https://jckcfinancial.org/blog/ Plain-language guides to taxes, ACA / Obamacare, life insurance, Medicare and notary services for South Florida families. en-US JCKC Financial Services Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://jckcfinancial.org/icons/icon-512.png https://jckcfinancial.org/blog/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-advantage-extra-benefits-south-florida-2027/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-advantage-extra-benefits-south-florida-2027/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Dental, vision, hearing and flex-card allowances are real, but smaller and more conditional than the advertising suggests. What to check before Annual Enrollment. https://jckcfinancial.org/how-to-compare-medicare-part-d-plans-2027-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/how-to-compare-medicare-part-d-plans-2027-south-florida/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT The lowest premium rarely wins. How to compare 2027 Medicare drug plans on your own prescriptions, your pharmacy and your total yearly cost before December 7. https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-advantage-vs-medigap-south-florida-2027/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-advantage-vs-medigap-south-florida-2027/ Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Annual Enrollment lets you leave Medicare Advantage. It does not guarantee a Medigap policy will take you back. What that means in Florida before December 7. https://jckcfinancial.org/hurricane-special-enrollment-period-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/hurricane-special-enrollment-period-south-florida-2026/ Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT A FEMA disaster declaration can reopen a missed Medicare or Marketplace deadline. Here are the real rules, the two different windows, and who actually qualifies. https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-annual-notice-of-change-2027-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-annual-notice-of-change-2027-south-florida/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Your plan must send its Annual Notice of Change by September 30. It lists what changes in January. Here is how to read it before Annual Enrollment opens October 15. https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-extra-help-savings-programs-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-extra-help-savings-programs-south-florida/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Two Medicare programs can pay your Part B premium and cut drug copays to a few dollars. Here are the 2026 limits, what each one pays, and how to apply in Florida. https://jckcfinancial.org/aca-2027-marketplace-rule-changes-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/aca-2027-marketplace-rule-changes-south-florida/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT A federal court struck down the rule that would have ended ACA open enrollment on December 15. For 2027 the federal Marketplace still runs to January 15. https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-advantage-plan-exits-2027-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-advantage-plan-exits-2027-south-florida/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Insurers are dropping Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 and the notices arrive by September 30. https://jckcfinancial.org/florida-coverage-gap-medicaid-aca-medicare-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/florida-coverage-gap-medicaid-aca-medicare-2026/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Florida never expanded Medicaid, so the rules work differently here. A plain-English 2026 guide to the income ladder, the gap, and which door is open to you. https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-annual-enrollment-2027-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-annual-enrollment-2027-south-florida/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026 for 2027 coverage. https://jckcfinancial.org/final-expense-funeral-costs-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/final-expense-funeral-costs-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT A funeral is one of the largest bills a family faces on the shortest notice — and for many South Florida families the cost doesn’t stop at the funeral home. https://jckcfinancial.org/hurricane-insurance-claim-guide-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/hurricane-insurance-claim-guide-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT After a storm, the claim is where money is won or lost. Here’s the 2026 guide for South Florida: Florida’s 1-year filing deadline, what your insurer must do. https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-2000-drug-cap-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-2000-drug-cap-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT For the first time, Medicare caps your out-of-pocket drug costs — $2,100 in 2026. https://jckcfinancial.org/flood-insurance-vs-homeowners-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/flood-insurance-vs-homeowners-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Your homeowners policy does NOT cover flood damage. Here’s the plain-English guide for South Florida: how NFIP and private flood insurance work. https://jckcfinancial.org/turning-65-medicare-enrollment-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/turning-65-medicare-enrollment-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Medicare has a clock, and missing it can cost you for life. Here’s the plain-English guide for South Floridians turning 65: your 7-month enrollment window. https://jckcfinancial.org/no-tax-tips-overtime-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/no-tax-tips-overtime-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT A 2025 law created two new federal tax breaks for tipped and hourly workers — a deduction of up to $25,000 in tips and up to $12,500 in overtime. https://jckcfinancial.org/2026-tax-changes-south-florida-business-owners/ https://jckcfinancial.org/2026-tax-changes-south-florida-business-owners/ Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT The tax cliff that worried small-business owners never happened: a 2025 law made the 20% pass-through deduction permanent. https://jckcfinancial.org/aca-subsidy-cliff-2026-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/aca-subsidy-cliff-2026-south-florida/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, and the average subsidized ACA premium is set to more than double in 2026. https://jckcfinancial.org/itin-tax-filing-immigrant-families-south-florida-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/itin-tax-filing-immigrant-families-south-florida-2026/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Earn income in the U.S. but can’t get a Social Security number? An ITIN lets you file — and often claim refunds and credits worth thousands. https://jckcfinancial.org/notary-services-florida-what-to-know-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/notary-services-florida-what-to-know-2026/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT A missing notary stamp can stop a home sale, a power of attorney, or a document headed overseas. https://jckcfinancial.org/life-insurance-south-florida-families-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/life-insurance-south-florida-families-2026/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Most South Florida families have no life insurance or quietly suspect they don’t have enough. https://jckcfinancial.org/hurricane-season-financial-readiness-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/hurricane-season-financial-readiness-south-florida/ Mon, 25 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Plywood and water are only half of hurricane prep. The other half is paperwork — the policies, documents. https://jckcfinancial.org/self-employed-south-florida-tax-guide-2026/ https://jckcfinancial.org/self-employed-south-florida-tax-guide-2026/ Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT 2026 tax guide for South Florida self-employed workers: standard deduction, SE tax, quarterly estimates, deductions, retirement plans, ITIN, and the Florida https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-aca-2026-changes-south-florida/ https://jckcfinancial.org/medicare-aca-2026-changes-south-florida/ Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Plain-English guide to 2026 Medicare and ACA changes for South Florida: $2,100 Part D out-of-pocket cap, the first 10 negotiated drug prices.