Medicare Annual Election Period Archives

Think before you speak!

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

Thank goodness the Annual Election Period (AEP) is over. I am so grateful to have connected with so many of you over the past three months, but I have to confess…

Plato and I celebrated when things finally finished. Don’t worry if we didn’t speak during AEP.

Book a time on my calendar if we need to catch up.

Our rock climbing daughter Sus came down from Fort Collins to help decorate the tree (you know I’m not going up that ladder). Max helped us cut and decorate the tree (he’s a climber too).

The tree only fell twice (I’m guilty as charged) and they did manage to bolt it to the wall … live and learn, right?

Plato’s been loving the season, mainly because Q got him an Advent Calendar filled with treats – wait for it!!!

Now that things have calmed down with Medicare, I’m taking care of all those things you should be taking care of. I checked in with my Eye Doctor, Dr. Jacobs. My glasses are up to date, check!

I visited Erin at Costco and updated my hearing aids, check! I also made an appointment to get my teeth cleaned.

Remember, if you have an Advantage plan, the benefits don’t roll over into the new calendar year so be sure to use any benefits before they go away

It’s been great to get back out for longer walks so Plato can check in with all his friends and all our amazing neighbors. Checking in with friends just makes you feel better.

Client Cinda and her husband Brad hosted the annual Sherriff’s Department’s volunteer appreciation dinner (where Q volunteers). It was so much fun to meet all the different volunteers and to meet the Sherriff of Douglas County. Don’t worry, I really was on my best behavior. Too bad they weren’t passing out “Get out of Jail free” cards. Maybe next year.

Arizona residents Jay and Tina took time earlier this month to explore some of our amazing National Parks, including Antelope Canyon. It’s still on our bucket list of places to see.

Thanks to Rose for sending this, do you know about the four agreements?

It is such a helpful reminder, great rules to live by and especially helpful when we spend time with friends and family.

Yours truly, broke number three over Thanksgiving with friends and had to ask for forgiveness. Fortunately my friends have big hearts and they did forgive me. Let’s all do our best to be impeccable with our words, to not take anything personally, to not make assumptions, and to always do our best.

All we can do is try.

One of the best ways to make these holidays even more meaningful is to reach out and reconnect with the important people in our lives.

I first met Marcos 40 years ago as student in Bolivia. Now he’s an engineer in Chicago.

We stay in touch but we hadn’t spoken in months so I just called him on the fly.

Turns out he was back in Bolivia visiting family and we had a delightful time face timing and reminiscing on all our old adventures, good for the heart, good for the soul.

Feed your soul, help others, laugh as much as you can, forgive everyone, do your best, enjoy the holiday the lights, and remember that life is short, even if we live to be a hundred, it’ll be gone in the blink of an eye.

All we have is this day, this moment, this one chance to live well, to love others, and to learn. Take nothing for granted and do your best. Plato is counting on you!

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.

“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”

“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family …

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

Plato and I are batching it this holiday weekend while Q is in the Low Country with her siblings and her dad. Does this look like party time in America? We are smoking turkeys and living large!

Are you still ignoring the Call Center propaganda? The big corporations are happy to switch you, but when it comes to customer service, good luck in the Philippines when they mess things up!

Always deal with an individual, never a corporate vacuum. Use the same person year after year, even if it’s me 😊.

If you need to make a change, Book a time here or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com and he’ll squeeze you on to my calendar. If you are happy, mute the commercial.

I took a few calls this morning to make sure I’m staying caught up. I love hearing what people are preparing. Sean always deep fries his birds and they look amazing.

Plato and I tried a different tack this year, spatchcocking the bird, then cutting it in half. We then injected it, covered it in spices, vacuum sealed it, and then sous vided, cooking it in a water bath at 140F for five hours. We then threw it in ice water and smoked it. It turned into a bigger job than I expected, but it was fun to try something new.

We’ll see what the neighbors say when I bring it over. Keep your fingers crossed, but it won’t be for lack of effort.

I love this poem because it captures the essence of aging (and cooking turkeys), don’t go quietly.

When things do not go our way, it’s too easy to give up, to blame others, to feel sorry for ourselves, to find an excuse instead of moving forward. This brings us to the topic of loneliness and the steps we can take to minimize it.

According to this article, the simple act of saying hello to strangers can have a huge impact on wellness and happiness.

I said hello to Tony while walking on the Bluffs and we ended up having an incredible conversation. I never would have known the obstacles he has overcome and continues to battle if I hadn’t reached out to make the connection. This dude has incredible fortitude.

Saying hello to clients daily and reconnecting year after year is the most meaningful part of my job. This morning, I learned the story of Clara Belle, Mary Beth’s adorable dog.

“I rescued her off the highway where I saw her running along. I turned the car around and opened up my car door and she jumped right in. I put ads on Facebook and Next Door but never received any responses. She had no chip and hadn’t been spayed. After a trip to the vet and the groomer she has become such a delightful friend. God definitely does work in mysterious ways!”

Never underestimate the power of a kind word or kind act. Small acts can change the world.

Of course big acts like Boris the Mastiff, dressed as a beanie baby, warm hearts equally.

I’m guessing Annette and Mark had lots of hellos from strangers when they took this 200 pound bundle of love out to trick or treat.

Here’s the bottom line:

Many of you know our house is empty of guests and exchange students for the first time since we married.

This week, my Buckeye buddy David reached out and told me of a youngun who needed a place to live… with his dog. I must be getting old because my first reaction was “OMG, that’s all we need is two dogs in the house.” I was becoming curmudgeonly.

I told David I’d get back to him in a week or so after I spoke with Q.

I called Quantz and she immediately reframed the situation, “so we’ll set expectations and we’ll make it work, besides, it’s not like Plato doesn’t destroy things from time to time, it’s only stuff.”

My reflex had been to say no, not yes. Thank goodness I married up. Instead of waiting a week, I called the Max Thanksgiving morning and told him he was welcome in our home.

Of course it’ll require adaption, of course it won’t be perfect, of course Plato will be jealous, of course it was the best thing we could have done.

Say hello to strangers, they won’t be strangers for long and you won’t be lonely.

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

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

Service Makes Us Smile!

May this note find you well and giving thanks in these times of uncertainty.

The Medicare Annual Election Period has ended and things are finally calming down.

It’s nice to have some down time and to prepare for the new year.

While with my brother at an outdoor Christmas Market a few days ago, we heard an old friend complain about how annoying the Christmas Season has become.

“I can’t believe how early they start playing carols, right after Halloween! It’s awful. And the commercialization? It’s so depressing. What’s the point of even celebrating anymore?”

Life is about perspective.

Now the person who made these comments is actually a fairly remarkable, kind and giving person.

But her frustration was coming from where she was putting her focus.

No doubt the holidays are more commercialized than ever. The commercials are certainly louder.

But focusing on the things that are wrong instead of the things that are right is a habit that began time out of mind.

It was necessary when we walked the savannahs staying away from predators, but less important in the suburbs.

So, if you find yourself in a state of frustration or grief at the way things are, be it with your family, your life or the holidays, try this…

Do something nice for someone else.

Volunteering, good deeds and kindness are the salves that heal us and everyone who is touched by them.

Cook dinner for a friend.

Volunteer at a shelter.

Help a shut in with errands.

Forgive an acquaintance who did you wrong and start fresh.

Little gifts over a long period of time will improve your health and your happiness.

Here’s an article with the science on why giving is good for you.

Let me know how it works for you.

And if you have questions about Medicare Insurance…

Book a time on my calendar here.

How a Public Adjuster can save your bacon$!

I hope this note finds you in great health and excellent spirits in these times of fire, hurricanes and madness. Are you finding ways to take care of yourself and family?

Even though my focus is Medicare Insurance and helping consumers shop for coverage, I am always looking for ways to help people save money and protect themselves from risk.

Speaking of fire and hurricanes, thanks to Rob, a pilot in Texas. He explained to me how to make certain you don’t get ripped off by your insurance company the next time something happens to your house or your property.

Click on the link and give it a listen.

Until my conversation with Rob, I had never even heard of a Public Adjuster. Their role can vary depending on the state you live in. And even though most Property and Casualty Insurance companies are honorable and easy to work with, some insurance companies will try to wear you down and underpay if they think that they can get away with it.

If it makes sense, a licensed Public Adjuster can be your advocate to make certain you and your family are made whole after a catastrophic event. Rob said that hiring one in Texas made the insurance company pay out thousands more. So read this article by clicking this link and learn how to protect yourself and your family.

The Medicare Annual Election Period is coming fast, October 1^st. Your plan benefits for 2021 will be arriving then and you can read about what’s going to change. Interesting stuff is coming down the pike, so keep an eye out. We can make changes from October 15^th to December 7^th.

So tell your friends and family to call or book a time on my calendar below. Referrals are the lifeblood of my business so let me know who I can help.

And most important, send me pictures of your critters for the newsletter, that’s what I love.

Stay safe, do a good deed for a stranger, and let’s talk soon!

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.

There is no them, there is only us!

I hope this note finds you in great health and excellent spirit, despite the madness of the times. This joke I heard sums it up this year:

A guy walks into a bar in New Orleans and says, “Give me two Hurricanes and a Corona.”

The bartender responds, “That’ll be $20.20!”

Many of you know my wife and I have been exploring the Northwest to celebrate her retirement and loving it. We’ve had some amazing adventures and also some very strange encounters.

Click on the video picture below and hear what I learned that truly gives me hope.

May we remember there is no them, there is only us. Time and time again, I have watched strangers perform incredible acts of kindness, helping to repair cars, sharing food, donating time and money and doing good deeds.

Do not be fooled by stories of the extreme that are designed to polarize, divide and conquer us. When Americans connect with each other, face to face, one on one, we show compassion, we forgive imperfections and we accept differences. Differences are the fabric that makes our nation great, Epluribus Unum, out of many, one. This is not an easy motto to live by but it sure is a great one.

The Medicare Annual Election Period is seven weeks away. How is your plan working? Are you happy? Do we need to make changes? If so let me know and remind your friends to check in with me.