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GOOD MORNING.
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THE LEAD
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Today America honors its veterans, and tonight we want to help them avoid a costly Medicare mistake that catches many of them at 65.
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Plenty of veterans reach 65 thinking, "I have the VA, so why pay for Medicare?" It is a fair question. VA health care can be very good, and for many veterans it costs little or nothing. But VA care and Medicare are two separate programs, and they do not work together the way most people assume. Medicare generally does not pay for care at VA facilities, and the VA pays for outside care only in certain situations, usually with approval.
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Jeff Brown believes by the end of this month, this Elon Musk new AI breakthrough will collide…
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With a powerful market prophecy that has correctly predicted some of the biggest market booms going back to 1950…
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Giving Americans a rare and perhaps last chance to turn a small stake into an entire six-figure nest egg in the next 12-18 months.
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The last time something like this happened, investors had a chance to turn a small stake of $10,000 into as much as $366,000 in just 14 months.
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Here is the trap. Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits and outpatient care, has a late enrollment penalty. Some other health coverage lets you delay Part B without one. VA health care does not. If you skip Part B when you first qualify and sign up later, your premium rises 10% for every full 12 months you went without it. The penalty lasts for life.
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The numbers add up. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. A veteran who waits five years pays 50% more, about $304 a month. That is more than $1,200 extra a year, every year.
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There is a second catch. Miss your first window, and you can generally sign up only from January 1 to March 31, with coverage starting the month after you enroll. Need care outside the VA before then, and you may be paying on your own.
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Why carry both? Life changes. You may move far from a VA medical center. You may end up in an emergency room at a hospital outside the VA system. Funding and eligibility rules can also change. The VA itself does not recommend declining Medicare just because you have VA care. Medicare works with nearly any doctor or hospital that accepts it, which gives you a dependable backup.
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Drug coverage is different. VA prescription coverage counts as creditable coverage for Medicare Part D, so veterans who get their medicine through the VA can skip Part D without a penalty. If you ever lose VA drug coverage, sign up for Part D within 63 days.
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This lesson reaches beyond veterans. Retiree health plans and COBRA do not protect you from the Part B penalty either. The main exception is coverage through a current job, yours or your wife's.
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The practical takeaway: if you are nearing 65, mark your seven month Initial Enrollment Period, which runs from three months before your birthday month to three months after. If you are past 65 without Part B, call Social Security or your state's free SHIP counselor to learn what enrolling would cost. Think of the premium as insurance for both your health and your savings.
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THE NUMBER THAT MATTERS
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10%
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Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
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That is how much the Part B late penalty adds to your premium for each full 12 months you went without Part B after you first qualified. It does not fade away. It stays with you as long as you have Part B.
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Ten percent sounds small until you count the years. A veteran who relied only on the VA from 65 to 75 would face a 100% penalty, paying double the standard premium for life. At the 2026 premium of $202.90, that is about $405 a month instead of $203.
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The penalty is figured on the standard premium, so it grows every time the premium does. Part B rose from $185 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026, and more increases are projected. For many retirees, signing up on time is one of the simplest ways to protect their income in the years ahead.
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Customers Owe $2 Million. Payroll Is Due Next Week
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Our hypothetical business has just $200,000 in the bank and $300,000 in wages to pay. Even a profitable company can get caught between those two deadlines.
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What should investors check? Watch the full breakdown on The Patriot Investor’s official YouTube channel. We follow the unpaid invoices, upcoming bills, and borrowed money to explain what the profit figure alone can miss.
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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING THIS WEEK
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INFLATION DATA
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MEDICARE: The 2027 Part B Premium Should Arrive Any Day
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Medicare usually announces next year's Part B premium in mid November. The Medicare trustees projected about $209.50 a month for 2027, up from $202.90 this year. That would be a much smaller increase than the 9.7% jump from 2025 to 2026, but some private forecasters expect a higher number because past projections have come in low. For most retirees, the premium comes straight out of the Social Security check, so any increase eats into next year's raise. It also matters for anyone paying a late penalty, since the penalty is figured on the standard premium.
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SMART MONEY SIGNAL
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ENROLLMENT: Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7
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You have less than four weeks to change your Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan for 2027. Plans change their doctor networks, drug lists and costs every year, so last year's good choice may not be this year's. For 2027, the yearly cap on what you pay for covered drugs under Part D rises to $2,400, and the deductible can be as high as $700. Before December 7, look up each of your prescriptions in your plan's 2027 drug list and confirm your doctors are still in network. A free SHIP counselor can walk you through it at no charge.
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WORTH KNOWING
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MILITARY RETIREES: TRICARE For Life Depends on Medicare Part B
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Military retirees face an even stricter rule. To keep TRICARE coverage after 65, you must enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B. That coverage, called TRICARE For Life, works alongside Medicare and pays most of what Medicare leaves behind, which can save thousands of dollars a year. Skip Part B, and you can lose TRICARE coverage entirely. If you or your husband or father is a military retiree nearing 65, confirm both enrollments well ahead of the birthday month so there is no gap.
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VA care and Medicare are separate programs, and VA coverage alone does not shield you from the Part B penalty. For most veterans, signing up for Part B at 65 costs far less over time than paying a penalty for life. If you or someone you love is nearing 65, check the dates now. It is a fitting way to honor a veteran's service.
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