medigap Archives

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:

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.

Here’s an idea that may be helpful

May this note find you in good spirits with your Medicare coverage working properly this Super Bowl 🏈 Weekend.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some really good commercials 😂📺! Perhaps even a good game, you never know.

Hopefully your coverage is working well. Have you received all your cards?

If not, reach out to Gray or book a time on my calendar if it’s complicated. We’ll get it fixed.

When watching pro sports, I’m always amazed & inspired by the elite level of fitness these men and women achieve, but…

For most of us regular humans, it’s not realistic or particularly helpful to wish for the same abilities.

Instead, our health care practitioners point to the importance of simple tried and true methods for maintaining health and longevity. I’ll summarize this article and share their most important suggestions.

Keep Moving: Regular exercise, like walking, boosts heart health, muscle strength, and balance. Aim for at least 20 minutes a day.

One of the loveliest forms of exercise we saw in the squares of Buenos Aires was Tango, people breaking into dance as part of their community rituals.

Regrettably, Q and I have NO rhythm, but we sure enjoyed watching and walking the streets to explore and getting in our steps.

Build and cherish relationships: Spend time with friends and family to beat loneliness and boost your mood. Good connections not only keep you healthier but also make life happier as you grow older.

We connected with this young fellow next to us in the bar in the old neighborhood of San Telmo, Buenos Aires. He is a Brazilian student who first trained as a lawyer but is now in Medical School Argentina. It was so interesting to hear his story as we practiced our Spanish and he practiced his English.

Stay Positive: Cultivating optimism is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and longer life. Positive thinking fosters healthier habits and resilience.

How do we stay positive? That’s the real question. For each of us, it’s going to be different.

My big brother Rob has been in a wheelchair since 2018 and he helps me put life in perspective by sharing how he sees the world:

“The quadriplegic wishes he had the mobility of me, the paraplegic. I wish for the mobility of the guy with crutches. The guy with crutches wants to be like the guy who can walk. The guy who walks wants to be like the super athlete. On it goes. I choose to give thanks for what I still have, for what I am still capable of doing.” Amen brother Rob!

Manage Health Conditions: Follow medical advice to manage conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. It helps prevent serious complications.

I had been moaning to Quantz about a sore hip for months but had done nothing. Q twisted my arm, in a loving way, so I set a telemedicine appointment with Dr. Bruno Spinassi, an orthopedic surgeon, here in Buenos Aires. Two medications and some physical therapy later, yours truly is a new man.

Don’t wait for something minor to turn into something major.

Here’s a great suggestion from Barb in Texas:

“Many cities have mobile urgent cares that come to your home and are covered by Medicare. We utilized one in December and it saved us hours in the ER, or going to the local Urgent Care, which isn’t always faster. They require a 4 hour arrival window and were here in 1 hour.”

Be certain to check with insurance provider before you engage this service.

This sculpture now needs serious care. Until January, it was the marvel of Buenos Aires, a metal flower that opened and closed during the day. High winds in January destroyed it.

Get Good Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours each night. Quality sleep is vital for overall health and lowers the risk of memory problems. Don’t sleep with your phone and put it away a few hours before you go to bed.

Adequate sleep not only enhances overall well-being but also reduces the risk of dementia and other cognitive impairments.

Eat Healthily: Embrace a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats like those found in the Mediterranean diet. This dietary approach lowers the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

Everything in moderation, including gelato🍨.

Quit Smoking, Limit Drinking: Quitting smoking reduces the risk of deadly diseases. Limit alcohol to one drink daily for women, two for men, to avoid health problems.

Did I say moderation? I thought we ordered a small 🍺! By following these simple tips, you can boost your chances of living a longer, healthier life.

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:

Changes to your Medicare Prescription Drug Plans for 2024

Greetings and may this note find you in great health with your Medicare coverage working properly. Today, I want to discuss changes to your Medicare Prescription Drug Plans for 2024. But first …

If you’re having problems, reach out to Gray or book a time on my calendar if it’s complicated.

Don’t you love the smile on this guy’s face? He’s enjoying the day tooling around the old town sharing his city with travelers in this classic car.

That’s the way I’d like to feel every day.

My reality is a little closer to this old tortoise who sleeps behind the planters in this old hotel.

Every morning, getting up and out is a little harder. I’m a little achier and often a little grumpier, but, a good cup of coffee makes all the difference in the world.

Once we get up and out, there are adventures waiting, especially when Quantz twists my arm and gets me to do something I’d enjoy but wouldn’t do on my own.

If it weren’t for her, I’d work more and enjoy less. Traveling with Q pushes my comfort zone.

This is an old German freighter off the coast of Aruba. Instead of letting it fall into Allied hands in 1942, the captain chose to sink her himself by flooding the boiler room and causing the engine to explode. I’m glad I wasn’t on board.

Our daughter Sus had to return to her home in Colorado because she had a burst pipe. As you can tell, Plato was happy to see her but he’s still mad at us for leaving him at home with her boyfriend.

Now Quantz, our Air Force son Nicholas, and I have moved on to explore Colombia.

Thanks to Tim in Firestone, Colorado for sharing an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal about drug trends for Medicare. Here’s the gist:

In 2024, Medicare Part D plans will have a ceiling of $8,000 for how much they and consumers (combined) will pay out of pocket.

Changes brought about by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act mean that people on Part D plans will pay no more than roughly $3,300 on drugs annually (subject to variation based on brand or generic medications).

In 2025, the cap will change to a flat $2,000.

The 5% coinsurance that patients had to pay after reaching the “catastrophic” spending threshold has been eliminated. This change is expected to offer significant savings to approximately 1.5 million people.

The cap on drug costs will force insurers and drugmakers to cover a larger part of the cost.

Potential downsides for Medicare patients include higher premiums and more complicated paperwork.

The changes represent a significant makeover to the Part D prescription-drug benefit.

Cancer drugs in pill form can be costly for people on Part D plans, and these changes are expected to provide substantial savings for patients with expensive medications.

Despite all the good news, drug costs seems to be one of the biggest frustrations everyone has.

Remember the following strategies when filling a prescription:

Often, physicians will prescribe a brand name medication without taking into consideration a client’s financial situation. Check with the doctor’s office to see if they can provide you with a sample before you shell out your own money.

If you are a prescribed a brand name drug, check with your pharmacist and find out if there is a generic alternative.

A single medication is always easier but sometimes, a combination of drugs can be used successfully and perhaps keep down your costs. Every situation is different so do your homework.

Before filling the prescription through your drug plan, ask the pharmacist if they have a cash price that is lower than your copay.

If you get into the catastrophic phase every year (which means the total cost of your drugs {paid by you and the drug plan, $8,000 for 2024} then you may want to run all of your drugs through plan but…

If you barely reach the donut hole each year ($5,030 paid by you and the drug plan) or never reach the donut hole, paying the cash price or using a third party tool like GoodRx, Amazon, or Cost Plus Drugs might save you some serious coin.

Life continues to be filled with a million moving pieces but if you take thirty minutes and make a few calls and check a few websites, it might really save you some money.

Please know that even though we are traveling, I have slots open every week if you need me.

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:

Please don’t ever pay your bill immediately!

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

If you changed plans in the fall, you should have received your new ID cards by now.

If you haven’t, or if you’re having a carrier issue (and you’ve already spoken to the carrier), reach out to Gray and he’ll get you squared away.

In talking with clients this week, I’m hearing a lot about issues with billing.

According to this article, up to 80% of all medical bills have at least one error.

Client Stan tells me he’s pulled out most of his hair trying to get a shingles vaccine bill properly coded and submitted. He received incorrect information from the doctor and from Medicare ☹. Stan is a retired engineer so if someone as logical as he is can’t get the right answer, it sure is frustrating.

I wish I could tell you there was a single step you could take to avoid billing issues, but complicated problems are never solved that easily.

However, if you have a Medicare Supplement, Plan G, your only out-of-pocket for Medicare approved services (excluding drugs, dental, and vision) is $240.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, the summary of benefits should you provide you with exact costs for deductibles, copays and the maximum out of pocket each year.

Nevertheless, here are some suggestions to help you avoid over paying:

Check Your Information:

Billing errors can happen due to small mistakes on your insurance claim form.
Even a single missing digit in your insurance ID or a misspelled name can lead to denied claims and premature billing.
Verify that your insurance details on the bill are accurate and have been processed by your insurance company.

Compare to EOB:

After your health insurance processes claims, you’ll receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
Compare your medical bill to the EOB to ensure the amount on the invoice matches what your insurance says you owe.

Beware of Aggressive Billing:

Some providers may send bills while your insurance is still processing your claim.
Don’t pay these bills without checking with your insurance company.
Look for phrases like “Due Now,” “Estimated Amount Due,” or “Amount You May Owe.”

Request an Itemized Statement:

Medical bills often lack a detailed breakdown of charges.
Ask for an itemized statement to ensure you’re only paying for services and items you received.

Check Billing Codes:

Each medical procedure has a billing code (HCPS/CPT), and there are diagnosis codes (ICD-10) for medical conditions.
Review these codes to ensure they’re correct.
Mistakes in codes can lead to claim denials or unjustified procedures.
Research codes independently and take action if there’s an issue.

Negotiate a Reduction:

If your bill is more than you can afford, negotiate with the provider.
Find resources online to determine fair service costs.
Make your financial constraints known and ask for a discount or a payment plan.
Paying a lump sum may increase your chances of getting a discount.
Ask for zero interest on a payment plan.

Act Quickly:

Address your medical bills promptly to avoid collection agency involvement.
Hospitals must wait six months before reporting to credit bureaus, but late reporting can affect your credit for years.
Taking quick action can prevent future financial issues like higher interest rates or difficulty securing loans.

The bottom line: be slow and extra careful BEFORE you remit any payment to healthcare providers and call the insurance company for help as well. This process will not eliminate the number of mistakes, but hopefully it will reduce them.

In case you couldn’t tell, the Bruns-Kyler family is celebrating their first vacation as a family together in almost three years. We finally got our Air Force son together with the rest of the family at the same time. We are giving thanks for warm weather and this time together in Aruba. Can you tell Q was happy to see our son?

Remember, life is short. Don’t take anything or anyone for granted!

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:

Good News for 2024!

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

Can you believe the year is almost over? That’s what happens when you blink, life just keeps on zipping by!

Hopefully you are in good shape for 2024 but feel free to book a time on my calendar if you need help or reach out to my admin Gray.

Talk about time flying, Q and I celebrated 35 years of marriage this week, no attorneys required, thank goodness. Some of you certainly have us beat so send a picture and the number of years. Longest married (with a picture) wins a prize!

We celebrated with breakfast at Snooze and they even threw in complimentary anniversary pancakes! The funniest part? The bill was exactly $35 bucks, go figure.

I almost missed the fancy card and the quality control survey Quantz put on my napkin. Of course I gave her five stars.

Apparently we weren’t the only ones celebrating this week. Joe’s sister in North Carolina sent this affectionate display to celebrate her brother’s birthday: Bikes, booze, barbecue and of course his wife Becky!

Are you preparing to make 2024 the most joyous year ever? Here are some ideas that could be helpful in making the New Year even more meaningful. They come from Japan.

Ikigai, find purpose in your life. Pursue activities that align with your passions, talents, and reasons for being alive. Whether that means taking care of your family, sharing your faith, sharing your home, working, or volunteering, tapping into your purpose, your reason for remaining above ground will make the world better and bring a smile to your face.

My Ikigai is to help others, to take care of family, and to try to produce more than I consume. If I can put a smile on another person’s face, then it is double plus good.

Kaizen, small, continuous improvements in various aspects of our lives.

We are a culture obsessed with the pursuit of massive gains, but real change typically involves small simple actions over a long period of time, not dramatic shifts.

A few extra steps every day, substituting oatmeal for Krispy Kreme doughnuts, practicing your balance while brushing your teeth… aim for gradual and sustainable progress over time. One percent better over time can produce profound results.

Our daughter Sus applies Kaizen to her hobbies. This winter she learned to make light box frames and gave us one for Xmas. I admire her ability to never give up and to always be learning new things. Of course she may need to apply Kaizen to her garage!

Hara Hachi Bu, don’t over fill yourself with food. We are blessed with an abundance of food at this time of year and I love to make Momofuku Bo Ssaam (Korean Pork Shoulder with sauces) and cheese fondue, my ultimate comfort foods.

“Hara hachi bu” is a Japanese concept that encourages people to eat until they are 80% full, promoting mindful and moderate eating for better health and longevity.

Of course we should enjoy our time with family and friends, and breaking bread together is one of life’s greatest joys, but… if we can catch ourselves before we are completely full, we can enjoy all of the benefits of food and companionship without the regret.

I definitely overate several times this holiday. That’s why I share these ideas. They are helpful reminders for me!

Shoshin, approach every task as a beginner.

Whether it’s a board game (like the totally inappropriate but fun game “Cards Against Humanity”) or trying to resolve a Medicare issue, Shoshin emphasizes the attitude of approaching things with openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceptions, allowing for continuous learning and growth.

A few weeks ago, I put my foot in my mouth with a close friend. A beginner’s mind would have helped so much. All we can do is learn, ask for forgiveness, and learn to laugh at ourselves. As Adam Grant so poignantly writes:

And best of all and perhaps the most challenging, Wabi-Sabi, embracing imperfection.

We are imperfect at best and that’s what makes us human and loveable. Accept that nothing is perfect, and appreciate the beauty in flaws, whether in objects, people, or situations.

Holidays give us a chance to connect with the important people in our lives. We can focus on the flaws or we can focus on the connections. The easy part is finding what’s wrong, the secret is remembering what is right. Some days easy, some days hard. All we can do is keep going.

Just remember to be like Mary Beth; she could’ve driven past the stray dog on the highway and cursed at the folly of humans for not taking care of their commitments.

Instead, she stopped, backed up, and took action. Clara Bell is now the joy of her life and the world is a better place. Well done Mary Beth.

Last week, I took Plato to Ace Hardware to run an errand (Plato loves to go shopping). While in the checkout line, I heard a woman behind me comment, “what a big dog.” Remarkably (and I owe it ALL to blueberries), I recognized the woman’s voice (though we’d never met in person).

“Gigi?” I asked. She was shocked and I introduced myself, “I’m Karl from the Big 65 and we spoke a few weeks ago on the phone” (Gigi has a very distinct voice). It was so much fun to connect with her and her son and to learn about the service work she does as a volunteer helping immigrants.

That’s the great thing about Plato, he always helps me to connect with others. This is him eight years ago next to our daughter’s favorite stuffed animal.

So before the year ends, make it a mission to reach out to someone you love and remind them how important they are to you. Every moment, every connection is an opportunity to make things better. The choice is ours, now get busy! Happy New Year!

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:

Do we have you in the right coverage?

May this blog post/newsletter find you in good health with your Medicare Insurance working properly. Today’s question: “Do we have you in the right coverage?“

In working with clients all over the country this week, it’s been a great opportunity to sharpen the saw and drill into the differences between plan types: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement.

From a distance, it’s not always easy to understand the differences between the two types of plans and I often get the question: which type of plan is better?

The simple answer is… it truly depends on how each consumer uses healthcare.

Medicare Supplements charge a monthly premium and allow consumers to go to any doctor who takes Medicare (and is willing to see them) and folks don’t have to deal with prior authorization for Medicare approved services. They also don’t receive extra benefits and the premiums typically go up every year.

Medicare Advantage Plans typically have no premiums, offer additional bells and whistles but require you to jump through additional hoops for certain services.

As your independent Medicare Insurance Broker, I try to spend most of my time understanding your healthcare preferences and how you prefer to receive healthcare services.

After that, it’s all about education and understanding the pros and the cons of each type of plan and letting YOU make your own choice.

That’s the reason for this newsletter, so that we can stay connected to make sure your coverage is working the way it should.

Of course, nothing works perfectly. Sometimes there are billing errors, other times it’s hard to reach customer service. Life is imperfect at best, but the important thing is you have an additional resource: The Big 65!

If you are having issues, always call the carrier first.

However, if you speak with the carrier and you are stilling having problems, please reach out to us by email or just book a time on my calendar.

That why I’m here. Medicare call centers (and all those enticing commercials you see on TV) only want you to switch plans. If it’s necessary, we can do that, but usually there’s an easier fix.

It sure has been fun to finally have an extended vacation with our Air Force son Nicholas.

We worked on his bucket list one night and I didn’t even try to keep up with him. I guess we were all young once, right?

I keep hearing from clients like Claire in South Carolina that spring is on the way so don’t give up hope!

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

And, if you are having Medicare questions or problems, email Gray, Gray@thebig65.com, or just book a time on my calendar.

We are here if you need us.

Let me know what’s going on your life, please send pictures for the newsletter, and remember…

Referrals are the lifeblood of my business!

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

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 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.

Are you ready for the Annual Election Period?

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.