Omaha Insurance Solutions - June 2022

Omaha Insurance Solutions - June 2022

Club MED

June 2022 Our Trip to Hawaii

usually dried out and yellow, and those palms were not cheap!

Before the service, I overheard the ushers discussing the palms.

I was dreading the 16-hour plane ride, leg cramps, stale pretzels, and messy bathrooms — until we pulled out of the garage and saw the snow covering the lawn in the moonlight at 5 a.m. Then, all I could focus on was sun, sand, and umbrella drinks. There is always an upside to everything. The upside to a worldwide pandemic, lockdowns, restrictions, and travel bans is that you save up a boatload of points on your Visa. And with Southwest flying to Hawaii now, it was destiny that we should head to paradise.

Stocked up for the week with enough food for six people and booze for 10, we hit the beach. Sometimes people ask, “What did you do in Hawaii?” When they ask that, I know they have never been to Hawaii. You don't do anything when you are in Hawaii. Unless you mean that going to the beach, sitting at the bar along the beach, walking in the mountains and on the cliffs above the beach is “doing something.” I've never been anywhere I can simply walk out of my room and be happy. You cannot be unhappy in Hawaii. They will remove you from the island. There is a reason why Magnum PI said, "It's another day in paradise." We did do a few traditional things. We ate at Rainbow Drive Inn. Rainbow is a Hawaiian version of a greasy spoon. It's an outdoor diner complete with seagulls stealing fries off your plate and crows digging through the garbage cans for Kalua pork. I also tried to get Bev to buy a grass skirt and some shells for a native outfit, but that idea died a quick, cold, and lonely death. But we did do something most tourists don't do. We went to church. It just happened we were in Honolulu during Holy Week. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the U.S., so we attended Palm Sunday services. When I was a priest, we used to order palms for Palm Sunday from Israel. The UPS guy dropped them in big boxes on my doorstep a week or so before the feast day. The palms were

The head usher had taken a machete out to his backyard that morning before Mass. He had chopped the palms down from some trees behind his house. That's fresh! We welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem in fine style with our fresh Hawaiian palms. We could have built Jesus a hut with all the lovely palms we had. Judas and the Pharisees would never have found Jesus in Gethsemane. During our trip, Bev got to do something on her bucket list. She always wanted to snorkel at Hanauma Bay. She had never gotten it done while in Hawaii because the visitor slots always filled up too quickly. The number of visitors is extremely limited to protect the reef. We broke the code and got in. The beach and the reef are amazing. The park rangers sternly warn you not to touch the fish while snorkeling, but you can't help yourself. At least I couldn't, but the fish do not accommodate. They followed the park rules and swam away before I could grab them! When we got back, the snow was gone, but it was still in the 30s. I know that because my toes and bare legs in shorts and flip-flops at the airport told me so. Now that we are back, Bev is busy racking up more travel points on the credit card at Costco and every other place under the sun for the next trip.

My wife, Bev, had a life before me — diminished though it may have

been. She lived in Hawaii with her two children and late husband. Honolulu was his last assignment in the Air Force. Bev is also an extremely talented shopper, so she found an Airbnb on Waikiki Beach for a great price. Two years of stored up Visa Southwest points purchased us two round-trip tickets to Hawaii.

What would you do on your first morning in Hawaii?

Of course, we made a holy pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Costco. While I'm not a fan of shopping anywhere, including Costco, it was an experience. Our Nebraska Costco does not have surfboards or sea kayaks stacked to the ceiling. They had fruit I've never seen anywhere. The people and languages were from all over. Hawaii has huge Chinese, Japanese, and Polynesian populations. Everything was different about Costco Hawaii compared to Costco Nebraska.

402-614-3389 • 1 –Christopher J. Grimmond

Medicare Insurance Made Easy

IT’S DAD’S DAY! Dad is a very important person in your life! Every year when Father’s Day rolls around, it can be tough to come up with the perfect gift, whether it be for your dad, a new father, your grandfather, or a father figure. Getting creative can be tricky, but this list is sure to help you with an idea or two for all different price ranges! Wallet Why not go really classic and opt for a thoughtful and practical gift? Most men’s wallets see a lot of wear and tear. After all, they’re sat on, toted around in pockets all day long, and sometimes forgotten about and sent through the wash. A new one just may be in order! Massage Gun Massage guns are rising in popularity. To help Dad recover from soreness and injury or just a tough workout, a massage gun will do the trick! The best part is that they range in price, and you can even purchase one on Amazon! Apple Watch Strap Does the dad you’re celebrating own an Apple Watch? If so, help him customize it with a new Apple Watch strap. You can choose from many materials, colors, and designs so he can blend in or

6 GIFTS DAD IS SURE TO LOVE

stand out as much as he wants.

A New Cooler Men love their coolers — it’s a

foolproof Father’s Day gift! Whether Dad loves to camp, fish, tailgate, go to the beach, or barbecue in the backyard, he’s sure to appreciate a new way to store ice, drinks, food, or bait! Tool Bucket Organizer Is your dad a bit of a handyman? Help him get organized and never lose track of his tools again. Tool bucket organizers come in many forms and, again, can be purchased right online, making your shopping easy! Bluetooth Headphones or Speakers If your father doesn’t have Bluetooth headphones or speakers yet, he’s missing out. The opportunity to jam out wirelessly while working out, cutting the grass, doing hobby work, or just relaxing is effortless with this thoughtful gift.

DOES MEDICARE COVER DENTAL PROCEDURES?

Medicare dental coverage is confusing because you may have seen advertisements that claim Medicare has dental coverage. But Medicare dental coverage does not exist. Although some dental surgeries are covered, there has never been dental coverage under Medicare Part A or B. Why doesn’t Medicare cover dental? When both Parts A and B were established, they did not cover dental because dental procedures were not in high demand at that time. If Medicare were to add more benefits to its programs, there would need to be a higher payroll tax. As the demand for dental grew, private insurances found a way to add dental, vision, hearing, and other benefits without raising the cost of the plans. How do you get dental coverage? Many private plans cover minimal dental services such as teeth cleanings and X-rays. Other, more generous plans include fillings, extractions, crowns, and root canals — some plans even cover dentures. But the plan changes its benefits each year. So, what was covered in your plan this year may not be covered the following year. Be sure to double-check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage each year to see if anything has changed. The Evidence of Coverage will also give you

the cost of your coverage, where you will be able to see if anything increased or decreased. Is Medicare with dental insurance worth it? Although Medicare can be confusing,

having Medicare coverage is better than not having any coverage at all. It protects you from unplanned, sudden, and big expenses. Your teeth will also still need to be cleaned twice a year, and the average cost of teeth cleaning with X-rays and a complete exam will cost between $100–$175. You almost break even with the premium you will pay on a dental plan at that price. However, the difference is that if you have a dental plan, you will not pay the total cost when you go in for a root canal, crown, or other high-dollar dental procedure. You will only pay half or less. That is much easier to swallow on a fixed income. If you have any questions about how you can get dental coverage through a Private plan, allow your friends, Licensed agents at Omaha Insurance Solutions to assist you. We represent most major dental plans, and we will be happy to show you the best dental plans that fit you and your needs.

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Testimonial

What Is Initiative 427?

“Cheryl and I would like to express our appreciation for guiding us through the retirement and Medicare process. In the two meetings we had, you were so patient with our lack of understanding and many questions. Your creative grasp of terminology, technology, multiple market options, and the sheer scope of the process made our experience so relaxed and enjoyable. We feel like we

WILL IT AFFECT YOU AND YOUR MEDICAID/ MEDICARE PLAN?

got the BEST financial options for our specific circumstances. Thanks for such a magnificent outcome! You helped us ‘take the bull by the horns!!’” –Tom & Cheryl O.

In November 2018, Nebraska voters passed Initiative 427, which expanded Medicare coverage to people ages 19–64 who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level. The name of the Nebraska Medicaid change is the Heritage Health Adult (HHA). Here is what you need to know. What is the HHA? The HHA’s goal is to improve population health by providing health coverage to the uninsured. Many people within the new age category have never obtained health coverage because that age group was excluded from Medicaid, their income was too high, or their employers didn’t offer group health coverage. These requirements hurt the individuals within the categories and also hurt our community as a whole. We’ve seen this during the pandemic when high numbers of lower-income individuals and minorities were suffering from COVID-19 with no health insurance. What is Basic and Prime Medicaid? The HHA program is divided into two benefit tiers — Basic and Prime. The Basic tier will provide essential Medicaid services like hospital and doctor visits. Prime tier was created for those who are more active in wellness and personal responsibility engagement activities. These individuals will qualify for Prime coverage in dental, vision, and over- the-counter prescriptions. If you have specific health needs that are barriers to improving your overall health, you will be designated as “medically frail” and receive Prime Medicaid benefits. How do these changes appear in care plans? The HHA will combine with Nebraska’s Medicaid’s physical health, behavioral health, and pharmacy programs into one program for the state’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollees. HHA members can enroll in either Nebraska Total Care, WellCare, or United Healthcare Community Plan to receive their health care benefits. The Medicaid changes because of Initiative 427 do not affect those already on Medicare or Medicaid. The expansion is just for those between the ages of 19-64 who are not on Medicare. If you have any questions or want to see if you or a loved one qualify for other Medicare and Medicaid programs, allow Omaha Insurance Solutions to help. We can see if you match the requirements for additional programs and see which ones will best meet your needs.

Grilled Corn and Ricotta Dip

Inspired by Saveur.com

This dip tastes great with bread, crostini, or crackers and will be a hit at any summer gathering.

Ingredients • 6 ears of corn • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream • 1 1/2 cups ricotta • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour • 2 tbsp thyme, finely chopped

• Kosher salt and

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 1/2 cup Parmesan

cheese, finely grated

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, diced • Chives and scallions, finely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. 2. In a large grill pan on high heat, cook the corn until charred on all sides. Let cool, then cut the kernels from the cob. 3. In a food processor or blender, purée two-thirds of the kernels with the cream, ricotta, flour, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in remaining whole kernels. 4. Pour into an 8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, and dot with butter. Bake for approximately 1 1/2 hours, until bubbly. 5. Garnish with chives and scallions before serving.

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INSIDE This Issue

Our Trip to Hawaii

1

2

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Medicare Dental Coverage Doesn’t Exist

2

These Changes Will Improve Health in the Population

3

3

Testimonial

3

Grilled Corn and Ricotta Dip

How to Create a Mental Health Sanctuary in Your Home

4

A Mindful Space

Creating a Mental Health Sanctuary in Your Home

According to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, an estimated 26% of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder. With increases in the cost of living, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising tensions in Eastern Europe, that percentage could increase even more throughout the next few years.

out every bit of space that you have and add personal touches to it to remind you of what’s really important in your life.

Get rid of distractions.

Social media, mainstream news, and cellphones as a whole can have disastrous effects on your mental health. When you’re in your home, try to minimize your use of these technologies. If you’re not using the television, keep it off. Also, try to keep your home as clean as possible because clutter and dirt can easily bring you down.

If you’re someone who struggles with mental health, you’ve probably tried all of the traditional methods to improve your situation, but have you made any adjustments to your actual home? If you’re unsure where to begin, try out these tips. Give each room purpose. One of the biggest interior design mistakes you can make is using a room for more than one thing. This is even more important if you

Use natural light and calming colors. When designing your living space, try to incorporate as much natural light as

possible. Regular exposure to sunlight gives you more energy, makes you happier, and even improves your appetite. If you’re painting, avoid any loud colors and use calming neutrals instead. Adding the right colors, natural light, and some plants will help create an aesthetic that will boost your mental health.

work remotely. Each room should have a dedicated purpose. If you work from home, your office should not be in your bedroom or even in the area where you exercise. Plan

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