The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) is reminding older adults that the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period will begin Wednesday Oct. 15, and end Dec. 7, 2025.
Any new coverage selected or changes to existing benefits will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
During open enrollment, new Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and health plans to complement Medicare, and Medicare beneficiaries can review and join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Coverage so that it better meets their needs.
To help Medicare beneficiaries understand their options, PDA offers free, objective health benefits counseling through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight, also known as PA MEDI. Available at Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), PA MEDI counselors can assist Medicare beneficiaries with plan comparisons, help with enrollment in a new plan and evaluate eligibility for any of Pennsylvania’s Medicare cost-savings programs.
Changes to Medicare in 2026 include a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs, an optional prescription payment plan to spread out drug costs and price reductions for 10 medications based on negotiations and agreements between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and participating drug companies.
“If you haven’t reviewed your plan in recent years, now may be the time to check in,” said Susan Neff, PA MEDI director. “PA MEDI can help you compare all aspects of Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans by looking at overall costs, provider networks, supplemental benefits, prior authorization requirements and drug formularies.”
PA MEDI counselors do not sell insurance products, nor do they endorse or recommend any insurance company, product or agent. PA MEDI counselors can help determine if an older adult may be eligible for any of Pennsylvania’s Medicare cost-savings programs like PACE/PACENET, Extra Help and the Medicare Savings Programs.
Pennsylvanians can learn about PA MEDI, events and programs or becoming a volunteer on the Department of Aging’s website or by calling the PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Older adults can also call their local Area Agency on Aging.
Baker recognized among Pa.’s most effective lawmakers
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s most effective legislators, according to a new analysis by the Center for Effective Lawmaking featured this week in City and State Pennsylvania.
The report measures lawmakers’ success in moving legislation through the process and highlights Baker’s leadership and ability to turn ideas into results for her constituents and the commonwealth.
According to the report, during the 2023–24 legislative session, Baker had 26 bills advance beyond committee, 19 pass the Senate and 11 signed into law — placing her among the top-performing senators for legislative productivity. The center’s findings reflect both the volume and significance of her work and underscore her commitment to delivering meaningful, bipartisan solutions.
“I’m deeply honored by this recognition,” Baker said. “Effective lawmaking means more than introducing bills — it’s about building consensus, navigating the legislative process and getting results that make a difference in people’s lives. I’m grateful for this acknowledgment and for the opportunity to continue serving the people of Pennsylvania with dedication and purpose.”
Throughout her 19 years in office, Baker said she has successfully worked to achieve enactment of 96 bills. Baker said some of the bills were related to comprehensive probation reform, strengthening guardianship laws, grantor and directed trusts, a change to Megan’s Law, implementing Kayden’s Law in child custody matters, and updates for professional engineers and athletic trainers. There were also 6 compromise bills where the House companion was the vehicle signed into law or bills incorporating Baker authored language or legislation where her involvement was critical to final passage related to Clean Slate, indigent defense, the wiretap law and others.
“I have always had the benefit of concerns, suggestions, and proposals for legislation from area residents, municipal and school officials, reform groups, emergency responders, teachers, industry workers, and other professionals across our communities,” Baker said. “This input is extremely useful, because it assures folks that you are serious about achieving a constructive result in the public interest. There are many disparate interests that collide in the legislative process, so a willingness to be bipartisan, to negotiate in good faith, and to compromise when needed to gain sufficient votes is essential to successful lawmaking.”
Baker said, so far this session, she has had five bills signed into law, including measures to enhance oversight of Pennsylvania’s six veterans’ homes, to protect children from sexual abuse in youth sports and nonprofit programs, to modernize and strengthen our treatment courts and to strengthen the enforcement of PFA orders.”
“I am hopeful that two other bills will soon cross the finish line to expand the use of body cameras to additional law enforcement and to enhance school bus safety,” Baker said.
The Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint initiative of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, evaluates legislators based on 15 data-driven metrics, assessing not only the number of bills introduced but also how far those bills progress and their substantive impact. The report also notes the increasing importance of cooperation and coalition-building in Harrisburg, particularly as Pennsylvania’s divided legislature continues to navigate a shifting political landscape.
Top Ten List — Senate Republicans (207th General Assembly)
1. Lisa Baker (District 20) 3.66 Committee Chair.
At the top of the list is Sen. Baker from District 20 (Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties), who had the highest SLES for Senate Republicans in the 207th General Assembly, with a State Legislative Effectiveness Score of 3.66.
According to the Center, Sen. Baker introduced 41 bills — 26 received action in committee and action beyond committee, 19 of which passed the Senate, and 11 of which became law.
Baker has been representing the 20th District since 2007.
Report: Pa. is only state in northeast with growing economy
Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy, according to a new report from Axios on analysis done by Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi.
The analysis — which examined state-level jobs data, industrial production, personal income, and housing starts — found Pennsylvania is one of just 16 states nationwide where the economy continues to expand despite national headwinds.
This latest recognition builds on growing evidence that Pennsylvania’s economy is strong, competitive, and on the rise. Just last week, Area Development ranked Pennsylvania among the top 20 “Best States for Business” — the only Northeastern state to make the list — and placed the Commonwealth in the top 10 for “Site Readiness Programs.”
The report said that Gov. Josh Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive — launching the Commonwealth’s first economic development strategy in nearly two decades. By cutting red tape, streamlining permitting and licensing, and making strategic investments that have attracted over $25.6 billion in private-sector investment, created more than 12,500 good-paying jobs and expanded opportunity across the Commonwealth.
This includes the largest private-sector investment in Commonwealth history — Amazon’s initial $20 billion investment to build new AI and cloud computing campuses that will create thousands of high-tech and construction jobs.
Shapiro has also cut taxes, modernized government and expanded funding to prepare more sites for business expansion, the report said.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.