shopping preferences and self-reported wellness goals. The companies said they plan to make that capability available to participating plan members as part of broader coaching and wellness support.
"By combining Walmart's technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN's Medicare product experience, we have an opportunity to develop products that translate those insights into meaningful support that helps members make more informed choices about their health and well-being," said Zack Myers, national general manager of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement.
Walmart Group Director for Consumer Health and Data Solutions Pravene Nath said the collaboration is distinct because of Walmart's role in customers' everyday lives. "Because customers regularly turn to Walmart for groceries and other everyday essentials, we have an opportunity for those who choose to participate, to use insights from their shopping experiences to make nutrition guidance more relevant and actionable," Nath said in a statement.
#plan #Wellness #members #advantage
The plans, pending regulatory approval, may include pharmacy, vision, food, and over-the-counter benefits, the companies said. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins Oct. 15, according to MarketWatch.
A central feature of the partnership is Walmart's Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI tool designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance based on members' shopping preferences and self-reported wellness goals. The companies said they plan to make that capability available to participating plan members as part of broader coaching and wellness support.
"By combining Walmart's technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN's Medicare product experience, we have an opportunity to develop products that translate those insights into meaningful support that helps members make more informed choices about their health and well-being," said Zack Myers, national general manager of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement.
Walmart Group Director for Consumer Health and Data Solutions Pravene Nath said the collaboration is distinct because of Walmart's role in customers' everyday lives. "Because customers regularly turn to Walmart for groceries and other everyday essentials, we have an opportunity for those who choose to participate, to use insights from their shopping experiences to make nutrition guidance more relevant and actionable," Nath said in a statement.
#plan #Wellness #members #advantage
1 month ago
Adam Carolla cut right to the chase when he offered his take on President Donald Trump's plan to give out $5,000 to every American adult, as long as Republicans win the 2026 midterms.
"So now we're just bribing people," Carolla said on the Sunday episode of his podcast.
He said again it sounded like Trump was "bribin' 'em" to get votes — but Carolla didn't seem too upset about it.
The veteran comic and podcaster argued the Democratic Party has been doing its own version of freebie payments for decades, thanks to government programs like food stamps and states paying for the healthcare of low-income residents. Carolla said it "evidently works" when it comes to winning over voters, so Republicans should give it a shot.
"It definitely works on all the poor people," Carolla continued. "We'll just get you free cheese, and free school, and free Medicare, and we'll get you free sh*t. Why don't rich people start bribing people? Why not?"
#we 'll #like #adam
"So now we're just bribing people," Carolla said on the Sunday episode of his podcast.
He said again it sounded like Trump was "bribin' 'em" to get votes — but Carolla didn't seem too upset about it.
The veteran comic and podcaster argued the Democratic Party has been doing its own version of freebie payments for decades, thanks to government programs like food stamps and states paying for the healthcare of low-income residents. Carolla said it "evidently works" when it comes to winning over voters, so Republicans should give it a shot.
"It definitely works on all the poor people," Carolla continued. "We'll just get you free cheese, and free school, and free Medicare, and we'll get you free sh*t. Why don't rich people start bribing people? Why not?"
#we 'll #like #adam
2 months ago
Two retirees with identical $1.65M portfolios face different tax outcomes based solely on withdrawal order and account placement, not holdings.
Drawing down or converting a traditional IRA to Roth before age 73 shrinks future RMDs and keeps income below IRMAA Medicare surcharge thresholds.
VTEB's tax-exempt municipal interest still counts fully toward IRMAA calculations, making it a hidden Medicare cost trap for retirees.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Two retirees, same age, same $1.65 million balance, same seven holdings in identical weights. One will pay a Medicare premium surcharge stacked on top of a rising required withdrawal starting at 73. The other will not. Only the order they draw from, and the accounts those draws come from, separates the outcomes.
#medicare #irmaa #holdings
Drawing down or converting a traditional IRA to Roth before age 73 shrinks future RMDs and keeps income below IRMAA Medicare surcharge thresholds.
VTEB's tax-exempt municipal interest still counts fully toward IRMAA calculations, making it a hidden Medicare cost trap for retirees.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Two retirees, same age, same $1.65 million balance, same seven holdings in identical weights. One will pay a Medicare premium surcharge stacked on top of a rising required withdrawal starting at 73. The other will not. Only the order they draw from, and the accounts those draws come from, separates the outcomes.
#medicare #irmaa #holdings
2 months ago
Updated Sept 11, 2026, 1:55 pm EDT / Original Sept 11, 2026, 7:30 am EDT
The grocery giant now expects same-store sales excluding fuel to rise between 0.2% and 0.8% for the fiscal year, down from a prior range of 1% to 2% growth. The new guidance includes a hit of roughly 140 basis points tied to the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries and impacted pharmacy revenue. Management separately reaffirmed its earnings guidance of $5.10 to $5.30 a share for the fiscal year.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
#inflation #medicare
The grocery giant now expects same-store sales excluding fuel to rise between 0.2% and 0.8% for the fiscal year, down from a prior range of 1% to 2% growth. The new guidance includes a hit of roughly 140 basis points tied to the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries and impacted pharmacy revenue. Management separately reaffirmed its earnings guidance of $5.10 to $5.30 a share for the fiscal year.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
#inflation #medicare
2 months ago
Saint Louis, Missouri-based Centene Corporation (CNC) operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to underinsured and uninsured families and commercial organizations in the United States. The company has a market capitalization of $31.6 billion and operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments.
Companies with a market cap of $10 billion or more are typically called "large-cap stocks." CNC fits squarely into that category, with a market cap above this threshold that reflects its substantial size and influence in the healthcare plans industry.
'Not Tens Of Billions, But Tens Of Trillions': Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Is Like the New Electricity and the Scale Is Unlike Any Tech in History
What It Means for MSFT Stock Investors as Microsoft Switches to 2 Business Segments
RKLB Stock Jumps as Rocket Lab Debuts New Solar Cell for ****** e
#saint
Companies with a market cap of $10 billion or more are typically called "large-cap stocks." CNC fits squarely into that category, with a market cap above this threshold that reflects its substantial size and influence in the healthcare plans industry.
'Not Tens Of Billions, But Tens Of Trillions': Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Is Like the New Electricity and the Scale Is Unlike Any Tech in History
What It Means for MSFT Stock Investors as Microsoft Switches to 2 Business Segments
RKLB Stock Jumps as Rocket Lab Debuts New Solar Cell for ****** e
#saint
2 months ago
Unlike Medicare Advantage, Medigap offers no recurring annual shopping window, so health conditions can permanently lock policyholders into higher premiums.
The one-time federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts just six months starting at age 65; after that, most states allow medical underwriting.
Never cancel an existing Medigap policy before a replacement is confirmed in writing, since a declined application leaves the original coverage intact.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A 72-year-old in Ohio opens a December rate notice and finds that her Medigap Plan G premium is rising again in January, the fourth increase in four years. Her broker finds a competitor charging $40 less each month.
#finds #period
The one-time federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts just six months starting at age 65; after that, most states allow medical underwriting.
Never cancel an existing Medigap policy before a replacement is confirmed in writing, since a declined application leaves the original coverage intact.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A 72-year-old in Ohio opens a December rate notice and finds that her Medigap Plan G premium is rising again in January, the fourth increase in four years. Her broker finds a competitor charging $40 less each month.
#finds #period
2 months ago
On August 11, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) announced that its Medicaid plan, Humana Healthy Horizons in Indiana, is collaborating with HealthStream, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSTM). The partnership expands access to workforce training for caregivers, aiming to recruit and retain talent in rural and underserved communities. While one provides healthcare coverage and the other builds the software to train healthcare workers, both companies are capitalizing on the industry's critical focus: solving caregiving shortages and optimizing healthcare delivery.
HealthStream emerges as the operationally cleaner, higher-growth performer, while Humana continues to navigate a more complex transition marked by regulatory and profitability pressures. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) reported Q2 2026 GAAP EPS of $5.73 and adjusted EPS of $7.61, with an Insurance segment GAAP benefit ratio of 91.2%. The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS guidance of at least $9.00 but lowered its FY 2026 GAAP EPS forecast to at least $6.52 from $8.36, reflecting non-cash adjustments and value creation charges. Although individual Medicare Advantage membership is expected to grow approximately 25% in 2026, lower Star Ratings remain a significant drag on profitability.
HealthStream, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSTM), meanwhile, delivered record Q2 2026 results, with revenue rising 12.5% year over year to $83.7 million. Operating income increased 41.4% to $8.3 million, while net income climbed 23.8% to $6.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA also increased 16.9% to $20.6 million. The company's debt-free balance sheet, supported by $66.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, further strengthens its financial flexibility. While Humana operates at substantially greater scale, HealthStream is demonstrating stronger operational leverage, margin expansion, and balance sheet flexibility.
Humana's bull case is supported by strong Medicare Advantage membership growth, with the company targeting a 25% increase in 2026, alongside strategic expansion of its CenterWell primary care business and state Medicaid footprint, including its recent Illinois win. These initiatives could strengthen its long-term recovery and expand its addressable market. However, the bear case centers on elevated medical benefit ratios, which reached 91.2% in Q2, as well as regulatory pressures in Medicaid and continued Medicare Star Ratings headwinds. These factors could further squeeze margins and weigh on net earnings.
#healthcare #year
HealthStream emerges as the operationally cleaner, higher-growth performer, while Humana continues to navigate a more complex transition marked by regulatory and profitability pressures. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) reported Q2 2026 GAAP EPS of $5.73 and adjusted EPS of $7.61, with an Insurance segment GAAP benefit ratio of 91.2%. The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS guidance of at least $9.00 but lowered its FY 2026 GAAP EPS forecast to at least $6.52 from $8.36, reflecting non-cash adjustments and value creation charges. Although individual Medicare Advantage membership is expected to grow approximately 25% in 2026, lower Star Ratings remain a significant drag on profitability.
HealthStream, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSTM), meanwhile, delivered record Q2 2026 results, with revenue rising 12.5% year over year to $83.7 million. Operating income increased 41.4% to $8.3 million, while net income climbed 23.8% to $6.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA also increased 16.9% to $20.6 million. The company's debt-free balance sheet, supported by $66.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, further strengthens its financial flexibility. While Humana operates at substantially greater scale, HealthStream is demonstrating stronger operational leverage, margin expansion, and balance sheet flexibility.
Humana's bull case is supported by strong Medicare Advantage membership growth, with the company targeting a 25% increase in 2026, alongside strategic expansion of its CenterWell primary care business and state Medicaid footprint, including its recent Illinois win. These initiatives could strengthen its long-term recovery and expand its addressable market. However, the bear case centers on elevated medical benefit ratios, which reached 91.2% in Q2, as well as regulatory pressures in Medicaid and continued Medicare Star Ratings headwinds. These factors could further squeeze margins and weigh on net earnings.
#healthcare #year
2 months ago
Medicare calculates Part B and Part D surcharges using income from two years prior, so a profitable ***** et sale can trigger higher premiums long after the money is spent.
IRMAA resets annually, so a one-time income spike typically raises premiums for only one or two years before fading as normal income returns.
Voluntary ***** et sales don't qualify for SSA-44 relief, making pre-sale income planning the only real tool to minimize Medicare surcharges.
Many financial professionals are salespeople paid on what they push, not whether you end up wealthier. A fiduciary is the opposite. The SEC legally requires them to put your interests first. Advisor.com's free matching tool pairs you with vetted fiduciaries from major national firms, all in under three minutes. See who you match with today.
Picture a longtime fan who bought a personal seat license two decades ago, giving him the right to buy the same season tickets year after year. He has climbed the same stadium stairs every fall, watched his knees start to complain and finally decided the ticket rights were worth more to him as cash than as seats he uses a handful of times each season.
#income #medicare #premiums #tool
IRMAA resets annually, so a one-time income spike typically raises premiums for only one or two years before fading as normal income returns.
Voluntary ***** et sales don't qualify for SSA-44 relief, making pre-sale income planning the only real tool to minimize Medicare surcharges.
Many financial professionals are salespeople paid on what they push, not whether you end up wealthier. A fiduciary is the opposite. The SEC legally requires them to put your interests first. Advisor.com's free matching tool pairs you with vetted fiduciaries from major national firms, all in under three minutes. See who you match with today.
Picture a longtime fan who bought a personal seat license two decades ago, giving him the right to buy the same season tickets year after year. He has climbed the same stadium stairs every fall, watched his knees start to complain and finally decided the ticket rights were worth more to him as cash than as seats he uses a handful of times each season.
#income #medicare #premiums #tool
2 months ago
Selling a home for $890,000 leaves roughly $328,000 taxable after the $500,000 joint exclusion, adding $9,240 in Medicare surcharges two years later.
Section 121's $500,000 joint exclusion ceiling hasn't risen with inflation since 1997, leaving longtime homeowners exposed to large taxable gains on ordinary homes.
Rebuilding cost basis with documented improvements, deferring optional IRA withdrawals, and budgeting for the Medicare surcharge from proceeds reduces the sale's financial impact.
Many financial professionals are salespeople paid on what they push, not whether you end up wealthier. A fiduciary is the opposite. The SEC legally requires them to put your interests first. Advisor.com's free matching tool pairs you with vetted fiduciaries from major national firms, all in under three minutes. See who you match with today.
For more than 40 years, the house did exactly what its owners hoped it would do. A couple who paid $62,000 for their home in 1984 closes on the sale this year at $890,000. The IRS lets them exclude up to $500,000 of gain under Internal Revenue Code Section 121. Any taxable gain left after the exclusion, basis adjustments and selling expenses flows into adjusted gross income (AGI). That figure helps determine the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) Social Security uses to calculate Medicare's income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) two years later. The sale closes in 2026. The Medicare bill arrives in 2028.
#medicare #years #selling #later
Section 121's $500,000 joint exclusion ceiling hasn't risen with inflation since 1997, leaving longtime homeowners exposed to large taxable gains on ordinary homes.
Rebuilding cost basis with documented improvements, deferring optional IRA withdrawals, and budgeting for the Medicare surcharge from proceeds reduces the sale's financial impact.
Many financial professionals are salespeople paid on what they push, not whether you end up wealthier. A fiduciary is the opposite. The SEC legally requires them to put your interests first. Advisor.com's free matching tool pairs you with vetted fiduciaries from major national firms, all in under three minutes. See who you match with today.
For more than 40 years, the house did exactly what its owners hoped it would do. A couple who paid $62,000 for their home in 1984 closes on the sale this year at $890,000. The IRS lets them exclude up to $500,000 of gain under Internal Revenue Code Section 121. Any taxable gain left after the exclusion, basis adjustments and selling expenses flows into adjusted gross income (AGI). That figure helps determine the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) Social Security uses to calculate Medicare's income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) two years later. The sale closes in 2026. The Medicare bill arrives in 2028.
#medicare #years #selling #later
2 months ago
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For millions of Americans, turning 65 brings a major change in how they pay for health care: Medicare eligibility.
But financial expert Suze Orman says there's a potentially costly misconception about what happens next.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
JPMorgan sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Get your free guide from Priority Gold
#Gold #moneywise
For millions of Americans, turning 65 brings a major change in how they pay for health care: Medicare eligibility.
But financial expert Suze Orman says there's a potentially costly misconception about what happens next.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
JPMorgan sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Get your free guide from Priority Gold
#Gold #moneywise
2 months ago
No withdrawal order eliminates RMDs from a traditional IRA. Only Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions, or never owning one in the first place can genuinely shrink them.
IRMAA surcharges hit Medicare premiums two years after the income that triggers them, jumping joint filers from $203 to $284 monthly by crossing $218,000 MAGI.
Letting an IRA compound untouched through your 60s forces larger RMDs at 73, often pushing retirees into higher brackets and through IRMAA cliffs simultaneously.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
A $2.1 million nest egg split evenly between a taxable brokerage account and a traditional IRA can throw off a six-figure income. What most retirees miss is that where each holding sits and when each dollar comes out determine whether Medicare surcharges and a swollen required minimum distribution eat that income a decade later.
#medicare #surcharges #retirees #magi
IRMAA surcharges hit Medicare premiums two years after the income that triggers them, jumping joint filers from $203 to $284 monthly by crossing $218,000 MAGI.
Letting an IRA compound untouched through your 60s forces larger RMDs at 73, often pushing retirees into higher brackets and through IRMAA cliffs simultaneously.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
A $2.1 million nest egg split evenly between a taxable brokerage account and a traditional IRA can throw off a six-figure income. What most retirees miss is that where each holding sits and when each dollar comes out determine whether Medicare surcharges and a swollen required minimum distribution eat that income a decade later.
#medicare #surcharges #retirees #magi
