As Medicare's annual Open Enrollment period begins, a major shift in senior healthcare has taken place.

 

More than half of all eligible beneficiaries—a staggering 34.1 million people—are now enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans instead of Traditional Medicare.

 

These plans are heavily marketed with appealing perks like dental and vision coverage, often for a $0 monthly premium.

 

However, this comes at a significant cost, as the government pays insurers an average of 20% more per person for these plans, totaling an estimated $84 billion in extra federal spending this year alone.

 

The market is highly concentrated, with giants UnitedHealth Group and Humana covering nearly half of all members nationwide.

 

Local seniors are urged to look past the commercials and carefully compare their options, ensuring their doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are covered before making a final decision for the year ahead.

A sweeping law signed on July 4th is set to bring major changes to taxes, healthcare, and paychecks, but its rollout is staggered.

 

While some provisions begin immediately, others won’t start until 2025 or later, giving both individuals and policymakers time to adapt.

 

Key for workers in tipping or overtime-heavy industries, new tax breaks will allow deductions of up to $25,000 in tips and $12,500 in overtime, starting with 2025 tax returns, if income stays below $150,000 for singles or $300,000 for couples. These deductions will require careful record-keeping and expire after 2028 unless renewed. 

 

Seniors aged 65 and older will gain an extra $6,000 tax deduction on top of the standard one, also running through 2028. Middle-income retirees on Social Security earning under $75,000 will get a break as well—starting in 2025, many will no longer owe federal tax on those benefits.

Supporters hail the bill as a positive reform, but a closer look reveals major risks for low-income families, hospitals, and local communities.

 

The proposed changes would reduce the federal Medicaid funding match from 90% to 80%, forcing states to cover a much larger share of costs—potentially requiring billions more each year.

 

With the federal cap on provider taxes also slashed, states lose another crucial tool for balancing budgets, leaving them likely to cut services, reduce payments to hospitals, or raise taxes elsewhere.

 

The bill also requires able-bodied adults, including parents of teenagers, to log 80 hours per month in work or other approved activities to keep Medicaid coverage. Missing these hours due to job instability or paperwork errors could lead to sudden loss of health insurance.

 

Legal immigrants, including refugees and those with protected status, would lose eligibility for Medicaid and marketplace subsidies, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of becoming uninsured.

A sweeping new tax bill championed by former President Trump is delivering sizable permanent tax cuts to individuals, marking one of the largest overhauls in recent history.

 

Key changes include a drop in the highest tax bracket from 39.6% to 37%, with other brackets also reduced, a move expected to save Americans over $2 trillion in the next decade.

 

The higher standard deduction, first introduced in 2017, has now been locked in permanently, benefitting more than 90% of taxpayers and promising over $1 trillion in additional savings. 

 

Residents of high-tax states like California and New York will see relief too, as the cap on state and local tax deductions temporarily increases to $40,000 through 2029.

 

In another surprising win, those purchasing new American-made cars can deduct up to $10,000 in loan interest, even without itemizing. Together, these provisions make it easier for many families to keep more of their hard-earned money.

President Trump’s signature legislative initiative, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," faces mounting hurdles as key provisions are struck down by Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough for violating Senate rules. Removed sections originally aimed to ease environmental regulations on oil and gas projects, roll back EPA emission limits, and force the U.S. Postal Service to replace thousands of electric vehicles. Immigration-related restrictions, including penalties for sanctuary cities and limited benefits for non-citizens, were also cut. MacDonough determined these measures were unrelated to the federal budget and could not be included. As Republicans scramble to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline, the bill also draws controversy for its proposed Medicaid changes, which the Congressional Budget Office projects could leave millions without health coverage by 2034. With pivotal provisions lost and legislative negotiations intensifying, the coming days will determine whether the bill can secure enough support to advance in Congress.