Medicare Plans for Kentucky - November/December 2021

Agents For Life

Making Time for Family in a Busy Season Joy in the Chaos

MEDICARE PLANS FOR KENTUCKY

In advertisements, TV shows, and movies, fall is portrayed as a cozy time of family togetherness. Between the warm sweaters, crackling fires, and the smell of pumpkin spice, the season conjures up picturesque images straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Reality rarely lives up to fantasy, and in our family of six, the truth is that our fall is just plain busy. In the insurance industry, this time of year is considered peak season, so work is hectic. Meanwhile, school is back in full swing, the holidays are coming up, and we’ve got five family birthdays and a wedding anniversary all squeezed into autumn’s mere three months. With so much going on, it can be a little difficult to make time for raking up the leaves, reflecting on what we’re thankful for, and drinking apple cider. It’s easy for us to get wrapped up in all of the demands, but for the sake of our own mental health and the well-being of our kids, we don’t want to make stress the

norm. So, we have to ask ourselves: How do we intentionally slow down during our busiest time of year? We do our best to find joy in the chaos. That means we try to say “yes” to the things in our lives that will nurture our souls and our family, rather than getting lost in all of the tasks we have to get done. We like to get out of town whenever we can, go apple picking at local farms, carve pumpkins, and help the kids make their own Halloween costumes (no matter how absurd they may be). Autumn is also a food-heavy season, and we go all-in with soup, bread, pie, and special meals for each kid’s birthday. In essence, even though we don’t have any extra time, we make extra time. It’s tempting for us to nix any extra activities and start taking shortcuts. Instead, we consciously step back, breathe, and reflect on what’s most important to us. These years with our kids won’t last

Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 [email protected]

Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 [email protected]

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November/December 2021

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just washes away, and what used to be a dreaded chore has become something we look forward to. That’s what we want for our kids, too — for fall to be a time of anticipation and joy (not anxiety) and something they can look back on fondly. We wish we could be a Norman Rockwell painting, but that’s just not real life. Maybe in the end, we’re not slowing down so much as we are making an effort for all of us to experience life together — and that’s always fulfilling.

forever, so we need to make the most of them while they’re here.

For example, when our backyard is covered in fallen leaves, our first thought is to clean up the mess as quickly as possible. The kids naturally want to play in the leaves, and it would be easy to tell them we don’t have the time for games. But we’ve found that putting aside the adult worries and spending an hour with the kids jumping and playing is a truly life-giving experience. Allowing ourselves that flexibility

and freedom is good for our souls. At the end of the day, cleanup takes longer than it would have otherwise, but we’re all happily tired and laughing. The stress of the season

–Sierra & Kevin Bennett

STAY FLEXIBLE WITH HEALTHY FASCIA

3 TIPS FOR LESS PAIN AND MORE MOBILITY

You know your body has muscles and bones, and you’ve probably heard of tendons and ligaments. But what about fascia? Though it exists throughout our bodies, most people don’t know what fascia is or what it does. Fascia essentially holds your body together. It wraps around your organs, muscles, and just about every other internal part of your body. Most experts compare the structure of fascia to a citrus fruit. If you peel an orange, you’ll find fibrous white material separating the fruit into wedges. Inside each wedge, there are still more, thinner stringy parts giving the fruit its structure and holding in the juice. Just like fascia, it keeps everything in place. Fascia is flexible, so it moves and stretches along with your body when it’s healthy. When it’s unhealthy, fascia becomes stiff, limiting flexibility and potentially causing pain. As you age and become less active, the risk of fascia seizing up increases, and you may start to lose mobility. So, what can you do to protect or restore your fascia? Stay hydrated. Fascia is a mobile structure and requires moisture to stay flexible. Much like a peeled orange wedge left out to dry overnight, improperly hydrated fascia will

become stiff and brittle. To keep your fascia ready for movement, consume water regularly throughout the day.

Keep active. It won’t matter how much water you drink if you don’t move your body regularly — your fascia will still become tight and inflexible. If you spend too much time dormant (for example, sitting at a desk), your fascia will start to bind together and limit your mobility. Cardio exercises, yoga, and stretching are all ways to keep your fascia in good shape. Seek professional help. If your fascia has tightened to the point where you are in pain or lack your full range of motion, it won’t get better on its own. Physical therapists are experts on how your body should move, and they have a lot of experience treating tightness and pain. A physical therapist can prescribe exercises and treatments like foam rolling to improve your fascia’s health and restore your flexibility. Whether your fascia is still in good shape or giving you trouble, healthy habits will keep you mobile well into your golden years. Start today — treating your fascia right is the key to greater flexibility and comfort.

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How One Dog Saved His Owner By Dialing 911

Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, rollover, play dead. But “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life. Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident. Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally, a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible. Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan-based organization called Paws With a Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line

in the event that he had a seizure.

A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they don’t hear anyone on the line, dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery. Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.

Easy Cranberry-Apple Salad

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dating pool keeping you from finding love? Or are beliefs about the value of hard work stopping you from spending valuable time with your family? In the end, life is all about choices, and we have more control over our own destinies than we think we do. Your beliefs control your actions, and that’s far more powerful than fate. If your beliefs are holding you back instead of lifting you up, it’s time to reconsider what you “know” to be true — it just might be wrong.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1. In a skillet over medium heat,

For the salad: • 1/4 cup dried pumpkin seeds • 5 cups salad mix • 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped into bite-size pieces • 1/3 cup dried cranberries • 1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled For the dressing: • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 1/2 tsp honey • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • Salt and pepper to taste

toast the pumpkin seeds until fragrant, then set aside. 2. In a small jar or bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients, then set aside. 3. Combine all salad ingredients in a

large bowl. Drizzle with dressing until lightly coated, then toss and serve!

Inspired by CookieAndKate.com

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MEDICARE PLANS FOR KENTUCKY Inside This Issue 1 Finding Joy in a Chaotic Season 2 Fascia and Flexibility 3 Dog Dials 911 to Save His Owner 3 Easy Cranberry-Apple Salad 4 Are Your Beliefs Holding You Back?

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

7801 Pine Ridge Rd. Louisville, KY 40241 (502) 966-7810 kentucky.seniorhealth.pro

HOW YOUR BELIEFS CONTROL YOUR DESTINY

When was the last time you really examined your beliefs? Most of us don’t, and many of us avoid having our beliefs challenged altogether. But it’s worth taking the time to ask if the beliefs you hold dear are serving you well. Some of our beliefs come from our parents when we were children, and others come from religion. Your beliefs may have originated through personal triumphs or hardships. Whatever they are, your beliefs undoubtedly affect your relationships, finances, and health every day.

our thoughts ultimately determine our feelings. The things we think and feel determine how we behave, so the actions you are or are not taking in your life all trace back to what you believe.

to go out, experience new things, or travel. If you think all doctors are quacks, you are unlikely to go see one when you get sick, and ultimately, you may suffer poor health. And if you believe all newmusic is terrible, you’re unlikely to find any modern artists whose work you really enjoy. That’s why it’s so important to reflect on the areas of your life where you’re unhappy and determine how your beliefs may be holding you back. Is your belief that no other company will hire you keeping you at a job you hate? Is a belief that there are no eligible men or women in the

This feedback loop can work to either your advantage or

disadvantage. Those who believe they can do anything they put their minds to often do amazing things in life. Meanwhile, those who believe they’ll never accomplish anything rarely do. Think about it: If you believe the world is dangerous and filled with threats to your safety, you’re much less likely

Even when we don’t realize it, our beliefs determine our thoughts, and

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This Thanksgiving Season, We’re Thankful for You! Thank You for Being Our Client! We appreciate the confidence you have in us and look forward to serving your Medicare needs for another year. Licensed Broker — What It Means for You We are Licensed Brokers, which means we are contracted to represent Medicare plans from multiple insurance companies. Our allegiance and loyalty are to you, our Customer, not to any insurance company. As your Broker, we help you select the Medicare plan that best fits your needs, regardless of which insurance company it’s from. Our promise is that we’ll tell you both the good and bad about each Medicare plan so you can evaluate the tradeoffs. You’re smart. Once you understand the differences, you’ll know which plan is best for you. And, then, you’ll have confidence and peace of mind. Family and Friends If you know someone having a hard time finding a trusted advisor for their Medicare, we would love to help them. Call us today and we’ll take very good care of them for you. Thanks!

Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 [email protected]

Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 [email protected]

3 Tips for Annual Enrollment OCT. 15– DEC. 7 Annual Enrollemnt for 2022 is here! From Oct. 15–Dec. 7, 2021 , you have a chance to change your plan — but should you? And if so, how? Here are 3 tips for how to navigate the process. 1) If You Are Happy With Your Current Plan … If you’re happy with your current Medicare plan, you don’t need to do anything. You will automatically be re-enrolled in the same plan for next year. 2) If You Want to Compare Plans … Comparing the differences between the new 2022 Medicare plans can be complicated. We can help simplify your choices by providing a Comparison Report that shows the 2022 plans side-by-side. You’ll be able to quickly see the differences. We’ll also give you our unbiased professional insight into less obvious aspects of the plans that may affect your decision. We want you to have confidence you have the best plan for you in 2022. 3) Beware of Advertising Claims You’re getting bombarded with advertising on TV, Facebook, and Direct Mail promising benefits that sound really fantastic. Unfortunately, many of these great benefits are only available in certain areas, or to those with limited income. Call us to avoid the pressure of a salesperson. We’ll let you know which benefits are available in your area and for your income level. And just as important, we’ll explain the things you’ll give up by changing plans.

Call us with your questions. We are your Agents for Life.