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The Friday Five
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7 days ago
7 days ago
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
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.
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
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.
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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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
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 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
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.
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!
Ritter Insurance Marketing:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing
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X: https://x.com/RitterIM
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Sarah J. Rueppel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
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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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
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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.
Follow Us on Social!
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Feb 06, 2026
Friday Feb 06, 2026
The Friday Five for February 6, 2026:
IntegrityCONNECT Question
Educational Resources for Insurance Agents
Government Funding Bill Update
Luffu AI for Family Caregivers
ACA Enrollment Comparison
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.
Educational Resources for Insurance Agents:
Content Library
eBooks & Guides
List of Ritter Events & Webinars
Government Funding Bill Update:
Freking, Kevin. “House Passes Bill on Government Funding to End Partial Shutdown.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 3 Feb. 2026, www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-house-holds-key-procedural-vote-on-government-funding-to-end-partial-shutdown.
“Senate passes government spending package, including healthcare funding.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 31 Jan. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/partial-government-shutdown-looms-threatening-stall-health-funding-package-telehealth.
Luffu AI for Family Caregivers:
“Fitbit founders launch AI platform to help families monitor their health.” Technrunch.com, TechCrunch, 3 Feb. 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/03/fitbit-founders-launch-ai-platform-to-help-families-monitor-their-health/.
“Fitbit’s founders launch a new platform for monitoring your entire family’s health.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 3 Feb. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/872963/fitbit-james-park-eric-friedman-luffu-caregivers-family-health-app.
“Fitbit’s founders push AI into family caregiving.” Axios.com, Axios, 3 Feb. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/02/03/fitbit-founders-ai-family-caregiving.
“From the Founders of Fitbit: Introducing Luffu, Your Guardian for Family Health & Safety.” PRNewswire.com, PR Newswire, 3 Feb. 2026, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-the-founders-of-fitbit-introducing-luffu-your-guardian-for-family-health--safety-302676975.html.
“Luffu Official Website” luffu.com, Luffu, https://www.luffu.com/, Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
ACA Enrollment Comparison:
“Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 28 Jan. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-2.
Related ASG Podcast Episodes:
5 Tips for New Insurance Agents
2016 vs. 2026: The Insurance Edition
CMS 2027 MA & Part D Advance Notice
Content Library: Mastering Medicare Insurance Coverage ft. Jeff Snyder
Introducing a Content Marketing Solution for Insurance Agents
IntegrityCONNECT FAQs
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube
Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Friday Jan 30, 2026
The Friday Five for January 30, 2026
Meta Announces Premium Subscriptions
TikTok USDS Troubles & New Competitors
FY 2026 Appropriations Bills
2025 Tax Season & H.R. 7006
CMS 2027 MA and Part D Advance Notice
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.
Meta Announces Premium Subscriptions:
Weatherbed, Jess. "Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp will test premium subscriptions." theverge.com, The Verge, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/news/868439/meta-premium-subscription-ai-facebook-instagram-whatsapp.
"Meta Confirms Testing of Premium Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp Subscriptions." cnet.com, CNET, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www.cnet.com/news/social-media/meta-confirms-testing-of-premium-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp-subscriptions/.
"Meta to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp." TechCrunch.com, TechCrunch, 26 Jan. 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/meta-to-test-premium-subscriptions-on-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp/.
TikTok USDS Troubles & New Competitors:
Sato, Kiichiro, "5 things to know about the TikTok deal." Politico.com, Politico, 22 Jan. 2026, https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/22/5-things-to-know-about-the-tiktok-deal-00743316.
"Announcement from the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC." newsroom.tiktok.com, TikTok, 22 Jan. 2026, https://newsroom.tiktok.com/announcement-from-the-new-tiktok-usds-joint-venture-llc.
Bell, Karissa. "A TikTok US power outage caused a 'cascading systems failure' leading to multiple bugs." Engadget.com, Engadget, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www.engadget.com/social-media/a-tiktok-us-power-outage-caused-a-cascading-systems-failure-leading-to-multiple-bugs-173426490.html.
"Here's what you should know about the US TikTok deal." TechCrunch.com, TechCrunch, 23, Jan 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/23/heres-whats-you-should-know-about-the-us-tiktok-deal.
Bell, Karissa. "People are uninstalling TikTok and downloading an indie competitor." Engadget.com, Engadget, 26 Jan. 2026, https://www.engadget.com/social-media/people-are-uninstalling-tiktok-and-downloading-an-indie-competitor-233345222.html.
Conner, Adam. "The TikTok Deal Leaves Many Questions Unanswered." americanprogress.org, Center for American Progress, 23 Jan 2026, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-tiktok-deal-leaves-many-questions-unanswered/.
Scanlon, Krystal. "TikTok’s confirmed U.S. deal still leaves unanswered questions." digiday.com, Digiday, 26, Jan. 2026, https://digiday.com/marketing/tiktoks-confirmed-u-s-deal-still-leaves-unanswered-questions/.
"TikTok finalizes deal to form new American entity." NPR.org, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/01/22/nx-s1-5685456/tiktok-finalizes-deal-to-form-new-american-entity.
Jacobs, Skye. "TikTok quietly expands location tracking and ad targeting for US users." Techspot.com, TechSpot, 26 Jan. 2026, https://www.techspot.com/news/111061-tiktok-quietly-expands-ad-targeting-location-tracking-us.html.
“Top Apps.” Appfigures.com, Appfigures, https://appfigures.com/top-apps/ios-app-store/united-states/iphone/top-overall, Accessed 28, Jan. 2026.
Wheatman Hill, Laura. "We Should Just Let TikTok Die." Slate.com, Slate, 27 Jan 2026, https://slate.com/technology/2026/01/tiktok-outage-oracle-ice-shooting.html.
FY 2026 Appropriations Bills:
“Appropriations Status Table: FY2026.” Congress.Gov, United States Congress, 23 Jan. 2026, www.congress.gov/crs-appropriations-status-table.
"Assessing FY 2026 Appropriations." crfb.org, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, 15 Jan. 2026, https://www.crfb.org/blogs/assessing-fy-2026-appropriations.
"H.R.7148 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026." Congress.Gov, United States Congress, 21 Jan. 2026, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7148.
"House Votes 341-88 for 'Minibus' Spending Package." thinkadvisor.com, Think Advisor, 22 Jan. 2026, https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/22/house-votes-341-88-for-minibus-spending-package/.
"Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026." appropriations.house.gov, U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/final-fy26-lhhs-minibus-4-summary.pdf. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
"Partial government shutdown looms, threatening to stall health funding package, telehealth extensions." Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 26, Jan. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/sick-fighting-insurers-hospitals-offer-their-own-medicare-advantage-plans.
"U.S. House passes final minibus funding package." naco.org, National Association of Counties, 22 Jan. 2026, https://www.naco.org/news/us-house-passes-final-minibus-funding-package.
2025 Tax Season & H.R. 7006:
“H.R.7006 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.” Congress.Gov, United States Congress, 15 Jan. 2026, www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7006/all-actions.
“What Would a Government Shutdown Do to the IRS in 2026?” Kiplinger.com, Kiplinger, 23 Jan. 2026, https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/what-will-a-government-shutdown-do-to-the-irs.
CMS 2027 MA and Part D Advance Notice:
"2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice." CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 26 Jan. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-advance-notice.
"Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2027 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies." CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 26 Jan. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2027-advance-notice.pdf.
"CMS 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement." CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 07 Apr. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-rate-announcement.
"CMS Proposes 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies to Improve Payment Accuracy and Sustainability." CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 26 Jan. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-payment-policies-improve-payment-accuracy-sustainability.
"Fiscal Year 2025 Improper Payments Fact Sheet." CMS.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 15 Jan. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fiscal-year-2025-improper-payments-fact-sheet.
Recent Episodes:
2016 vs. 2026: The Insurance Edition
2026 ACA Enrollment Snapshot #2
Enrollment Stats, Snapshots & Spotlights
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Jan 23, 2026
Friday Jan 23, 2026
Is 2026 really the new 2016? Join Sarah as she talks about this internet trend, takes the time machine back to 2016 to compare data, and explains how agents can get in on the fun while it lasts!
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📧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:
5 Tips for New Insurance Agents
5 Tips for Seasoned Insurance Agents
2026 ACA Enrollment Snapshot #2
How the 2027 Medicare Advantage & Part D Proposed Rule Could Impact Insurance Agents & Beneficiaries
Ritter Can Help You Stay in Touch with Your Clients
What Are CMS' Part B Rebatable Drugs for 2026?
References:
“2016 F, G & J Deductible Announcements.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-plans/medigap/downloads/cy_2016_fandj_deductible_amount_for_medigap_high_deductible_options.pdf. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
“2016 K & L Out-of-Pocket Limits Announcements.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-plans/medigap/downloads/cy_2016_oop_limits_-_medigap_plans_k_and_l.pdf. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
"2016 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles Announced." CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles-announced. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
“2026 F, G & J Deductible Announcements.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/medigap/f-g-j-deductible-announcements. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
“2026 K & L Out-of-Pocket Limits Announcements.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/medigap/k-l-out-of-pocket-limits-announcements. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
“Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 12 Jan. 2026, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-0.
“Marketplace Enrollment, 2014-2025: KFF State Health Facts.” KFF.Org, KFF, www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/marketplace-enrollment/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22%3A%22Location%22%2C%22sort%22%3A%22asc%22%7D. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
"Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Offerings." CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 9 Dec. 2025, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-2026-spotlight-a-first-look-at-plan-offerings/.
"Original Medicare Costs in 2016." medicarerights.org, Medicare Rights Center, https://www.medicarerights.org/fliers/Original-Medicare/Original-Medicare-Costs-in-2016.pdf. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
"Original Medicare Costs in 2026." medicareinteractive.org, Medicare Rights Center, https://www.medicareinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/Original-Medicare-Costs-in-2026.pdf. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Friday Jan 16, 2026
Friday Jan 16, 2026
The Friday Five for January 16, 2026:
Instagram “Your Algorithm” Personalization
Apple Health+ on the Horizon?
Apple Creator Studio
ACA Subsidy Extension Passes House
2026 ACA Enrollment Snapshot #2
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.
Instagram “Your Algorithm” Personalization
Bell, Karissa. “Instagram wants you to personalize your Reels algorithm for 2026.” Engadget.com, Engadget, 13 Jan. 2026, https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-wants-you-to-personalize-your-reels-algorithm-for-2026-215252736.html.
“Introducing a new way to see and control your algorithm.” About.instagram.com, Instagram, 10 Dec. 2025, https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/reels-algorithm-control.
Hutchinson, Andrew. “Instagram Rolls Out Algorithm Control Option to All English-Speaking Users.” Socialmediatoday.com, Social Media Today, 13 Jan. 2026, https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-rolls-out-algorithm-control-option-to-all-english-speaking-users/809524/.
Peters, Jay. “Instagram wants to limit hashtag spam.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 18 Dec. 2025, https://www.theverge.com/news/847739/instagram-hashtag-spam-limit.
Apple Health+ on the Horizon?
Burkhardt, Michael. “Apple Launching ‘Revamped’ Health App Later This Year with These Four Upgrades.” 9to5mac.Com, 9to5Mac, 11 Jan. 2026, 9to5mac.com/2026/01/11/apple-health-new-features-and-overhaul-coming-ios-26-4/.
Raspall, David Bernal. “Apple’s Plans for the Health App Leak: A Huge Overhaul Closer than We Think.” Softonic.Com, Softonic, 12 Jan. 2026, en.softonic.com/articles/apple-health-plans-leak.
McMahon, Liv. “Apple Turns to Google to Power AI Upgrade for Siri.” Bbc.Com, BBC News, 13 Jan. 2026, www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdqvp2zqezo.
Apple Creator Studio
“Apple Introduces Apple Creator Studio, an inspiring collection of the most powerful creative apps.” Apple.com, Apple, 13 Jan. 2026, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/01/introducing-apple-creator-studio-an-inspiring-collection-of-creative-apps/.
Rossignol, Joe. “Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year.” MacRumors.com, MacRumors, 13 Jan. 2026, https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/13/apple-creator-studio/.
Rossignol, Joe. “These Apple Apps Will No Longer Receive All New Features Without a Subscription.” MacRumors.com, MacRumors, 13 Jan. 2026, https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/13/apple-creator-studio-exclusive-app-features/.
ACA Subsidy Extension Passes House
Guggenheim, Benjamin, and Mia McCarthy. “ 17 Republicans Vote to Restore Lapsed Obamacare Subsidies.” Politico.Com, Politico, 8 Jan. 2026, www.politico.com/news/2026/01/08/17-republicans-vote-to-restore-lapsed-obamacare-subsidies-00717497.
Lillis, Mike, et al. “House Passes 3-Year Extension of ObamaCare Subsidies.” TheHill.Com, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026, thehill.com/homenews/house/5680184-obamacare-tax-credits-bill-passes-house/.
Minemyer, Paige. “House Passes ACA Tax Credit Extension, With Support From 17 Republicans.” FierceHealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 12 Jan. 2026, www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/legislators-revive-aca-debate-hill-trump-seeks-meeting-insurers.
2026 ACA Enrollment Snapshot #2
“Marketplace 2025 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 17 Jan. 2025, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2025-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-2.
“Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 12 Jan. 2026, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-0.
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Friday Jan 09, 2026
Friday Jan 09, 2026
The Friday Five for January 9, 2026:
Rural Health Transformation Program Allocations
Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model
Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model
Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth (BALANCE) Model
Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Health Care Prices
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.
Rural Health Transformation Program Allocations:
“CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 29 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-50-billion-awards-strengthen-rural-health-all-50-states.
“CMS Announces Establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 29 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-establishment-office-rural-health-transformation.
“CMS Launches Landmark $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 15 Sep. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-landmark-50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program.
Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model:
“CMS Proposes New Mandatory GUARD Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 21 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-new-mandatory-guard-model.
“GUARD (Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs) Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guard. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Model.” Federalregister.Gov, U.S. Government,
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23705/guarding-us-medicare-against-rising-drug-costs-guard-model. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model:
“CMS Proposes New Mandatory GLOBE Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 21 Dec. 2025,
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-new-mandatory-globe-model.
“Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model.” Federalregister.Gov, U.S. Government, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23702/global-benchmark-for-efficient-drug-pricing-globe-model. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
“GLOBE (Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing) Model.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/globe. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth (BALANCE) Model:
“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 7 Jan. 2026.
“CMS Launches Voluntary Model to Expand Access to Life-Changing Medicines, Promote Healthier Living.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 23 Dec. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-voluntary-model-expand-access-life-changing-medicines-promote-healthier-living.
How the BALANCE Model Will Help Medicare Part D & Medicaid Enrollees Access GLP-1s
Minemyer, Paige. “CMS Launching Payment Model to Boost Access to GLP-1s in Medicaid, Part D.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 24 Dec. 2025, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-launching-payment-model-boost-access-glp-1s-medicaid-part-d.
Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Health Care Prices:
Minemyer, Paige. “CMS Proposes Updates to Price Transparency Regs to Make Data More Accessible, Usable.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 19 Dec. 2025, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-proposes-updates-price-transparency-regs-make-data-more-accessible-usable.
“Transparency in Coverage.” Federalregister.Gov, U.S. Government, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23693/transparency-in-coverage. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
“Transparency in Coverage Proposed Rule (CMS 9882-P).” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 19 Dec. 2025,
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/transparency-coverage-proposed-rule-cms-9882-p
“Trump Administration Proposes Significant Updates to Disclosure Requirements to Make Health Care Prices Clear, Accurate, and Actionable for Americans.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 19 Dec. 2025,
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-proposes-significant-updates-disclosure-requirements-make-health-care-prices
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.