February 2025 Newsletter
Q: What kind of flowers should you not give on Valentine’s Day?
A: Cauliflowers
Friends,
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
Also, if you wanted to and didn’t get a chance to change your Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) last fall, then I have good news for you. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) continues to March 31, 2025. You can make one change during this time to a different Medicare advantage plan or switch to Original Medicare with a stand-alone drug plan.
Please call or email me if you want to discuss your options. You cannot change a stand-alone drug plan, however.
Kind Regards,
Michael Antonini
What’s New
2026 Medicare Reimbursements
Last fall was a very challenging time for Medicare Advantage policies. Many policies reduced their benefits and some people were cancelled. Plus there were a lot of changes with drug plans and costs. GREAT NEWS for 2026. This week CMS announced a 4.33% increase in payments for Medicare Advantage. Roughly $21 billion. To me, this means we will see more stability in plans next year and most people will probably be happy with their plans and not have so much disruption like we had this past fall. For further reading click here.
Also, we are still in the OEP period, so if you are on a Medicare Advantage plan and you want to change to a different plan or move to original Medicare, you still can through 3-31-25.
Ask An Expert: M.J. Ryan
Important Dates
January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025 - Open Enrollment Period OEP
You can change your Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare and join a separate Prescription Drug Plan once during this time. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request. I am now able to help you with your choices so please do not hesitate to call me.
February 1, 2025 - Frank Antonini 96, Kathy C (I don’t tell women’s ages)
February 12, 2025 — 8:53 a.m. — Full Snow Moon
February 14, 2025 - Happy Valentine’s Day
Happy Birthday to everyone born in February!
All the best,