Amy: How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?
Michael: Nothing. It was on the house.

Friends,

I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are getting ready to celebrate Christmas with your families.

If you still need help with your Medicare decision for 2025, The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs through Saturday, December 7, 2024.  Also, please keep in mind you can make a change from a Medicare Advantage plan to a different one or change to original Medicare with a drug plan in the first quarter of 2025 during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) .

If you have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for January because your Aetna PPO was non renewed, then you have until Tuesday December 31, 2024 to enroll, but I’d prefer to be done by Saturday December 21, 2024.

Q: Where do bad rainbows go?

A: To Prism.  It’s a light sentence, but it gives them time to reflect. 

This weekend 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.  

The presidential election is on everyone’s mind this week. I hope you are also considering your Medicare Election for 2025 as well.  People in Fairfield County on an Aetna PPO are being terminated and we must choose a new plan for next year.  Please enter your information on my plan enroll website, and create a scope of appointment so I can best help you then click the blue button that says "Let’s Get Started." Thank you.

The Annual Election Period (AEP) is upon us from October 15 to December 7.

During this time, you can change plans for next year if you like.  You will be getting a letter on grey paper from me to remind you of your choices.  

Some Medicare Advantage plans raised the maximum out of pocket and lowered the dental benefits and other ancillary coverage. If you are on an Aetna PPO in Fairfield County, your policy was NON - RENEWED for 2025 and we need to speak about moving you to a new plan for 2025. This is my top priority this fall.

Friends, I hope you had a nice Labor Day weekend and are enjoying the last days of summer.  

The Annual Election Period (AEP) begins in 4 weeks and there are many new changes for 2025.  Including a new $2,000 maximum out of pocket for prescription drugs and the end of the infamous donut hole. You will also be able to spread your out of pocket drug cost out over the entire year. My guess is this will mean higher premiums for drug plans because of these changes, but I won’t know until October.  So stay tuned please.

I hope you are enjoying the summer and staying cool by a lake or a pool.

Our family recently (after years on the waiting list) became members of the Pinewood Lake Association here in Trumbull. It’s a very peaceful place pictured above. Tried some paddle boarding too, but I’m not coordinated enough for that.

August is Show Time for my daughter then vacation for our family. Frankie will be in the town performance of "Anything Goes" August 2-4. Soon we’re on family vacation before getting ready to get back to school and work.

Happy 248th Independence Day everyone! Celebrating America's declaring of independence from Great Britain in 1776.

July is a big month for my family. On July 5th I mark 40 years as a licensed insurance agent in Connecticut. Can you believe it?

On July 10, our daughter Frankie (Anna Francesca) has a birthday and Friday, July 26 is my genius wife Amy’s birthday. I can’t tell you her age, I’ll just remember to get the cake, a mushy card, flowers and chocolate. I’m so grateful for these two ladies in my life.

I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the summer and staying healthy and safe.

June 1, 2, and 6, 2024 are my 17th wedding anniversaries to my wife Amy. She is a genius. We just celebrated at the Almondy Inn in Newport, RI. What? I never told you about our three weddings?

It was great to get away on family vacation and make family memories. Thank you to so many clients who let me get back to you after vacation to work on your questions and the many people who have requested a change to your June Supplement due to the price increase. We can still make these changes in early May to be effective June 1 since Connecticut is a guaranteed issue state.

It’s hard to believe our son turned 16 on Easter Sunday yesterday. Our daughter is an aspiring actress, my wife is a genius and I’m one of the luckiest guys alive. The photo above is us at "MJ the Musical."

Another reason I’m grateful is that I love what I do for a living and I appreciate all of my Medicare clients. A special thank you to the 126 clients who have now been with me for over 10 years.

Finally, 20 years ago today I met my wife Amy at her office party celebrating 5 years in business, so that means today is her 25th work anniversary. Congratulations Amy and The Healing Touch Wellness Center on 25 years in business! https://healingtouchct.com/

There's so much to be thankful for.

Q: Why did the clock always feel optimistic during Daylight Savings Time? A: Because it knew brighter days were ahead! (Maybe if daytime was more careful, it wouldn’t have to be saved all the time.)

Friends, Spring fever is upon us with the spring equinox on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11:06 PM EDT. But first we have to move the clocks ahead on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2 AM. We close the month with my son Johnny’s 16th birthday on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Michael: I’ve been hitting the gym pretty hard last month Client: Did you lose any weight? Michael: No, but I broke my hand

Friends, Groundhog Day, celebrated every year on February 2, is an unusual holiday that stretches back hundreds of years back to European traditions and even ancient times.

Groundhog Day is famously connected to weather prediction, with the most prominent tradition involving a groundhog predicting the conclusion of winter by seeing (or not seeing) his own shadow.

Friends,

Last year, I was able to keep all of my New Year’s resolutions …

tucked away in a journal on my bookshelf.

If you 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) runs from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024. 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.

If you or a friend needs a nice 2024 magnetic calendar, please let me know your address and I’ll mail you or a friend one.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and joyous 2024.

Happy New Year!

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?

"It's Christmas, Eve!"

Friends,

I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are getting ready to celebrate the holidays with your families.

If you still need help with your Medicare decision for 2024, the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs through Thursday December 7, 2023. Also, please keep in mind you can make a change from aMedicare Advantage plan to a different one or change to original Medicare with a drug plan in the first quarter of 2024 during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) as well.

Q: What type of key can never open a door?

A: A Tur-key

Friends,

This weekend 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.

My predictions of the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) and Medicare Part B premium came true. I’ll get into more details in the "What’s New" section of this newsletter.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and be grateful for all of the blessings in life. I have about 26-30 people I’ll be hosting, so my work availability will be limited from late on Wednesday 11-22 until Monday 11-27 at 9 am.

I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.

Q: What did the pumpkin say to its carver?

A: Cut it out!

Friends,

The Annual Election Period (AEP) is upon us from October 15 to December 7.

During this time you can change plans for next year if you like. You will be getting a letter on grey paper from me to remind you of your choices.

Many Medicare advantage plans raised the maximum out of pocket and either lowered the dental benefits or are charging more than double what they were this year for dental. Also, many plans changed their names for some reason. If you are on the UHC PPO 004, we need to speak about moving you to the UHC PPO 005.

Drug costs are supposed to be going down, and in 2025 there will be a maximum out of pocket of $2,000. However, for some reason many drug plans went way up in premium cost for 2024. We should look at changing your stand-alone drug plan if you are on Aetna/Silver Script, Elixir, Humana or AARP Walgreens currently. I will need a listing of your medications and preferred pharmacy please.

Amy : “Michael, were any famous men born on your birthday?”

Michael : “No dear, only little babies”

“You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake”.

– Bob Hope

From your agent’s desk

Friends,

I find it hard to believe this is my fourth September monthly newsletter I’ve sent. Seems like the dad jokes started just a short time ago. Also, in the "hard to believe" category is that in

40 months from today, I will join you as my own Medicare client on January 1, 2027.

Speaking of 40, next year, 2024, marks my 40th year as a licensed insurance agent in Connecticut. I was first licensed on July 5,1984 and my cousin Alice was my first client.

If you know anyone else who might benefit from this newsletter, please ask them to visit my website www.michaelantonini.info and then add themselves to my newsletter mailing list from the bottom of my home page. Thank you in advance.

Patti: Does laziness run in your family?

Michael: No one runs in my family.

Friends,

August is showtime for my daughter, then vacation for the family.

Frankie will be in the town performance of "Anastasia" August 2-6 and the next week we’re on vacation before getting ready to get back to school and work.

Some of you might think that all I do is tell dad jokes and go on vacation. Well, I do live a blessed life and I will be back to work full time by the fall busy time. Until then, I hope you are enjoying your summer and I look forward to connecting with you in September.

Kind Regards,

Michael Antonini

What's the difference between a duck and George Washington?

One has a bill on its face, the other has his face on a bill.

Friends,

Happy 247th Independence Day everyone! Celebrating America's declaring of independence from Great Britain in 1776.

July is a big month for my family. On July 5, I mark 39 years as a licensed insurance agent in Connecticut. I’m shooting to make another 16 years at least.

Q: Why did the cookie go to the doctors?

A: It was feeling crummy.

Today, June 1, 2023 is my 16th wedding anniversary to my wife Amy. She is a

genius. We’re in Newport, RI, so I’ll keep this short.

June is a month of high school and middle school graduations and I’m giving a

shout to our daughter Frankie’s 8th grade graduation and stepping up to high

school in the fall. She also is accepted into the Regional Center for the Arts.

We also celebrate Father’s Day in June. So happy Father’s Day, happy graduation

and happy June birthdays to everyone who falls in these categories.