By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

As artificial intelligence blurs the line between fact and fiction, Fort Hays State University hosted a panel on Thursday to avoid online media manipulation and misinformation.

Panelists included journalist Lynn Ann Huntington; FHSU information literacy librarian Robyn Hartman; FHSU learning commons coordinator Andy Tincknell; FHSU communication studies instructor Brittney Reed; and Hays Public Library Kansas Room Coordinator Jeremy Gill.

The event was part of the Hays Public Library's How-To Series. Audience members engaged with the panelists, beginning with the question, “How do we determine what’s real and what’s not?”

"It's a 50/50 coin toss whether we can really identify whether something is fake or real," Tincknell said, referencing a study from the Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery. "It's getting tough, and it's going to get tougher."

Tincknell said technology meant to detect false information is lagging behind the rapid improvements in how effectively misinformation can deceive the public.

Hartman encouraged people to slow down when consuming news online and recommended using the SIFT method, short for stop, investigate the source, find better coverage and trace the context.

The panel noted the same approach applies to videos and images, highlighting Google’s reverse image search tool as a way to trace the origin of visual content.

Reed added another useful approach is consensual validation, which is checking multiple sources on a topic to confirm the same set of facts.

"If you're just seeing it from one source, I will often tell my students to take that with a grain of salt," she said. "You want to find several sources that are saying the same thing, particularly when it's information that seems too crazy to be true. Be looking into those other avenues."

One audience member asked Reed whether she honestly expected most people to spend that much time verifying information. Huntington replied, “It depends on how badly they want to know the truth.”

Huntington said traditional editors serve as “gatekeepers,” filtering out weak stories, but online platforms no longer provide that oversight, leaving users to act as their own editors.

The panel also warned of relying on AI for research, noting that it can generate convincing false citations and articles, and might require further research to verify information independently.

Several panelists discussed their experiences with AI in the classroom. Hartman said some students have asked her to help find articles, only to discover that they never existed.

"I ask, 'Where did you get the title of this?' and they eventually confess that they used AI for sources they could use. It's close, maybe the author has written on that topic, but then AI says, 'Here's a book that they wrote,' and that author has not written that book," she said.

Panelists did note some benefits of AI, particularly when it’s used as a tool for brainstorming rather than a source of definitive answers.

Reed said one thing missing in today’s digital age is peer accountability on online platforms and urged people to hold each other responsible for what they share.

"We get this online disinhibition where we don't have to face the consequences of posting something that was incorrect," Reed said. "That's a message we need to share with each other to try to shift the culture a little bit."

FHSU panel urges critical thinking to combat misinformation

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Monique Koerner and Karissa Frasier of the Cottonwood Extension District about the health benefits of walking, eating a Mediterranean diet, and free help available during the Part D Open Enrollment period.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Programs for your health, financial wellness from Cottonwood Extension District

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

Among my top ten favorite life experiences has been sitting on my brother’s porch after dark, when he lived deep in the southeastern Ohio woods, listening to the sounds of the night. There are whippoorwills and coyotes and all the small croaking, twittering creatures of the dark, but the main attraction was always the owls. 

From the eerie whines of tiny screech owls, to the deep, bass moans of great horned owls, and the tell-tale “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you too” cries of barred owls, the night time woods always came alive with owl calls.

A little-known owl species here in Kansas is the burrowing owl, a medium-sized owl that make their home in abandoned badger and prairie dog dens. 

I was introduced to burrowing owls a few years back during an opening day pheasant hunt near my home. We were a large group of 15 or so hunters and were trudging across an overgrown CRP field. As we walked, birds identified by the landowner (who was with us) as hawks began taking flight, one-at-a-time from out of nowhere. Looking back, I believe those birds were in fact burrowing owls being spooked by our presence from their dens that were probably old abandoned badger holes.

Studies show burrowing owl populations to be in sharp decline, easily imagined here in Midwestern farm country where badger dens are not welcome and are filled-in when possible, and where prairie dog towns as a whole are hard to come by anymore. 

They are listed as endangered in Canada, as threatened in Mexico, and as endangered, threatened or of special concern in nine of the United States. Here in Kansas, they are listed as “vulnerable.” 

Burrowing owls are active both day and night and often live in colonies of several mated pairs. They drag all manner of stuff into their dens as nesting material, and I found numerous mentions of cow manure being a favorite. Researchers believe the manure somehow helps control the microclimate of the den, plus attracts insects which the owls feed on. Typical clutch sizes are from 3 to 12 eggs, and large families of chicks are often raised. Their main diet is mice and moles during spring and early summer when they’re still feeding hungry chicks, then mainly grasshoppers and beetles as long as they can still be found.

 Burrowing owls stand 10 to 12 inches tall when mature and have long, featherless legs and white eyebrows above extremely large, bright and beautiful yellow eyes. All birds make some sort of vocal sounds, and even though burrowing owl calls are not noteworthy at all compared to some of their vocal cousins, they do make a few cooing, chirping sounds, the most recognized being a two-note sound reminiscent of a quail call.

We recently watched a TV documentary about swift foxes and burrowing owls living in suburban neighborhoods around Las Vegas. 

Since watching that documentary, we have found a couple dens of burrowing owls living in a sprawling prairie dog encampment near Walmart in Hutchinson. We can see their dens from a side street, so now every time we are in that part of town (which is way too often for me) we swing past, and if they are sitting at the entrance to their den, we stop and watch awhile. They are surrounded by active prairie dog dens and the dogs scurry about and graze as if the owls weren’t there at all. 

In fact, the little owls probably benefit from the prairie dog’s surveillance system. In an active prairie dog town there are always certain occupants designated as sentries whose job it is to keep watch for danger, and when intruders are spotted in the form of foxes, hawks or merely nosey humans, they sound an alarm by rising quickly up on their hind feet, stretching their heads skyward and emitting&nbsp;shrill high pitched chirps of danger, sending all their brethren scurrying for cover and affording the owls a chance to dive into their burrows too.

One of these days I’m going to wonder around through the prairie dog towns around Walmart to see if there are signs of any other little owls there. I’ve always wondered if there are prairie rattlesnakes living there amongst the prairie dogs, too. They are common inhabitants of abandoned prairie dog dens, although not quite as cordial as the owls, given that they often eat the landlords. 

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Have you an owl in your burrow?

Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>

<a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/search.cfm?mid=65&amp;search=all">30” x 40” POSTER IN HAYS REGIONAL AIRPORT</a>

Fly Hays 30” x 40” Poster in Hays Regional Airport Retail Price $1200

Hays Regional Airport continues to set records with their monthly flights in and out of Hays. You can showcase your business in the form of a poster 30x40” for one year!&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/search.cfm?mid=65&amp;search=all">INVISALIGN</a>

Lifetime Dental, Hays Invisalign Retail Price $6000

The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible. The Invisalign program includes office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, whitening program and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today! www.lifetimedentalcare.com. THIS OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/search.cfm?mid=65&amp;search=all">ROUND OF GOLF FOR 4 INCLUDING CARTS</a>

Smoky Hill Country Club Round of Golf for 4 including Carts Retail Price $500

Bid on this enjoyable and exciting golf outing for four people from Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, your local golf destination. This certificate is good for four people to play one round of 18 holes on golf on the best course in Central and Western Kansas. Two golf carts are included. Call 785-625-8297 to reserve your tee time. More information about the course can be found at www.smokyhillcc.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/search.cfm?mid=65&amp;search=all">Tumblebug Hay Dolly</a>

Better Built Trailers Tumblebug Hay Dolly Retail Price $3200

The TUMBLEBUG is truly a one-man (timesaving) machine. It requires no winches, no ropes, no hydraulics, it's "self loading", quality built and ready for the big bales. The loading action is UNBELIEVABLE until you have seen it perform. Back up to the bale, flip the switch, the brake action does the trick. You can see a video of the Tumblebug and how it works online at betterbuiltkansas.com. Weight: 500 lbs. (approx) / Length: 144" / Between the Wheels: 82" / Electric Brakes / Cradle &amp; Tongue: Tubular Steel 2" Ball Coupler / Complete Wiring Kit for Towing Service. SAVE TIME, LABOR AND HAY.... THE TUMBLEBUG WAY! To see how the Tumblebug Hay Dolly works, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Cj2V4YHeBOU&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rexford's McCarty Family Farms named Dairy Producers of the Year at World Dairy Expo

By&nbsp;MARK JOSLYN Insight Kansas

It’s not about defeating Sharice Davids.&nbsp;After all, a Democrat occupying one of the four congressional seats is nothing new. It’s not about appeasing Trump. Republicans’ penchant to gerrymander predates his involvement. It’s about Johnson County.

For decades, JoCo outpaced statewide Republican support. For example, when Eisenhower carried Kansas with a whopping 69 percent of the vote, JoCo surpassed that mark with 72.5 percent. When Reagan reached 66 percent, JoCo secured 72.4 percent.

Even in Democrat years, JoCo never wavered. When FDR won the state for a second time, JoCo delivered 57.7 percent of its vote to Republican nominee, and Kansas Governor, Alf Landon. When Kansans chose Democrat Lyndon Johnson, a majority of JoCo voters favored Barry Goldwater.&nbsp;The first signs of change came in 2008.

JoCo’s Republican vote share lagged the statewide average by almost 3 points, the largest such gap since 1917, the last time the county supported a Democrat for president.&nbsp;By 2016 the gap ballooned to 10 points and expanded in 2020 when the county finally flipped blue. Democrat advances appeared down the ballot too.

In 2018, Laura Kelley thumped Kris Kobach in JoCo by 17 points, though statewide it was a 5-point race. In her reelection bid, Kelley realized nearly 60 percent of JoCo’s vote and the county’s state House and Senate Democrat delegations increased.

JoCo’s majority support was pivotal in Sharice Davids’ defeat of incumbent Kevin Yoder for the Third District. Her county vote share has since grown to 55 percent.&nbsp;

For the first time in Kansas history a Democrat Senate candidate won JoCo, though Roger Marshall prevailed statewide. In 2022, Senator Jerry Moran vote share in JoCo dropped to 46.7 percent, down from 62.1 percent a decade before.

And in 2024, Byron Roberson became the first Democrat elected JoCo sheriff in nearly a century. The changes have rattled Republicans who recognize further decline could be costly. 

Trump’s call to redraw the maps mid-decade thus comes at an opportune time, giving Republican leaders cover to once again use their redistricting leverage. 

By dividing the county, and merging its parts with strong GOP districts, a gerrymander reduces JoCo Democrats to a fragmented minority, their influence diminished by the dilution of their voting power.&nbsp;

A gerrymander also weakens JoCo’s ascendant political structure. No longer able to organize an efficacious majority around shared priorities, JoCo Democrats would have to rebuild a broader, layered infrastructure that spans the diverse interests of suburban and rural communities.&nbsp;

With their base fractured, Democrats may struggle to unify their message, energize supporters, and build strong leadership.

Should Republican leaders pull it off, a gerrymander will, at minimum, blunt Democratic momentum, diminish Davids’ margins, and facilitate GOP actions against a weakened JoCo operation.&nbsp;

But it’s a tightrope, requiring a special session, supermajorities, considerable arm-twisting, and the risks of legal challenges.&nbsp;Whether it’s perceived as an assault on democratic principles or smart political strategy depends on one’s partisan leanings.

State legislatures do have the authority to redraw districts. And both parties appear ready to exercise that power.

JoCo’s outsized influence in the state’s electoral calculus and notable shift toward Democrats makes this a weighty moment for Republican leaders.&nbsp;

Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: The fight over maps is really a fight over JoCo. 

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

📷 Pa's Pumpkin Patch opens for 2025 season

A  taco/nacho bar fundraiser for the Hays Buffaloes Special Olympics basketball team and Lakin Eckroat (for Special Olympics bowling) to go to USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota in June of 2026 will be held on Monday, Oct. 20 at Thirsty's The Venue, 2704 Vine, Hays.

Tickets are being sold for $12 and can be purchased from myself by emailing me Activities Director Tiffany Schulte at tschulte@arcofcentralplains.org, Facebook Messenger (Buffalo Adventures page), or calling 785-639-4181.

 The ticket covers the taco/nacho bar and there are set times every 20 minutes starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 7:40 p.m. 

There will also be raffle prizes on display on the stage at Thirsty's starting Oct. 13 and those tickets are $10 each. No need to be present to win. There will be a live drawing on Oct. 20 at 7:50 p.m. on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ARCACTIVITIES">Buffalo Adventures</a> Facebook page.

This fundraiser is supporting the Hays Buffaloes Special Olympics basketball team and Lakin Eckroat (for Special Olympics bowling)&nbsp;

These athletes have been working very hard to prepare for the trip. They practice every week and have been helping with fundraising. Most of them have never been to USA Games and are very excited for the opportunity. 

This is the first time ever that an entire Hays team gets to participate. Special Olympics holds this event every four years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fundraiser for Hays Buffaloes headed to Special Olympics USA Games 2026

STOCKTON — The Stockton FFA will be holding their annual Goblin's Glory Halloween extravaganza on Sat., Oct. 25 at the Stockton High School gyms.

The events will start with a soup supper at 6 p.m. followed by the kids costume contest at 6:30 p.m. for ages 6 and younger and 7 to 12. Games and bingo will also begin at 6:30 p.m. with the merchandise auction starting at 7 p.m.

The Goblin's Glory King and Queen crowning is at 8 p.m.

Stockton FFA Goblin's Glory Halloween extravaganza is Oct. 25

Our strength lies in our shared commitment: that by giving a little, we can do a lot for those in need.&nbsp;

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming 100 Who Care, Ellis County meeting on&nbsp;Tuesday, October 14. This month, we will be hearing from these three wonderful nonprofits making a difference in our community:&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Big Brothers Big Sisters:&nbsp;Focused on fostering meaningful one-to-one mentoring relationships that unlock the potential and promise of our youth. Their impactful work not only transforms lives but also strengthens families and creates brighter futures. We are fortunate to have this valuable program right here in Ellis County.

• Jana’s Campaign:&nbsp;Committed to preventing gender and relationship violence through early education and awareness. What started as a local initiative in Ellis County has grown into a vital nationwide service that saves lives, empowers individuals, and builds safer, healthier communities.

• First Call for Help:&nbsp;Dedicated to alleviating the effects of poverty by connecting individuals and families with essential resources and support during times of crisis. Their efforts bring hope, stability, and practical solutions to members of Ellis County, helping to strengthen our community as a whole.

A special thank you goes out to our Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 team — Landon, Abigail, Sierra, and Hunter — as well as our current steering team members, Jack, Jessie, and Brandy. The LDRS 310 class focuses on developing leadership skills through hands-on community engagement, and our 100 Who Care program is proud to serve as a real-world platform where these emerging leaders can apply their learning to support and strengthen Ellis County.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, snacks and beverages will be provided by&nbsp;POPt Popcorn&nbsp;and&nbsp;A&amp;A Coors, meeting space is graciously hosted by the&nbsp;Sternberg Museum.&nbsp; If you are unable to attend, please feel free to drop off your donation at Wayne Voss State Farm, 2707 Vine St., Ste 13, Hays. Notify Brandy ahead of time with your voting preference, and she will be happy to vote by proxy on your behalf.&nbsp;

At&nbsp;100 Who Care,&nbsp;Ellis County, we come together because we believe in the power of collective giving to create real, positive change in our community. Please consider inviting a friend to join us as we strive to grow our membership beyond 100 and make an even greater impact.

Finally, stay tuned for some exciting news — we will be launching an online payment platform early in 2026 to make giving even easier!&nbsp;Thank you for your continued passion and support.&nbsp;

Generosity is the heartbeat of 100 Who Care — where every gift counts, every member matters, and every cause benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;We look forward to seeing you on October 14!

Public invited to 100 Who Care, Ellis County meeting on Oct. 14 in Hays

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 18 is now offering services in Ellis County and surrounding areas through its new office at Hays First United Methodist Church, 302 W. Eighth St., Room 205, and it is now seeing clients.

Chris Deitering, department service officer, will help to expand access to resources for injured veterans by providing free assistance to veterans and their families, including help with VA and federal claims, survivor and burial benefits, membership assistance, and disaster relief, a news release said.

Deitering’s office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

According to the news release, “The DAV is a nonprofit that remains committed to the nation's injured heroes and former federal employees of all generations to ensure they are not alone on their road to recovery by aiding service members in the transition to civilian life, fighting for their rights on Capitol Hill, and funding rehabilitation programs.”

Disabled American Veterans has new office in Hays church

Thomas More Prep-Marian Parents Teachers Friends Soup Supper is Sunday, October 26 from 4-7 p.m.&nbsp; We will have chili, green bean dumpling soup, sandwiches and cinnamon rolls.&nbsp;Carry out is available. 

It is a free will offering with proceeds to support classroom and student scholarships.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thomas More Prep-Marian PTF Soup Supper fundraiser is Oct. 26

The Hays Public Library is hosting a special book talk with Kansas author George Frazier, as he discusses his latest release,&nbsp;Riverine Dreams: Away to the Glorious and Forgotten Grassland Rivers of America, published by the University of Chicago Press.

The event is set for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, in the HPL Kansas Room.

Prepare for tales of strange riverine forests left over from the ice age, leviathan fish migrations, modern grizzlies roaming the plains, endangered plants as rare as mastodon ivory, an audacious plan to return 10,000 bison to a Great Plains biosphere reserve, and of course, river otter mayhem.

If you thought you knew about the wild lands of Kansas and the surrounding states, get ready for some surprises. Grassland rivers are the most unheralded gems of the entire American backcountry, and Frazier will tell us about the “Grassland River revival” he discovered while exploring eight of the wildest stretches of rivers that remain.

The Hays Public Library is coordinating with Russell Specialty Books and Gifts for this event.

You can find out more about this and other library programs at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 785-625-9014.

Hays Public Library to host Kansas author George Frazier Oct. 11

PAWNEE ROCK — To commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Heartland Center for Spirituality and Heartland Farm invite the public to a special viewing of The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code, followed including discussion led by Dr. Leo Oliva. The event will take place on Sunday, October 12, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Great Bend Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse.

Dr. Oliva, a retired history professor from Fort Hays State University, will offer historical insights into the Doctrine of Discovery and engage with attendees during a Q&amp;A session.

Originating from 15th-century Papal Bulls, the Doctrine of Discovery laid the groundwork for colonial expansion, legitimizing the seizure of Indigenous lands, the suppression of native cultures, and brutality toward and enslavement of African and other peoples. The Doctrine continues to influence U.S. and international property law to this day.

Dr. Oliva graduated from FHSU before seeking both his master’s degree in American History and doctorate in American Studies from the University of Denver. He is the author of eight books and many articles and served as the editor of the Santa Fe Trail quarterly, Wagon Tracks, for 25 years. Dr. Oliva’s areas of interest include the Santa Fe Trail, frontier military history, the conquest of Indigenous nations and their lands, and Kansas history since 1959. Dr. Oliva was a member of the Humanities Kansas Speakers’ Bureau and has presented more than 400 programs on various historical topics.

 In March 2025, FHSU honored Dr. Oliva with a distinguished professorship in history in his name.

Join us for this free event will be held in the auditorium at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse, located at 3600 Broadway, Great Bend. Light refreshments will be available, and voluntary donations are welcome.

To RSVP, please email your name and the number of attendees to ann.axman@heartlandspirituality.org or hfarminfo@oppeace.org.

Retired FHSU professor to discuss Doctrine of Discovery commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Donation accepted Oct. 17-31 for annual Hays Coat Drive 

Area Pizza Hut fundraisers today for HPD Officer Scott Heimann family 

FORD COUNTY —Three people died in a fire Sunday in Dodge City.

Just after 9:30a.m., the Dodge City Fire Department received a call&nbsp; regarding a structure fire in the area between McArtor Road and Agnes Street, according to a media release from the fire department.

Firefighters found two trailer homes and three vehicles involved in the fire, with one trailer home already fully engulfed in flames.

Crews worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading further. Fhree fatalities resulted from the incident. The Dodge City Police Department is currently interviewing family members to gather additional information to help identify those in the fire.

Although the fire is out, a Dodge City Fire Department engine remains on scene to monitor for any potential flare-ups and to assist the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office once they arrive to conduct a full investigation on the cause of the fire.

Three found dead in southwest Kansas fire

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a> Associated Press

Fewer choices may be on the menu again as Medicare patients shop for prescription coverage this fall.

The number of available, stand-alone drug plans has fallen for a few years, and that trend will continue for 2026. Most markets will still have several choices, but some options are becoming particularly sparse for shoppers with low-income subsidies. And help may be harder to find because some insurers no longer pay brokers commissions for new business.

Shoppers have from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 to find new coverage that starts in January.

Here’s who needs a Medicare Part D plan

Regular Medicare, which most people qualify for after turning 65, does not come with prescription coverage, known as Part D. People must choose that separately.

About 23 million people with regular Medicare have this standalone coverage, according to the non-profit KFF, which studies health care.

Another roughly 34 million people have Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of Medicare that often come with prescription coverage.

A typical shopper will be able to choose a standalone drug plan from among eight to 12 options for 2026, according to KFF Medicare expert Juliette Cubanski. That’s down from 12 to 16 options in 2025.

Shoppers had nearly 30 choices as recently as 2021, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s Gretchen Jacobson.

Depending on the state, a range of one to four plans will be available at no premium to people who qualify for low-income subsidies, according to KFF. Eight were available in 2021.

Some insurers are reducing their presence in standalone Part D plans, while the Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Elevance is leaving the market entirely. Insurers and analysts who follow the industry note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">the Inflation Reduction Act</a>, which will cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 in 2026, puts more financial pressure on insurers. The same law now allows patients to spread the cost of prescriptions over the year.

There are still many Medicare Part D options

Most markets will have several choices. But experts say Medicare Part D customers don’t like to shop, especially if they already have a plan that covers their medications. Finding affordable coverage for multiple prescriptions can be tricky.

“I think there’s a lot of inertia and, frankly, people may be concerned that if they switch, they’re going to end up worse off,” Cubanski said.

More people are being pushed to shop. Nearly 11% of those with standalone prescription drug coverage lost their plan in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2834155?guestaccesskey=945ba919-ae7d-4e09-9372-d5c7ba67e606&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=postup_jn&amp;utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&amp;utm_content=etoc-tfl_&amp;utm_term=072225" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Before 2023, that figure was often under 1%, said Dr. Christopher Cai, one of the researchers involved in the study.

Here’s how Medicare Part D prices are changing

Monthly premiums, or coverage prices, will fall nearly 10% on average to $34.50, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2026" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;last month.

At least one option with a premium of under $20 exists in almost every region of the country, according to the consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

Individual prices will range widely, with premiums for the same plan varying by state, Cubanski noted.

But while plans may provide lower coverage prices, they could also raise deductibles or offer more limited lists of covered drugs, which are called formularies. Shoppers should check these details.

Insurers will be allowed to raise premiums by as much as $50 a month for 2026, up from a $35 increase allowed this year. But Cubanski said only some plans will hit that higher limit and not necessarily in all states.

Where to get help shopping for Medicare Part D plans

Shoppers can use a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2025&amp;lang=en" target="_blank">federal government website</a>&nbsp;to compare plan prices and coverage.

States also have a State Health Insurance Program created specifically to help people on Medicare find coverage.

Consumers can help themselves by checking their coverage for changes and comparing it with other plans.

Shoppers also should consider whether their pharmacy is in the network covered by any plan they are considering, said Jacobson, Commonwealth’s vice president of Medicare.

Some might also consider switching to Medicare Advantage plans with prescription coverage. But those plans can have more limited networks of covered doctors, which can pose a problem for people with fewer care choices in rural areas.

The enrollment window spans several weeks, but brokers say many people wait until that first week in December to make decisions, often after talking with family during holiday dinners.

That can create a deadline crunch that makes it harder to find help in early December.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Prescription drug coverage options are shrinking for Medicare shoppers

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-raza">SARAH RAZA</a>

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — When Rob Coverdale started his job in 2023 as superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, there were 15 unfilled teaching positions.

Within nine months, he had filled those vacancies with Filipino teachers, the majority of whom arrived on the H-1B, a visa for skilled workers in specialty occupations.

“We’ve hired the H-1B teachers because we quite simply didn’t have other applicants for those positions,” Coverdale said. “So they’re certainly not taking jobs from Americans. They’re filling jobs that otherwise just simply we would not get filled.”

Now a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-explainer-7d5dae2c65b2fa27a7730be3c6833d32">$100,000 fee</a>&nbsp;for H-1B visa applications spells trouble for those like Coverdale in rural parts of the country who rely on immigrants to fill vacancies in skilled professions like education and health care.

The Trump administration announced the fee on Sept. 19, arguing that employers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-8d39699d0b2de3d90936f8076357254e">replacing</a>&nbsp;American workers with cheaper talent from overseas. Since then, the White House has said the fee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-changes-trump-cbb0995814cf2c9a3c74a6dcf2b31d72">won’t apply</a>&nbsp;to existing visa holders and offered a form to request exemptions from the charge.

Local

Region

Sports

Announcements