Tag: Medicare

5 Ways to Stop Medicare Telemarketing Calls Fast

One of the biggest frustrations Medicare consumers experience daily is… the illegal telemarketing bombardment:

Phone calls, texts, and voicemails.

It’s insane.

It’s also against the law!

Medicare consumers are duped into believing they are making huge mistakes and leaving money on the table if they don’t engage with a complete stranger at a call center and switch plans.

Most of the calls are illegal; most do not have permission to contact you.

Most are bad news and here’s proof.

When a telemarketer calls (and if you mistakenly pick up) say this:

“Before we engage, please give me your FULL NAME, your STATE INSURANCE LICENSE and YOUR PHONE NUMBER, and I will confirm your identity and call you back.”

Watch them scamper like rats! And if they give their number, call me and I’ll help you report them.

Unless you’ve given “permission to contact,” telemarketers are breaking the law and they know it.

Do not fall for these call center ploys or you may end up in the wrong plan!

Take these steps to reduce unwanted calls:

1. Set up your iPhone or your Android only to receive calls from people you choose, people in your contacts.
Here is the link on how to set up your phone  and be sure to add my number to your safe list 😊.

2. Consider adding a third party call blocking app like Truecaller, YouMail, Robokiller or Hiya.

3. If these tech steps are above your paygrade (or you don’t have access to a grandchild for tech support,) visit your local cell phone provider and get them to help you set up your phone.

So how do you know if you are in a good Medicare Insurance Plan and purge the fear that you are making a mistake?

How do you know if you are leaving  money on the table and continue to be an informed consumer?

The answer is simple…

Find a trusted independent Medicare Insurance Broker, someone you can work with year after year.

Check their google reviews.

Check if they have complaints with the Department of Insurance.

If you engage with an Independent Insurance Broker (not a captive sales agent trying to change your plan), you’ll get the help you need.

Medicare Consumers need a professional who will be there year after year, a professional who will answer questions (AFTER the sale) and to help them switch plans only if it is appropriate.

That’s why I’m here. That’s why I love what I do.

So get those telemarketers out of your life and if you have questions, book a time on my calendar here.

 

 

 

#Medicare #Medicarescams #Turning65 #MedicareSupplements #MedicareAdvantagePlans #SeniorDentalPlans #AvoidMedicareFraud #CertifiedSeniorAdvisor #TrustedSeniorAdvisor #SeniorTravel #TheBig65 #trustedindependentMedicareinsurancebroker #MedicareInsurancebroker

Here’s Another Way To Prevent Illness!

One of the biggest problems with original Medicare is…

It does NOT include preventive dental coverage.

This oversight leaves many individuals ignoring  an important component of wellness.

Regular dental cleanings and check-ups may reduce the risk of developing endocarditis or exacerbating other cardiovascular conditions.

Studies from the University of Illinois postulate links between…

  • Periodontal plaque and Alzheimer’s
  • Gum Disease and pre-Diabetes
  • Periodontal disease and Obesity

 

The good news:

Simple steps recommended in this article can reduce these risks:

  • Twice daily two minute brushing with a soft bristled brush
  • Flossing Daily
  • Mouthwash after flossing and brushing
  • Avoiding tobacco
  • Regular Dental checkups and cleanings

 

Because Medicare does not cover preventive dental care, consumers must explore alternative options:

  • Check if your plan includes dental benefits built in or if there is an option to add dental benefits.
  • Review stand alone dental insurance plans with your independent Medicare Insurance Broker.
  • If you already have a dentist, ask their billing person what are the most popular insurance plan they see their clients using.
  • Consider dental tourism. Yours truly gets a dental work done overseas, whenever possible, at a fraction of the price. Do your homework before selecting a dentist.

 

Maintaining proper oral hygiene is an important component of overall wellness, so if you need help in reviewing your dental options, book a time on my calendar here.

 

How To Age Well

“Getting old ain’t for sissies,” that’s what my neighbor used to say.

The good news is there are many small things we can do daily to slow down the aging process.

Keep moving. Seven thousand steps or about 30 minutes of daily exercise seems to essential to staying healthy and aging well. A little bit of exercise daily goes a long way, we don’t need to go crazy working out.

Engage with others. Saying hello to others we encounter during daily errands or reconnecting with friends and family can provide a huge boost to our mental health and help us to enjoy life and to live longer.

Use your brain. Read books, listen to podcasts, do puzzles, try out a new recipe for jalapeno cornbread. Changing your routine and doing new things will improve your cognitive functioning and it could slow down the aging process.

Here’s an article with ideas on how to slow down the aging process.

And if you have questions about Medicare Insurance Coverage, book a time on my calendar here.

Medicare, Sleep Habits & Dementia

I hope this note finds you well and looking for ways to bring joy to others.

As we age, getting good sleep can become more and more challenging.

Do not underestimate the importance of great sleep hygiene:

Simply steps like going to bed at the same time every night, avoiding caffeine after 4, keeping electronics out of the bed and having a really dark bedroom can make a huge difference.

Here’s an article with helpful ideas.

And if Medicare insurance questions are keeping you up at night…

Book a time on my calendar here.

Life Lessons from Jim & Hughey

I hope this note finds you well despite the madness of the times.

You know how eagerly I’ve been looking forward to spring.

I’m a total wussy when it comes to cloudy weather, that’s why we left Ohio.

We miss all our amazing Buckeye friends, but not the weather 😊.

So when snowed it all over our flowers the other day, there was only one solution…

Go play in the snow, and I’m so glad I did, because I met my role models for life, Jim & Hughey.

Click on the picture above and learn the simple life lessons they confirmed me for me.

Despite respiratory issues and just plain getting older, Hughey and Jim inspired me. They keep looking for adventure and don’t let aging get in the way.

I didn’t even notice till we got off the ski lift that Jim is still telemarking, the hardest form skiing.

That’s message for me, wake up or die!

As we age into Medicare, of course there are problems, aches, illnesses and issues, but if we focus on what we can do instead of what we can’t do, it makes all the difference in the quality of our lives and the lives of those around us.

That’s it for this week.

If you have Medicare insurance questions, click here to schedule a meeting.

Perspective is everything

I hope this Medicare newsletter finds you well, wherever you are and whatever your situation.

One year since the pandemic began, can you believe it?

Talking with Medicare clients all over the country, it’s been a challenging  year for so many:

Illnesses, lost finances, isolation from family and friends…the list goes on.

What’s amazing to me has been watching some of my clients hardest hit by the pandemic actually thriving and find new meaning in their lives.

Victor Frankel, the concentration camp survivor, psychotherapist and author summed it up best:

“Ultimately, man is not subject to the conditions that confront him; rather, these conditions are subject to his decision. Wittingly or unwittingly, he decides whether he will face up or give in, whether or not he will let himself be determined by the conditions.”

My wife says I’m a broken record, but I’ll say it again anyway:

It’s NOT what happens to us but HOW we choose to respond to life’s trials, that makes all the difference!

Many of you know that my older brother severed his spinal cord several years ago in a biking accident but he did not let this traumatic event define him.  Robert continues to practice medicine, to learn new things and to inspire everyone in his life. He continues to be my role model for dealing with adversity.

Check out this article on dealing with adversity.

That’s it for this week.  Book a time here on my calendar  if you or your friends have questions about Medicare or call the number below.

Stay safe, look for ways to help others and be well!

Are you overmedicating?

For people on Medicare, taking the time to review their medications with their pharmacist and their physician could have a hugely positive impact on their health.

One of my clients was so shocked at the comatose state of her mother that she removed her from her nursing home and had her  own physician perform a complete pharmacy review.

The result? At the physician’s request, her mother stopped taking SIX of her NINE maintenance medications and went from zombie status to being human again.

Never stop ANY medication WITHOUT the advice of your doctor.  But just because you’ve been taking something for while doesn’t necessarily mean you need to keep taking it.

Check out the article , have a great week  and Click here to Schedule a Meeting with Karl if you have questions about Medicare, or Medicare insurance options.

How to give to your favorite charity for free!

Greetings Neighbor,

I hope you are having a great week despite the crazy times.

Is your mail box filling up with pleas for donations?

Ours sure is and sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s a real charity or not.

Here’s a simple way to donate to charity and it doesn’t have to cost you a penny!

Click on the picture below and find out how!

Believe it or not, if you shop on Amazon using the link www.smile.amazon.com , Amazon will allow you to  designate your charity of choice to receive a small donation of up to 0.5%  every  time you purchase something.

If you are already in the habit of shopping on Amazon, using this special link is an easy way to support a cause you believe in.

That’s it for this week, book a time on my calendar if you have any questions about Medicare Insurance.

 

Are you taking too many drugs?

Hey Neighbor,

I hope you are having a great week. It’s been quiet here in our house.

My wife Q is back east visiting her parents in South Carolina, and even though I’m super busy, I miss her company. That’s what happens after 30 years of marriage, right?

If you’ve seen the 500 Medicare commercials already with super happy seniors, you know it’s the Annual Election Period.

It’s been great catching up with clients I haven’t spoken to in a while and making sure their Medicare coverage is up to date.

Today I spoke with Nancy, a long time client in Georgia. Her comments really got me thinking about a problem I see  more often than I should.

Click on the picture below and learn something that might save your life and even save you money.

Of course medications have improved the quality and the length of the lives of many Americans. Sadly, the medical industrial complex has made it way too easy to be over medicated. Many Americans continue to take medications long after the need for them is over.

One doctor will prescribe a medication and another doctor will be hesitant to end it because of miscommunication. Even worse, the more meds you take, the greater the risk of negative side effects. Talk to your doctor, talk to pharmacist.

Review your medications and understand why you are taking each medicine you take. Check out this article and, as they said in the movie Blaze, “never trust a man who says trust me.”

That’s it for this week. If you’re unsure of your coverage and you need a Medicare Insurance review, or your friends need help, book a time on my calendar and I’ll do my best to help.

Be well, be kind, be safe, one nation under God.

Who needs a flu shot?

Greetings Neighbor.

I hope this note finds you in great health and excellent spirits despite the crazy times.

Elections, COVID, and crazy weather, believe me, everyone is ready for 2020 to finish 😊.

We’ve been getting a ton of questions about the new flu, and from what I am reading, this year’s strain could be extra dangerous. Click on picture and learn how to protect yourself.

Of course you know you need a flu shot, but did you get one yet? If you have a Medicare Supplement, getting the shot in your local pharmacy for most plans will keep the cost to $0.

If you have an Advantage Plan, confirm with your doctor’s office there is no copay.

In talking with my pharmacist, there are different versions of the vaccine, but they were recommending the High Dose Flu vaccine. It has four times as many antigens (whatever those are). Talk to your doctor, but do the right thing, please, because I actually like having Medicare clients 😊.

Here’s more information about the flu and vaccination options.

Remember, the Annual Election Period is upon us and the new plans for 2021 are finally out. Let me know if your friends and family need help, that’s why I’m here.

Stay safe and please book a time on my calendar if you need me (my calendar only runs 7 days in advance, so be patient).

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.