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Margaret Linwood

Senior Editor, Medicare & Health Costs

Margaret Linwood edits Moneystretching's coverage of Medicare, Social Security, long-term care and the cost of health care after 60. Her pieces start from the paperwork people actually get: the Annual Notice of Change, the COLA letter, the itemized hospital bill. She works from primary sources such as CMS, the Social Security Administration and KFF, lists them at the end of every article, and updates a piece when the official figures change. She doesn't sell insurance and doesn't recommend specific plans or companies.

32 articles

Stories by Margaret Linwood

A funeral home statement of goods and services on a linen-covered table with the total line of $8,300 highlighted and a sticky note reading "Who pays this? Insurance A $10,000 burial policy costs $33 at 60 and $164 at 80 A tax deduction worksheet on a wooden desk with the line "New senior deduction (65+) $6,000" highlighted and a sticky note asking "Income OK? Taxes Your Social Security is still taxable. The new $6,000 deduction explains why A retirement benefit estimate on a desk showing monthly amounts of $1,400 at age 62, $2,000 at age 67 and $2,480 at age 70, with the age 62 amount circled. Retirement At 62 your Social Security check is 30% smaller, for life A dental treatment estimate on a desk totaling $4,000, with a circled line showing Original Medicare pays $0, a plan benefit of $1,300 and a patient balance of $2,700. Medicare Your Medicare Advantage dental benefit probably stops near $1,300 a year A premium statement on a desk showing a standard Part B premium of $202.90, a 30% late enrollment penalty of $60.90, and a circled monthly total of $263.80. Medicare COBRA does not count as employer coverage when you turn 65 A premium notice on a desk showing a monthly Part B premium of $649.20 based on 2024 income, with the amount circled and a note asking about 2024. Medicare Your 2026 Medicare premium was set by your 2024 tax return A pharmacy price summary on a desk showing a 30-day drug price changing from $959 to $274, with the new price circled. Medicare The $959 drug Medicare will pay $274 for starting January 1 A side-by-side coverage comparison sheet on a desk, with the line about switching back to Medigap and health questions circled. Medicare You can leave Medigap any fall. Coming back is a different story A plan non-renewal notice on a desk showing coverage ending December 31, 2026, with the last day of coverage circled. Medicare Your plan's non-renewal letter is due by October 2. Here's what follows An annual notice of changes from a health plan on a desk, with the maximum out-of-pocket line rising from $4,900 to $6,350 circled. Medicare Your plan's September letter has five lines that set your 2027 costs