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Medicare

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Turning 65…not you? You may not be even close to 65, but I’m sure you know of a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, or uncle who is 65 or turning 65 in the very near future. Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15th – December 7th.

Medicare can be very complicated and frustrating with so many plan options to choose from. Keeping your current doctor and finding the right prescription drug coverage are two of the key determinants of which plan you may want. You can choose an HMO or PPO Medicare Advantage Plan that includes a Prescription Drug coverage with co-pays and no monthly premiums. You can choose a Medigap, also called a Medicare Supplement Plan, with a monthly premium that allows you to go to any medical provider that accepts Medicare.  And along with this challenge, Medicare-eligible individuals receive huge amounts of advertising from Medicare insurance carriers. Trying to decipher which plan is the best fit for their needs and budget can overwhelming.

The InsuranceExperts.team can help you with all of this. Put the marketing propaganda away and give us a call.  There is no charge for our services! We represent a variety of insurance carriers. When we find the best solution for you and/or your referrals, the Medicare insurance carriers compensate us.

Lowering Cholesterol Testimony

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Earlier this year my cholesterol was 284 and my doctor suggested I start on cholesterol meds. I just do not like taking manufactured medications. I researched options that are more “natural.”

Here is what I learned:

  • Delete fried foods from your diet as much as possible. (My husband, who LIVES on fried food, has 140 cholesterol. Life is not fair.) Partially hydrogenated oils (solid fats) increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower the HDL (good) cholesterol.
  • Use monounsaturated fats to lower LDL and raise HDL (olives, olive oil, canola oil, tree nuts like pecans, almonds, walnuts, cashews, avocados). While the nuts are higher in calories, they lower LDL.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes 3-5 times a week. I walk, yoga, dance, step exercise, bike, garden. The longer the duration of activity the greater the effect on raising HDL and lowering LDL.
  • Eat fish (wild salmon, Bluefin tuna) 2-4 times a week.
  • Substitute olive oil for butter which has the potential to lower LDL by 15%.
  • Add spices: garlic, curcumin/turmeric, black pepper, coriander, cinnamon. Adding 1/2-1 clove of garlic daily can lower cholesterol by 9%.
  • It takes 3-6 months to see results from these “natural” methods, longer in women.
  • Psyllium can lower LDL by 6-10%. Put it in your smoothies or sprinkle on salads.
  • Fish oil must have EPA and DHA (1000 mg recommended) to be effective. Higher EPA/DHA lowers triglycerides and raises HDL.

I bought good fish oil, started exercising at least 5 days a week. I added veggies and nuts to my diet. It is learning a new way to eat but not a bad way. At the four month check, I had lowered my cholesterol by 58 points. (I had a pact with a nurse friend that if I did not lower it by 10%, I would go on the meds. I smashed that which still makes me do the happy dance!)

Mecca T.

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15th!

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Turning 65…not you? You may not be even close to 65, but I’m sure you know of a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, or uncle who is 65 or turning 65 in the very near future. Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15th – December 7th. You can start reviewing the new plans on October 1st.

Medicare can be very complicated and frustrating with so many plan options to choose from. Keeping your current doctor and finding the right prescription drug coverage are two of the key determinants of which plan you may want. You can choose an HMO or PPO Medicare Advantage Plan that includes a Prescription Drug coverage with co-pays and no monthly premiums. You can choose a Medigap, also called a Medicare Supplement Plan, with a monthly premium that allows you to go to any medical provider that accepts Medicare.  And along with this challenge, Medicare-eligible individuals receive huge amounts of advertising from Medicare insurance carriers. Trying to decipher which plan is the best fit for their needs and budget can overwhelming.

The InsuranceExperts.team can help you with all of this. Put the marketing propaganda away and give us a call.  There is no charge for our services! We represent a variety of insurance carriers. When we find the best solution for you and/or your referrals, the Medicare insurance carriers compensate us.

What’s Next

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Now that the Affordable Care Act special enrollment period is expired, what choices to you have?

Short Term Medical Plans are available 365 days a year and offer coverage from one month up to 36 months. These plans have qualifying medical questions and pre-existing conditions are not covered. They are less costly than Affordable Care Act plans without a subsidized premium. Child-only plans are available.  All Short Term Medical Plans are Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO). These are a good option for those who qualify and want to enroll in an Affordable Care Act plan for 2022.

 

Affordable Care Act plans are still available if you have a qualifying event for a special enrollment period such as moved into the state, had a baby, got married, lost your job, are getting a divorce, etc. There is no underwriting for these plans and they cover pre-existing conditions. You may or may not qualify for a premium subsidy or cost sharing. Child-only plans are available. All Affordable Care Plans are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO).

Indemnity/Limited Benefit plans are first dollar benefit plans that typically do not have a deductible and pay a set benefit for medical procedures. These plans can be less costly than either Short Term Medical Plans or Affordable Care Act Plans. They do not offer child-only plans. There is no network so an insured can go to any doctor of their choice.

All of these options require specific information to determine the best plan for your needs and budget. Please contact me to ensure that you are getting the right health insurance plan for you and/or your family. Just a reminder, there is no cost for my services.

October 15th – December 7th  – Medicare Annual Election Period. Changes can be made to Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Prescription Drug plans for an effective date of 01/01/2022.

November 1st – December 15th  – Affordable Care Act Plan Open Enrollment. This may be extended. You can enroll or change your Affordable Care Act Plan for an effective of 01/01/2022.

Mental Healthcare

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Following the COVID pandemic, many professionals have predicted a “second pandemic” of mental health problems. The lockdown, the fears, the housing and supply shortages, more alcohol consumption, less physical activity, … all of these things combine to cause strain on our emotions and mental health.

The InsuranceExperts.team wants to encourage you to have a mental health check up just like you would have an annual physical. Start with your general practitioner or family physician. They can do a basic assessment and make recommendations.  If you are experiencing sadness or anxiety, a counselor or therapist can help you work through the cause and find solutions.

Don’t let a mental health issue become a major problem!

  • 5% of American adults with symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder as of February 2021 according to the CDC. That is double the 2020 number.
  • 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
  • 1 in 25 Americans live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression.
  • 3% of adults with mental illness in Arizona did not receive treatment.
  • 2% of youth with major depression did not receive any mental health treatment.
  • Youth suicides increased 57% from 2007 to 2018.
  • 47,000 people commit suicide every year. We could fill Chase Field!
  • On average, someone dies from suicide every 7 hours.
  • In 2018, 1,532 Arizonans were lost to drug overdoses.
  • There is a Federal Parity Law regarding insurance coverage for mental health.
  • In 2019, Arizona passed “Jake’s Law” ensuring parity for all Arizonans with special provisions for our youth.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! THERE IS SOMEONE TO HELP YOU.

Resources

  • Veterans Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and Press 1 or Text message to 838255
  • Teen Lifeline 1-800-248-TEEN (8336) http://teenlifeline.org
  • The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386 (Youth who identify as LGBTQ)
  • Safe Call Now 206-459-3020 (First Responders)
  • National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: 866-331-9474
  • Tempe Youth Resource Center: (for homeless teens) 602-263-7654
  • FITT (Families in This Together) Parent/Caregiver FB Support Group by JEM https://www.facebook.com/groups/1926632904225305/
  • You can locate local resources by visiting 211.org

 

The InsuranceExperts.team is here to support you with options.

 

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