Ray's Retire Right Report

Retire Right Retire Smart!

Raymond T. Martin, Retirement Coach and Medicare Planning

November 2025

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for being my valued customer. I know you have choices and I’m glad you chose me to take care of your needs.

November is "Banana Pudding Lovers Month"

November 23rd – 29th is "Better Conversation Week" And November 24th is "Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day"

Preposterous Politics

Some British have a sense of humor about elections. Several fringe political parties exist which propose ridiculous platforms. There has been the Count Bin-face Party and a Psychedelic Movement Party. A popular alternative party was the Monster Raving Loony Party (MRLP) which runs the most candidates. Its platform in one election was to tow Britain 500 miles into the Mediterranean Sea to improve the country’s climate. Other years they have proposed: setting accountants in concrete to use them has traffic barriers; putting all joggers on a giant treadmill to generate electricity; and requiring dogs to eat phosphorescent food so pedestrians could more easily avoid stepping in their droppings. MRLP candidates have won local elections and the party has even gotten laws passed (by poking fun at real injustices) but unfortunately, major political clout has eluded them. In Japan, what automobile accessory is known as a bakkumira?

(See the Answer Area.)

Open Enrollment for 2026

As you may know, the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period or more commonly known as “Open Enrollment” is in full swing and runs October 15th – December 7th. During this time, our Medicare clients can review and adjust certain plans for 2026:

Part D

If you are needing to review your stand-alone Part D Prescription Drug Plan, please visit our Part D Resource Page here to learn about the changes and options to review your plan for 2026: aep.martinmedicare.com

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

If are enrolled into or interested in joining a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, please schedule a time to chat with our office. We do need to cross reference your doctors, prescriptions and any other needs before we help you make a selection.

Medicare Supplement/Medi-Gap (Plan

F, G, N, etc.)

Medicare Supplement clients that reside in CA, OR, ID, IL and NV it’s best to review your policy near your birthday when we have a guarantee to move you plans with no medical underwriting, no pre-existing conditions. When your birthday is coming up, please reach out to the office.

For more information, visit us at www.MartinMedicare.com or call 800.464.4941

@Around the World

The @ symbol dates back to the 16th century. In the U.S. we know it as the “at symbol” However, it has much more colorful descriptive names elsewhere:

Dutch: monkey’s tail (apestaart)

Israel: strudel

Russian: little dog (sabachka)

Italian: small snail (chiocciolina)

Norway: curled a (karoellalfa)

Greek: little duck (papaki)

German: clinging monkey (klammerraffe)

Swedish: elephant’s trunk (snabel-a)

Finland: sleeping cat (miuka-mauku)

Hungary: little worm (kukatsz)

Czech: Rolled pickled herring (zavinac)

China: mouse (shu)

Korean: snail (golbangi)

French: little snail (Petit escarot)

""Always focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror."

General Colin Powell

In the 1920s the United States Playing Card Company, makers of Bicycle cards, wanted to popularize the game of bridge. They operated their own radio station, WSAI, in Ohio from which they broadcasted lessons. Back then there were fewer limitation on the range of radio power. Their signal was so strong that the bridge lessons could be heard clearly as far away as New Zealand. Bicycle cards have been in continuous production since 1885.

Colonial Cash

In Colonial America, money was scarce. There were not enough coins and bills in circulation to buy and sell things. As a substitute, shelled corn was used but planters usually left the corn on the cob until a payment was due. Then the farmer would gather his family to husk and shell the corn and this activity became synonymous with paying an obligation. That is the origin of the phrase “to shell out”, meaning to hand over something of value as exchange.

 It is against the law to drink beer in Cedar City, Utah if your shoelaces are untied.

 Advertising icon Tony the Tiger was “born” in 1955; the Jolly Green Giant was ‘born” in 1928.

 Polyester blue jeans bombed in the 1970s because they wouldn’t fade, as was the style.

 When Ludwig van Beethoven needed inspiration, he poured water on himself.

 Adult grizzly bears can bite through ½ inch steel.

 Australian soldiers used “We’re Off to See the Wizard” as a marching song during WWII.

 There’s a town in Texas called “Ding Dong.”

 Elvis Presley’s favorite amusement park ride was the bumper cars.

 Harvard is the oldest American university (1636).

 Iceland enforces a TV-free day every Tuesday to encourage family interaction.

 The ballpoint pen was patented in 1938.

 Ringo Star was born during a WWII air raid.

 A chameleon’s tongue is twice the length of its body.

 If you’re over 100 years old, there’s an 80% chance you’re a woman.

 A Koala bear sleeps 22 hours of every day.

Lori Verst

Craig Kennedy

Dave Hart

Keith McCarthy

Stan Salah

Joseph Martin Matt Leone Staff Directory

Elliott Martin Mohan Martin Tessa Behr Joe Chow

If I had to describe myself using one word, it would be “Not very good at following instructions.

The Answer Area

Trivia Teaser: Rearview mirror from two English words, back and mirror.

Ray Martin Martin & Associates

30 Executive Park, Suite 250

Irvine, CA 92614

Ray Martin specializes in Personal Finance, Investor Coaching, Medicare Planning and is the author of . . .

The finest compliment I can receive is a referral from a satisfied client like you. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me with your retirement needs. Please send your friends and family to me knowing that I will care for them as I have cared for you!

Need a Speaker forYour Group?

Invite Ray Martin to be a guest speaker at your next club meeting, retreat or gathering for an informative presentation on Medicare or Social Security, crucial for a successful retirement. Ray is a frequent speaker at local colleges, school districts and major corporations. To schedule an available date for your group, call Ray or Lori today at (800) 464-4941 or email ray@WeRetireSmart.com

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Medicare Changes for 2026

To help you manage your health and wellness in 2026, here’s what’s new in Medicare

Prescription Drugs

If in 2025 you enrolled in the “Medicare Prescription Payment Plan”, which allows you to spread your drug costs over the calendar year, you will automatically be reenrolled for 2026. If you haven’t enrolled yet, you can do it now.

If you have Medicare drug coverage (Part D), your yearly outof-pocket cap for Part D drugs will be increased to $2,100 in 2026. Once you reach the cap, you won’t pay a copayment or coinsurance for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.

The maximum allowed Part D deductible will increase to $615. (Your specific plan’s deductible may be lower or even zero.)

The base premium for Part D plans will increase to $38.99 (Your premium will depend on your 2025 income as well as the plan and provider you select.)

The monthly cost for insulin will be capped at $35 or 25% of the negotiated price, whichever is lower. No deductible will apply.

In 2026, the Medicare prescription drug prices for the initial 10 highcost drugs that Medicare negotiated with participating drug companies will be lower. This includes drugs for diabetes, arthritis and blood clots. Your actual medication costs will depend on:

 Your prescriptions,

 Whether they’re on your plan’s formulary,

 What “tier” a drug is in,

 Which drug benefit phase you’re in. (Have you met your deductible or reached your outof-pocket limit?)

 Which pharmacy do you use? (Your out-of-pocket drug costs may be less at a preferred pharmacy because it has agreed with your plan to charge you less Is it mail order?)

 Whether you get “Extra Help” paying your Medicare drug costs.

Important: In an effort by insurance carriers to absorb the increased financial burden caused by the Inflation Reduction Act, some have removed agents from the Part D enrollment and service process. As a result, we can no longer perform individualized Part D reviews as we have in the past. However, to provide you with continued service, we’ve created a complimentary Part D Self-Help Resource Page to guide you step-bystep: This resource page has tutorial videos and instructions to help guide you through the comparison process. aep.martinmedicare.com Alternately, you could go directly through the www.Medicare.gov site to compare all the available plans in your state.

Advanced Primary Care Management Services

To meet your health care needs, Medicare now pays for “Advanced Primary Care Management” services each month. Your doctor or other health care provider coordinates and tailors care for your needs. Providers that offer these services must give you 24/7 access to your care team or comprehensive care management

and more. (Check with your primary care provider to find out if they offer this service.)

For this you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount and the Part B deductible applies. (If you have a MedicareAdvantage Plan, your costs for these services might be different. Contact your plan for specific cost information.)

Monetary Changes

 Your Part B premium increases from $185 to $206.50 per month.

 The Part B deductible is projected to increase from $257 to $288 per year (but that hasn’t been finalized as of this writing.)

MedicareAdvantage

In 2026 there will be fewer MedicareAdvantage plans available, especially PPOs, but Medicare assures us that 100% of beneficiaries will have access to at least one plan.

If you would like help making the best possible choice for health care after age 65, please call me. That’s what we do!

Ray Martin is an Investor Coach and Investment Advisor Representative for Martin Wealth Management, LLC Schedule a phone appointment at www.SpeakWithRay.com or call (800) 464-4941 or email Ray@WeRetireSmart.com

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