Blog
The Kryder Cares blog explains Medicare, health insurance, life insurance and retirement planning topics in plain English. Articles cover enrollment deadlines, plan changes for 2027, common mistakes and how to compare your options. Each one is written for people in northwest Ohio and reviewed against current published Medicare and Marketplace figures.
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026, and the choices you make take effect Jan 1, 2027. This checklist walks you through what to review, what you can change and which deadlines matter.
· 9 min
Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage starts November 1. Subsidies look different this year, so here’s what Ohio families should know before renewing.
· 8 min
The 2027 Part D numbers are in: a $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, a $700 maximum deductible and a $41.33 base premium. Here’s how those changes may affect what you pay at the pharmacy.
· 8 min
Your Medicare enrollment window opens three months before the month you turn 65. Here’s how Ohioans can sign up for Parts A and B, avoid penalties and protect their Medigap options.
· 8 min
Medigap and Medicare Advantage take very different approaches to the same coverage. Here’s how they compare on costs, networks, travel and the hard-to-undo decision of switching later.
· 8 minIf your income was higher two years ago, you may pay more for Part B and Part D. Here’s how IRMAA works, the 2026 thresholds, and what you can do if your income has dropped.
· 9 min
Term life covers you for a set number of years, while whole life is built to last your lifetime. Here’s how to compare them, size your coverage and decide what fits your family.
· 9 minMedicare’s Part B and Part D late penalties can last as long as you have coverage. Here’s how each is calculated, with a worked 2027 example, and how to avoid them.
· 8 min
If you’re still working at 65, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. Here’s how employer size, HSAs, COBRA and the right forms fit together.
· 9 min
Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy designed to help your family pay for a funeral and other end-of-life bills. Here’s how it works and what to look for.
· 8 minIf you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan may bring your benefits together. Here’s how D-SNPs work in Ohio.
· 8 min
Medicare covers short stays in a skilled nursing facility, not ongoing help with daily living. Here’s what that gap means and the options you can use to plan for it.
· 8 min
Routine dental, vision and hearing care usually isn’t covered by Original Medicare. Here’s how Medicare Advantage extras, standalone plans and discount plans compare.
· 8 min
An annuity is a contract with an insurance company that can protect savings and turn them into income. Here’s how fixed and fixed-indexed annuities work, in plain English.
· 8 min
A hospital indemnity plan pays you a set cash amount when you’re admitted to the hospital. Here’s how it works, who it may help, and what it doesn’t cover.
· 8 minOffering benefits can help a small business attract and keep good people. Here’s a plain-English look at the options, from group health and HRAs to dental, disability and more.
· 8 minInsurance rules change every year, and it can be hard to keep up. These articles break down the latest changes and common questions so you can feel prepared before you talk with Kris. Browse by category, or start with the Medicare FAQs for quick answers.
Have a question you would like to see covered? Send it through the contact page. When you are ready for advice about your own situation, Kris offers no-cost, no-obligation consultations.
FAQ
The blog covers Medicare, health insurance, life insurance, retirement planning and employee benefits. Articles explain enrollment periods, costs, plan types and yearly changes in plain English. Many focus on questions Kris hears often from clients in northwest Ohio, such as when to sign up for Part B or how to compare drug plans.
Each article shows its publish date, and figures are checked against published CMS and Marketplace information at the time of writing. Medicare and ACA amounts change every year, so always check the date. For the most up-to-date details about your own coverage, contact Kris directly.
No. Articles provide general education, not advice for your situation. Your plan choices depend on your county, doctors, prescriptions, income and timing. Kris can apply what you read to the plans actually available to you in a no-cost, no-obligation consultation in Perrysburg, by phone or by video.
For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400, the maximum Part D deductible rises to $700, and the national base beneficiary premium is $41.33. The 2027 Part B premium had not yet been announced at the time of writing. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. For 2027, credits are generally available for incomes between about 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, and repayment caps no longer apply. Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15%. Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
Yes. If you have a Medicare, health or life insurance question you think others share, send it to Kris through the contact page or by email at kris@krydercares.com. Common questions often become future articles, and Kris is always glad to answer your question directly too.
Saved on this device. Need help reading anything? Call Kris at (419) 277-8097.
