What's Changing About Social Security and Medicare in 2026

The retirement landscape has shifted. Here's how to think through both decisions on your own terms. Is your Social Security and Medicare strategy built for today’s retirement? For years, the conventional wisdom on Social Security was simple: wait until 70 to maximize your benefit, pick a Medicare plan at 65, and revisit it occasionally. But the retirement landscape in 2026 looks different. Longer life expectancies, rising healthcare costs, and a flood of conflicting advice from financial media have made these decisions feel far more complicated—and the stakes far higher. That’s why we’re offering our free guide1 to help you navigate Social Security and Medicare with clarity, not guesswork. You’ll learn: Why the “claim at 62 vs.70” Social Security debate misses the point How to think through the claiming decision based on your specific situation A breakdown of Medicare’s structure and your main coverage options The Medicare trends retirees should know in 2026 Plus, how both these decisions fit into a broader retirement income and investment strategy Talk to a Zacks Wealth Advisor today. 1 Zacks Investment Management reserves the right to amend the terms or rescind the free Looking To Retire In 2026? Your Guide to Social Security and Medicare Decisions That Matter offer at any time and for any reason at its discretion. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. Zacks Investment Management, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zacks Investment Research. Zacks Investment Management is an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm and acts as an investment manager for individuals and institutions. Zacks Investment Research is a provider of earnings data and other financial data to institutions and to individuals. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. Do not act or rely upon the information and opinions given in this document without seeking the services of competent and professional investment, legal, tax, or accounting counsel. Publication and distribution of this document is not intended to create, and the information and opinions contained herein does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment or strategy is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors, or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Any projections, targets, or estimates in this document are forward looking statements and are based on the firm's research, analysis, and assumptions. Due to rapidly changing market conditions and the complexity of investment decisions, supplemental information and other sources may be required to make informed investment decisions based on your individual investment objectives and suitability specifications. All expressions of opinions are subject to change without notice. Recipients should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security or investment strategy discussed in this document. Certain economic and market information contained herein has been obtained from published sources prepared by other parties. Zacks Investment Management does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. Further, no third party has assumed responsibility for independently verifying the information contained herein and accordingly no such persons make any representations with respect to the accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of the information provided herein. Unless otherwise indicated, market analysis and conclusions are based upon opinions or assumptions that Zacks Investment Management considers to be reasonable. Any investment inherently involves a high degree of risk, beyond any specific risks discussed herein. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Investors pursuing a strategy similar to an index may experience higher or lower returns, which will be reduced by fees and expenses. Privacy Policy  |  Unsubscribe © Zacks Investment Management 101 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1500 | Chicago IL 60606