On the plus side, these increases are automatic, and recipients don't have to take any action as the higher amounts will start to appear in January 2026 benefit payments. Unfortunately, the methodology that has helped determine these increases has been in place since 1975 as part of the CPI-W. While designed to protect beneficiaries from inflation, it also only measures increases from the third quarter of 2024 against the third quarter of 2025. This said, in 2023, when inflation spiked, the COLA did spike t ...

Core Insights - The Medicare enrollment process is confusing, as individuals must sign up on Social Security's website rather than Medicare's [2] - There are significant conflicts of interest in the sale of Medicare plans, particularly regarding commissions for agents [3][4] Enrollment Process - Individuals do not sign up for Medicare on Medicare's website, which is counterintuitive; instead, they must use Social Security's website [2] Commission Conflicts - Licensed agents can earn up to three times more in commissions for selling Medicare Advantage plans compared to Medigap policies, creating a financial incentive to promote plans that may not be in the best interest of consumers [3][4] - Agents may not present Medigap plans if they do not receive a commission for them, further complicating beneficiaries' choices [7] Plan Comparisons - Medicare Advantage plans are not inherently bad, but they may not be the best option for every individual, and the choices are often not presented equally [6]