Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is Now Open Through December 7

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period kicked off on October 15 and concludes December 7, 2025. Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs are set to rise in 2026, but smart planning can help ease the impact.

Compare plans annually.

Do not assume last year’s Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is still the best. Formularies, networks, and premiums change, and shopping around can save you real money. There are also a number of changes coming in 2026, including increases in Part D deductibles, out-of-pocket cap for prescriptions, Part B and Part D premiums, and drug pricing improvements for high-cost drugs like Eliquis and Xarelto.

Use your HSA.

If you have a Health Savings Account, withdrawals for Medicare premiums and qualified medical expenses are tax-free.

Keep income in check.

Medicare premiums are based on your taxable income. Using strategies like Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs can satisfy RMDs without raising your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

Revisit Roth conversions.

Spreading smaller conversions over several years can help reduce future RMDs and keep you below higher Medicare premium brackets.

Give strategically.

Bunching charitable gifts or funding a donor-advised fund can lower taxable income in high-income years.

If you would like to review your current plan to confirm it still meets your health care needs and budget, please let us know. River Wealth Advisors has partnered with URL Insurance Group to help you with your Medicare and insurance needs, and we would be happy to introduce you to one of our dedicated URL team members.

River Wealth Advisors, LLC and URL Insurance Group are unaffiliated entities. River Wealth Advisors receives no compensation of any kind from URL Insurance Group. Clients are under no obligation to engage URL Insurance Group for services.