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The Friday Five
Episodes
6 days ago
6 days ago
The Friday Five for June 12, 2026:
Apple WWDC 2026 Takeaways
Instagram Grid Arrangement Feature
IntegrityCONNECT Annuities & What’s Coming Soon
KFF MA Enrollment Stats & Trends for 2026
CMS Medicaid Work Requirements
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Apple WWDC 2026:
“Apple previews new child safety features.” Apple.com, Apple, 8 Jun 2026, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/apple-previews-new-child-safety-features/.
Weatherbed, Jess. “Apple is redesigning Screen Time and overhauling child controls.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 8 Jun 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/945898/apple-parental-controls-child-accounts-wwdc2026.
Perez, Sarah. “Apple puts parents back in control of kids’ iPhone use.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, 8 Jun 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/08/apple-puts-parents-back-in-control-of-kids-iphone-use/.
Instagram Grid Arrangement Feature:
Moon, Mariella. “Instagram finally lets you reorder posts on your grid.” Engadget.com, Engadget, 8 Jun 2026, https://www.engadget.com/2190179/instagram-how-to-reorder-grid/.
Lawler, Richard. “Instagram is finally letting everyone reorganize their profile grid.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 8 Jun 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/946458/instagram-is-finally-letting-everyone-reorganize-their-grid.
IntegrityCONNECT Annuities & What’s Coming Soon:
Events & Webinars from Ritter Insurance Marketing
IntegrityCONNECT Learning Webinars
KFF MA Enrollment Stats & Trends for 2026:
Freed, Meredith et. al. “Medicare Advantage in 2026: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.” KFF.org, KFF, 5 Jun 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-in-2026-enrollment-update-and-key-trends/.
Freed, Meredith et. al. “Medicare Advantage in 2026: Premiums, Out-of-Pocket Limits, Supplemental Benefits, and Prior Authorization.” KFF, KFF.org, 5 Jun 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-in-2026-premiums-out-of-pocket-limits-supplemental-benefits-and-prior-authorization/.
CMS Medicaid Work Requirements:
“CMS Launches Nationwide Framework to Implement Medicaid Work Requirements.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 1 Jun 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-nationwide-framework-implement-medicaid-work-requirements.
Minemyer, Paige. “CMS outlines national framework to support rollout of Medicaid work requirements.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 1 Jun 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-outlines-national-framework-support-rollout-medicaid-work-requirements.
Pifer Parduhn, Rebecca. “CMS releases Medicaid work requirements guidance for states.” Healthcaredive.com, Healthcare Dive, 2 Jun 2026, https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/cms-medicaid-work-requirements-final-rule-state-guidance/821631/.
Tolbert, Jennifer. “CMS Requires More Restrictive Definition of Medical Frailty in New Medicaid Work Requirements Rule.” Kff.org, KFF, 2 Jun 2026, https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/cms-requires-more-restrictive-definition-of-medical-frailty-in-new-medicaid-work-requirements-rule/.
Minemyer, Paige. “Industry groups say final Medicaid work requirements rule imposes onerous documentation burden.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 2 Jun 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/industry-groups-say-final-medicaid-work-requirements-rule-imposes-onerous-documentation.
“Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals.” Federalregister.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 3 June 2026, www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/03/2026-11094/medicaid-program-community-engagement-requirement-for-certain-individuals.
“Medicaid Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (CMS-2454-IFC).” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 1 Jun 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicaid-community-engagement-requirement-certain-individuals-interim-final-rule-comment-period-cms.
Resources:
5 Takeaways from the 2027 CMS Marketplace Final Rule for Insurance Agents
2027 MA and Part D Max Commissions
Introducing the Integrity Health Plan
Should You Hire Licensed-Only Agents for Your Insurance Agency?
The Power of Daily Affirmations in Insurance Sales
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Jun 05, 2026
Friday Jun 05, 2026
The Friday Five for June 5, 2026:
Certification Reminder
Pod Rec: Before Breakfast
TRICARE Resources for Agents
Clover Health Star Ratings
2027 MA and Part D Max Commissions
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Pod(cast) Rec(commendation): Before Breakfast:
Before Breakfast Podcast
Before Breakfast: Track your media
TRICARE Resources for Agents:
“TRICARE Plan Comparison Tool.” Tricare.mil, TRICARE, https://www.tricare.mil/compareplans, Accessed 3 June 2026.
“TRICARE Dental Options Fact Sheet.” Tricare.mil, TRICARE, https://tricare.mil/Publications/Fact-Sheets/dental_options, Accessed 3 June 2026.
“TRICARE Pharmacy Program Overview Fact Sheet.” Tricare.mil, TRICARE, https://tricare.mil/Publications/Fact-Sheets/pharmacy_overview, Accessed 3 June 2026.
“TRICARE Plans Overview Fact Sheet.” Tricare.mil, TRICARE, https://tricare.mil/Publications/Fact-Sheets/plans, Accessed 3 June 2026.
“TRICARE Qualifying Life Events Fact Sheet.” Tricare.mil, TRICARE, https://tricare.mil/Publications/Fact-Sheets/qle, Accessed 3 June 2026.
“TRICARE Young Adult Program Fact Sheet.” Tricare.mil, TRICARE, https://tricare.mil/Publications/Fact-Sheets/young_adult, Accessed 3 June 2026.
Clover Health Star Ratings:
Casolo, Elizabeth. “Clover beats CMS in Medicare Advantage star ratings lawsuit.” Beckerspayer.com, Becker’s Payer Issues, 29 May 2026, https://www.beckerspayer.com/legal/clover-beats-cms-in-medicare-advantage-star-ratings-lawsuit/.
“Court tells CMS to redo Clover’s Star Rating. Here’s why it should be on your radar.” Risehealth.org, Rise Health, 29 May 2026, https://www.risehealth.org/insights-articles/article/court-tells-cms-to-redo-clovers-star-rating-heres-why-it-should-be-on-your-radar/.
“Clover Insurance v. HHS: S.D. of Georgia Holds 20 Star Ratings Measures Unlawful.” Crowell.com, Crowell, 29 May 2026, https://www.crowell.com/en/insights/client-alerts/clover-insurance-v-hhs-sd-of-georgia-holds-20-star-ratings-measures-unlawful.
WEBINAR: The Star Ratings Shakeup: Court Challenges CMS Measure Authority
2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Maximum Commissions:
2027 Maximum Broker Commissions for Medicare Advantage & Medicare Part D
Mulcahy, Gerard. “Contract Year 2027 Agent and Broker Compensation Rates, Referral/Finder’s Fees, Submissions, and Training and Testing Requirements.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 1 June 2026, https://www.ritterim.com/documents/cms-memos/memo-agent-broker-compensation-and-training-and-testing-requirements-cy2027.pdf.
Resources:
5 Takeaways from the 2027 CMS Marketplace Final Rule for Insurance Agents
CMS Update on BALANCE Model & Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Introducing the Integrity Health Plan
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday May 29, 2026
Friday May 29, 2026
The 2027 Marketplace Final Rule from CMS is here! Join Sarah as she pulls out takeaways for insurance agents selling ACA plans.
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Resources:
2027 ACA Final Rule Makes Strides to Reduce Premiums
Drug Story Podcast with Thomas Goetz
Drug Story: Ivermectin on 99% Invisible
How to Grow Your Insurance Business by 45%
Introducing the Integrity Health Plan
Mounjaro means something? Ffrom TBOY he Best One Yet
On ivermectin and parasites (and other things) on Drug Story
The Complete Guide on How to Sell Prescription Drug Plans
References:
“CMS Final Rules Lowers Costs, Cracks Down on Fraud, and Expands State Control.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 15 May 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-final-rule-lowers-costs-cracks-down-fraud-expands-state-control.
Minemyer, Paige. “CMS pulls back limits on non-standard ACA plans in final rule.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 15 May 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-pulls-back-limits-non-standard-aca-plans-final-rule.
“HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027 Final Rule.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 15 May 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/hhs-notice-benefit-payment-parameters-2027-final-rule.
“Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program.” Federalregister.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 20 May 2026, www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/20/2026-10050/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-hhs-notice-of-benefit-and-payment-parameters-for-2027-and. Accessed 26 May 2026.
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday May 15, 2026
Friday May 15, 2026
The Friday Five for May 15, 2026:
Field Notes: Camp Ritter
The “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s)”
TRICARE Transition from DS Logon to myAuth
Scammers Using Meta to Target Seniors
Introducing the Integrity Health Plan
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
The “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s)”:
“20 Days, 20 Data Drops.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, https://newsroom.spotify.com/spotify20/, Accessed 12 May 2026.
“It’s Your Party of the Year(s): A Look Back at Your Entire Music History on Spotify.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, 12 May 2026, https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-05-12/spotify-20-personal-music-retrospective/.
Weatherbed, Jess. “Spotify’s latest ‘Wrapped’ covers your entire music history.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 12 May 2026, https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/928395/spotify-20th-anniversary-wrapped-recap.
“What 20 Years of Spotify Data Reveals About Our Listeners.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, 23 Apr. 2026, https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-23/spotify-20-data-listening-trends/.
TRICARE Transition from DS Logon to myAuth:
“TRICARE logins transitioning to myAuth in 2026.” Newsroom.tricare.mil, TRICARE, 5 May 2026, https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/4477500/tricare-logins-transitioning-to-myauth-in-2026-what-you-need-to-know.
Obis, Anastasia. “TRICARE systems to transition to myAuth by the end of 2026.” Federalnewsnetwork.com, Federal News Network, 6 May 2026, https://federalnewsnetwork.com/technology-main/2026/05/tricare-systems-to-transition-to-myauth-by-the-end-of-2026/.
Scammers Using Meta to Target Seniors:
Ingram, David. “Facebook allows repeat scam artists to send ads to seniors, researchers say.” Nbcnews.com, NBC News, 11 May 2026, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/meta-allows-repeat-scam-artists-target-seniors-report-says-rcna344068.
“How Meta Helps Medicare scammers target seniors.” Counterhate.com, Center for Countering Digital Hate, https://counterhate.com/research/scambook/, Accessed 12 May 2026.
Integrity Health Plan:
IntegrityCONNECT
Integrity Health Plan
Learn More About Integrity Benefits
The Exclusive Benefits Available By Joining Integrity through Ritter
Resources:
5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
Cigna's ACA Exit, Certification Dates, Sleep Audio
Content Corner: Fundamentals of Senior Finance
FMO vs. IMO vs. NMO vs. MGA vs. GA: What’s the Difference?
How to Grow Your Insurance Business by 45%
Ready-Made Marketing for Insurance Agents: Inside the Content Library
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday May 08, 2026
Friday May 08, 2026
The Friday Five for May 8, 2026:
Quick Hits & Headlines
CMS Admin Dr. Oz on Prior Auth
Audio to Help You Sleep
Cigna to Exit ACA for CY 2027
AHIP & NABIP Dates for CY 2027
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Quick Hits & Headlines May 8, 2026:
Roth, Emma. “Apple agrees to pay iPhone owners $250 million for not delivering AI Siri.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 5 May 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/924706/apple-iphone-siri-intelligence-class-action-lawsuit-settlement.
Joseph, Jibin. Got an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro? Apple May Owe You Up to $95 in AI Siri Settlement.” Pcmag.com, PC Mag, 6, May 2026, https://www.pcmag.com/news/got-an-iphone-16-or-15-pro-apple-may-owe-you-up-to-95-in-ai-siri-settlement.
Malik, Aisha. “Meta will use AI to analyze height and bone structure to identify if users are underage.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, 5 May 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/05/meta-will-use-ai-to-analyze-height-and-bone-structure-to-identify-if-users-are-underage/.
“New AI-Powered Age Assurance Measures to Place Teens in Age-Appropriate Experience.” Aboutfb.com, Meta, 5 May 2026, https://about.fb.com/news/2026/05/ai-age-assurance-teens/.
Malik, Aisha. “Threads finally brings messaging to the web.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, 5 May 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/05/threads-finally-brings-messaging-to-the-web/.
CMS Admin Dr. Oz on Prior Auth:
“CMS Announces Progress on Improving Prior Authorization Process.” Youtube.com, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 5 May 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taZ2VqOy38A.
“CMS Electronic Prior Authorization Progress Highlights.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/files/image/electronic-prior-authorization-progress-timeline.gif, Accessed 5 May 2026.
“Moving Prior Authorization into the 21st Century.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 5 May 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/blog/moving-prior-authorization-21st-century.
Audio to Help You Sleep:
ASG Podcast Audio for Sleep Playlist 🥱😴💤
Huang, Pien. “Americans aren’t sleeping enough. Here’s what could help.” Npr.org, National Public Radio, 2 May 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5807074/americans-sleep-better-hours-insomnia.
Audio for Sleep Playlist
Chapman, Bridget. “No More Silent Nights: What to Know About the Rise of Sleep Music.” Forbes.com, Forbes, 1 May 2026, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/music-for-sleep/.
“Sleep Audio Market Research Report 2033.” Growthmarketreports.com, Growth Market Reports, https://growthmarketreports.com/report/sleep-audio-market, Accessed 5 May 2026.
Cigna to Exit ACA for CY 2027:
“Cigna Healthcare’s 2026 Footprint.” Cigna.com, Cigna, https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/ifp/m-26-fly-all-997206-ifp-broker-expansion-map-counties-customer-flyer.pdf, Accessed 5 May 2026.
“Cigna Shares Drop 2.5% After Announcing ACA Marketplace Exit in 2027.” Indexbox.io, Index Box, 4 May 2026, https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cigna-shares-drop-25-after-announcing-aca-marketplace-exit-in-2027/.
Minemyer, Paige, “Cigna to exit ACA market, pursue strategic alternatives for eviCore unit.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 30 Apr. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cigna-posts-165b-profit-q1-earnings-beat.
Bannow, Tara. “Cigna will exit ACA individual markets next year, adding to tyumult for patients.” Statnews.com, Stat+, 30 Apr. 2026, https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/30/cigna-exits-aca-market-2027-369-thousand-people-affected/.
Hilton, John. “New Cigna CEO: Insurer to exit ACA, focus on ‘relentless’ push for affordability.” Insurancenewsnet.com, Insurance News Net, 30 Apr. 2026, https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/new-cigna-ceo-insurer-to-exit-aca-focus-on-relentless-push-for-affordability.
Resources:
5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
Big Moves in Healthcare & Tech: What Insurance Agents Should Watch
CMS 2026 Prior Authorization Proposed Rule
CMS Final Rule on Fax & Snail Mail
CMS Update on BALANCE Model & Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday May 01, 2026
Friday May 01, 2026
The Friday Five for May 1, 2026:
[00:44] Staying Caffeinated on the Road
[03:26] Healthcare or Health Care? AP Stylebook Makes it Official
[05:24] Spotify Spins Fitness into the Mix
[08:41] Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026
[12:16] CMS Update on BALANCE Model & Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Events & Webinars for Insurance Agents
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Staying Caffeinated on the Road:
"Dunkin' Summer Menu." dunkindonuts.com, Dunkin Donuts, "https://www.dunkindonuts.com/en/summer-menu, Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
"Starbucks previews 2026 summer menu with tropical flavors and horchata-inspired drinks." about.starbucks.com, Starbucks, 13 Apr. 2026, https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2026/starbucks-previews-2026-summer-menu-with-tropical-flavors-and-horchata-inspired-drinks/.
Healthcare or Health Care? AP Stylebook Makes it Official:
Berendzen, Gerri. “AP announces stylebook changes; “healthcare” tops list.” Aceseditors.org, aces, 24 Apr. 2026, https://aceseditors.org/news/2026/ap-announces-stylebook-changes-healthcare-tops-list.
“The Associated Press Stylebook (@apstylebook) on Threads.” Threads, AP Stylebook, 25 Apr. 2026, www.threads.com/@apstylebook/post/DXhRkwYieVa?xmt=AQF09zuIUacVV6Ii9z7wDtZ9Or6W-RpmyLnA0twzfMsOKA.
Spotify Spins Fitness into the Mix:
“Introducing Fitness with Spotify: A New Way to Bring Movement Into Your Daily Routine.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, 27 Apr. 2026, https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-27/spotify-fitness-workouts-peloton/.
O’Brien, Terrance. “Spotify is partnering with Peloton for guided workouts.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 27, Apr. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/918861/spotify-peloton-guided-workouts.
Perez, Sarah. “Spotify’s next frontier: Fitness content.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, 27 Apr. 2026. https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/27/spotifys-next-frontier-fitness-content/.
Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026:
"Dr. Miller-Meeks, Congressional Doctors Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Accountability in Medicare Advantage." millermeeks.house.gov, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, 22 Apr. 2026, https://millermeeks.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-miller-meeks-congressional-doctors-introduce-bipartisan-bill-restore.
Gleeson, Cailey. "Lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation to improve access, quality of care in Medicare Advantage plans." fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare 24 Apr. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-improve-access-quality-care-medicare.
Blake, Suzanne. "Medicare Advantage Could Change for Millions Under New Bill." newsweek.com, Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2026, https://www.newsweek.com/medicare-advantage-could-change-new-bill-11883576.
“Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026.” Millermeeks.House.Gov, U.S. House of Representatives, 15 Jan. 2026, millermeeks.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/millermeeks.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/h.r-8375.pdf.
CMS Update on BALANCE Model & Medicare GLP-1 Bridge:
"BALANCE (Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth) Model." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/balance, Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Minemyer, Paige. “CMS delays Part D GLP-1 model amid skepticism from insurers.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 22 Apr. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cms-delays-part-d-glp-1-model-amid-skepticism-insurersd.
Cubanski, Juliette. "CMS Extends Medicare’s Short-Term Bridge Program for GLP-1 Obesity Drug Coverage." kff.org, KFF, 23 Apr. 2026. https://www.kff.org/quick-take/cms-extends-medicares-short-term-bridge-program-for-glp-1-obesity-drug-coverage/.
"Medicare GLP-1 Bridge." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage/medicare-glp-1-bridge, Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
"Status Update on the BRIDGE Demo and BALANCE Model in Part D for CY2027." sponsors.aha.org, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://sponsors.aha.org/rs/710-ZLL-651/images/20260422_Status_Update_on_the_BRIDGE_Demo_and_BALANCE_Model_in_Part_D_for_CY2027_G.pdf, Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Resources:
Big Moves in Healthcare & Tech: What Insurance Agents Should Watch
How the BALANCE Model Will Help Medicare Part D & Medicaid Enrollees Access GLP-1s
Ready-Made Marketing for Insurance Agents: Inside the Content Library
CMS 2026 Prior Authorization Proposed Rule
5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Apr 24, 2026
Friday Apr 24, 2026
The Friday Five for April 24, 2026:
[00:25] Hits & Headlines
[01:41] New Podcast From KFF
[03:33] Tech Takeaways
[05:42] Amazon to Discontinue Older Kindles
[08:47] Amazon One Medical GLP-1 Management Program
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💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Hits & Headlines:
Brenninger, Kevin. "Kevin Warsh hearing takeaways: Trump Fed chair nominee defends finances, says president never demanded rate cuts." CNBC.com, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/21/kevin-warsh-fed-confirmation-hearing-trump-live-updates.html.
"Meet Lucie. A New Way to Shop for Healthcare." ir.hioscar.com, Oscar Health, 20 Apr. 2026, https://ir.hioscar.com/news-events-presentations/news-press-releases/news-details/2026/Meet-Lucie--A-New-Way-to-Shop-for-Healthcare-/default.aspx.
Minemyer, Paige. "Oz previews new plan to push states toward revalidating Medicaid providers." fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/oz-previews-plan-push-states-revalidate-medicaid-providers.
Chu, Amanda. "Oz unveils nationwide plan to tackle Medicaid fraud at POLITICO Summit" politico.com, Politico, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/21/oz-medicaid-fraud-plan-politico-summit-00883279.
"Secretary Kennedy Appoints Casey B. Mulligan as HHS Chief Economist and Regulatory Officer." hhs.gov, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 17 Apr. 2026, https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-appoints-casey-b-mulligan-phd-as-chief-economist-and-chief-regulatory-officer.html.
Huang, Pien. "Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief." npr.org, National Public Radio, 17 Apr. 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5787959/erica-schwartz-cdc-leadership-nomination.
New Podcast From KFF:
KFF’s The Business of Health with Chip Kahn
Why KFF is Launching a Podcast on the Business of Health
Tech Takeaways:
Sarnoff, Leah. "Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down, John Ternus set to replace him." abcnews.com, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026, https://abcnews.com/US/apple-ceo-tim-cook-stepping-john-ternus-set/story?id=132217743.
Esposito, Filipe. "iPhone 18 Pro exclusive color reveals: Dark Cherry is the new Cosmic Orange." macworld.com, Macworld, 20 Apr. 2026, https://www.macworld.com/article/3116701/iphone-18-pro-colors-revealed-exclusive-look-at-apples-2026-models.html.
"Microsoft 365 Roadmap." Microsoft.com, Microsoft, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?id=560321#Roadmap, Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
"Microsoft Teams is trying to fix accidental hand-raising." theverge.com, The Verge, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/915586/microsoft-teams-accidental-hand-raising-fix.
Roy, Dwaipayan. "Microsoft Teams will soon stop you from accidentally raising hand." newsbytesapp.com, NewsBytes, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/microsoft-teams-to-get-a-redesign-this-june/story.
"Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman. John Ternus to become Apple CEO." apple.com, Apple, 20 Apr. 2026, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/04/tim-cook-to-become-apple-executive-chairman-john-ternus-to-become-apple-ceo/.
Amazon to Discontinue Older Kindles:
Amazon Kindle Store
Newman, Justyn. "Amazon’s May 20 Kindle Cutoff: Which Models are Affected and How to Keep Reading Anyway." pcmag.com, PC Mag, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-may-20-kindle-cutoff-which-models-impacted-how-to-keep-reading.
Tyko, Kelly. "Amazon launches GLP-1 program as gaps in care emerge." axios.com, Axios, 21, Apr. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/04/21/amazon-pharmacy-one-medical-glp1-program.
Ashworth, Boone. "Amazon Pulls Support for Perfectly Fine Older Kindles." wired.com, Wired, 9 Apr. 2026, https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-pulls-support-for-perfectly-fine-older-kindles/.
McMahon, Liv. "Amazon to end support for older Kindles, prompting user outcry." bbc.com, BBC, 9 Apr. 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98k91yy4z4o.
Mangino, Samantha. "Don't panic: Amazon is discontinuing support on these 13 Kindle devices, but they're not totally obsolete." mashable.com, Mashable, 8 Apr. 2026, https://mashable.com/article/amazon-discontinuing-kindle-1st-gen-support.
Adorno, Jose. "Old And Unsupported Kindles Might Become The Best Tech Deal Of 2026." 15 Apr. 2026, https://www.bgr.com/2148274/why-old-kindle-deal/.
Amazon One Medical GLP-1 Management Program:
Amazon One Medical GLP-1 Management Program
Gomez, Brandon. "Amazon launches GLP-1 weight loss program, promising ‘fast, convenient’ access." cnbc.com, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/21/amazon-glp-1-weight-loss-program.html.
Patel, Hemalee. "Amazon One Medical introduces weight management program with upfront GLP-1 medication costs." aboutamazon.com, Amazon News, https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-glp1-management-program.
Resources:
5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
CMS 2026 Prior Authorization Proposed Rule
How Insurance Agents Can Avoid Isolation & Build Stronger Connections ft. Dawn Myers
Making Cross‑Selling Less Awkward for Insurance Agents ft. Demetri Simos and Dawn Myers
Ready-Made Marketing for Insurance Agents: Inside the Content Library
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Apr 17, 2026
Friday Apr 17, 2026
The Friday Five for April 17, 2026:
[00:57] CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
[02:09] Google Announces New Chrome Features
[04:56] March 2026 CPI/2026 FOMC Calendar
[07:03] Protective Life Corporation Study on Gaps in Medicare Knowledge
[10:17] CMS 2026 Prior Authorization Proposed Rule
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🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule:
5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
CMS Improves Plan Transparency and Choice with 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
Email the show for your copy of the Final Rule PDF. (We’ve even filled out the subject line for you!)
Google Announces New Chrome Features:
Tsu, Alex. “Get more done with new vertical tabs and immersive reading mode in Chrome.” Blog.google.com, The Keyword, 7 Apr. 2026, https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/chrome/new-chrome-productivity-features.
Pierce, David. "Vertical browser tabs are better and you should use them." Theverge.com, The Verge, 7 Apr. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/907998/google-chrome-vertical-tabs.
March 2026 CPI/2026 FOMC Calendar:
“Consumer Price Index – March 2026.” Bls.gov, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 Apr. 2026, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf.
“Meeting calendars, statements, and minutes (2021-2027).” Federalreserve.gov, The Federal Reserve, https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomccalendars.htm, Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Protective Life Corporation Study on Gaps in Medicare Knowledge:
"Medicare planning: why it matters – and why financial professionals can’t ignore it." Protective Life Corporation, https://delivery-p102752-e1161810.adobeaemcloud.com/adobe/assets/urn:aaid:aem:e195f263-4c50-4410-8b40-f75468408f65/original/as/Protective_WP_Medical+Planning_FINAL_02092026+%283%29.pdf, Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Bell, Allison. "Most Advisors Have Big Gaps in Medicare Knowledge: Survey." thinkadvisor.com, Think Advisor, 8 Apr. 2026, https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/04/08/most-advisors-have-big-gaps-in-medicare-knowledge-survey/.
"New Research Highlights Critical Gaps in Medicare Planning and Opportunities for Financial Professionals." investor.protective.com, Protective Life Corporation, 7 Apr. 2026, https://investor.protective.com/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/New-Research-Highlights-Critical-Gaps-in-Medicare-Planning-and-Opportunities-for-Financial-Professionals/default.aspx.
CMS 2026 Prior Authorization Proposed Rule:
"2026 CMS Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs Proposed Rule." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 10 Apr. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-cms-interoperability-standards-prior-authorization-drugs-proposed-rule.
"CMS Proposes Major Reforms to Speed Up Patient Access to Drugs, Increase Transparency, and Reduce Administrative Burden." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 10 Apr. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-major-reforms-speed-up-patient-access-drugs-increase-transparency-reduce-administrative.
"Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies and CHIP Managed Care Entities, and Issuers of Qualified Health Plans on the Federally-Facilitated Exchanges." federalregister.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 14 Apr. 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/14/2026-07205/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-interoperability-standards.
Pines, Jesse. "Prior Authorization Reform Is Here — And It Could Change How Millions Get Care." Forbes.com, Forbes, 13 Apr. 2026, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessepines/2026/04/13/prior-authorization-reform-is-here-and-it-could-change-how-millions-get-care/.
Minemyer, Paige. "Proposed CMS rule would set prior auth deadlines for drugs." fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 10 Apr. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/proposed-cms-rule-would-set-prior-auth-deadlines-drugs.
"Summary of Proposed Provisions in the 2026 CMS Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs Proposed Rule (CMS0062-P)." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/summary-changes-provisions-rule-10apr26-final-508-compliant.pdf, Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Mar 27, 2026
Friday Mar 27, 2026
The Friday Five for March 27th:
Macbook Neo & WWDC26
Gas Buddy for Fuel Savings
The Great Nee-Doh Shortage
KFF State Health Facts Resource
CMS Final Rule on Fax & Snail Mail
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Macbook Neo & WWDC26:
“Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 8.” Apple.com, Apple, 23 Mar. 2026, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/03/apples-worldwide-developers-conference-returns-the-week-of-june-8/.
“WWDC26” developer.apple.com, Apple Developer, https://developer.apple.com/, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Gas Buddy for Fuel Savings:
Apple Store
Google Play
Official Website
The Great Nee-Doh Shortage:
Official Website
KFF State Health Facts Resource:
“Custom State Report Builder.” Kff.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/state-health-facts/custom/, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
“State Health Facts.” Kff.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/state-health-facts/, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
CMS Administrative Simplification Final Rule:
“Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures Final Rule CMS-0053-F.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 20 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/administrative-simplification-adoption-standards-health-care-claims-attachments-transactions.
“Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures Proposed Rule.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/24/2026-05676/administrative-simplification-adoption-of-standards-for-health-care-claims-attachments-transactions, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
“CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 20 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-rule-phases-out-fax-machines-snail-mail-save-taxpayers-781-98-million-year.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Mar 20, 2026
Friday Mar 20, 2026
The Friday Five for March 20, 2026:
Rueppel Recommends
Audible launches Standard Plan
Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace
Manufacturer Participation in CMS 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
Microsoft Announces Copilot Health
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Rueppel Recommends:
The Death of Social Media and the Rise of Interest Media
Minemyer, Paige. “The feds will overpay Medicare Advantage plans by $76B this year, MedPAC estimates.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 13 Mar 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/feds-will-overpay-medicare-advantage-plans-76b-year-medpac-estimates.
Minemyer, Page. “Joint Economic Committee report: Medicare Advantage overpayments drive up Part B premiums.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 13 Mar 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/joint-economic-committee-report-medicare-advantage-overpayments-drive-part-b-premiums.
“Medicare Payment Policy March 2026.” Medpac.Gov, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Mar. 2026, www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mar26_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf.
“The Part B Premium PassThrough: Medicare Advantage Overpayments Inflate Premiums for All.” Jec.Senate.Gov, Join Economic Committee, 10 Mar. 2026, www.jec.senate.gov/public/vendor/_accounts/JEC-R/issue-briefs/The%20Part%20B%20Premium%20Pass-Through.pdf.
Audible launches Standard Plan:
“Audible Membership Plans & Pricing.” Audible.Com, Audible, www.audible.com/ep/memberbenefits. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Davies, Rowan. "Audible launches a cheaper audiobook tier that’s perfect for entry-level listeners as Spotify continues to hike prices — here’s what you get with the new $9 plan." Techradar.com, Tech Radar, 4 Mar. 2026, https://www.techradar.com/audio/audiobooks/audible-launches-a-cheaper-audiobook-tier-thats-perfect-for-entry-level-listeners-as-spotify-continues-to-hike-prices-heres-what-you-get-with-the-new-usd9-plan.
Bonk, Lawrence. "Audible's new plan is $9 a month and still includes an audiobook." Engadget.com, Engadget, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/audibles-new-plan-is-9-a-month-and-still-includes-an-audiobook-credit-174641878.html.
Mehrotra, Pranob. "Audible’s new Standard plan makes it easy to enjoy audiobooks for less." Digitaltrends.com, Digital Trends, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/audibles-new-standard-plan-makes-it-easy-to-enjoy-audiobooks-for-less/.
Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace:
“Universal Health Services, Inc. to Acquire Talkspace, Inc.” Uhs.Com, Universal Health Services, Inc., 9 Mar. 2026, uhs.com/news/universal-health-services-inc-to-acquire-talkspace-inc/.
Gliadkovskaya, Anastassia, and Dave Muoio. “Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace in $835M Deal to Build out Virtual Behavioral Health.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 9 Mar. 2026, www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/uhs-acquire-talkspace-estimated-835-million-transaction.
Manufacturer Participation in CMS 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
CMS Announces 2028 Maximum Fair Prices for 15 New Medicare-Negotiated Drugs Under Part B & D
“CMS Announces Manufacturer Participation in Third Cycle of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 13 Mar. 2026, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-announces-manufacturer-participation-third-cycle-medicare-drug-price-negotiation.
CMS Announces Part D Savings & 2026 Maximum Fair Prices for First 10 Medicare-Negotiated Drugs
CMS Announces Part D Savings & 2027 Maximum Fair Prices for 15 New Medicare-Negotiated Drugs
Cubanski, Juliette, and Tricia Neuman. “Key Facts About Medicare Drug Price Negotiation.” Kff.Org, KFF, 11 Mar. 2026, www.kff.org/medicare/key-facts-about-medicare-drug-price-negotiation/.
“Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Selected Drugs for Initial Price Applicability Year 2028.” Cms.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.gov/files/document/factsheet-medicare-negotiation-selected-drug-list-ipay-2028.pdf. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Microsoft Announces Copilot Health:
“Introducing Copilot Health.” Mcrosoft.Ai, Microsoft, 12 Mar. 2026, microsoft.ai/news/introducing-copilot-health/.
Bonifield, Stevie. “Microsoft’s Copilot Health can connect to your medical records and wearables.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 12 Mar. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/893594/microsoft-copilot-health-launch.
Landi, Heather. “Microsoft unveils Copilot Health as an AI health companion for consumers.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 12 Mar. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/microsoft-unveils-copilot-health-ai-health-companion-consumers.
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Mar 13, 2026
Friday Mar 13, 2026
The Friday Five for March 13, 2026:
Headline Quick Hits
AI & Critical Thinking
CMS Notification: 1.3 Million MBI Reassignments
2026 Medicare Part D Enrollment Stats
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
AI & Critical Thinking:
Peck, Emily. “AI overuse could spark “brain fry,” new research finds.” Axios.com, Axios, 6 Mar. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/ai-chatgpt-claude-jobs-brain-fry.
Landymore, Frank. “AI Use at Work is Causing “Brain Fry,” Researchers Find, Especially Among High Performers.” Futurism.com, Futurism, 6 Mar. 2026, https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-brain-fry.
Zak, Lana. “Is AI productivity prompting burnout? Study finds new pattern of “AI brain fry.” Cbsnews.com, CBS, 8 Mar. 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-ai-productivity-prompting-burnout-study-finds-new-pattern-of-ai-brain-fry/.
Fakurian, Milad. “It’s tempting to offload your thinking to AI. Cognitive science shows why that’s a bad idea.” Theconversation.com, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026, https://theconversation.com/its-tempting-to-offload-your-thinking-to-ai-cognitive-science-shows-why-thats-a-bad-idea-276766.
Bedard, Julie, et al. “When Using AI Leads to ‘Brain Fry.’” Hbr.Org, Harvard Business Review, 5 Mar. 2026, hbr.org/2026/03/when-using-ai-leads-to-brain-fry.
CMS Plan Notification of 1.3 Million MBI Reassignments:
1.3 Million Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers to Be Reissued in March 2026
2026 Part D Enrollment States:
“Analyzing Changes in Medicare Part D Enrollment for 2026.” Kff.org, KFF, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/analyzing-changes-in-medicare-part-d-enrollment-for-2026/.
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration:
“Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 3 Mar. 2026, https://hpms.cms.gov/app/ng/home/.
Cubanski, Juliette. “What Medicare’s Temporary Program Covering GLP-1s for Obesity Means for Beneficiaries.” Kff.org, KFF, 9 Mar. 2026, https://www.kff.org/quick-take/what-medicares-temporary-program-covering-glp-1s-for-obesity-means-for-beneficiaries/.
Headline Quick Hits:
Malik, Aisha. “Macbook Neo, iPhone 17e, and everything else Apple announced this week.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/everything-apple-announced-macbook-neo-iphone-17e-ipad-air/.
Fried, Ina. “Exclusive: Meta hires duo behind Moltbook.” Axios.com, Axios, 10 Mar. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/03/10/meta-facebook-moltbook-agent-social-network.
Resources:
CMS Crush Initiative
How the BALANCE Model Will Help Medicare Part D & Medicaid Enrollees Access GLP-1s
Medicare and Medicaid to Start Covering GLP-1 Drugs for Beneficiaries
Using a SWOT Analysis to Review Your Insurance Business
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Mar 06, 2026
Friday Mar 06, 2026
The Friday Five for March 6, 2026:
CMS Updates Deadline for GENEROUS
CMS Makes Updates to Medicare.gov
CMS Deferment of Minnesota Federal Medicaid Funding
CMS DMEPOS Enrollment Moratorium
CMS CRUSH Request for Information
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CMS Updates Deadline for GENEROUS Participation:
"CMS Announces New Drug Payment Model to Strengthen Medicaid and Better Serve Vulnerable Americans" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 6 Nov. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-drug-payment-model-strengthen-medicaid-better-serve-vulnerable-americans.
"CMS to Lower Drug Costs and Improve Care by Extending Deadline for GENEROUS Model Application" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-lower-drug-costs-improve-care-extending-deadline-generous-model-application.
"GENEROUS (GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid) Model" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/generous, Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
"GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid (GENEROUS) Model" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 27 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/files/generous-rfa.pdf.
CMS Makes Updates to Medicare.gov:
“Medicare.gov Enhanced Log In.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-gov-enhanced-log.
“Official Website.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.medicare.gov/, Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
CMS CRUSH Initiative:
Submit Your Comment “Request for Information (RFI) Related to Comprehensive Regulations To Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH).” Federalregister.gov, Federal Register, 27 Feb. 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/27/2026-03968/request-for-information-rfi-related-to-comprehensive-regulations-to-uncover-suspicious-healthcare#open-comment.
“Trump Administration Prioritizes Affordability by Announcing Major Crackdown on Health Care Fraud.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 25 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-prioritizes-affordability-announcing-major-crackdown-health-care-fraud.
Resources:
2026 MA Enrollment, a NIPR Scam & Spring Coffee Menus
Instagram Basics for Insurance Agents
The Benefits of Selling Medicare Special Needs Plans
Using a SWOT Analysis to Review Your Insurance Business
Follow Us on Social!
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Feb 27, 2026
Friday Feb 27, 2026
The Friday Five for February 27, 2026:
[01:02] ☕Starbucks Spring 2026 Menu [02:45] 🧋Dunkin’ Spring 2026 Menu [05:25] 📺 Instagram for TV [08:22] ⚠️ NIPR Phishing Alert [10:59] 📊 2026 MA Enrollment Stats
Register for Craig Ritter’s State of the Senior Market
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Starbucks Spring 2026 Menu:
“Starbucks previews 2026 spring menu with new chai, ube and Energy Refreshers drinks.” About.starbucks.com, Starbucks, 26 Jan. 2026, https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2026/starbucks-previews-2026-spring-menu-with-new-chai-coconut-and-lavender-drinks/.
Morea, Steven. “Starbucks’ Spring 2026 Menu Is Here & Fans Have Thoughts.” Delish.com, Delish, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www.delish.com/food-news/a70176840/starbucks-spring-2026-menu/.
Dunkin’ Spring 2026 Menu:
Tenreyo, Tatiana. “Dunkin’s Rumored 18-Item Spring Menu Could Kick Off a Full Banana Boom.” Sporked.com, Sporked, 4 Feb. 2026, https://sporked.com/article/dunkin-spring-2026-menu/.
Baker, Nicolette. “Dunkin’s Spring Menu Is Going Bananas.” Foodandwine.com, Food & Wine, 10 Feb. 2026, https://www.foodandwine.com/dunkin-spring-menu-leak-2026-11902405.
Umholtz, Katelyn. “Yes, it’s true: Dunkin’ is selling iced coffee in 48-ounce buckets.” Boston.com, Boston.com, 24, Feb. 2026, https://www.boston.com/food/food-news/2026/02/24/dunkin-iced-coffee-buckets/.
Instagram for TV:
“Introducing Instagram for TV.” About.instagram.com, Instagram, 16 Dec. 2025, https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/instagram-tv-app.
Malik, Aisha. “Instagram’s TV app is launching on Google TV devices.” Techcrunch.com, TechCrunch, 24 Feb. 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/24/instagrams-tv-app-is-launching-on-google-tv-devices/.
NIPR Phishing Alert:
Content Library: Identifying Scams and How to Protect Yourself*
How to Keep Clients Safe From Insurance Fraud
"National Insurance Professional Registry." Nipr.com, NIPR, https://nipr.com/help, Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Unsure about a NIPR email? Verify first by emailing: niprbillingdept@nipr.com
2026 MA Enrollment Stats:
Fuglesten Biniek, Jeannie et. al. "Medicare Advantage Enrollment Grew by About 1 Million People, Mainly Due to Special Needs Plans." KFF.org, KFF, 23 Feb. 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-enrollment-grew-by-about-1-million-people-mainly-due-to-special-needs-plans/.
“Monthly Contract and Enrollment Summary Report.” CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/medicare-advantagepart-d-contract-and-enrollment-data/monthly-contract-and-enrollment-summary-report. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
More Episodes You’ll Love:
CMS 2027 MA & Part D Advance Notice
State of the Senior Market 2026
The Insurance Agent’s Quick Guide to Med Supp Birthday Rule States
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Friday Feb 20, 2026
Friday Feb 20, 2026
The Friday Five for February 20, 2026:
TikTok USDS Update
Apple Announces Video Podcasts
Tide Launches Evo Detergent
The Burden of Prior Authorization
State of the Senior Market 2026
Register to Attend Craig Ritter’s 2026 State of the Senior Market!
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
TikTok Making Its Way Back to the Top?
“Top Apps.” Appfigures.com, Appfigures, https://appfigures.com/top-apps/ios-app-store/united-states/iphone/top-overall. Accessed 18, Feb. 2026.
“Top Apps.” Appfigures.com, Appfigures, https://appfigures.com/top-apps/google-play/united-states/top-apps. Accessed 18, Feb. 2026.
"Top Photo & Video Apps." Appfigures.com, Appfigures, https://appfigures.com/top-apps/ios-app-store/united-states/iphone/photo-and-video. Accessed 18, Feb. 2026.
"Top Social Apps." Appfigures.com, Appfigures, https://appfigures.com/top-apps/google-play/united-states/social. Accessed 18, Feb. 2026.
Apple Announces Video Capabilities for Podcasts App:
“Apple introduces a new video podcast experience on Apple Podcast.” Apple.com, Apple, 16 Feb. 2026, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-introduces-a-new-video-podcast-experience-on-apple-podcasts/.
Peters, Jay. “Apple’s Podcasts app will let you ‘seamlessly’ switch between audio and video shows.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 16 Feb. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/879749/apple-podcasts-video-swap-hls-live-streaming.
Vallese, Zach. “Apple takes on YouTube and Spotify with new video podcasting push.” Cnbc.com, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/16/apple-takes-on-youtube-and-spotify-with-new-video-podcasting-push.html.
The Burden of Prior Authorization:
Cottrill, Alex, et al. “Examining the Potential Impact of Medicare’s New WISeR Model.” KFF.Org, KFF, 10 Feb. 2026, www.kff.org/medicare/examining-the-potential-impact-of-medicares-new-wiser-model/.
Kirzinger, Ashley, et al. “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Prior Authorizations Rank as Public’s Biggest Burden When Getting Health Care.” KFF.Org, KFF, 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-prior-authorizations-rank-as-publics-biggest-burden-when-getting-health-care/.
Tide Launches Evo Detergent Tiles:
Clancy, Heather. “P&G goes wide with a waterless, plastic-free Tide.” Trellis.net, Trellis, 17 Feb. 2026, https://trellis.net/article/pg-water-plastic-out-of-tide-detergent/.
Tyko, Kelly. “Tide makes its biggest laundry detergent change since pods.” Axios.com, Axios, 17 Feb. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/tide-evo-tiles-dry-laundry-detergent-launch.
“Tide Unveils World-First Laundry Breakthrough: Introduction Tide evo, the Fiber-Detergent Tile.” Us.pg.com, Proctor & Gamble, 17 Feb. 2026, https://us.pg.com/newsroom/news-releases/Tide-Unveils-World-First-Laundry-Breakthrough-Introducing-Tide-evo-the-Fiber-Detergent-Tile/.
Recent Episodes of the Agent Survival Guide Podcast:
5 Takeaways from the CMS 2027 Marketplace Proposed Rule
2016 vs. 2026: The Insurance Edition
CMS 2027 MA & Part D Advance Notice
Q1 ACA Sales Calendar
Q1 Medicare Sales Planner
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Feb 13, 2026
Friday Feb 13, 2026
This week, CMS released their 2027 Marketplace Proposed Rule. Join us as we pull out 5 takeaways insurance agents should know about.
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Resources:
2016 vs. 2026: The Insurance Edition
2026 ACA Enrollment Update
5 Tips for New Insurance Agents
5 Tips for Seasoned Insurance Agents
CMS 2027 MA & Part D Advance Notice
What are the CMS Medicare Gift Rules?
References:
“CMS Model Consent Form for Marketplace Agents, Brokers, Web-brokers, and Agencies.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 9 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/files/cms-model-consent-form-marketplace-agents-brokers.pdf.
“CMS Proposes Regulations to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Consumer Choice, and Protect Taxpayers.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 9 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-regulations-lower-health-care-costs-expand-consumer-choice-protect-taxpayers.
“HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027 Proposed Rule.” CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 9 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/hhs-notice-benefit-payment-parameters-2027-proposed-rule.
“Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program.” Federalregister.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 9 Feb. 2026, www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-02769/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-benefit-and-payment-parameters-for-2027-and-basic-health.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.