Medicare Insurance Broker Archives

Do you really need to take a statin?

Greetings and may this blog find you in great health with your Medicare insurance coverage working properly.

Remember, if there’s a big problem with your coverage, please book a time on my calendar. If it’s a quick question, email Gray@TheBig65.com and we’ll do our best to get it sorted, promise ☎️.

Well, it’s a wet, windy day here in Colorado. Plato was in desperate need of a grooming session. Q said he was bringing in too much debris every time he went outside so off to the groomer he went.

I prefer him with long hair, but life’s all about compromises, right?

I’m not a big fan of going to the doctor (or the groomer), but I am a total believer in preventive medicine, stopping small problems from becoming big ones. Clip the hair before it becomes knotted, visit your primary before uncontrolled cholesterol sends you to the Emergency Room.

Today, let’s dig in on cholesterol and statins.

According to this article, roughly one in four Americans over the age of 40 are prescribed a statin to reduce cardiovascular disease.

Many patients hesitate to take statins due to potential side effects like muscle pain or diabetes risk, leading them to seek over-the-counter supplements like plant stanols/sterols, red yeast rice, niacin, fiber, and fish oils containing omega-3 fatty acids (see Jason’s freshly caught fish above).

Now you can live a healthy life, like my little brother Haas, and go out into the Shenandoah Valley and hunt your own Morel mushroom (just remember the leading cause of death to mushroom hunters is poisonous mushrooms). Morel mushrooms do have compounds that may reduce the oxidation of cholesterol. Sadly, mushrooms alone may not be enough.

Research indicates that while some supplements may slightly reduce cholesterol, they’re not as effective as statins and lack evidence in reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

A study in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that statins reduce LDL cholesterol by 38% on average, whereas the most effective supplement, red yeast rice, only reduced LDL by about 7%.

Of course, I still have a cognitive bias about raw honey. Some studies say it may slightly improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Regardless, be sure to have a heart to heart with your Primary Care provider.

You may remember that last week we split the hives and sent the Queens north to start new hives (this is done so that the existing hive doesn’t grow too big and swarm to a new location.) Once the Queen is removed, the hive gets busy creating Queen cells to produce a new Queen

I’m happy to report the hives are looking good and we should have new Queens shortly, We hope to have even more honey to share with clients this September, keep your fingers crossed! No prescription required.

I had to laugh at this picture of our Air Force son Nicholas from years gone by when he was still a twerpasaur. We’d been on a road trip somewhere in the Midwest when he picked up this moustache at some novelty store. He thought it was the coolest thing.

Fast forward eighteen years and Nicholas texts us this picture of himself working on the flightline at 3:00 AM on a US base in Britain, with the same dang moustache. No matter what you do, the young uns grow up and do what they gotta do.

Remember all of our soldiers in your prayers. They are working hard to protect our freedom.

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.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

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
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.

What doesn’t kill us …

Greetings and may this blog find you in great health 💪 with your Medicare insurance coverage working 🏥.

Problems, questions? Please shoot an email to Gray@TheBig65.com. If it’s serious, book a time on my calendar. We’ll do our best, promise 😊☎️.

Did you see the eclipse?

Plato and I didn’t see squat of the eclipse here in Colorado, but it did give him an excuse go next door and to say “hey” to Sally.

Meanwhile, Shava and I were out back checking the health of 60,000 of our dearest friends. The bees thrived this winter so we’re splitting the hives, sending the established queens to the country and making space for the new queens.

When you remove the Queen, the hive has to get their act together to produce a new Queen quickly. I so appreciate Beekeeper Shava’s guidance to make sure I don’t screw things up…with the hives, or elsewhere.

Fortunately, my Queen bee Quantz is fearless and she keeps me connected. Which brings us to today’s blog – watch out for loneliness.

Bees have a built-in community, but for us humans, loneliness is an epidemic. Left untreated, it can seriously harm our health.

Studies suggest loneliness can change how the brain and body respond to stress, rewards, and social cues, potentially leading to long-term health problems like dementia.

These are actionable steps we can take to combat loneliness:

• Ask for Help: Don’t be shy to reach out to friends when feeling lonely.

• Be Social: Join community events or groups to meet people.

• Get Moving: Exercise can boost your mood and is a chance to socialize.

• Think Positive: Try to see social situations in a good light.

• Seek Support: If loneliness feels overwhelming, consider talking to a professional.

• Stay Connected: Use calls or video chats to keep in touch with loved ones.

• Find Your Crowd: Look for groups that share your interests.

• Embrace New Friendships: Be open to making new friends wherever you go.

These are things my buddy Marcel did and it made a world of difference.

Marcel lost his partner of 45 years on April 8, 2022. This year, he decided to celebrate the memory of the passing by travelling from the Netherlands to the US (with a group of strangers) to see the eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Marcel’s group of Dutch & Belgians flew to Texas just to see the eclipse. Because of weather forecasts, they traveled over eight hundred miles through New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, finally to Conway, Arkansas to fulfill their goal.

Thank goodness they had a plan and their persistence was rewarded. It was only afterwards that Marcel told the group how he honored his spouse by coming for the eclipse. What a great way to celebrate a loss and to create new friendships and adventure.

I was proud of Marcel for getting out of his comfort zone and doing something new. Is there something new you can do to make your life better?

Colorado’s next full eclipse will occur in 2045. Marcel says he coming. Will you be here? If you stay connected to others, you’ll definitely increase your chances of attending.

How I do to stay connected? How about a beer with my buddy Gerry, but just one🍺😉, right? Everything in moderation, even moderation 😂.

Getting old ain’t for sissies, and sometimes we will feel like crying. Nothing wrong with that. But after we pick ourselves up, my goal is to be like Maddy. This is what her owner says:

“There’s no stick too big for Maddy.”

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

Refer a Friend

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

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

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
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:

Have a little heart

Greetings and may this blog find you in great health 💪 with your Medicare coverage 🏥 working properly. How was your week?

Any problems with your coverage? If so, book a time on my calendar or shoot an email to my admin Gray@TheBig65.com. Let us know 😊☎️.

Plato, Q and I had a quiet Easter Sunday at home in Colorado. Sometimes it’s just nice to relax, isn’t it?

We rose early and breakfasted at The Original Pancake House, our favorite national breakfast chain. Be sure to save up your statins if you order the apple pancakes and the bacon, but man oh man, it’s worth it, three meals from one order. I don’t like their coffee, but we love their pancakes.

Which brings us to today’s topic, heart health.

You don’t have to be a doctor to know that moderation is the secret to good living. Paying better attention to our health is an important part of aging well.

Here are some helpful ideas backed by studies to promote heart health.

Stay Active:

• Engage in regular physical activity tailored to your abilities. Even gentle exercises like walking, swimming, or yoga can significantly benefit heart health. How about polishing the silverware?

• According to a study published in the American Heart Association journal, regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease in older adults by 25%.

Manage Stress:

• Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or hobbies that bring joy and relaxation.

• A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that stress management techniques can lead to significant improvements in heart health among seniors.

Every time I bike the bluffs, I try to drop a rock on this cairn.

Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels:

• Regularly check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels as per your doctor’s recommendations.

• Research has shown that maintaining optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in older adults.

Stay Socially Connected:

• Maintain strong social connections with friends, family, and community groups. Social isolation has been associated with an elevated risk of heart disease and mortality. Tina and her sisters take a weekend trip together every year.

• According to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, seniors who actively engage in social activities have better heart health outcomes. For Luke and Carmen, that means travelling forty three hours from Virginia to Jakarta to spend time with their grandvarmints.

Get Sufficient Sleep:

• Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Poor sleep patterns have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues.

• A study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that older adults who consistently get enough sleep have healthier hearts compared to those who experience sleep disturbances.

Marcel just arrived in the US from the Netherlands to watch the Solar Eclipse. Will you get to see it?

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet:

• Embrace a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats like those found in nuts, seeds, and olive oil.

• Research from the American Heart Association suggests that adhering to a Mediterranean-style diet can lower the risk of heart disease among older individuals by up to 30%.

• My little brother Haas grows a lot of food on his farm in the Shenandoah Valley. This weekend, he’ll be hunting for Morell mushrooms, if the deer and the gobblers don’t get to them first.

Caring for your heart is a lifelong endeavor, and we can take proactive steps to safeguard our cardiovascular health. Remember, it’s never too late to prioritize your heart health!

As the famous saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Let’s start nurturing our hearts today for a healthier tomorrow.

Great news! Due to your responses, Exercise Physiologist and Registered Dietician Cate Reade has agreed to create a wellness webinar on balance for The Big 65. We’ll announce the dates next Saturday. See how excited my brother Rob is 😉😂.

Please email the questions or topics you’d like Cate to address.

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.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

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
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:

I messed up this week and I need some balance

Greetings and may this note find you in great health with your Medicare coverage working properly and Happy Easter Weekend.

I missed client Dan’s email a couple weeks back and I sure felt bad 😔. If you ever reach out and I don’t respond within 24 hours 😳…

Please call and leave a message, book a time on my calendar, or shoot an email to my admin Gray@TheBig65.com and he will hunt me down 😊☎️🔫.

This has been a busy week here at home finishing up the month of March. Plato is exhausted 🐶.

I had a wonderful catchup with client Rose and her Great Pyrenees Collie rescue, the amazing Max (of course he’s a Buckeye). She’s a retired nurse and I shared with her about a workshop I attended this week that could make a huge difference in all of our lives. So, please pay attention 🏫 ✏️.

Cate Reade is an Exercise Physiologist and a Registered Dietitian and the founder of MoveMor. This week she taught a class on “Why We Lose Balance and How We Fix It.”

Balance relies on the sensory systems of our eyes, our ears, and our joints. As we age, we often see those abilities diminish. The good news? Thanks to the brain’s remarkable neuroplasticity, we can strengthen our balance, our range of motion, and our cognitive skills with simple, short, repetitive exercises and training tools.

Loss of ankle and foot mobility play a huge part in the loss of balance. Cate shared simple exercise strategies.

• Take 5: Fix Your Foundation
• At Home Seated Exercises

During the workshop, she showed us how to strengthen feet, ankle, and leg muscles doing simple, seated exercises.

We know that it’s either use it or lose it for muscles, but I was amazed to learn that, according to third party studies, as little as 10 exercises of 10 repetitions for 10 minutes of seated exercise can greatly improve balance, and that means independence.

Cate teaches classes at our local wellness center and to groups across Denver. If you are inspired by her work, please let me know and I will arrange a free webinar if enough people are interested.

Balance classes, Yoga, Aerobics, and Strength Training will certainly make you healthier, but don’t forget about the greatest exercise of them all: Walking.

I met retired Geophysicist Stuart out with his Olympic dog, a hybrid Kangal Turkish Shepherd, bred with a South African Boerbol. This fellow can chase down and pin a coyote. He makes Plato look small. Hold on tight!

Longtime client Charles (and his lovely wife Phyllis) stay active in work, church and walking. The important thing – find an activity you enjoy and stay with it.

Client Becky shared this picture of her and her brother (both on the left) Easter Sunday where she grew up in Tioga, North Dakota. Were we ever that young?

By dog years, Plato is almost 63, but he still loves hanging out with the young’uns. I hope you do the same ❤️.

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

Refer a Friend

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

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

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
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:

What happens if the system breaks down?

Greetings and may this blog find you in great health 💪 with your Medicare coverage 🏥 working properly.

Please book a time on my calendar if you are having Medicare issues. Anyone on an Advantage plan has till the end of March to make a change if they are unhappy!

Are you getting through your taxes? It’s QuickBooks time here at home and Plato is not in the mood. He loves the sun and the snow.

Last weekend, the neighborhood looked like this.

Now the snow is mostly gone and we are definitely thinking Spring.

Of course we’re always one disruption away from a problem (weather, internet, health) so today, we need to talk about prescriptions and how to make sure you never run out.

Your grandmother had a well stocked pantry, just in case. Now we are spoiled by 24 hour convenience and Amazon so we are used to having less of everything on hand.

It may be time to build up reserves.

Earlier this year, hackers took over a major healthcare website and prevented physicians from being paid and some pharmacies from dispensing medications.

Many pharmacies were able to find work-around options, but some of my clients were in a tight spot.

Dr. Michael Rhodes recommends having an emergency supply of meds on hand, minimally three days worth, ideally 30 days worth and a disaster kit ready.

If you prepare, you’ll be like Jane and have no drama with your Llama.

“Ask your doctor for an additional prescription, explain what you’re doing and tell your doctor the meds will be going into storage,” says Dr. Rhodes. “Since many insurance companies will only cover a 30-day supply you may need to pay out of pocket. If your medication is very expensive, ask if there’s a generic substitute you could use in an emergency.”

Check out this article for additional ideas on how to have your emergency medicines ready, but the bottom line…bee 🐝 prepared 😂.

Then go have a cup of coffee☕ with the people you love. This is my old tribe in the Shenandoah Valley. I sure hope to see them again.

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.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

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
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

Beware the Snow Ides of March!

Greetings and may this blog find you in great health 💪 with your Medicare coverage 🏥 working properly.

Are you having any issues? If so, reach out and book a time on my calendar. Anyone on an Advantage plan has till the end of March to make a change if they are unhappy!

Here in Colorado, we are beholding the Ides of March with 30 plus inches and it’s still coming down ❄️. Client Becky around the corner said we came home too early…

Plato didn’t seem to mind, not one bit. He thinks we timed it just right 🐶.

It was raining ☔ in England most of the time I was visiting our Air Force son. You know your boy is in the right place when he takes you to the Duxford Air Museum when he isn’t working on the base. It was a pleasure to spend time with him and to learn about his adventures. The young’uns sure grow up fast 😲.

So now that Quantz and I are home and together again, there’s plenty to catch up on, inside and outside the house. She does the mail, the bills, and the inside stuff.

My job is outside the house – gutters, yard, and snow removal.

Now, shoveling snow is great cardio, but beware! According to The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, over 11,500 people were treated each year in Emergency Rooms over a 16 year period for snow shoveling related incidents 😱.

According to another article, “your level of risk largely depends on your fitness level and whether you have cardiovascular risk factors, such as a history of cardiac or vascular disease, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or another chronic condition.”

If you do choose to take on a physically taxing chore, beware. Snow shoveling “drives up a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, since the chore requires engaging seldom-used arm muscles while the legs are mostly still, blood tends to pool in the lower extremities. At the same time, cold temperatures constrict the arteries, decreasing the amount of blood and oxygen reaching the heart ❤️🏥.”

Google “Area Agency on Aging” to find local resources. Many cities have a website like ours to help seniors with snow shoveling.

Of course you could always ask the neighbor kids if they want to earn a couple of bucks.

Make sure whatever chore you tackle won’t cause you to end up in the emergency room. Remember last week’s newsletter on messed up medical billing?

As our daughter Sus said many years ago, when I hurt my back overdoing it in a yoga class “don’t be a hero daddy.”

When I told my little brother Haas in Virginia about the snow, he couldn’t help but immediately send a pic and rub it in. It’s always good to laugh at yourself, right?

Largemouth brother catching a largemouth bass 😂🐟. I sure am grateful to have him in my life.

So that’s it for this week. As they say in the musical Annie, “the sun’ll come out tomorrow,” especially if my wife Q is around (and she even helped me shovel), I’m a lucky man. Even money says all the snow’ll be gone by next weekend. What say 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.

⇒ ⇒ If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link to sign up. ⇐ ⇐

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

Get off your high horse!

Greetings and may this blog post find you in great health 💪 with your Medicare coverage 🏥 working properly.

Are you having any issues with your coverage? If so, reach out and book a time on my calendar. Anyone on an Advantage plan has till the end of March to make a change if they are unhappy!

OK, the sky’s not falling, but I am on my high horse, watching out for scams. Despite writing about this last week, we almost got burned🔥.

My wife Q received this email invoice and asked me if we should pay😱! It’s always worth a second look before you pay a bill and this one was completely bogus.

This week, we need to revisit Medical Billing. Now don’t fall asleep 😪. If we don’t pay attention to these common billing mistakes, it could cost us money💰.

According to Becker’s Hospital CFO Report, 4 out of 5 medical bills contain at least one minor error.

Not all of these errors result in higher bills, but many do. If there is an error in your bill, according to Medicare, here are a few of things you can do.

→ Get a detailed bill resent by the provider and check it to make sure the service you were billed for was actually the service you received.

→ Ask the doctor for a copy of your medical records and compare this to the bill.

→ Look up the medical billing codes online. Compare them to your bill. If they don’t match what you got, contact your provider’s billing department.

→ Confirm the bill was actually sent to your insurance company. Billing departments sometimes send bills to the consumer instead of sending them to the insurance company.

→ Call the billing department and have them submit the bill to the insurance company so that it is processed correctly.

→ If you are stuck with an expensive bill, make sure they are charging a fair price and not overcharging you ($200 aspirin). Consider checking FairHealth to get a sense of fair market prices and negotiate from there.

→ You can also ask for help from a Patient Assistance program in your state. Here is a link.

→ One final tip: “If you’re being admitted to a hospital and asked to sign a document of financial responsibility, write in that you agree only if your care is in network, says Elisabeth Rosenthal, M.D., author of “An American Sickness.” See Consumer Reports.

In the meantime, 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:

Everything in moderation, even moderation!

Greetings and may this blog post find you in great health with your Medicare coverage working properly as we await March Madness and college basketball to begin🏀.

My favorite sports cartoon of all time had this caption, and I paraphrase, “hang your hopes and fading dreams on your favorite athletic teams.”

It’s a cold, rainy Friday afternoon here in Britain. I’m here in our son’s kitchen, working on the newsletter and STILL waiting for the dang plumber… two days after he promised to come, grrr. Life’s the same everywhere, right?

Thank you Rick in Colorado for sharing this important email he received from Medicare regarding Advantage plans.

Are you having issues, questions, or do you need to shop? Book a time on my calendar or give me a call. I’m here to help so you can ignore the illegal Medicare Telemarketing Scammer Dogs 😊!

If everything is working, you’re good👍. If you aren’t happy 😠👎😤…

Well, you better call Karl📞(don’t call Saul).

Last week, I shared info on the importance of upping your protein 🍗 as we age. Lack of protein can cause some very solvable problems (read about them here).

This week …

It’s all about reducing blood sugar 🍩🍦🍪🍭🍰.

Now before you disappear (Nicholas seen here climbing into Ely Cathedral’s 800 year old octagon tower 🏰) … hold on!

“It’s an accepted fact that people with Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.” Some health care practitioners are beginning to consider Alzheimer’s to be Type 3 diabetes. So, anything we can do to lower blood sugar is probably a good thing.

Yes, diet is absolutely important, staying away from added sugar and refined foods will definitely improve metabolic fitness, we already know that, but…

There are lots of other things we can do to lower blood sugar. It’s not an all or nothing situation.

As dad always said, seen here with mom on their wedding day 65 years ago on the 28th: “Everything in moderation, even moderation💡!”

Miraculously, my brother Rob was born six months after this picture, hmmm 👶.

But I digress, let’s get back to the simple things we can do to reduce blood sugar.

Moderate exercise (this is my morning 2.5 mile walk to Mindenhall for coffee and a chat with the locals) three times a week for thirty minutes, over 8 weeks will improve metabolic fitness and improve insulin resistance.

One study showed that even “single session of low intensity exercise will increase insulin sensitivity.”

Just be sure to skip the whipped cream at Starbucks, though I love that UK Starbucks welcome weiner dogs inside❤️.

Our Plato back home would be totally jealous. He’s such an underprivileged dog!

Other things you can do, and they all come from this fantastic article (thanks Gray):

• Get more sleep
• Reduce stress (see pic of Plato above if you need a role model)
• Consume protein and fat first and then eat carbs
• Add vinegar to your diet
• Eat more cinnamon
• Don’t drink lots of water with your meal

Don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged. Pick one thing and add it, let me know if it helps. Send a picture celebrating your success, or what gives you joy.

What’s my joy? Airman Nicholas just got home from his base, shockingly, the plumber didn’t show. Oh well!

Please remember our soldiers and keep them in your hearts, it’s a crazy world out there!

In the meantime, 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:

Are you running low on protein?

Greetings and may this blog post find you in great health with your Medicare coverage working properly.

Are you having any issues with your coverage? If so, reach out to Gray or book a time on my calendar. We’re here to help so you can ignore the Medicare Telemarketers!

Yours truly is in Britain, visiting our Air Force son, and you are probably wondering where’s my wife, the mighty Q?

Quantz is still in South America, checking off countries on her bucket list. These pictures are from Iguazu, some of the largest waterfalls in the world.

When I was there in 1983, the catwalks you see below were completely washed away. Q’s pictures remind me how impressive the water is.

The Amazon is such a fascinating place, filled with animals like the coatimundi, racoon-like creatures that will eat almost anything.

Which brings us to the topic of today, protein.

A study in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, indicates that older adults in the US aren’t getting enough protein.

Analyzing data from over 11,000 adults aged 51 and above, they found that nearly half of the older participants didn’t consume adequate protein regularly.

Not getting enough protein isn’t just about muscles; it could signal that someone’s diet and overall health might need a boost. As we get older, our muscles start to shrink, which can make us weaker and more prone to falling.

Individuals over 50 “whose protein intake was lower than the recommended level had a poorer diet overall, as well as ‘significantly more functional limitations.’ These people consumed fewer healthful foods such as greens and beans, dairy, seafood, and plant protein foods.”

”Despite the protein craze in America, the data shows there’s still a big gap in adults’ protein intake.”

Great sources of protein include rice, beans, lentils, soy, and quinoa, as well as eggs, dairy, or meat. This was Quantz’s dinner in La Paz, Bolivia, the highest capital in the world. She never figured out what the food on the left of the plate actually was.

So just to make sure I practiced what I preached, yours truly had a ribeye and “chips” in the Mildenhall Market. I feel stronger already.

Most important, 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:

Your health may depend on this choice!

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

Remember, if you’re having problems with your coverage, reach out to Gray or book a time on my calendar if it’s complicated. We’ll get it fixed, I promise.

Word on the street is Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow this week so keep your fingers crossed for an early spring.

When Quantz and I visited Pucon, Chile this week, each of us had a different take on the experience.

I’m normally accused of being the optimist, but I can tell you that I was a lot more focused on the 800 pound gorilla behind the lake, that little plume of smoke that never stopped (and making sure we had a full tank of gas just in case she blew!)

Naturally Q wasn’t worried in the least. Her focus is always the same: see as much as we can before it’s too late. That’s why I love her, even though she keeps cracking the whip! It’s all about balance, right?

Since most of my time is spent helping clients navigate Medicare choices and avoiding irreversible mistakes, today, let’s review:

Emergency Room versus Urgent Care versus Primary Care, which one should I use?

Let’s keep this simple, if the turkey vultures are circling, head straight to the Emergency room for any of the following:

• Cardiac discomfort or chest tightness
• Complex fracture (bone break with visible exposure)
• Trauma to the head region
• Lung inflammation or severe respiratory infection
• Epileptic episodes or convulsions

ER visits should also be considered for:

• Signs of a stroke, numbness, weakness, or slurred speech.
• Suspected poisoning or exposure to dangerous chemicals.
• Severe headaches, especially if accompanied by confusion or neurological symptoms.
• Persistent high fever in adults.
• Severe allergic reactions with difficulty breathing or swelling.
• Severe mental health crisis, thoughts of self-harm, or harming others.

Remember, this list is NOT all inclusive. If it’s life threatening go to the Emergency Room.

Consider Urgent Care for:

• Minor injuries like sprains, strains, or minor fractures.
• Non-life-threatening cuts that may require stitches
• Minor burns or rashes.
• Common illnesses like colds, flu, ear infections, and sore throats.
• Mild to moderate asthma or allergy symptoms.
• Mild allergic reactions, such as hives.
• Fevers without severe symptoms or underlying health conditions.
• Minor urinary tract infections.
• Minor eye injuries or infections.
• Minor dental issues, such as a chipped tooth or toothache.
• Prescription refills or non-urgent medication issues.
• Routine vaccinations and physicals.

And Primary Care? Well, you probably know the answer to this one, routine visits, vaccinations, important care but not urgent care or emergency care, right?

As common sense as this sounds, taking a few minutes to review could save you time, trouble and 💵!

But the most important reason? Over utilization of Emergency Rooms reduces their efficiency, reduces the quality of care, and takes resources away from all of us when really need to be treated.

It’s up to each of us to do what we can to make things better.

The word from our daughter Sus is that Plato is doing just fine. We are very fortunate that Sus keeps an eye on him when we are out of town. I guess we must have done something right.

We met an amazing American this week, Ed Ritter from Pennsylvania.

Ed and his wife retired a few years ago and now they travel quite a bit.

What was so amazing about Ed? He’s a vanishing American species:

A political centrist. When Ed returns home, he plans to run for the State House of Representatives as an alternative to the extremists on all sides of the aisles.

Ed will attempt to find a middle ground. Remember, when neither side is completely happy, that’s probably a good thing. It was so refreshing to talk with someone who isn’t just going to talk, he’s going to try!

And he’s from our tribe, a retiree getting ready to make a difference! Remember this movie? Go get ’em Ed!

Meanwhile, Quantz keeps me moving. I hope you are moving too! Never stop, connect with your friends, learn something new.

Most important, 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: