Turning 65 is a major milestone for one big reason -- it's when you're eligible for health coverage under Medicare. But if you're still working at age 65, Medicare coverage may not be necessary. If your job provides you with health insurance, you may still be able to sign up for Medicare and use it as secondary insurance. But that also may not be necessary. And since there's a cost to Medicare Part B, if you're still working at 65, you may decide to delay your enrollment. Will AI create the world's first ...

With $930,000 in her 401(k), Diane could withdraw $37,200 each year before taxes. The problem is, she will have to live off that alone until she can start claiming Social Security benefits.To avoid this problem, many retirees use a common retirement budgeting tactic — the 4% rule — to ensure there’s enough money from their retirement accounts when making withdrawals, even when adjusted for inflation.For example, since Diane can’t claim Social Security benefits yet, the $930,000 in her 401(k) needs to be tru ...

At the same time, while owning a home can provide that safety net, the expenses of maintaining it can still be costly — especially during retirement.Homeowners — at any age — have the advantage of building equity, which can be a very useful safety net to tap into. Plus, once you have paid off the mortgage, you don’t have expenses like rent weighing you down.First and foremost, you may have more options for financial security if you are a homeowner.If you’re asking yourself the same questions, here are some ...

Core Insights - Humana Inc. reported a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted loss of $3.96 per share, which was narrower than the consensus estimate of a loss of $4.01 per share but wider than the prior year's loss of $2.16 per share [1] - Adjusted revenues increased by 11.8% year over year to $32.6 billion, surpassing the consensus mark by 2.4% [1] Financial Performance - Premiums totaled $30.9 billion, up 11.3% year over year, exceeding the consensus estimate of $30.2 billion [3] - Services revenues rose 28.6% year over year to $1.5 billion, also higher than the consensus mark of $1.4 billion [3] - Investment income fell sharply by 55.6% year over year to $132 million, missing the consensus estimate of $273 million [3] - Total operating expenses increased by 12% year over year to $33.3 billion, exceeding the estimate of $31.8 billion [4] - The benefit ratio was reported at 93%, deteriorating by 150 basis points year over year [4] Segment Performance - The Insurance segment's adjusted revenues rose 11.3% year over year to $31.3 billion, driven by improved per-member premiums [5] - The segment incurred an adjusted operating loss of $923 million, wider than the prior year's loss of $575 million [6] - CenterWell recorded revenues of $6 billion, improving 16.2% year over year and surpassing the consensus estimate of $5.5 billion [7] Future Outlook - Humana forecasts at least $160 billion in revenues for 2026, indicating a 23.4% increase from 2025 [9] - Adjusted EPS is projected to decline to at least $9.00, a 47.5% decrease from the 2025 figure [14] - Management anticipates growth in Individual Medicare Advantage membership by around 25% in 2026 [15]

Group 1 - Medicare Part A generally does not charge a premium, but Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient care, does charge a monthly premium that can increase annually. Additionally, there may be premiums for Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, which should be included in retirement budgeting [4] - Original Medicare does not have an annual out-of-pocket maximum, meaning serious illnesses or extended hospital stays could result in significant medical bills. To mitigate this risk, individuals can increase retirement savings or purchase a Medigap plan to help cover out-of-pocket costs [5][6] - Medicare does not cover certain essential services, including dental care, eye exams, hearing aids, and long-term care. Individuals needing home health aides or assisted living will incur these costs independently [8]

CVS Health earnings came in ahead of analyst forecasts but the company is concerned about Medicare rates. ...

Core Insights - Cigna Group (CI) is a healthcare insurance provider with a market cap of $78 billion, offering various insurance products including life, accident, disability, supplemental, Medicare, and dental insurance [1] Performance Overview - CI shares have underperformed the broader market over the past year, gaining only 1.7% compared to the S&P 500 Index's nearly 14% increase [2] - In 2026, CI's stock rose 6.1%, outperforming the S&P 500's 1.3% rise on a year-to-date (YTD) basis [2] Comparison with Industry Peers - CI has outperformed the iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF), which has declined about 12.8% over the past year, while CI's YTD returns exceed the ETF's 6% losses [3] Financial Results - On February 5, CI reported Q4 results with an adjusted EPS of $8.08, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $7.87, and adjusted revenue of $72.5 billion, exceeding forecasts of $69.9 billion [4] - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts expect CI's EPS to grow 1.5% to $30.28 on a diluted basis [5] Analyst Ratings - CI has a strong earnings surprise history, beating consensus estimates in the last four quarters, with a consensus rating of "Strong Buy" from 23 analysts [5] - RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix maintained a "Buy" rating on CI with a price target of $333, indicating a potential upside of 12.9% from current levels [6] - The mean price target of $330.95 suggests a 12.2% premium to CI's current price, while the highest target of $378 indicates an ambitious upside potential of 28.1% [6]

picture alliance/Getty Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Turning 65 in the U.S. means finally being able to rely on Medicare covering most of your health expenses. But before you join the 62.7 million Americans enrolled in this program, it’s important to understand what’s covered and what’s not (1). While trying to navigate the rules around Medicare can feel overwhelming, avoiding common mistakes can help protect your retirement fund. Mu ...

Group 1 - Many older Americans tend to retire at age 65 or later to enhance retirement savings and ensure smoother healthcare transitions, as Medicare eligibility begins at this age [1][2] - Early retirement can lead to challenges in securing health insurance, especially if downsizing occurs before age 65, making it difficult to find new employment [2][3] Group 2 - Options for health coverage if retiring before Medicare eligibility include joining a spouse's workplace plan, which may allow for special enrollment due to loss of coverage [4] - COBRA provides a way to retain employer health coverage for up to 18 months, but it can be expensive as individuals must pay full premiums without employer subsidies [5][6] - Purchasing a Marketplace plan through the Affordable Care Act is another option, allowing for special enrollment after losing employer coverage, with potential premium subsidies based on income [7][8]

Core Insights - Centene Corporation (CNC) reported a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted loss per share of $1.19, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.25 per share, compared to adjusted earnings of 80 cents per share in the same quarter last year [1][9] - Total revenues reached $49.7 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 21.9% and surpassing the consensus estimate by 3.1% [1][4] Revenue Breakdown - Medicaid revenues increased by 11% year over year to $23 billion, while Medicare revenues surged 75% year over year to $9.6 billion. Commercial revenues rose 24% year over year to $10.8 billion [3] - Premium revenues grew by 23.8% year over year to $44 billion, driven by higher premiums and membership in the PDP and Marketplace businesses, as well as Medicaid rate hikes, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $43.5 billion [4] Membership and Costs - Total membership declined by 3.4% year over year to 27.6 million, missing the consensus mark of 27.9 million, primarily due to decreases in Medicaid and Medicare memberships [5] - The health benefits ratio worsened by 470 basis points year over year to 94.3%, with operating expenses rising 26.7% year over year to $51.5 billion, largely due to increased medical costs, which escalated by 30.4% year over year [6][9] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, Centene had cash and cash equivalents of $17.9 billion, a 27.2% increase from the end of 2024. Total assets decreased by 6.9% to $76.7 billion, while long-term debt fell by 5.8% to $17.4 billion [7] - The company generated $5.1 billion in net cash from operations in 2025, a significant increase from the previous year [8] Full-Year Performance - For the full year 2025, total revenues amounted to $194.8 billion, a 19.4% increase from 2024, while adjusted EPS dropped 71% year over year to $2.08. Premium and service revenues reached $174.6 billion, up 20% year over year [11] 2026 Guidance - Management projects premium and service revenues for 2026 to be between $170 billion and $174 billion, indicating a potential decline of 1.5% from 2025. Total revenues are expected to range from $186.5 billion to $190.5 billion, suggesting a 3.2% decrease from 2025 [12] - Adjusted EPS is anticipated to exceed $3.00, representing a 44.2% increase from 2025, while GAAP EPS is expected to remain above $1.98 [12]