Last chance to switch Medicare Advantage plans by March 31: If your doctor left the network, drug formulary changed, or premiums jumped, you have until March 31 to switch MA plans or drop back to original Medicare — after that, you're locked in until October's open enrollment. Need help with Medicare? Contact Chapter Medicare at 539-205-2147 for FREE expert help.

Social Security tax cap increased to $184,500: If you're still working, you'll pay the 6.2% Social Security tax on the first $184,500 of earnings (up from $176,100 in 2025) — that's roughly $520 more in payroll taxes for high earners, but everything beyond $184,500 is exempt.

Earnings limit rose to $24,480 before benefit withholding: If you work while collecting Social Security before reaching full retirement age, you can earn up to $24,480 in 2026 (up from $23,400) — above that, Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 earned, but this isn't a tax; it's temporary and gets recalculated when you reach FRA.

Major price relief for diabetics: 75% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries now pay $35 or less for a 30-day insulin supply (up from 48% in 2019), and average out-of-pocket costs plummeted from $50.87 in 2019 to just $21.98 in 2023 — the Inflation Reduction Act's mandated $35 cap took effect January 1, 2023.

One-quarter still pay more due to prorating loophole: About 25% of Medicare beneficiaries paid more than $35 for insulin in 2023 because the $35 cap only applies to full 30-day multiples — if your prescription is for 45 days, insurers can treat it as a 60-day supply and charge up to $70.

State variations exist: Average 30-day insulin costs in 2023 ranged from $10.36 in Washington D.C. to $31.09 in Minnesota, partly reflecting how different Medicare plans handle prorating — researchers are exploring whether policy changes are needed to close this gap.

You can collect in most countries, but not all: Most U.S. citizens can continue receiving Social Security while living abroad — but payments are prohibited in Cuba and North Korea, and restricted in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan unless you get a special exception.

Foreign work credits may help you qualify: If you worked in another country and don't have enough U.S. Social Security credits to qualify, you may be able to count your foreign work credits — the U.S. has bilateral Social Security agreements with several countries that integrate work credits from both nations.

Direct deposit available in many countries: You can apply for benefits online and manage them from abroad — benefits can be electronically deposited into a U.S. financial institution or directly into a bank in your new country if it has an international direct deposit agreement with the SSA (check the official list to confirm).