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Club MED
December 2025
A NEW WAY TO PAY FOR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN 2026
HOW TO ENROLL You enroll through your Part D prescription drug plan , not directly through Medicare.
Starting Jan. 1, 2026 , Medicare is rolling out a new program that can help many people avoid large prescription drug bills early in the year. It’s called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP) , and it was created as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 . This new option doesn’t lower the cost of your medications, but it can make them much easier to afford month to month . WHY THIS MATTERS Many Medicare beneficiaries face a common problem every January and February. When the new year starts: • Your Part D deductible resets. • Copays and coinsurance start over. • Expensive medications often cost the most at the beginning of the year. For some people, this means paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars at the pharmacy in January or February.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan helps solve this problem by spreading those costs out over the year, instead of hitting you all at once. WHAT THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION PAYMENT PLAN (MPPP) DOES The MPPP allows you to pay your Medicare Part D drug costs in monthly payments , rather than paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
By law, Part D plans must:
• Offer this monthly payment option. • Give you a clear payment schedule. • Notify you if payments fall behind. • Continue filling your prescriptions while you are enrolled. This means your medications cannot be denied just because you are using the payment plan. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW There are a few key points to understand: • This is not financial assistance like Extra Help. • It does not lower your total drug costs. • It simply spreads your costs evenly across the year. • If you miss payments, plans must provide a grace period.
With MPPP, you can:
• Pay monthly instead of all at once. • Avoid big bills early in the year. • Budget more easily for your medications. • Protect yourself from sudden cash- flow shocks. Instead of paying a large deductible in January, those costs are smoothed out across the year . WHAT DRUG COSTS ARE INCLUDED The monthly payment plan covers all your out-of-pocket Part D costs , including: • Your deductible • Copays • Coinsurance • Costs in the coverage gap • Costs in catastrophic coverage You still pay the same total amount for the year, but you pay it gradually , not all at once. WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTS The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan begins on Jan. 1, 2026 .
Used correctly, it can make expensive medications far easier to manage.
BOTTOM LINE If you take costly medications and dread the big bills in January and February, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan may be a great option for you . It helps turn large, stressful pharmacy bills into predictable monthly payments , making budgeting simpler and more manageable. If you’re unsure whether this makes sense for your situation, we’re happy to help.
You can choose to enroll:
Call Omaha Insurance Solutions!
• Now, before the new year begins • When you start a new Part D plan • Any time during the year if you expect high medication costs You do not need to wait for a special enrollment period.
Licensed Insurance Agent –Christopher J. Grimmond
Call 402-614-3389 to speak with a licensed insurance agent! • 1
Medicare Insurance Made Easy
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO MEDIGAP MARKET UPDATE: WHY RATES ARE RISING
UNDERSTANDING ADVERSE SELECTION (IN PLAIN ENGLISH) One of the biggest forces affecting Medigap pricing is something called adverse selection . Adverse selection happens when people who believe they are more likely to need medical care choose more comprehensive insurance , while healthier people are less likely to do so.
WHY PLAN F RATES ARE RISING EVEN FASTER Plan F has a different challenge. Plan F is closed to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2020 . No younger or healthier people can join.
Plan G or Plan N?
For many years, Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans were known for stability. While Medicare Advantage plans changed frequently, Medigap felt predictable and dependable.
That stability is now being tested.
That means:
Rates are rising faster than they have in the past, fewer new Medigap plans are being created, and some plans are seeing much larger increases than others. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes, and why it matters to you.
• The average age of the plan keeps increasing. • Medical usage rises every year. • The pool of insured members slowly shrinks. As fewer people pay premiums and claims continue to rise, rates must increase faster to keep the plan financially sound. This is a natural outcome of a closed insurance pool. WHY PLAN N OFTEN HAS SMALLER INCREASES Plan N generally sees smaller and steadier rate increases because it works differently.
In simple terms:
• Someone who expects to be sicker in the future is more likely to buy stronger coverage. • Someone who feels healthy may choose less coverage, or none at all. People may expect higher medical needs because of: • Past health problems • Family history • Risky lifestyle habits • Recent loss of other insurance When more high-risk people enter a plan and fewer low-risk people do, claims rise faster than premiums . Insurance companies must then raise rates to cover those costs.
WHY SO FEW NEW MEDIGAP PLANS EXIST There are hundreds of insurance
companies in the U.S. health insurance market. Today, only one company is actively creating new Medigap products.
That alone tells an important story.
Most insurance companies are hesitant because: • Medical costs remain high. • Claims have increased faster than expected. • New enrollment rules make pricing uncertain. • Losses from prior years are still working through the system. Rather than risk large losses, most companies are choosing to pause and wait for the market to stabilize. WHY MEDIGAP RATE INCREASES ARE GETTING LARGER In 2025, Medigap rate increases are averaging about 3% higher than in 2024 , and double-digit increases are becoming much more common .
Plan N includes modest cost sharing, such as:
• Small copays for doctor visits • Copays for emergency room visits • No coverage for Part B excess charges Because members share some costs, they tend to use care more thoughtfully. Plan N also attracts more cost-conscious and often healthier individuals, which helps keep claims lower and rate increases more manageable. CLAIMS ARE IMPROVING, BUT SLOWLY There is some good news. Over the past few years, Medigap claims increased about 10%–11% per year . In 2025, claims appear closer to 9%–10% . That is a modest improvement, but it is not enough to offset prior losses , which is why rate pressure remains. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU Medigap is still strong coverage, but reviewing your plan matters more than ever . CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...
WHY PLAN G IS ESPECIALLY AFFECTED
Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan, and it is also the main plan used for Guaranteed Issue .
Guaranteed Issue means:
• You must be accepted into the plan. • No health questions are allowed.
People entering through Guaranteed Issue are often:
• Coming from employer coverage or Medicare Advantage • Managing more health issues • Expecting higher medical use Because these individuals tend to have higher claims, Plan G experiences more adverse selection than other plans. This pushes costs up for everyone in the plan, leading to higher rate increases. Plan G is still excellent coverage, but it is carrying more financial pressure than in the past.
Here is how rates have trended for one plan, Plan G:
• In 2023, most increases were under 10%. • In 2024, increases began moving higher. • In 2025, fewer than 40% are under 10%. • Nearly one-third are between 10% and 15%. • More than 12% exceed 20%. This didn’t happen by accident. It is driven by how Medigap plans work and who enrolls in them.
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
As we grow older, we start to think about things that could increase our longevity. For example, we could adopt a healthier diet, incorporate more movement into our daily routine, and get outside as often as possible. But what if there were a better way to integrate healthy aging behaviors into our daily habits, and even better, we could do it while spending time with some of our favorite people? We often don’t realize how beneficial the grandparent role can be. Not only does it give our grandchildren someone who provides unconditional love and support, but it can also help keep us young. Here are three benefits of spending more time with your grandchildren. MENTAL CLARITY It’s no secret that our memory, concentration, and focus can slip as we age, but spending time with our grandchildren can offset some of these setbacks. Kids love to ask questions and inquire about the world around them. Answering their questions and exploring new avenues of thought can help you maintain mental clarity. A study published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society found that older women who spend one day a week babysitting grandkids scored higher on cognitive tests than women in the same age range who don’t spend as much time with their grandchildren. IMPROVED PHYSICAL FITNESS Kids like to move; there’s no question about it, and if you want to stay young as long as possible, you have to try to keep up with them. You probably won’t be running laps around a track at full speed or playing a full-on tackle football game, but any movement is good as you age. Go for walks outside, play a game of catch, or just chase them around the backyard. You’ll create great memories while improving your fitness. ENHANCED MINDFULNESS It’s easy to lose yourself as you think about everything going on in your life, but you can just stop and enjoy the moment when you’re with your grandkids. Push off any nagging thoughts and give your grandkids your full attention. It will help solidify your relationship. SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS Want to Live Longer and Feel Younger?
Testimonial
"It was great working with Chris and his team and would recommend them to anyone. Medicare was something I did not understand or know. I knew there were deadlines but did not realize how important they are. Chris made great efforts to educate me and to get me on track. "P.S. Chris has a great sense of humor and made a difficult chore pleasurable." —Mike K.
Classic Italian Tiramisu
Ingredients • 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, plus more for dusting • 1 cup brewed espresso • 1 tbsp vanilla extract • 5 large egg yolks, cold • 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt • 16 oz mascarpone cheese, chilled • 1 3/4 cups heavy cream, chilled • 28 hard ladyfinger cookies
Directions 1. In a bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, espresso, and vanilla and set aside. 2. In a mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. 3. Add salt and mascarpone cheese, and continue to whip. 4. Add the chilled heavy cream and continue to whip until light and smooth. 5. Dunk each ladyfinger in the espresso mixture to absorb the liquid and line a 7x11-inch oval baking dish with the cookies. 6. Top the first layer of cookies with half the whipped mascarpone mixture and spread it into an even layer. Dust with cocoa powder. 7. Repeat for another layer and then finish by dusting with cocoa powder on top. 8. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
Here’s an important reminder many people don’t know:
You do NOT have to wait for a special enrollment period to change Medigap plans.
If you can medically qualify, you can apply any time of the year .
At Omaha Insurance Solutions , we can:
• Review your current Medigap policy • Run quotes across available carriers • See whether we can reduce your monthly costs or improve long-term stability Sometimes, staying put is best. Sometimes, a smart change can save meaningful money. Let’s take a look together. Call our office to connect with a licensed insurance agent.
Call 402-614-3389 to speak with a licensed insurance agent! • 3 Inspired by WhatsGabyCooking.com
11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com Chris@OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Code 88113_12232025_JL
INSIDE This Issue
1
A New Way to Pay for Medicare Prescription Drugs in 2026
Plan G or Plan N? 2
Are Grandchildren the Solution to Aging Concerns? 3
Testimonial 3
Classic Italian Tiramisu 3
4 The Allure of an Iconic Road Trip for Empty Nesters
From Carpools to Coastlines The Ultimate Empty Nester Road Trips
The empty nest stage marks a new chapter for parents, eliciting wide-ranging emotions, from grief or nostalgia to a thirst for adventure. But one common impulse unites many empty nesters: the desire to hit the open road in search of freedom, a relaxing break, or a fresh perspective. Here are three ideas for great road trips to rekindle an empty nester’s zest for life. SOUTHERN BARBECUE AND MUSIC If you are no longer acting as Mom or Dad every day, could you be … a country music star? This road-trip favorite follows the Americana Music Triangle from New Orleans to Nashville, encompassing the birthplace of the country’s greatest jazz, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll traditions. Savor New Orleans’ jazz and Cajun cuisine, roll on to Memphis for blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll, and finish up in Nashville, the home of honky-tonk and country. Take in cultural landmarks along the way, and feast on the savory barbecue defining each region! A NOSTALGIA TRIP Hungry for a glimpse of history, one mom trekked south with her husband after selling their Massachusetts home. Blogging as the Preppy Empty Nester, she and her spouse visited historic lodgings, including the Homestead Resort in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains,
a beautiful vacation destination for the past 250 years. Winding her way farther south, this mom gave the Read House, an iconic Jazz-era hotel in Chattanooga, a glowing review. A bastion of Southern hospitality, the Read House even has its own haunted room, No. 311, where a female guest was reportedly beheaded in a bathtub in 1927. Refreshed by their road trip, the couple arrived at their destination, Dallas, ready to start a new chapter. EXPLORE THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL Curious about the cosmos? Explore the mysteries of UFO lore by driving the Extraterrestrial Highway, a unique 100-mile stretch of Nevada Route 375 named in 1996 for its rumored alien sightings. It has since become a magnet for anyone interested in UFOs or government secrets. Prepare for alien murals and kitschy roadside attractions like the Little A’Le’Inn motel. The town’s lone postal drop is a gathering place for UFO seekers. Also, Route 375 skirts the perimeter of Area 51, a top-secret, highly classified U.S. Air Force facility that has long intrigued paranormal enthusiasts. Other great road trips abound, from the Pacific Coast Highway in California and Oregon to Route 66, an adventure in Americana from Illinois to California. Whatever your empty-nest state of mind, there’s a road trip for you!
4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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