Annual election period Archives

You need to wake up your doctor!

May this note find you in great health with your Medicare coverage working properly.

Are you getting ready for the holidays?

The Annual Election Period is over 🎉🙏🎉! It was so much fun catching up with so many of you from all over the country. Most people kept their plans but some made changes.

If we didn’t speak and you aren’t happy with your Advantage coverage, don’t worry.

You have until the end of March to make one change if you need to. Most people don’t need to do anything, but if you’re unsure, book a time in January to make sure.

If Plato looks warn out above, that’s because he played hard all day. Say hello to “Suki,” our newest house guest and Plato’s new pal.

Suki and his boss Max arrived this morning to live with us for a while and we immediately drafted them to help us cut down a Christmas tree up in the Rockies.

After ten weeks of ten hour days (including most weekends), it was a pleasure to get out of the house and up into the snow in the Arapahoe National Forest.

Plato was even gladder than me to be out of the house and doing something new with Suki.

I was so tempted to spend the day vegging, but I followed James Clear’s advice and we had a great afternoon hunting the perfect tree (plus the permit to cut a tree was only $20).

Every time we do something new, our brains make new connections and it strengthens our bodies, our minds, and our souls.

Listen to this three minute Ted Talk on how a group of nuns avoided the pitfalls of dementia just by doing new things.

We cut down this 18 footer and carried her out of the forest through deep snow, strapped her on top of the car, and drove down the mountain. It was exhilarating to do something new.

On the way down I caught up with our daughter Sus and she sent pics from the Ugly Sweater Party at work. I guess that’s way computer coders like to have fun.

Before heading up the mountain, I spent an hour on the phone with Nathan Jenkins, a Physician’s Assistant and a retired Navy Veteran. He now works for a company that does in-home health assessments and I learned so many interesting things about the state of medical care in America.

His best piece of advice: every time you go to the doctor, throw ALL OF YOUR MEDICATIONS in a large plastic bag and put them on the table in front of the doctor and have them confirm that you still need to be taking each medicine.

Nathan said most doctors are great at beginning the healing process but they are not always great at formulating an end game to treatment. Many patients continue to take a medicine to treat a specific condition (like situational depression) long after the condition has subsided. Be sure to review your prescriptions with EVERY DOCTOR you see.

By the way, if you take a statin, watch this video a cardiologist posted on the pros and the cons of taking this medication.

Q had a birthday in early December – 29, again 😶🤫. We celebrated with great friends that I plan to see more often because life is incredibly short and we never know when it will end.

Two weeks ago, Frank and Brigitte were driving to Costco, a regular Saturday morning. As Frank looked ahead, he suddenly saw a car out of control heading straight at them at break neck speed. “Gina, hold on, we’re gonna roll.” To avoid the head on collision, he swerved and the car flipped down the embankment.

When the paramedics came with jaws of life, they expected to find two lifeless bodies. No one could survive such a devastating crash.

Miraculously, Frank and Brigette were standing beside their 1950 Oldsmobile Ricket 88 completely unharmed.

The officer said if it hadn’t been made of solid steel (and if the both hadn’t been in such excellent physical shape), they would have gone through the windshield and been nothing more than a statistic.

What’s even more impressive? One year ago, I visited Frank in his home and he was bedridden, slowly recovering from an extremely difficult surgery. This is one of the most amazing couples I’ve ever met. Their love for each other, their work ethic, and their faith make them a living miracle, and a treasure.

Never give up, never surrender. As Winnie the Pooh said famously:

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Keep squeezing the juice out of life and look for ways to help others!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 10 organizations that offer 50 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Are you Type 3?

Happy Veterans Day,

May this note find you in great health during the madness of the Medicare Annual Election Period. Book a time here if we still need to speak.

Despite all the noise out there distracting everybody, we have so many reasons to give thanks for all those who have served and continue to serve our great nation.

Airman Nicholas doesn’t fly these bad boys. He works on the equipment that makes sure they are able to take off and land safely. He just returned from deployment in a hot spot back to his base in the UK.

He and his buddies were so excited to be photographed inside the aircraft they help keep in the skies. I sure hope you find a way to honor a Veteran in your life.

This is my busiest time of the year, but no matter what, I force myself to get outside every single day to stay grounded. I met retired cross country coach Lori on the trails behind our house.

Such an impressive woman because she never stops. Lori said she doesn’t run as much as she used to and she gives herself permission to walk for parts of her run.

Adapt, modify, improvise, that’s one of the secrets to aging well.

One of the things I absolutely had to do between client calls was to prep the bee hives for winter: ten pounds of sugar, two cups of water, and a couple of pollen paddies for good measure. The hole on top allows air to circulate through the hive.

Of course, like an idiot, I didn’t quite get the neck of my suit completely zipped. This was going to be a fun video, instead I got a Darwin award running away and about 20 bee stings. Thank goodness I’m not allergic.

Wish I had the patience and the knowledge of client Phil in Ohio, teaching his grand varmint how to capture a swarm of bees.

Life’s great joy is interacting with the young’uns. Are you finding ways to connect with young people? That’s another secret to aging well.

Of course the greatest reward of keeping bees, is honey. Congrats to Jo, Anju, Melissa, and Rosemary for correctly naming the movie and the characters our daughter and her friends dressed as for Halloween. Your honey is on the way!

We visited Sus this weekend in Fort Collins and also dropped off honey to a couple of clients. It’s always fun to see people face to face.

Honey is healthier than sugar, no doubt, but it also needs to be consumed in moderation. The topic of sugar got me reading up about diabetes.

What’s more, did you know that Alzheimer’s is sometimes referred to as Type 3 Diabetes?

While Alzheimer’s may not involve elevated blood sugar levels like traditional diabetes, research has uncovered compelling links between insulin resistance and the development of Alzheimer’s.

This emerging concept suggests that the brain’s impaired ability to respond to insulin may contribute to the accumulation of toxic proteins and inflammation, ultimately leading to cognitive decline.

Understanding Alzheimer’s as Type 3 Diabetes highlights the importance of lifestyle choices and proactive measures to protect brain health.

Eat healthy foods.
Stay active.
Manage stress.
Get enough sleep.
Keep your mind busy.
Watch your weight.
Stay social.

These steps can help protect your brain from Alzheimer’s (Type 3 Diabetes).

Of course, everything in moderation, right?

Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

As a novice to navigating the Medicare system, I cannot recommend the services of Karl enough. His knowledge has saved my wife and I a lot of money, both on the Medicare supplement insurance and the drug coverage. Costs you nothing to listen and has saved up thousands of dollars over time.
– Robert B

Happy with my Service?
Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

How are you treating yourself!

Happy November!

May this blog find you in great health during the madness of the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP).

Alert, Alert⏰: If your insurance company calls you to suggest a “better plan” than your current one, warning Will Robinson, danger⚠️!

Having an Independent Medicare Insurance Broker means you don’t have to settle for a single carrier sneaking in and trying to railroad you into their plan. You and I can shop all the different carriers if you have questions. Don’t be bamboozled!

Book a time here if you need me because we have till December 7th.

Plato hopes you and your family had a fun Halloween. Ours was a little colder than expected, plus some of the white stuff.

Q delegated wrapping operations from inside the house. Plato and I did our best to protect this tree from the cold and the deer. As you can see, he looks pretty comfortable in the snow.

Sunday night was all about carving pumpkins, roasting seeds, and eating treats. Wine may have been involved and the names were changed to protect the innocent.

Daughter Sus and her pals in northern Colorado had a great time celebrating the holiday. I’m sending our honey to the first three who identify the characters and the movie they represented. Bee prompt.

Congrats to Gail in Ohio for winning honey last week! She’s the only one who jumped in the leaves. Good on you Gail. Keep an eye out for a Starbucks card as well!

Technically, Bryan didn’t follow the directions to take a selfie in the leaves, but this picture wins the award for cuteness, right? Bryan, the honey is on the way.

The holidays have me thinking a lot about food and what’s ahead.

A recent news report estimated that starting from age 19, individuals experience a gradual decrease in calorie requirements, which becomes more evident in the 60s, leading either to possible weight gain or to a reduced appetite.

Aging also results in muscle loss, increased fat, brain shrinkage, and decreased physical activity, all contributing to fewer calories burned.

It’s hard for me to believe this is true when I meet someone like John, a veteran who is still working, laughing, and living well, but I guess it applies to all of us. It helps to be mindful of how we eat.

As calorie needs decrease, older adults require more nutrients like calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin D, and protein.

Focusing on nutrient-dense foods becomes essential, with less room for treats. A multivitamin supplement can help fill gaps, but maintaining a balanced diet is crucial for health.

I had a fun surprise Monday night when my 7pm phone appointment with Helen turned into a face to face at our house with Dave, Kate, and Helen. Flexibility is the secret to good living. It was a pleasure getting to know these folks who live just minutes away.

The door is always open, just be sure to give us 15 minutes warning so Quantz can hide upstairs!

If you’re a regular reader, you know I just returned from a high school reunion in the Shenandoah Valley. Growing up in a Mennonite community, the joke always was:

Mennonites don’t have sex standing up because they are afraid it’ll lead to dancing.

Of course social mores have loosened up (see the beer glasses below) but thank goodness, the friendships remain. You can see four of the six below from the picture above and we hung out with the other two as well. As we used to sing, “may the circle be unbroken.”

I sure give thanks for these guys!

One of the joys of returning to where you grew up are the memories that return. My brothers pulled out these old pics of us playing speed chess with our late dad.

Dad would sometimes play us blindfolded and shout out the moves from the living room. He was rated just short of a Master and actually played Bobby Fisher once in New York when we were kids (so the story goes).

None of us excelled to his level but every time we visited, the board would come out and the games would begin. See how his hand is raised in the picture above and below? Even though the second game wasn’t a speed chess game with a clock, at 84 he was still in competitive form, ready to slap the timer.

Our best hope of winning was only if he spotted us a piece and a couple of cocktails.

I couldn’t count the thousands of games we played, but what a pleasure to be playing and honoring our father whenever we get together on the chessboards we played on with him.

Please share your family’s rituals, the ones you want to pass on and gift them to the next generation. You will be glad you did!

My amazing wife Q has only two speeds, on or on. She’s been home a week, caught up on the house, and now she’s volunteering again for the Sherriff’s department. Mostly phone calls and clerical, but keep an eye out for her on election day, keeping the peace at a voter station near you.

So get out there and vote, be a great citizen and THANK your neighbor for having a different set of beliefs than you do. That’s what makes America amazing!

“There is no them, there is only us!”

Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Happy with my Service?
Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Are you ready for the final flight?

May this blog post find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly 😊.

Just in case your phone isn’t illegally ringing off the hook, the Annual Election Period began last week and I keep hearing all the bogus call centers are bugging the snot out of everybody.

Remember to book a time here if we need to talk or update your Medicare insurance coverage or if your friends and family need help. If everything is working fine, ignore the noise.

Remember: anyone who calls YOU about Medicare without permission is BREAKING THE LAW. Ask for their insurance license number and watch them disappear 👿.

My little brother Haas and his buddies fulfilled a lifetime bucket list event: bird hunting in Saskatoon, Canada. And though I’m not a hunter anymore, I was pretty dang impressed by their adventure.

Ten friends, two dogs, 2,300 decoys, plus gear, traveled 5,300 miles to Saskatoon, Canada to do what they love doing.

For six days, they got up early, scouted terrain, set up decoys, coordinated plans and had the adventure of their lives.

You can see it in their smiles… the joy and the happiness that comes from doing things that are meaningful for you. What are you waiting for?

Last weekend, I travelled to the Shenandoah Valley and paid my respects at the wake of a friend.

Jann was one of those people everyone loved. She was kind, compassionate, delightful, and the person who always lit up the room just by showing up.

Friends and family shared memories and listened to her favorite songs. We told stories, shared drinks, savored delicious marzipan cupcakes and remembered Jann with love, laughter, and tears. It was a beautiful afternoon.

Most of us don’t know when we’re going to die, but we do know it is going to happen, so do your family a favor…be prepared. Don’t leave them in the lurch.

Create a will and designate beneficiaries.
Complete Power of Attorney and Medical Power of Attorney.
Organize your important documents and have passwords and logons in a file.
Manage your debts and make sure your family knows how to handle them.
Write down and discuss your funeral and burial plans.
Talk openly with your family about your end of life plans.
Write down your personal wishes and important information.

This list is not all inclusive but it’s a start. Here’s a link that may be helpful.

Every time I lose a friend, a family member or a client, I try to remember that Latin phrase, memento mori, meaning…

“Remember you must die.” The lives we are given pass so quickly it’s helpful to use these encounters to move us forward, to keep us focused on what remains, what can be done, what we still have the passion to do.

Five years ago this summer, my older brother severed his spinal cord in a biking accident. How easy it would have been for him to have defined his life by this event.

Instead, Robert chose to use this brush with death and adversity as wake up call to continue living, and living well, living a life of service, as a physician and a mentor, and a life of activity.

Never pretend life is easy, but it is an adventure, a combination of the hand we are dealt and how we choose to play the cards. Play with intention and choose your partners wisely.

Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Watch out for dentists under 30!

Happy October!

May this note find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly 😊.

Are you enjoying the autumn weather? The Annual Election Period begins tomorrow, October 15th! Book a time here if we need to talk. If you’re happy and all is well with your coverage, ignore the noise.

Remember: anyone who calls YOU about Medicare without permission is BREAKING THE LAW. Ask for their insurance license number and watch them disappear 👿.

Last week, Jason and I hung out with our buddy Carry the dentist and played a game called Padel, similar to Pickleball but kind of like squash. It was great fun, but the interesting part was the conversation afterwards.

Carry said many younger dentists can sometimes be a little too aggressive in looking for issues to address in the mouths of their clients. Watch out for dentists under 30!

Any time a healthcare provider recommends significant work (or a major procedure), it makes sense to get a second opinion.

As I speak with clients from all over the country, it’s amazing to me how many go overseas to have their dental work completed. It’s usually a fraction of the cost and you get to see a new place.

Remember to do your due diligence, but it’s definitely something to consider.

Here are a couple of dental plans we’ve added for review:

None of them are perfect, (and I do have others) but sometimes they can be helpful.

My big brother Robert and his wife Nancy sent this picture from upstate New York, searching out pumpkins in Amish country. Robert continues to practice medicine, travel, mentor Medical students, play pickleball and stay well engaged with life. He is my role model for living a life of service and living well.

But if you want to know what really makes him happy⬇️ …

Of course I’m being redundant, but I cannot overstate the importance of human connections. People, that’s why we are here. The more we connect, the happier we will be and the healthier we will be.

Bayne and his wife Tami got the message and connected with 45,000 Braves fan. He texted me this picture in the bottom of the 8th inning after the Braves pulled it out, how fun was that!

Don’t worry, I found a way to celebrate remotely and show my solidarity! Next time you have a great experience, text a friend and share it! Better yet, send it to me and I’ll share it with a thousand of my closest friends!

If you are curious about my amazing wife, Quantz, here she is below.

See this lad below? His name is Zach Demesa and I coached him in soccer when he was a much younger lad. On Saturday, 10/21/23, he’ll be dotting the Ohio “I” for the Ohio State Marching Band when they play Penn State. Look for him at half time. It is the ULTIMATE Buckeye honor (apologies to Michigan and all the other Big 10 Teams).

Remember, there is no them… there is only us!

Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

This could make all the difference in the world!

May this note find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly 😊. The Annual Election Period begins October 1st.

Remember: anyone who calls to inquire about your Medicare coverage is breaking the law unless you have explicitly given them permission.

Ask for their name and their insurance license number and watch the bad guys disappear 👿. Consider getting the Robokiller App on your phone.

Book a time on my calendar if we need to review your coverage. That’s why I’m here.

Plato promises to be sleeping at my feet at all times if he can be of service 🐶😉.

Do you remember ever being this young? The center youth is Caleb, my best friend’s son, pictured here at his wedding surrounded by his best men. Hard not to smile at their enthusiastic joy. It’s contagious, right?

I wish you could meet him. He’s an honorable young man, out of school, freshly married, and ready to take on the world. Of course his world is not without significant challenges, but there is a sense of optimism that pervades the lives of the young.

It makes me smile just to look at the picture 😊.

And that’s the point. “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” How do we keep that fresh set of eyes busy seeing all the wonder and the beauty instead of noticing only the darkness?

In The Power of Awe: Overcome Burnout and Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity and Purpose—in Less Than 1 Minute Per Day, according to the authors, microdosing on awe (not mushrooms🍄) means taking small moments to feel amazed by things around us.

When Joe and Becky return from vacation, they can take time to look at their pictures and literally recreate the joy they felt in a past adventure.

Studies have shown that spending time in nature, watching a sunset or looking at stars, listening to powerful music, or reading a touching story can improve mood, lower chronic pain levels, and even reduce depression.

And don’t underestimate the power of low stakes friendships.

When I biked by Bob and Sue’s house, they invited me onto the porch and we got to catch up on life in the neighborhood and their last day trip up to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Of course, if you add a loveable dog like Rudy, a few minutes of great conversation, and a glass of wine, it’s really easy to get into a state of awe🍷.

Looking at pictures of kids (or friends) when they were little (and now that they’re grown) can flood the body with endorphins and actually make you healthier and happier. Just 15 seconds of awe a few times a day can make a huge difference.

We can focus on the the bee sting 🐝 (cause I definitely got stung) or the honey 🍯, but focusing on the honey certainly makes life sweeter! Send us your awesome 📷 pics.

Congrats to Ilene in Ohio and John in Missouri for guessing where my wife Quantz was in last week’s picture: Malta. (There may have been one other winner I missed, so let me know if missed you and I will reward you). Starbucks cards are on the way☕.

While I’m happy to be home with Plato working on your Medicare options, Q is still on the road making up for thirty years of corporate prison, twelve hours a day, six days a week. It warms my ❤️knowing she is living her best life. I think she’s coming back, right Q 🙏?

Starbucks cards to the first five who figure out which city in Italy Q’s visiting or the country she plans to visit next ❓❓❓

Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

Did your Medicare account get breached?

May this blog post find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly 😊.

Just a few weeks till the Annual Election Period. Remember that anyone who calls you to inquire about your Medicare coverage is breaking the law unless you have explicitly given them permission.

If anyone calls you about Medicare, ask for their name and insurance license number and watch the bad guys disappear 👿.

Book a time on my calendar if we need to review your coverage. That’s why I’m here.

See the rainbow on Plato’s head?

The big galoot is happy I’m home in Colorado. Thanks to our daughter Sus for taking care of him.

Quantz is still on the road exploring. I’m sending Starbucks cards to the first five people who guess where she is ☕️. Hint: It has lots of forts and lots of steps.

I came home early to get ready for the busy season which begins on October 15th. Plus, it’s just easier to work from home.

The biggest surprise I’ve seen is that Medicare got hacked, Did you see the news? On May 30th, over 600,000 records were compromised… names, Social Security numbers, Medicare Numbers and more 😤 – not cool at all.

If your Medicare number was taken, you should have received a letter from CMS and a new Medicare number. Be sure to update your doctors, your insurance company (and me ) if you were notified of the breach.

Regardless, it’s always a good idea to check your credit at least once a year to see if anyone got hold of your information. You can request a free credit report by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com or calling 877-322-8228. Here’s the full article on the breach just in case your interested.

So proud of my buddy, cowboy poet Dirk Weisiger, for completing this epic adventure in the Alps. A lot of you folks have been telling me about your adventures, but we need more pictures, please 😊.

Thanks to client Bill for sharing his wife’s accomplishment. Artist Kathleen Crocetti won the “Best in Show” Mosaic Award at the Mosaic & Glass Arts International Festival.

She is going to receive her award in Buffalo and then Bill is retiring and they are off to explore the mosaics in Italy. “Congratulazioni e buon viaggio✈️!”

I’m getting hungry looking at these crabs Mike pulled up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. You can’t get those in Colorado.

Buckeye David always posts the funniest stuff. It’s good to stay up to date, but more importantly…

Did you know Silver Sneakers is offering tuition dollars for college coursework? You can use the money yourself or gift it to your grandkids. Here are the details.

So while Quantz is out exploring, please know that I’m here and ready to help you with all things Medicare. That’s a promise!

Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.

Any skeletons in the closet?

May this blog find you in great health this Labor Day Weekend with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

I hope you and your family survived the hurricane. Just spoke with clients in Sarasota. They said they are hurricane vets and escaped the worst A-OK. I’m still waiting to hear from clients in Georgia and the Carolinas. Let us know how things are going.

This little elf reminds me that in less than four weeks, I’ll be in the midst of our busiest season, the Annual Election Period when folks can make changes to their Medicare coverage.

In the next few weeks, you should be getting copies of your plan’s “Annual Notice of Changes,” for your Part D drug plan or your Medicare Advantage Plan. Be sure to give it the once over and book a time on my calendar if we need to talk.

Right now, we are in Wroclaw, Poland, formerly called Breslau, Germany. I am fulfilling the dream of a lifetime: visiting the city where my father was born before he and his family escaped Europe.

They left in August of 1939 on the last free sailing of the Queen Mary, just days before Hitler invaded Poland and World War II began. My dad’s family was half Jewish and half Gentile so you can imagine how strange things were for everyone.

Some chose to leave, some chose to stay. Some died in the camps, some survived.

My father never spoke about these things (he was just a boy) and he never even told my mom. I only learned about his family history when my mother visited a Gentile uncle of his in Germany when I was in college.

What a surprise to discover a whole family history we knew nothing about.

After visiting one of the museums, I used Google Translate to ask if they had any information about my namesake, Karl Masner, my great grandfather, who had been a museum director in the city.

Amazingly, his portrait is hung in that very museum, with the same red hair of my father. What a story for future generations.

We came to Poland to visit our Air Force son. It was such a joy to see him and to share these new discoveries of our family history.

The stories that make up your family’s history are more than just tales to be recounted at reunions; they’re the legacy you’ll leave for your grandchildren and generations to come.

In today’s digital age, there are many ways to record your family’s lineage, stories, and traditions, so they don’t get lost in the sands of time.

• Virtual Family History Tours
Using map software or online resources, create a virtual tour of places significant to your family history. Share the tour with family members during online gatherings.

• Time Capsule Project
Create a family time capsule filled with mementos, letters, and keepsakes. Decide on a future date for the capsule to be opened by your grandchildren or later generations.

Other things to consider:

• Annual Family Story Night
Host an annual family “Story Night” where each member shares a story or memory about the family. Record these sessions for future listening.

• Letters to Grandchildren
Write letters to your grandchildren at various stages of their life — like upon high school graduation, getting married, or having their first child. Save these letters in a special box for them to open when the time comes.

Every week, I hear from clients who’ve lost someone they love, so do your best to preserve the memories that will have meaning for future generations.

Thanks to Adrienne for sending this amazing pic of her mom…95 and still going strong. Shirley lives in Independent living, plays duplicate bridge three days a week, bingo twice a week, plus Pokeno and Rummikub on the weekends. Shirley might just outlive us all.

Last week I reported of Elissa’s globetrotting adventures. This week, her hubby James wanted to make sure we knew that the two of them also have adventures together, recently exploring the great city of Savannah.

And finally, greetings from Puff and Buddy in the Low Country of South Carolina. We’re hoping they are doing well!

That’s it for this week; Keep squeezing the juice out of life!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

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Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

The Annual Election Period ended December 7th but …

May this blog post/newsletter find you in good health with your Medicare coverage working properly.

The Annual Election Period ended December 7th and Plato is ready to dance!

It was a pleasure to catch up with so many of you all over the country and I am excited to have a little down time.

Even though most of my teams are out of the World Cup, I’m having fun seeing some of the games now.

The Annual Election Period ended December 7th but … just remember, if you meant to book a time but didn’t, we can still review your coverage and put an action plan together for next year.

Don’t be like Georgia and hold it in (Georgia dug up and swallowed a mole). If you are having issues, please reach out.

The end of the year is always a perfect time to look back and consider opportunities to make small changes that can improve our lives and the lives of everyone we touch.

This article captures some of the bigger ways to live well but this quote below says it all:

We get smarter as we age, but if we are not careful, we get crankier. Our logical minds focus on everything that isn’t working well instead of the things that are working well.

I could get angry and blame the Air Force for cancelling our son’s vacation or…

I could give thanks that one of our former exchange students surprised us with a visit from Mexico. Santiago just finished his fall semester at the University of Puebla studying business.

Having him around has been great fun: playing ping pong (now he beats me), hiking and maybe skiing next week. I’m doing my best to keep up and Q is making sure Santi eats like a king (which means the house is filled with good stuff she would only get to spoil our kids.)

The static wall sit is the only thing I’ve beat him at so far!

The purpose of this newsletter is to helps us stay in touch and to inspire each of you to live your own best life. You don’t need to read it every week, just know it’s here so you can get a hold of me when you need me.

I’m constantly inspired by my brother Robert. He severed his spinal cord four years ago, but instead of defining him, this event has been a catalyst for growth. I will not minimize how challenging it has been, but Robert still practices medicine and is more connected to his patients and life as a result of this experience. He continues to push himself mentally, physically and spiritually.

He is my role model. This is him on the beach of Lake Erie over Thanksgiving.

As we continue into the holidays, look for joy and adventure in every encounter. It’s not what happens to us but… how we choose to respond.

Have a great week, be safe, and call me if you need me.

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-two states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.

Annual Election Period Ends Soon

Plato is channeling how yours truly feels during the Annual Election Period which ends soon.

If you’ve already updated your Medicare coverage (or you are happy) you don’t need to do anything, but…

If you are a procrastinator, the end is near for making changes so book a time on my calendar.

It’s been a delight catching up with so many of you and updating hundreds of plans. Most people don’t change, but some do.

I’ve added extra hours so I’ll do my best to squeeze everyone in! You can see my motto below.

This week, I read a fascinating article on Alzheimer’s. Many people believe if you are diagnosed, there’s nothing you can do, but this isn’t true! Studies have shown that identical twins with the same Alzheimer’s diagnosis had vastly different outcomes if they were proactive in their approach. Puzzles, diet, exercise and engagement with others make a huge difference.

It is amazing that Alzheimer’s can be slowed down and the same is true of Parkinson’s. It’s amazing how much we can affect our own lives and the lives of others with small actions.

We celebrated Q’s birthday yesterday. I am the luckiest guy on the planet, even after 34 years, I give thanks for this amazing woman. We’ll celebrate after the busy season ends on Wednesday.

And I’m going to feel like this!

I’ll be super happy when I’ve taken care of every one of you!

In the meantime, feel free to forward this blog post/newsletter to friends and family with Medicare questions! Referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Have a great week, be safe, and call me if you need me.

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here