The Big 65 Archives

Is your doctor even listening?

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

If you are feeling antsy about your insurance coverage, remember to ignore the call center noise and book a time on my calendar.

Today’s question: Is your doctor even listening? But first …

While Quantz and I were visiting a museum in Estonia with a plague exhibit, it got me thinking about doctors.

Healthcare practices sure have come a long way since the days of old, but that doesn’t mean they are perfect.

Though doctors are well trained, they’re still human and they can make mistakes. Sometimes, they may pay attention to details that confirm what they assume is going on.

Other times, they might stick with a treatment for too long because they’ve already invested time and effort. Shortcuts in thinking can affect the choices they make.

In fairness, doctors also face performance pressure to see as many patients as possible in a day.

My brother, the Radiation Oncologist, says each specialty probably believes a little too strongly in the merits of their own skills, and in the merits of their own particular specialty.

Oncologists will want to do oncology; Surgeons will want to do surgery.

Consider getting a second opinion from another doctor if you’re dealing with a serious or complicated health issue. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to explain why they think a certain treatment is the best for you.

Another great question to ask: If you were in my situation what would you do?

With doctors being so busy and spending so much time on their screens, don’t be afraid to interrupt their brusque ways with a personal question.

Get their attention, interrupt the pattern, and you may get better care. Then you can find out if your doctor is even listening…

We have had a fantastic summer exploring Europe, spending time with our Air Force son, and seeing many of our former exchange students all grown up with kids of their own.

Though Quantz will keep travelling, I’m heading home to Colorado to prepare for the Annual Election Period. It’s that time of year.

The best part of travel is that it interrupts your patterns and gets you out of your comfort zone. I’ve learned to work almost anywhere that has a bit of internet.

Quantz has a knack for making new friends. We spent an afternoon in a bar with group of Danish soccer fans who’d travelled to Finland to watch their team compete.

Think about that, they travelled from Copenhagen to Helsinki and then watched the game in a bar (they couldn’t get tickets for the match). Talk about dedication! Thank goodness the Danes won.

My favorite thing is to check out new foods, you never know when you’ll find something amazing.

For the record, reindeer in tube will never be on my top ten list. Rudolph is safe for now.

But if you keep exploring, eventually you’ll find an amazing bakery that makes it all worthwhile.

That’s it for this week; 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

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-seven states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
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. 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.

Watch out for this health problem

May this blog find you in good health with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

Hope you had some meaningful time with family over Labor Day. Today, I encourage all of us to watch out for this health problem.

Three weeks till the annual election period. Remember to ignore the noise and if we need to update your medications, shoot an email to Gray and we’ll be ready.

I was catching up with client Duke in Atlanta this week when his wife called. She was on the way to the hospital to check in on their 3rd grandchild who had just been born. Life’s great joy.

Duke tells me he and his wife love the time they spend babysitting and connecting with those cute little bundles of love. Their time with family makes them happier and healthier. That’s a fact that more and more studies are confirming:

Connections with others = better health.

Yet despite all the tools we have to stay connected, humanity is experiencing a loneliness epidemic.

This year, the surgeon general published an 81 page report, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.”

Want to hear a scary statistic?

“The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.”

The good news is the remedy is in plain sight:

“Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships.”

• Help a Neighbor: Offer to pick up groceries or mow the lawn for a neighbor. Acts of kindness can lead to stronger community bonds.

• Book Club: How about joining or starting a book club? You get to read and then chat about it with others. Two birds, one stone!

• Local Tours: Many places offer free local tours or day trips. Why not sign up and learn something new?

• Call a Friend: Try to talk to a friend or family member at least once a day. Even a short call can make a big difference!

• Get Moving: Take a walk or join a walking group. It’s good for your health, and you might bump into some friendly faces.

• Stay Active in the Community: Try to participate in local events, group activities, or classes designed for seniors. This could include religious services, hobby groups, or exercise classes.

Just pick one and see what happens. The first ten people who try something new (and send a picture for the newsletter) will get a free Starbucks card!

The ball is in your court.

We had a fantastic time connecting with our Air Force son in Poland and now we have traveled to Stockholm. In this restaurant behind us, the Nobel Prize committee meets to choose its winners (but they didn’t ask us for advice.)

Remember this band from our younger years? They have a fun Museum with the history of their music and tons of pictures, videos and memorabilia. If you ever visit, I bet you won’t be able to leave without at least one of their songs stuck in your head.

But if you want to hear some beautiful music, you need to listen to my buddy Jared.

Jared is one of my favorite clients and just an overall amazing person. He and his wife Cindy were missionaries in many different countries, including India and Suriname.

Though retired, he continues to make music (check out ALL the instruments he plays in his YouTube video) and he stays connected to family and friends. I don’t think this guy could ever be lonely (or bored).

And finally, Happy Birthday to Carmen and her family. She is another amazing person, and also a pastor who has lived with her family all over the world. Carmen makes everyone better, including her husband Luke, my best friend since 8th grade.

I can’t wait to see them in October!

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

Any skeletons in the closet?

May this blog find you in great health this Labor Day Weekend with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

I hope you and your family survived the hurricane. Just spoke with clients in Sarasota. They said they are hurricane vets and escaped the worst A-OK. I’m still waiting to hear from clients in Georgia and the Carolinas. Let us know how things are going.

This little elf reminds me that in less than four weeks, I’ll be in the midst of our busiest season, the Annual Election Period when folks can make changes to their Medicare coverage.

In the next few weeks, you should be getting copies of your plan’s “Annual Notice of Changes,” for your Part D drug plan or your Medicare Advantage Plan. Be sure to give it the once over and book a time on my calendar if we need to talk.

Right now, we are in Wroclaw, Poland, formerly called Breslau, Germany. I am fulfilling the dream of a lifetime: visiting the city where my father was born before he and his family escaped Europe.

They left in August of 1939 on the last free sailing of the Queen Mary, just days before Hitler invaded Poland and World War II began. My dad’s family was half Jewish and half Gentile so you can imagine how strange things were for everyone.

Some chose to leave, some chose to stay. Some died in the camps, some survived.

My father never spoke about these things (he was just a boy) and he never even told my mom. I only learned about his family history when my mother visited a Gentile uncle of his in Germany when I was in college.

What a surprise to discover a whole family history we knew nothing about.

After visiting one of the museums, I used Google Translate to ask if they had any information about my namesake, Karl Masner, my great grandfather, who had been a museum director in the city.

Amazingly, his portrait is hung in that very museum, with the same red hair of my father. What a story for future generations.

We came to Poland to visit our Air Force son. It was such a joy to see him and to share these new discoveries of our family history.

The stories that make up your family’s history are more than just tales to be recounted at reunions; they’re the legacy you’ll leave for your grandchildren and generations to come.

In today’s digital age, there are many ways to record your family’s lineage, stories, and traditions, so they don’t get lost in the sands of time.

• Virtual Family History Tours
Using map software or online resources, create a virtual tour of places significant to your family history. Share the tour with family members during online gatherings.

• Time Capsule Project
Create a family time capsule filled with mementos, letters, and keepsakes. Decide on a future date for the capsule to be opened by your grandchildren or later generations.

Other things to consider:

• Annual Family Story Night
Host an annual family “Story Night” where each member shares a story or memory about the family. Record these sessions for future listening.

• Letters to Grandchildren
Write letters to your grandchildren at various stages of their life — like upon high school graduation, getting married, or having their first child. Save these letters in a special box for them to open when the time comes.

Every week, I hear from clients who’ve lost someone they love, so do your best to preserve the memories that will have meaning for future generations.

Thanks to Adrienne for sending this amazing pic of her mom…95 and still going strong. Shirley lives in Independent living, plays duplicate bridge three days a week, bingo twice a week, plus Pokeno and Rummikub on the weekends. Shirley might just outlive us all.

Last week I reported of Elissa’s globetrotting adventures. This week, her hubby James wanted to make sure we knew that the two of them also have adventures together, recently exploring the great city of Savannah.

And finally, greetings from Puff and Buddy in the Low Country of South Carolina. We’re hoping they are doing well!

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

Please don’t get angry!

May this note-blog post find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

Sure hope you are surviving the crazy heat… 94 in Savannah with humidity, 108+ in Phoenix. This week, clients all over have been telling me it’s starting to get on their nerves. Hang in there, fall is coming!

You know the saying happy wife, happy life? I guess it’s all about perspective. So, please don’t get angry!

Getting older comes with its own set of challenges, like dealing with Medicare and health issues, which can make anyone feel frustrated or angry. When you find yourself getting upset with your spouse or family, it’s important to take a step back and think differently about the situation.

Instead of seeing problems as things that drive you apart, try to view them as chances to come closer together. A simple pause to breathe and think can do wonders!

Remember, you and your loved ones are a team, working together to make life better for everyone. Talking openly, trying to understand each other, and even sharing a laugh can turn hard times into moments that make your family ties stronger. This way, you don’t just solve problems—you build a happier, more loving home.

Speaking of a happy, loving home, congrats to Deb and Dave, Buckeyes who just celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary doing what they love to do… camping and exploring.

These two are living proof that life is an adventure and that it is up to each of us to write our own story. Their story includes spending as much time as possible with family and friends in the great outdoors. Keep going!

Elissa in Georgia has been living her best life this year exploring the world.

In addition to Ireland and England, she has visited SIX other countries this year. Her husband James chose to be at home and is totally supportive of her adventures. They spend great time together and apart. Elissa says she’s totally blessed and humbled.

I recently felt blessed and humbled visiting Utah Beach in Normandy, one of the sites of the D-Day invasion. That the Allies were able to pull off the greatest amphibian landing in the history of the world is beyond belief.

After many years of asking, I was finally able to convince my little brother, Haas, to join us on this adventure. This was his first trip to Europe and only his second time out of the country.

Other than a stomach bug, I’m pleased to say he had a blast. He runs a convenience store in Virginia, so we were always checking things out he might be able to add to his store.

We ran across these automatic pizza machines all over France. You drive up, touch screen your order, and 3 minutes later, out comes a delicious, hot, fresh pizza. What do you think? Let me know if you’ve ever seen this.

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-seven states around the country, including:

How to sharpen the saw!

May this note-blog post find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

You’ll be happy to know I only have one 2024 Medicare certification left to complete. There are at least 10 different carriers with over 50 different plans in some zip codes, how crazy is that?

Summer of 2023 has easily been the most enjoyable time of our lives. We’ve been connecting with family and friends we haven’t seen in ages.

These two boys are the sons of our first exchange student, Romain from the Alsace, who lived with us in Georgia almost twenty years ago when our kids were about this size.

Over the last two decades, we have hosted eight different students from different countries who came to the US and lived with us for a calendar year. It was so much fun for us and so great for our children to have to share our home with all these amazing young people.

This August, we invited them all (and their families) to meet up. Five of them showed up with family and spent time with us in Normandy.

Chris rode his bike all the way from Germany.

Everyday we spent together was filled with surprises, cooking, exploring, taking walks, drinking wine, and catching up on life and all the changes.

I have to admit, sometimes it was exhausting.

But the most amazing part… I felt my brain power getting stronger.

When we engage in new and novel activities, it improves our brain fitness.

According to the Alzheimer & Dementia Resource Center, staying active and engaged can reduce the speed of cognitive decline.

Some of the activities they recommend:
• Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand
• Close your eyes while getting dressed or performing other tasks
• Wear earplugs to experience the world without sound
• Turn your pictures or clocks upside down
• Start a new hobby
• Learn a musical instrument or something that is new to you

Just being in a house filled with young’uns speaking French, German, Spanish and English … filled my brain and gave me a fresh perspective, plus tons of gratitude.

What a joy seeing the people you love grow up and continue the circle of life.

Is it our responsibility to keep challenging ourselves to grow so they have a model to follow? That’s a personal choice, but for me, here’s the mission:
• Don’t expect thanks
• Expect the unexpected
• Live a life of service
• Maintain a joyful heart
• Laugh at everything, the good, the bad & the ugly

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-six states around the country, including:

You gotta have heart

May this blog post find you in good health with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

The Medicare busy season is still ten weeks away so I’m doing my best to complete all Medicare certifications for 2024 while also enjoying the summer before the storm.

How are you making this summer fun and noteworthy for you and your family?

Back in 2004, Pauline came to our house in Roswell, Georgia as our second exchange student from France. We taught her how to burn cookies .

Nineteen years later, we have the pleasure of reconnecting with her and her own family in Paris.

Back in the day, she was a typical high school girl. Remember how annoying teenagers can be? We never would have imagined what an amazing parent she would grow to become.

We are doing our best to convince them to visit us in the US next summer.

Quantz and I spent the afternoon with her family in the park, learning to know her children and her partner. What a joy to reconnect after so many years and so good for the heart.

Do you know about heart rate variability (HRV)?

HRV is a measure of the subtle variations in time between each heartbeat, reflecting our heart’s adaptability and resilience. Why is this important? Well, research suggests that higher HRV levels are associated with a healthier heart and increased longevity, meaning it could help us live longer, healthier lives!

Here are some ways to improve your HRV:

• Relaxation Techniques: Engage in relaxation practices like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. These activities can help reduce stress and enhance HRV.

• Regular Exercise: Stay active with regular physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, as it can positively impact HRV.

• Adequate Sleep: Prioritize getting enough sleep each night. Quality sleep supports a healthy heart and better HRV.

• Balanced Diet: Opt for a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to support heart health and HRV.

• Manage Stress: Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or seeking support from a counselor.

• Stay Hydrated: Drink enough water throughout the day to maintain good blood flow and support a healthy heart.

• Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively impact HRV and overall health, so it’s best to avoid or limit these habits.

By incorporating these simple practices into your daily routine, you can take significant steps towards enhancing your heart rate variability and ultimately improving your overall health and longevity. Take care of your heart, and it will take care of you!

Alex was our third exchange student (from Chemnitz, Germany) and he came to live with us back in 2005 for the year.

Germans are great rule followers but they sure are intense. We loved having him in our home and we were very curious how he would turn out.

This week, we had the pleasure of meeting up with him, his wife Lisa, their kids and Alex’s parents. Naturally, we are proud of him and the amazing person he has become.

Apparently we are not the only ones who are proud of him. His wife Lisa and their youngest daughter Frida think so too!

Their oldest daughter, Greta, is someone to watch. One day, she will move mountains.

I love this picture sent by Deb and David in Ohio. They’re having great summer exploring in their RV and spending time with family. You know that’s great for your heart rate variability.

Client Frank tells me all is well in the Low Country of South Carolina. He says his health is great and that Jasper and Tebow are still spoiled rotten .

Keep up the good work Frank!

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-six states around the country, including:

One simple trick for the summer

May this blog post find you in good health with your Medicare Insurance working properly .

Yours truly is busy completing Medicare Certifications for 2024. It’s the same every summer. I don’t enjoy taking exams with all the different carriers but…

I give thanks for each of you, that I have a reason to get up each morning and go to work, to help others, and to take care of my family.

June came to America in 1974 by herself from Korea with ten cents in her pocket (seriously).

She saved the original coin and has built a successful life and business for herself and her family. Hard work and faith. Isn’t that the foundation of the American dream?

I met Ashleigh in 2018, a few months after she severed her spinal cord in an accident here in Denver (just a month after my brother had his accident). We met again this week.

Five years later, she has rebuilt her life, living independently, and working as a peer mentor at the Craig Spinal Center. She is such an impressive young woman.

Perspective is everything. I’m as guilty as the next person of taking things for granted. But when we keep our eyes open, pay attention, and connect with those around us, we can be reminded of how much we have to be thankful for.

We had our final breakfast with Florence (Flo as we call her). After a year of living in our home and working as a volunteer at an inner city music school, she is preparing for the next chapter in her life, and we are sure going to miss her. Life continues at its normal pace and then it changes, just like that.

Santiago (one of our many exchange students) sent us this picture of his successful completion of the half marathon he ran in Mexico City last weekend. Now that University is over, he is preparing for an internship in Spain. The young ones keep growing up as we get closer to the end zone.

Life is short and that’s what makes it special. So be sure to remember what you are thankful for, to help others, and to laugh as much as possible.

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-six states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

Don’t be a hero this weekend!

May this newsletter-blog post find you in great health with your Medicare Insurance working properly as we prepare for the 4th of July .

Are you getting outside and enjoying life? Great, but don’t be a hero this weekend!

Perhaps you should check out pickleball! The game is fun, inexpensive, and a great way to meet people.

Just be sure you do the right preparation before starting!

According to USPTA Certified Teaching Pro Pam Lippy (PamLippy@gmail.com), who runs Pickleball Clinics in Ohio and Florida, it is imperative to get clearance from your doctor and to also do dynamic stretching before you just jump on a court and start playing.

According to a recent Bloomberg article, Pickleball may be responsible for nearly $400 million in medical costs! Hip injuries, torn ligaments, and sprains.

A lot of this is caused by over eager players with a “can do attitude” who don’t take the time to warm up properly and get the training they need to get started.

Just remember what my daughter said to me many years ago when I came back from soccer with a torn calf muscle: “Daddy, don’t be a hero!”

Keep trying new things, but be careful .

Life is getting back to normal here in Colorado after last week’s tornado. Miraculously, no one was injured but we did lose thousands of trees. This is the park behind our house where the trees are being mulched.

Q and I have had so much fun hanging out with our neighbor Vickie and her grandvarmints.

Going on walks and exploring nature with them has been so much fun.

We know how hot it’s been for Medicare clients in the South and the Midwest. Plato hopes you’re staying cool.

We’ve had more rain in the last three months than we did in the previous year, but this week, we had a couple of days in the 90’s and our bees are doing their best to adapt.

This is called bearding when the girls build up on the outside of the hive. I thought they might be swarming but my bee buddy Toly set me straight. Keep your fingers crossed they produce a ton of honey …

Congratulations to Jack and Adrienne on the celebration of their 24th wedding anniversary. Their smiles say it all. Adrienne, please send more pics of your puppy doodle Winston, people have been asking!

Summer means different things to different people, but to my little brother Haas, it means fishing the rivers of the Shenandoah Valley.

Our Air Force son, Nicholas, has been deployed to Eastern Europe where he and his fellow Airmen are working twelve hours days six days a week.

We give thanks for tech that allows us to screen share and stay in touch.

Nico and the other soldiers have befriended a local cat now named “Perogi,” feeding him leftovers and trying to fatten him up. It’s those little connections that make all the difference.

Be sure to keep all our soldiers in your prayers.

That’s it for this week; 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-three states around the country, including:

We had a tornado in the neighborhood!

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

Well, last week I wrote about checking on your homeowner’s insurance; this week it happened.

We had a tornado rip through our neighborhood.

Thousands of trees blown over, fences knocked down, basements flooded, lots of property damage.

Miraculously, our home was spared but we were out late last night helping neighbors put plexiglass over broken windows and gathering limbs. There was minor damage to houses nearby, but fortunately none were destroyed.

You know me to be social by nature, but I met and made friends with more neighbors last night than I’d met in the past seven years. We were all pitching in to help each other.

After completing temporary repairs, we congregated outside Brad’s house for lemon cake and beer.

When adversity strikes, Americans continue to be the kindest, most generous people I know, regardless of political and spiritual beliefs.

Don’t be fooled by all the noise online, we are a nation of honorable decent people, and when push comes to shove, I have deep faith in the brethren of this nation.

What small action can you take today to improve the life of someone else?

Oh, and by the way, please make certain your homeowner’s coverage is up to date!

The morning of the storm, Q and I were out walking. Do you see what we saw?

A baby rattler is just as poisonous as a full-grown rattle snake. Thank goodness Quantz pointed it out before I stepped on it; Plato never even noticed it.

Good eyesight is essential to health, yet it is a gift we take for granted.

Surprisingly, “four in ten adults in the US are at high risk for vision loss,” according to the CDC.

Weekly conversations with Medicare clients all over the country have made it clear how scary vision loss can be. (Indeed, we had our own vision scare a few weeks ago!)

It’s important to do the little things right:

Spending time outside is good for the eyes.
Too much ultraviolet light is unhealthy.
After 20 minutes on your phone, stare at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Carrots are good for eye health.
Smoking is bad for the eyes.

Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do everything, but here’s a great article with ideas and a quiz.

Remember, small changes over a long period of time will have the greatest effect.

It’s been so much fun spending time with neighbor Vickie and Jeff’s grandson Dray. Dray fell in love with our bees and comes over all the time to show me stuff (like his painted lady cocoons and his newest jet plane.)

Plus, since I am now working on my Medicare insurance carrier training certifications for 2024, Dray has been helping me with my counting.

We’re sure gonna miss him when he returns home to the west coast with his parents.

We are so pleased to report the birth or my brother’s first-born grandchild, Chloe. Grandvarmits, life’s great joy! Mother, baby, and father Alex are doing well.

This is the first grandchild on our side of the family so everyone is super stoked!

Can you see the similarity between my brother Rob and his son? Strikingly similar, eh?

This is our late dad, so you can see, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

That’s it for this week; 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

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Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-three states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
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North Carolina
Ohio
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Here’s a simple way to avoid playing with fire

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

We’re having the wettest summer in forever, so we try to get outside whenever the weather permits. Today, I want to discuss a simple way to avoid playing with fire.

Now Plato loves Smores as much as the next doodle, but he did ask me to share a fiery question:

Is your Auto & Home insurance up to date?

Flo was in an accident on Thursday.

Thank goodness no one was injured, though four cars were damaged.

Peace of mind is knowing your Home & Auto coverage is up to date.

Consider:
• Updating your auto insurance card in the glove box.
• Downloading your Insurance Company’s app.
• Setting up the Accident Support number in your contacts.
• Keeping a first aid bag in the trunk.
• Scheduling a review and/or shopping with your P&C agent.

Here’s a Forbes article that may be helpful.

We had a wonderful visit from Aunt Nancy who came to Denver for work and she joined us for dinner.

Sus came down from Fort Collins to be with the “fam” and we sure had a nice time.

Last year’s Father’s Day/Birthday/Xmas gift was a propane pizza oven. We’ve been getting better with our pies (and neighbor Sally makes amazing dough).

Everyone seems to love making their own pizzas. Santi gave it both thumbs up while visiting. He’s back home in Puebla, Mexico, preparing to complete his final internship before graduating University with a business degree.

Lifelong Met’s fan Mary Ann attended a Rockies game with her great nephew, and he was lucky enough to get a foul ball.

Mary Ann said she felt torn at the game, growing up a Mets fan but living in Denver forever since. I say having two teams to root for means you can’t lose, right?

I love this pic of M’Liss and Miss Paula enjoying the beach in South Carolina. These two are part of a friend’s group which began as a weekly driveway pandemic potluck and the routine stuck (at least that’s what Weitze, another neighbor, told me.)

We all know that staying connected is good for the soul. Ladies, please keep up the good work! Wanna share how you stay connected?

Plato certainly helps us stay connected. He likes to stop and chat with Perry and her husband Ed when we see each other walking.

Bob, Sue, and their doggy Rudy saw me biking home in the rain (sudden downpour) and they were kind enough to let me in to wait out the storm with a glass of wine and a fun catch up.

Glad to see Rudy is on the mend !

That’s it for this week; Happy Father’s Day and 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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in twenty-three states around the country, including: