Greetings and may this note find you in amazing health with your Medicare insurance coverage working properly.
For Medicare questions, quotes, or quandaries, email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar and we’ll get it sorted.
The country of Georgia is the birthplace of wine 🍾 and this wine jar is 8,000 years old, making it the oldest known wine jar in the world.
You may want to grab a glass of 🍷, a seat, and a notepad before we talk about today’s topic.
As a Certified Senior Advisor who helps consumers shop for Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage Plans, and other types of insurance coverage, I have a fiduciary responsibility to help you avoid irreversible mistakes.
Earlier this week, the breach of National Public Data was reported. Hackers potentially accessed the personal information of millions, including Social Security numbers 😱.
While the details are still murky, one thing is clear: we need to stay vigilant about protecting our credit and personal information.
Now before you follow Frank Sinatra’s advice about a second glass below, here are some practical ideas on how to protect your data and how to make sure this breach doesn’t cause you a financial hangover 😵💫💸.
First off, take a deep breath 😮💨🧘♂️.
Not every piece of stolen data gets used. Sometimes, it just sits in the hands of thieves who don’t know what to do with it. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Here’s something you can do immediately to protect your finances.
Freeze Your Credit
One of the best defenses against identity theft is to freeze your credit with the big three credit reporting agencies:
Equifax: Visit www.equifax.com or call 1-800-685-1111.
Experian: Go to www.experian.com or call 1-888-397-3742.
TransUnion: Access www.transunion.com or call 1-888-909-8872.
Each website provides detailed instructions for managing your credit, including how to freeze or unfreeze your credit reports.
This stops anyone from opening new accounts in your name without your permission. Just don’t forget your PINs for thawing your credit when you need to open a new account!
(We met Donnie and Linda in Tbilisi, Georgia on the last day of their trip. Their daughter and her new husband had their wedding in the mountains of Georgia, near Russia. These two are adventurous!)
Additional Steps to Protect Yourself
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security to your online accounts.
Set Up Account Alerts: Keep tabs on any suspicious activity by setting alerts for charges outside your home country or transactions over a certain amount.
Watch Out for Phishing Scams: If you get an alert, avoid clicking links or calling numbers provided. Instead, log into your account directly to check for issues.
It’s a bit of a hassle, but it may be worth the peace of mind.
Commercial Tools to Consider
If you want even more protection, consider investing in tools like:
Identity Theft Protection Services (e.g., LifeLock, IdentityForce) that offer monitoring and recovery services.
Credit Monitoring Services (e.g., Credit Karma, Experian) to keep an eye on your credit report for any unusual activity.
Just like Q’s salad, you don’t have to take these steps, but they are options 😂.
While we can’t always prevent these breaches, we can make it as difficult as possible for thieves to mess with our lives.
The key to life is NOT what happens to us but how we choose to respond. Be like Becky and go pick some blueberries in Michigan. They are great for the brain and being outside is good for the soul.
My brother’s neighbor adopted a pair of orphaned opossums. Hopefully my wife Q doesn’t volunteer to rescue them. Our dog Plato would be totally jealous.
We had wonderful adventure this summer exploring the world, but yours truly is ready to get home. The Annual Election Period is now eight weeks away and I have to get ready for the Medicare madness 🤪.
Based on my certification trainings, there may be significant changes to Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans for 2025. Keep an eye out for the “Annual Notice of Changes” you should be receiving in late September.
If you’ve had changes in medications or your doctors, please update them with Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com. That way, we’ll be ready if we need to review your coverage in the fall.
I can’t wait to get home, but Q, the love of my life, isn’t quite ready. She still has to make up for her thirty years of corporate slavery. Georgia was her 79th country. That’s why she said “goodbye” to me on Monday .
Bet you can’t guess where she’s goin’ next?
The first five people who guess right get a Starbucks card☕(hint: they have lousy Wi-Fi so I couldn’t go!). You can guess up to three countries to make it easier! I’ll be at home playing with Plato and my bees❤️. Let me know if you need me.
And do keep squeezing the juice out of life and look for ways to help others!
If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.
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Medicare questions or problems?
Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.
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 thirty states around the country, including:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
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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.
