Healthcare costs are rising, and new legislation could bring big changes to Medicare, Medicaid, and retirement planning. In this episode, certified retirement counselor Mark Struthers interviews health insurance expert Matt Wicklund about the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and how upcoming policy changes will affect Medicare, Medicaid, and premium tax credits.
Listen in to learn the two biggest mistakes retirees make and practical advice, like when to enroll in Medicare, why brokers can save you money and stress, and how to factor healthcare costs into your financial plan. You’ll hear what to watch for in 2025-2026, how rural services and Medicare Advantage plans may change, and simple ways to protect both your health and your finances in retirement.
What You’ll Learn:
- How the One Big Beautiful Bill may reshape Medicare, Medicaid, and rural healthcare access.
- The two biggest mistakes people make when choosing a health insurance plan.
- The difference between Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D—and how they work together.
- What early retirees and those nearing 65 should do to prepare for Medicare enrollment.
- How premium tax credits are changing and what that could mean for your budget.
- Why working with a broker can save you from costly missteps.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
- “If they’re retiring in the next year or so, and we’re 64, turning 65, my advice is to take all the Medicare sales material that they’re getting in their mailbox and throw it all away.” – Matt Wicklund
- “The two biggest mistakes are: they shop on premium… [and] they don’t check the plan that they’re looking at’s network.” – Matt Wicklund
- “The lower the premium you pay, the higher max out of pocket you can have.” – Matt Wicklund
Resources:
- Work with Mark Struthers
- Subscribe to our Healthy & Wealthy newsletter and get our 2025 Tax Cheat Sheet: Subscribe here
- Contact Matt Wicklund: matt@contegocap.com or call 952-697-2577
- Contego Capital
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Disclosure:
Investment advisory services are offered through Sona Financial LLC (DBA Sona Wealth Advisors, Sona Wealth, Sona Wealth Management), an investment adviser registered in the state of MN. Sona Financial only offers investment advisory services where it is appropriately registered or exempt from registration and only after clients have entered into an investment advisory agreement confirming the terms of engagement and have been provided a copy of the firm’s ADV Part 2A brochure and document.
This video or article is for educational purposes only and is not exhaustive. Nothing discussed during this show/episode should be viewed as investment advice. Diversification and/or any strategy that may be discussed does not guarantee against investment losses but is intended to help manage risk and return. If applicable, historical discussions and/or opinions are not predictive of future events. The content is presented in good faith and has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable. The content is not intended to be legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult a legal, tax, or financial professional for information specific to your individual situation.
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