Good morning. The lights are going up on houses in my neighborhood, and nobody can agree on whether it’s too early or right on time. It’s December in Michigan — I say go for it.
In this issue:
- Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7 — your 15-minute checklist
- Worth Knowing: a sleep fix, the first month in assisted living, and USPS shipping deadlines
- From the Archives: 30 questions to ask before choosing assisted living
- Slice of Life: a December kitchen moment
You’ve got five days.
Medicare Open Enrollment closes on December 7, 2025. If you haven’t reviewed your plan for 2026, here’s the 15-minute version — no phone calls required.
Step 1: Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare. Enter your zip code, your current medications, and your preferred pharmacy.
Step 2: Look at the Total Estimated Annual Cost — not just the monthly premium. That number includes premiums, deductibles, copays, and drug costs combined. It’s the only number that tells the real story.
Step 3: If a different plan has a lower total cost and covers your medications at the same pharmacies, switch. You can do it online in about 10 minutes.
Step 4: If your current plan’s 2026 costs haven’t changed much and your medications are still covered, do nothing. Your plan auto-renews.
The deadline: After December 7, you can’t change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan until next October. One exception — if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and change your mind, the MA Open Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31, 2026) lets you switch once to a different MA plan or go back to Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan.
Need last-minute help? Call 1-800-MEDICARE (available 24/7), find your local SHIP counselor at shiphelp.org, or use the live chat at Medicare.gov.
Compare plans now at medicare.gov/plan-compare
The sleep fix that doesn’t come in a bottle. Before you reach for melatonin or Ambien, try this: same bedtime every night, no screens 30 minutes before bed, and keep the room at 65-68 degrees. Boring? Yes. Effective? Extremely. Victoria Sinclair’s guide covers why your sleep patterns shift as you age — and what actually works to get them back on track.
What the first month in assisted living actually looks like. Moving a parent into assisted living is one of the hardest decisions a family makes. The first week sets the tone for everything that follows — and most families don’t know what to expect. Victoria Sinclair wrote a week-by-week checklist covering what to prepare, what to watch for, and when to step back.
USPS holiday shipping deadlines. To arrive by December 25: USPS Ground Advantage by December 18, First-Class Mail by December 18, Priority Mail by December 20, Priority Mail Express by December 22. UPS and FedEx have similar cutoffs. Ship early — holiday volumes cause delays every single year, and this year won’t be different.
30 Essential Questions: Choosing Assisted Living for Parents — by Benjamin Wells
If assisted living is on your radar — even just in the “someday” category — print this list. Benjamin covers 30 specific questions organized by topic: licensing, care levels, costs, social life, legal protections, and future planning. One that stuck with me: asking about the staff-to-resident ratio during different shifts, not just the daytime number they show on tours.
Having the right questions makes all the difference between choosing a place that looks good and choosing one that actually is.
My neighbor baked her first batch of Christmas cookies last weekend. She brought a plate over and said, “I always make too many. That’s the point.” Her kitchen smelled like butter and cinnamon and something you can’t buy at the store. I think they call it December.
Until next Tuesday,
Nino
P.S. If someone in your life is dealing with Medicare decisions or an assisted living search this month, forward this their way. And hit reply if you’ve got questions — I read every reply.
