Reviewing Medicare, Managing Chronic Pain, and Making Smart Financial Moves Before 2025 Ends

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Medicare isn’t a “set it and forget it” program. Plans change annually — premiums, drug lists, networks, and coverage rules can all shift from one year to the next. Taking time to review your coverage helps ensure you’re not overpaying or missing benefits you’re entitled to.

Start with your current plan’s Annual Notice of Change, which arrives each fall. This document highlights any changes coming in the new year: monthly premiums, deductibles, drug tiers, and whether your doctors will still be in network. Compare this to your current needs — especially your prescriptions. Even a small change in the drug list can make a big difference in cost.

It’s also important to look at how much you actually used your plan this year. Did you visit specialists often? Did you travel? Did you need new medications? Your coverage should match the care you receive, not the other way around.

If you want to explore your options, the easiest way is through Medicare’s official Plan Finder tool. This lets you enter your medications, preferred pharmacies, and doctors, then shows plans side-by-side with real out-of-pocket estimates. If you prefer human help, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE, or speak with your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased guidance.

Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, checking once a year ensures nothing has changed behind the scenes. A quick review can save money, protect access to your doctors, and keep your medications affordable.

💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend — a well-chosen Medicare plan can make an enormous difference in someone’s year.

“The Library Table”
From the life overview of Marjorie T., 84, Duluth, MN. Shared with permission.

There was a particular table in the old public library where I spent half my teenage years. It sat near the tall windows, the ones that rattled in winter and let in long stripes of sunlight in summer. The varnish had worn thin in spots, and initials were carved along the edge; evidence of kids who had braver pocketknives than I did. The air always smelled faintly of dust, paper, and whatever perfume the librarian wore that week.

One snowy afternoon, I dragged my homework there and spread out my books. Outside, the flakes were falling sideways, scratching softly against the glass. A boy I barely knew, Tommy Wells, sat across from me without asking, shaking the snow from his hair like a dog. We didn’t talk much, except when he asked me to borrow a pencil. But I remember the shared quiet, the small feeling of being less alone in the world.

I would linger there long after my homework was finished, tracing the grooves carved by other restless hands and listening to the muted shuffle of footsteps in the stacks. Sometimes I think that old library gave me more than any lesson written in my textbooks.

Earth.fm
This non-profit project offers an ever-growing library of high-quality nature soundscapes, from gentle rain and ocean waves to forests and birdsong, all recorded by field recordists around the world. It’s a quiet way to calm the nervous system, read or journal with a natural backdrop, or simply spend a few minutes listening closely to a place you may never visit in person.

Founders Online (National Archives)
Hosted by the U.S. National Archives, this free site gathers more than 180,000 letters and documents by George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. You can browse correspondence, diaries, and debates in their own words, which makes for measured, thoughtful reading and a deeper sense of how ideas about democracy, power, and daily life evolved over time.

Macaulay Library (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
The Macaulay Library is the world’s largest archive of wildlife media, with millions of bird photographs, calls, and videos freely available to explore. It’s an inviting way to start (or deepen) an interest in birds: you can look up species you’ve seen in your yard, compare their songs, and slowly build your own quiet practice of attentive watching and listening.

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Fitness trackers can be powerful tools for monitoring your health—especially if you want to keep an eye on steps, heart rate, sleep quality, or daily activity. Whether you’re brand-new to wearable technology or already comfortable with smartphones, the right settings can help you stay active and spot trends worth discussing with your doctor.

A Fitbit or Apple Watch will automatically count your steps and track your heart rate once it's on your wrist. That means you don’t need to press buttons throughout the day—just wear it.

Getting started:

Focusing on these basics is enough to make the device worthwhile—no advanced setup required.

If you’re comfortable with smartphones, you can turn your device into a full wellness dashboard.

Try these upgrades:

These advanced tools aren’t required, but they can provide deeper insight into your daily health and make your tracker an even more valuable companion.

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