Feldman Brothers Company, Inc.

10/01/2026

Today, October 1, marks the start of the Pre-AEP (Pre-Annual Enrollment Period), also known as the Plan Preview Period. Medicare beneficiaries can begin reviewing Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plan offerings from various insurance carriers in their county. Enrollment in a plan must wait until October 15. The Enrollment Period lasts until December 7.

Here's a fascinating piece of trivia: Across the entire country, there are 130,308 unique Medicare Advantage plans in 2027.

I think I now know why people seek out my guidance.

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09/28/2026

The Medicare Advantage benefits boom is slowing down.

For years, Medicare Advantage plans competed by piling on extras:

Bigger dental allowances.
More OTC money.
Flex cards.
Part B givebacks.
Vision and hearing benefits.
$0 premiums almost everywhere.

That competition created a marketplace where consumers often focused as much on the extras as on the underlying medical coverage.

2027 looks different.

Across the Medicare Advantage market, insurers are becoming much more selective about what they are willing to offer.

The phrase that may best describe the trend is:

BENEFITS CONTRACTION.

That does not necessarily mean premiums are skyrocketing.

In fact, many plans may continue to advertise a $0 monthly premium.

But a $0 premium does not mean the plan stayed the same.

The contraction may show up elsewhere:

• Smaller dental allowances
• Reduced OTC or flex benefits
• Higher specialist copays
• Higher hospital cost-sharing
• Smaller Part B givebacks
• Changes in formularies
• Narrower provider networks
• Higher maximum out-of-pocket limits
• Certain plans disappearing entirely

And here is what makes the story especially interesting:

CMS projects that Medicare Advantage plans will receive billions of dollars more in federal payments for 2027.

So why are benefits still being tightened?

Because Medicare Advantage economics are being pressured by higher medical utilization, rising healthcare costs, changes in risk adjustment, Star Ratings pressure, prescription-drug costs and the need for insurers to maintain sustainable margins.

In other words:

The days of simply adding another benefit to make a plan look richer than the competitor across the street may be fading.

For Medicare beneficiaries, that makes the 2027 Annual Enrollment Period especially important.

Don’t just look at the premium.

Don’t just look at the dental benefit.

And don’t assume that because your Medicare Advantage plan still has the same name, it is still the same plan.

Open your Annual Notice of Change.

Compare 2026 to 2027 carefully.

Ask:

What did I gain?

What did I lose?

What will I actually pay if I get sick?

Because in 2027, the most important Medicare question may not be:

“What benefits does this plan give me?”

It may be:

“What benefits did this plan quietly take away?”

Schedule a free 2027 Medicare plan review via Zoom. Click here to get started:
retireflo.com/marc-schermer

09/18/2026

Get the UPDATED "2027 Medicare and You" Guide!
https://www.howdoisignupformedicare.org/medicare-enrollment/get-your-medicare--you-handbook?download_file_key=850636890_4

08/29/2026

What a gloriously beautiful late summer day it is!

08/27/2026

A woman I met with recently is turning 65 in six weeks.

08/21/2026

🚨 Quick question for my Pittsburgh neighbors aged 64 and up:

Is your mailbox currently overflowing with thick stacks of Medicare pamphlets? Are you tired of hearing loud, confusing TV commercials telling you what to do with your health insurance? 📬📺You don't need to navigate the maze alone, and you certainly don't need to guess.

As an independent Medicare broker based right here near Fox Chapel, I have spent over 20 years helping local seniors untangle the confusion between options like UPMC and Highmark BCBS.

Here is the best part: You don’t have to drive anywhere or invite a salesperson into your house. We can look at your exact prescriptions, verify your favorite doctors, and find your lowest-cost plan together over a secure, comfortable Zoom consultation right from your living room. 🖥️☕

Because I am independent, I don't work for the insurance companies. I work directly for you.

Whether you are turning 65 soon or simply want an honest look at your current plan, let's get you answers.

👇 Click the link below to schedule your private, stress-free Zoom chat today!

Get a comprehensive review of your 2026 Medicare health insurance and prescription drug plan options! Thank you for scheduling an appointment with me by using my automatic appointment scheduler. Marc Schermer, Licensed and Certified Health Insurance Broker. Medicare and Obamacare Specialist. My

05/09/2026

We’re celebrating a day early. Grabbing a dinner bite before heading to Heinz Hall (one of our favorite homes away from home) to see and hear Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra AND the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra AND the Mendelssohn Choir. We’re super excited!

01/07/2026

I’m proud of the commitment and dedication of Executive Director, Kathleen Stanley, and her amazing staff, to the programming and mission of Roots of Faith. It’s been a privilege for me to to serve on its board, alongside the other talented community members who also serve, including my wife, Marjorie Schermer, who provides outstanding leadership as our board chair.

Happy New Year!
Join us for a free community dinner this Thursday at The Neighborhood Table.
January 8th
5:30 PM Doors open,
Free Legal Clinic
The Legal Clinic provides up to 20 minutes of free legal advice and consultation for income-qualified individuals. Volunteer attorneys offer legal counseling services on civil issues. Not all cases can be handled and some may be referred out. No family or criminal division cases. No appointments needed, simply sign-in upon arrival.

12/29/2025

Ever tried ringing in the New Year only to realize you forgot your health insurance?

Don't let "coverage gap" be your January 1st hangover! There's still time (and tax credits!) to get covered for 2026.

Book a Zoom call with me and start the year protected:

Discover the many health insurance plans available to you in 2026. You may be eligible for an income tax credit designed to lower the cost of your health insurance. I will help you make the tax credit calculation. Tel. (412) 855-4828

10/06/2025

These words were written by 13-year-old Anne Frank in January 1943.