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What to Know for Thursday, April 16, 2026: |
1: Medicare to require drug approvals within 24-72 hours under major reforms proposed by CMS |
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(Image Credit: Getty Images) |
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No more week-long waits for prescription coverage: The new rule would require insurers to decide urgent drug requests within 24 hours and standard requests within 72 hours — replacing fax machines and fragmented workflows with real-time electronic systems so "patients should not have to wait days or weeks for approval to start the medication their doctor prescribed," says CMS Administrator Dr. Oz. Prior authorization delays cause real patient harm: A January 2026 study of 25 research papers found delays were "associated with disease exacerbation, preventable hospitalizations, longer hospital stays and lower rates of disease-free survival" — Harvard researchers found Medicare cancer patients experienced 10-day delays and were more likely to discontinue treatment when prior authorization was required. Applies to Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, ACA plans starting 2027: The reforms would standardize drug approval processes across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Affordable Care Act marketplace plans — insurers must publicly report approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, and decision speed, with compliance beginning in 2027 after public comment period.
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➜ Read the full article from Newsweek here. |
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2: How much can you earn in semi-retirement without losing Social Security? 2026 limits are $24,480 and $65,160 |
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(Image Credit: Getty Images) |
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Earnings limits only apply before full retirement age: If you're younger than full retirement age (66 or 67), Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 earned above $24,480 in 2026 — in the year you reach FRA, the limit jumps to $65,160 and the withholding drops to $1 for every $3 earned above that amount. Withheld benefits aren't lost forever: Any benefits withheld because you earned too much before full retirement age are not permanently gone — they will be redistributed in future payouts, so you're not actually losing money long-term. Working part-time can help you delay claiming for higher benefits: Semi-retirement income can cover expenses and allow you to delay tapping Social Security, locking in higher benefits — and if you regret claiming early, you can pay back all benefits received within one year to defer and restart at a higher rate later.
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➜ Read the full article from Money here. |
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3: RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz ask court to dismiss lawsuit blocking Medicare's $500/year hemp CBD coverage |
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Government: anti-marijuana groups have no standing to sue: Federal health officials argue Smart Approaches to Marijuana and other prohibitionist groups haven't been harmed by the voluntary program — "CMS has not required them to do or refrain from doing anything," and their resource expenditure opposing it "is the execution of their organizational missions, not a diversion from them." Individual plaintiff's "injury" is just hurt feelings: David Evans claims standing as a Medicare recipient who opposes hemp, but the government says "no one will force Mr. Evans to consume a hemp product" — his alleged injury is "that he might be offered a product he will decline. That is not an Article III injury. It is an offense to his sensibilities." Program launched April 1 after judge rejected restraining order: The voluntary Medicare initiative covers up to $500/year in hemp-derived CBD products (no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC and up to 3mg total THC per serving) for eligible beneficiaries — hemp is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, and "CMS does not pay for hemp products," participating providers furnish them at their own cost.
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➜ Read the full article from MJ Moment here. |
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube: |
Check out our new YouTube videos for Thursday, April 16th. |
SNAP Benefits: Big Changes Take Effect May 1st—What You Must Do NOW |
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SNAP Benefits: Big Changes Take Effect May 1st — What You Must Do Now |
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Retirement Navigator Podcast |
🎙️ Episode #6: Rethinking Retirement — Income, Purpose, and “Unretirement” featuring journalist and podcast host, Richard Eisenberg |
Retirement Isn't What It Used to Be — And That Might Be a Good Thing |
What if retirement didn't mean stopping completely? In this episode of Retirement Navigator, Kwame sits down with Richard Eisenberg — one of the most trusted voices in personal finance — to talk about "unretirement," Social Security timing, Medicare pitfalls, and how to make your money last through a retirement that could span 40 years. |
If you're 55+ and wondering whether your plan is solid, this conversation is exactly what you need to hear. |
👇 Hit play now & be sure to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetirementNavigator |
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Episode 6: Rethinking Retirement: Income, Purpose, and “Unretirement” |
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The Daily 3 Deal List—Week of April 13th |
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This newsletter is for information only. Always confirm your options directly with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or a qualified advisor before making big decisions about your benefits. |
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