Omaha Insurance Solutions - July 2020

Omaha Insurance Solutions - July 2020

Club MED

July 2020

Memories of My Father and the American Flag

Chris Reflects on the Fourth of July

Our reminders of the Fourth of July often come in waving American flags and playing patriotic music — both things that make me think about my father. In 1966, during one of my many childhood nights in Omaha, Nebraska, my father gave me the rare chance to stay up late watching TV with him, although he fell asleep early in the evening. Back in the ‘60s, see, there were only the TV networks: ABC, NBC, and CBS. That was it! I don’t remember which I was watching, but they all had one thing in common: at midnight, they played The Star-Spangled Banner. After that, they played a test pattern until the TV network resumed programming at 5 or 6 a.m. That night, my dad woke up as soon as The Star-Spangled Banner started playing and stood up from his chair. He told me to stand up, too, and I did. He placed his hand on his chest and told me: “Everyone is doing this. If they’re up late and watching this, they’re standing and doing this.” So I copied him and we stood in our dark living room in the middle of the night and watched the flag wave on TV until the song was over. Then the test pattern came on, and it was time for bed. It’s strange to think that particular ritual has been, more or less, lost to time. But not all patriotic rituals have been lost. My great respect for the American flag has stayed with me since. My dad once explained to me that the flag should never touch the ground under any circumstance. In the military, the only time the flag touched the ground was if the soldier carrying the colors was shot. He shared one story that I’ll always remember: While he was in the Navy, someone who was taking the flag down once let it touch the floor of the ship. His captain put the guy in the brig (what they called the jailhouse aboard the ship) for a couple of days just for letting that happen. Ever since, it’s really bothered me when people aren’t careful with their flags! Even at places like Fourth of July cookouts, I often find myself fixing the small, festive flags on the ground that fall over. My father spent three months under the care of a great staff at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before he passed. He died only six months after my mom died, but he had been ill. In a regular hospital, he would’ve been discharged after maybe a month. I was actually sleeping at the foot of his bed when he passed. Someone woke me up at 5 a.m., told me the news, and then they prepared the body, which I remember very clearly.

played when service men and women lay down to sleep), and once we reached the ground floor, the morticians took his body from there. I can’t imagine what that moment would’ve been like if it had been in a regular hospital. I think my father would’ve been very moved to see how he was treated after he passed. Many of the people I work with are veterans; I’ve had clients from nearly every conflict in recent U.S. history, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In fact, just a couple years ago, a client of mine, who was a veteran bomber pilot from the Second World War, died at age 92 or 93. My wife also works closely with veterans in her job, and since my dad was a veteran that frequently used Veterans Affairs (VA) services, one thing is very clear to me: Veterans deserve financial security in retirement, especially when it comes to medical care. That’s why I urge all of my clients who are veterans to go on Medicare, even though it costs a bit more. Although the VA hospital can be a really great place for your care, even my father needed Medicare for all of his expenses. Also, imagine if you’re forced to go to an emergency room anywhere else; you’ll often end up with tremendous bills. Worst of all, lacking Medicare can delay care, which can have permanent consequences (e.g., nerve damage that can result from strokes, which requires immediate therapy). Whether taking care of our flag or our veterans, there’s so much we can do to show our passion as American citizens for this country. I feel very privileged to help veterans when they need my experience the most. Although there may not be as many fireworks in the neighborhood this year, being reminded of my love for our flag and our country seems like a good celebration too. Throwing something on the barbecue never hurts, though. Happy Fourth of July, friends. –Chris Grimmond CFP ® 402-614-3389 • 1

The staff placed an American flag over him as we walked him to the elevator. “Taps” played over the intercom (the famous military bugle call

Medicare Insurance Made Easy

Beware of These Coronavirus Email Scams THEY’RE STILL AROUND!

Suspicious Links and Email Addresses During the past few months, people’s email inboxes have been littered with advertisements for fake coronavirus tests and cures, fake alerts from government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and fake coronavirus updates. If you get an email containing an unusual link in your inbox, do not click on it — even if the email address looks legitimate. Scammers use links to spread malware on computers, which helps them get your personal information. Spelling and Grammar Mistakes This is usually a dead giveaway. While genuine, official updates about the coronavirus will be meticulously checked for spelling and grammar, scammers aren’t as careful. Missing periods, misspelled words, and wacky syntax errors are all hallmarks of scam emails. Make sure you carefully read any email you’re not sure about. If you can spot spelling and grammar mistakes, delete the email. Much like the coronavirus will remain in the American psyche long after cases and deaths have peaked, scammers will continue using it as a means to steal from honest, hardworking Americans. But, if we keep our guard up, we can make sure they get absolutely nothing from their efforts. whether or not switching plans may be necessary. We recommend using GoodRX.com to compare coverage for medication like Eliquis. However, none of this means that you’re doomed to Eliquis necessarily. Eliquis is an anticoagulant, which is used to treat many blood and heart-related conditions by thinning blood to prevent blood clots. There are many kinds of anticoagulants out there. If your doctor prescribes Eliquis, ask whether there are any other anticoagulants that they’d recommend or consider. Remember that being subjected to great financial stress due to one medication can be more detrimental to your health than using a slightly differently designed medication that performs the same action. Warfarin (brand names Coumadin and Jantoven) is inexpensive at $15 and can prevent clots in the veins, arteries, lungs, or heart. It is also covered by most Medicare and insurance plans. In short, no, Eliquis is not worth its full retail price. If you can get it for an affordable price, then do it! But there are many, many other anticoagulant options available, and you’ll thank yourself for doing a bit of research before taking the financial plunge for Eliquis.

While it seems like the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic might be behind us, that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down completely — especially when it comes to internet scams designed to prey

on the fear and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. It’s no surprise that scammers have found ways to use the

coronavirus scare as an opportunity to steal personal information from the vulnerable. Fortunately, you can spot

coronavirus scammers using the same techniques that help identify otherwise run-of-the-mill phishing scams.

Requests for Personal Information When the federal government started distributing relief checks, several scammers sent out unsolicited emails, disguised as legitimate instructions, asking for personal information from people in order to receive their $1,200. Since many people have now received their checks, this particular scam may become less common, but always be suspicious of emails that ask for personal information, no matter the circumstances. Eliquis is the brand name for a prescription medication known as apixaban. It prevents serious blood clots from forming due to an irregular heartbeat and/or after knee or hip replacement surgery. Not all blood clots are made the same; apixaban is approved to treat certain types of blood clots and prevent them from forming again. It works by blocking certain clotting proteins in your blood. It works great, but here’s the catch: It’s incredibly expensive at nearly $565.89 retail price for 60 5-milligram tablets, and there aren’t any generic alternatives for the medication. If your first question is whether Medicare will cover it, the answer is yes. Almost 99% of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will cover Eliquis, although the copay varies widely depending on your plan and the coverage stage you’re in. Your copay could be anywhere between $8 to $541. But if you’re serious about taking Eliquis for your heart issues, then it still may be your best bet to look at your options there and consider

2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com

Hear What Our Clients Have to Say

Is Home Health Care Covered By Medicare?

What is home health care? It’s intermittent health care that occurs at home, consisting of fewer than seven days a week (or daily care for less than eight hours every day for up to 21 days). Imagine being unable to drive to a physical therapy clinic, so the therapist comes to your home instead. That’s home health care, and it can include a wide range of services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and nursing care. It’s designed for individuals who wouldn’t be able to receive this care any other way. However, home health care is not home care. Home care would be services like housekeeping, bathing, and feeding, etc. (Medicare does not usually provide those types of personal services, strictly speaking, though there are exceptions at times that allow for a temporary home health aide.)

“Chris kept coming over and explaining everything to us until we understood Medicare and felt comfortable with it.” –La rry & Dia ne B.

Spicy Salmon Cucumber Bites

Home health care is covered by Medicare but requires four criteria to be met:

1. A physician must certify home health care is necessary. 2. The home health care provider must be from a Medicare-approved organization. 3. The patient must need at least one of the following: skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. 4. The patient must be homebound. If the criteria is met, then your doctor will certify whether you need home health care during an in-person meeting. They will sign a certificate certifying that the person meets the Medicare qualification. Then, the doctor will lay out a plan of care that care professionals implement, and the certification lasts 60 days. At the end of the 60 days, they can recertify the patient for an additional 60 days. While the patient must be homebound, it doesn’t mean they can never leave their home for important things, like family events, hairdressing appointments, and some doctors’ appointments. However, getting regular health services outside the house would be an undue burden. Being homebound simply means they cannot leave their home without great difficulty and that the patient requires help, such as a wheelchair, walker, crutches, or specialized transportation. If you need this type of care, then make sure to work with a Medicare-certified home health care agency! Tremendous advances in technology have enabled seniors to stay out of expensive skilled nursing care. Nowadays, patients may receive very sophisticated treatment at home and do not need to be institutionalized, keeping the cost of treatment lower. It is an important and essential service that Medicare covers.

There’s nothing quite like a refreshing treat on a warm summer’s day. Mix up this cool appetizer for your new favorite snack.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup paleo mayonnaise • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/4 tsp Tabasco, or to taste • 1/2 lb salmon, cooked • 1 tbsp minced shallots

• 1 tbsp chopped chives • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 English cucumber, peeled • 4 cherry tomatoes, quartered for garnish

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, paprika, and Tabasco. 2. Flake the salmon into large bite-size pieces. 3. Add the salmon, shallots, chives, salt, and pepper to the Tabasco mixture and combine. 4. Cut the cucumber into 3/4-inch slices. 5. Using a melon-baller, scoop out the center of each cucumber slice but leave the bottom fully intact so the filling doesn’t fall through. 6. Divide the salmon mixture and put dollops into each cucumber slice. 7. Garnish with cherry tomato.

Inspired by NomNomPaleo.com

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INSIDE This Issue

1

Memories of My Father and the American Flag

2

How to Spot a Coronavirus Scam Email

2

On Eliquis: Is It Worth it?

3

Is Home Health Care Covered By Medicare?

3

Spicy Salmon Cucumber Bites

4

The Wacky Evolution of the Knock- Knock Joke

Knock Knock! Who’s There? The Wacky Evolution of the Knock-Knock Joke

Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa. Theresa who? Theresa crowd!

Do you know Arthur? Arthur who? Arthurmometer!

Unless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock-knock jokes are a quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock-knock joke today? Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one: 4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com

Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and-forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock knock, who’s-there dialogue” in Act 2 of “Macbeth” (though it likely wasn’t intended to be funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox, whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio. Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock-knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short- lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.” Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of “bad dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!