Medicare Blueprint Advisors - January/February 2021

Medicare Blueprint Advisors - January/February 2021

MED I CAREBLUEPR INT.COM Health Matters

JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021

THANK YOU! Your Flexibility in 2020 Motivates Us in 2021

Well, that was quite the year, wasn’t it? I think it’s safe to say none of us could have predicted 2020 would turn out quite the way it did, but regardless of what we missed and had to change in this past year, one thing is true: I am very proud of all of you. When we were forced to adapt the way we do business to ensure our clients and staff were safe and protected, our clients complied willingly. For some of our clients, technology is a major hurdle to overcome, yet many learned the new platform and took to it in ways we never could have anticipated. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our staff’s role in this endeavor. They were patient and determined, and they proved why we can rely on them day in and day out — especially as our traditional busy season picked up this fall during open enrollment. This time of the year through the middle of December often involves late nights and many hurdles to climb. On top of it, Jason and I are often continuing our education to ensure we stay up to date in our field. The complication of COVID-19 this past year combined with this busy season created the perfect storm, but our employees deserve a

pat on the back for all the hard work they put into 2020. We were busy — and I was definitely quite the Grinch as Christmas approached — but we could not have done so much work without their collaboration and commitment to our clients. Thank you all for your dedication this past year. As we look ahead to the new year, I’m hopeful we can return to some sense of normalcy. As I write this cover letter in December, the COVID-19 vaccine is just beginning to be dispersed. It’s made us all very hopeful for the future! Still, we know how difficult this past year has been for our retired clients. For many of you, travel was a big goal for your retirement, and that just wasn’t possible in 2020. My hope is that 2021 brings about new adventures for many of you. We cannot wait to see your faces again. Working with our clients in person is one of the biggest perks of this job. We get to know you, and we develop a special relationship with each client through those interactions. We have missed those the most during the pandemic, and we’re hopeful we can resume these (safely) again in 2021. There’s a lot to look forward to this year. We would be foolish to look back on 2020 without some disappointment, but as we anticipate all that is ahead in 2021, I know some good came of it, too. We learned how resilient our clients are and how committed our staff is to the people we serve. Those are lessons worth learning.

Here’s to a better year! Happy New Year!

Tim Hanbury

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Love Your Heart

In addition to Valentine’s Day and Groundhog Day, February also has a serious purpose, as it’s recognized as American Heart Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that heart disease is the cause of one-third of all deaths in the U.S. We can all do our part to lower that statistic with a few simple heart-healthy behaviors. Get Better Sleep Your body repairs tissue, stores memories, and replenishes your hormones while you sleep. Your heart also gets a big rest from the activity of the day. To improve your mood, your health, and your heart, sleep for at least 7–8 hours every night and consider factors that could contribute to sleep problems. For example, sleep apnea is an obstructive airway disorder that disrupts sleep. It can also lead to heart attacks and strokes because the heart is working overtime to keep you alive at night by jolting you awake when you stop breathing. (Note: Medicare does have coverage options for treating sleep apnea!) Move More Your heart is a muscle, and like all other muscles, it needs to move and be challenged in order to grow. But these “challenges” don’t have to include running marathons or lifting heavy weights. Go for walks, try swimming, hop on the bike, or hike on local trails to get your heart rate up. If mobility is a concern for you, try to move at least once every hour you’re awake. Walk around your house between commercials on TV or try simple stretches. Just get the blood flowing! Get Tested The best treatment is prevention. If you are genetically predisposed to heart disease, have another chronic condition like diabetes or liver disease, or are older than 65, you have an increased risk of heart disease. Your doctor can regularly monitor the condition of your heart and find signs and symptoms of developing cardiac conditions before they worsen or result in an emergency. The good news is that Medicare covers regular yearly testing, too. And Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases This February

“Jason is very informed and thorough in his search for the best plan. I have referred others to him.” What Our Clients Think!

–Customer since 2018

“You were patient, explained the process, and assisted me in what to do at each step. I have already recommended your services to many friends.”

–Thomas T., customer since 2017

“I so appreciated your service. You are a very clear communicator, using both a visual chart or spreadsheet and explaining it at the same time. That ‘visual’ presentation really helped me see it while you spoke.”

–Alecia S., customer since 2018

Learn more about treatment or testing for heart disease at Medicare.gov and find more heart-healthy tips at CDC.gov.

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UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE Don’t Buy Into the Hype From Broadway Joe and Iron Mike

Have you seen your favorite football legends on TV lately? Super Bowl III MVP and Hall of Fame NewYork Jets quarterback Joe Namath and the revered Super Bowl-winning coach of the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka, now appear in similar commercials advocating for the Medicare Advantage Plan. Nothing says “you’re getting older” quite like the sports heroes of your youth talking about Medicare. But beyond the shock of seeing these two great legends advertise health insurance plans, you shouldn’t take these commercials at face value. Instead, consider them for what they are: commercials to get you to buy something. The premise of each commercial is that you can receive a multitude of added benefits that traditional Medicare plans may not cover at “no additional cost to you!” How great! Why isn’t everyone on this plan?

However, it’s not that simple. Medicare Supplement Plans have also been created to fill the gaps that Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover. Medicare Advantage Plans — this is what Broadway Joe and Iron Mike are pitching on TV— replace or transfer Parts A and B a plan offered through private insurance companies.

But here’s the big secret: While the premiums can be “free” (we prefer $0 premium), our sports heroes fail to metion the costs to use the plans can be as high as $7,550 per year. This doesn’t mean they’re bad plans — it’s just a different way to provide coverage. One type of plan isn’t better than another. There are only plans that are better for you than others. As authors, we wrote our book to help people understand their options. We always want you in the plan that’s best for you. Please don’t rely on a pair of retired football pros to tell you what plan is best for you. Instead, rely on Medicare pros . If you ever need assistance understanding what your Medicare plan will cover, give our team a call at 888-335-9498.

Not so fast.

Medicare plans offer varying degrees of coverage. Medicare Parts A and B make up the original Medicare team. Part A covers hospital visits and stays, while Part B is meant to cover regular screenings and preventive measures. Meanwhile, Medicare Part D was created to cover prescription drug costs.

EASY ONE-POT LENTIL SOUP

WORD SEARCH

INGREDIENTS

• • • • • • • • • •

2 tbsp coconut oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 shallots, diced

4 large carrots, sliced thin 4 stalks celery, sliced thin

Sea salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

3 cups red potatoes, cubed 4 cups vegetable broth

2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme, chopped 1 cup uncooked green lentils, rinsed and drained

•

•

2 cups chopped kale

4. Add lentils, stirring until soup returns to a simmer. Then, turn the heat to low and cook soup uncovered for 15–20 minutes. 5. Finally, add kale and additional salt and pepper as needed. Cook for 3–4 minutes, thin soup with additional vegetable broth as needed, and serve!

DIRECTIONS

BEGINNING CELEBRATION CLOCK COUNTDOWN FAMILY FIREWORKS FRIENDS

JANUARY MIDNIGHT NEW PARTY WINTER YEAR

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic, shallots, carrots, and celery for 4–5 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. 2. Add potatoes to pot, along with more salt and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes. 3. Add vegetable broth and herbs, then bring soup to a simmer.

Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

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Inside This Issue

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LOOKING AHEAD

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SHOWYOUR HEART SOME LOVE

FROM OUR CLIENTS

FINDING THE MEDICARE PLAN THAT’S BEST FOR YOU — NOT MIKE DITKA OR JOE NAMATH

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EASY ONE-POT LENTIL SOUP

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THE FIRST DOG TOWIN A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Just this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be described as one the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup. While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP) for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide. Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten

hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar.

THE FIRST DOG TOWIN A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission. After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.” If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work that won them the Nobel Peace Prize, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.

Foxtrot’s Heroics With the World Food Programme

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