November 2025 Newsletter
Q: When does December come before November?
A: In the Dictionary
Friends,
Tomorrow we turn our clocks back. I must admit it throws me off for about a week. I believe I would prefer to just always be on Atlantic Time.
Everyone who has a PPO that is being cancelled who would still like to go to any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare should at least consider switching to Original Medicare with a drug plan and a Medicare Supplement IMO. I can help you with your options.
Also many drug plans are raising prices, changing drugs to a percentage cost instead of a flat rate and they all stopped using agents. Therefore, if you want to review your stand-alone Medicare part D drug plan, please go to medicare.gov, then find a health and drug plan and you can choose a plan from there. Then you can self enroll by clicking the green "Enroll" button. I could also help you or walk you through it.
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and be grateful for all of the blessings in life. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and we get most of the Medicare plan changes done before Thanksgiving.
Kind Regards,
Michael Antonini
What’s New
The 2026 Cost Of Living Adjustment will be 2.8%.
On average, your monthly check will increase about $56. Here is the press release from the SSA.Due to the government shutdown, the Medicare part B premium and deductibles have not been announced yet. I stand by my prediction of $207 for Medicare Part B premium which means $22 of your $56 raise will go right to Medicare costs.
The Medicare Drug Plan standard formula for 2026 will be a $615 deductible, then 25% of retail to a maximum out of pocket of $2,100. This is good news for those on a lot of drugs and will also cause more people on expensive brand drugs
to hit the $2,100 max. Many Tier 1 generic drugs will still be $0 and not subject
to the deductible. Try to take as many generics as possible is my suggestion..
Ask an Expert: Mary Fairchild
Last month, many people wrote to me that they liked my little pumpkin prayer. So I’m going back to back in prayer, this one for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy, and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.
— Mary Fairchild
Important Dates
Happy November Birthdays!
11/2: Fall Back
11/5: Full Beaver Moon 8:19 am EST. But it will be below the horizon at that time. So be sure to look for it on the evenings of November 4 and 5 th. It’s also a super moon, the closest one to Earth this year only 221,817 miles from Earth.
11/11: Veterans Day. Thank you to all veterans who served our country.
(By the way, there are several special Medicare Advantage policies available to veterans who get their drugs from the VA. Please ask me about this if you do. Many of them give you money back towards your part B Medicare premium.)
11/27: Thanksgiving Day
Sunday 12/7: Last day of AEP, please do not wait that long to contact me. However, if your plan is being cancelled we have until 12-31-25 to make a change for 1-1-26.
I wish you a happy Thanksgiving and, as always, feel free to reach out with any questions.
All the best,
Michael Antonini