Medicaid news
Medicaid news for families of older adults: eligibility rules, federal changes, home care funding and fraud reviews, with links to original sources.
October 29, 2026
Medicaid
Judge blocks stricter 'medically frail' test in Medicaid work rules
A Boston federal court sided with 25 states, including New York, against a federal rule that would have made seriously ill adults prove their condition keeps them from meeting new Medicaid work requirements.
October 26, 2026
Medicare
Medicare proposal could cut off remote monitoring for many patients, especially in rural areas
A proposed CMS rule would stop paying when practices use outside vendors to run remote monitoring; more than 230 groups oppose it, and traditional Medicare patients with heart conditions or diabetes could lose devices.
MedicareNew
First study of Medicare's prior authorization pilot finds use of targeted services fell
A JAMA study found that in the six states testing prior authorization in traditional Medicare, use of targeted services such as back-pain steroid injections fell 15% to 20% in early 2026. New York is not in the pilot.
October 23, 2026
Medicare
Humana and UnitedHealthcare will end Medicare Advantage plans covering about 1 million people in 2027
Humana says about 600,000 members are affected and UnitedHealthcare about 390,000, with most offered another plan. Open enrollment runs through December 7, so families should check this year's plan letters now.
October 21, 2026
MedicaidUpdated
KFF: big federal Medicaid changes are coming, and Medicaid is a midterm issue
New federal work requirements start by January 1, 2027 for some working-age adults — most people 65 and older are not in that group. KFF explains what changes, what doesn't, and why states' budgets could still affect care for older adults.
Medicaid
CMS holds back another $1.2 billion in California Medicaid home care payments
Federal officials are expanding a fraud review of personal care services — the same kind of in-home help many families depend on. Payments held back in California don't change New York care today, but the same review approach could spread.
October 15, 2026
Medicare
Most older adults spend under an hour choosing Medicare coverage, and few switch plans, poll finds
A University of Michigan poll found 80% of older adults kept the same plan and only 15% knew about a Plan Finder tool that checks doctor networks, even as 92% said they felt confident.
Medicare
More than 3 million Medicare Advantage members must pick new plans for 2027 as insurers pull back
Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and some Blue Cross plans are dropping coverage for about 11% of enrollees, many in PPOs, so affected seniors must choose new coverage before December 7.
October 14, 2026
Medicare
Social Security checks will rise 3.6% in 2027, about $75 a month for the average retiree
About 72 million beneficiaries get the increase in January, and SSI recipients see it December 31; the Medicare Part B premium change will take part of the raise for many retirees.
October 5, 2026
Medicare
Medicare Part B premium is projected to rise to about $209.50 in 2027
Medicare trustees project the standard premium rising from $202.90 and the deductible from $283 to about $292, with $272.10 projected by 2031; CMS announces final figures this fall.
Medicaid
KFF tracks a decade of waiting lists for Medicaid home care as federal cuts loom
KFF's new look at Medicaid home and community care waiting lists from 2016 to 2026 warns that reduced federal funding could lead states to cap home care slots, making waits longer for older adults.
October 2, 2026
Medicaid
Wyoming lawmakers move to raise Medicaid's $50 personal needs limit for nursing home residents
A Wyoming legislative committee moved to draft a bill raising the monthly personal needs allowance for nursing home residents on Medicaid from $50 to $100 and the asset limit from $2,000 to $5,000.
October 1, 2026
Medicaid
Medicaid eligibility ends for most lawfully present immigrants as federal changes begin
As of October 1, most lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and asylum recipients, lost Medicaid eligibility under the 2025 federal law, and in 2027 retroactive coverage shrinks for older adults and people needing long-term care.
September 23, 2026
Medicaid
New campaign aims to help people keep Medicaid as work rules start January 1
A $2 million nonprofit campaign called Keep Your Care launched to help states and Medicaid enrollees prepare for federal work and reporting rules that start January 1 and put roughly 10 million people at risk of losing coverage.
September 1, 2026
Medicaid
Indiana lawmakers ask the state to protect Medicaid and in-home care for storm victims
Three Indiana state representatives asked the governor and the state Medicaid agency to make sure people hit by the August 11 derecho don't lose Medicaid or in-home care because paperwork was lost or missed.
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