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MEDICAREBLUEPRINT.COM Health Matters
JULY/AUGUST 2022
The Value of Being a Lefty Living in a Right-Handed World
Tim and I both share a trait that caused a lot of frustration when we were growing up. We would come home from school with ink caked along our left hands or cramping from writing in a right- handed world all day long. That’s right, Tim and I are both left- handed. (Ironically, my wife, who many of you know also works with us, is left-handed, too!) And it turns out that there’s a holiday meant to celebrate us southpaws. Aug. 13 is National Left Handers Day, and I have to say that it feels good to get the consideration we deserve! I’m joking, but there is something to be said about trying to “survive” in this right-handed world. Being left-handed has forced me to be more creative than others. Scissors, notebooks, slow- drying ink pens, measuring tapes, golf clubs, and other tools were all designed for those who are right-handed. For those of us who prefer the left hand, we either have to adapt or try to become ambidextrous. Tim can do this in some ways. He plays the guitar with his right hand and punted with his right foot all throughout his high school football days. He credits this skill to his mother, who could write in perfect penmanship with both hands at the same time! My oldest son succumbed to this in the opposite way. He’s right- handed, but because I taught him how to golf, he learned to do so left-handed. If you have ever seen a left-handed golfer, you know it looks a little strange.
Luckily, Tim and I both grew up and went to school in a time when being left-handed wasn’t a bad thing. We’ve heard the stories of students who were forced to be right-handed, despite their preference for their left hand. It’s sad to think about. While it certainly hasn’t been easy to be left hand-dominant, I actually credit this preference with helping me develop a stronger sense of creativity. I approach situations with a problem-solving attitude — an approach that served me and my left hand well throughout school! In fact, I like to think my inventor’s spirit is inspired by my left- handedness. I was an early adopter to recent technology, and together, Tim and I are in the process of building a Medicare bot. Medicare Maximus — Max for short — will be able to provide answers to questions someone may have about their Medicare options. Our goal isn’t to eliminate the personal service we are able to provide; but rather, we want to provide access to information. Within 2–5 minutes, clients can get the answers they need without much of a fuss. Creating Medicare Maximus may be something Tim and I could have done without being left-handed, but I think there is some validity in saying that the challenges we faced as lefties allowed us to think about this project in a more useful way.
But I’m curious to know — are you left-handed, too?
—Jason Mackey
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It’s a noisy world we live in, but life sure is worth listening to. You need good hearing and communication at all stages of life, but sometimes the cost can be significant. Hearing aids are often recognized as the gold standard for hearing loss treatment, but the cost can range anywhere between $1,000 and $6,000 per ear. No Need to Fear if You Protect Your Ears And that’s just for the hearing aids themselves! Additional expenses can include warranties, hearing tests, follow-up appointments, adjustments, and the ongoing support from health care professionals. But there are cost-efficient options to treat and protect your ears — hear the secrets now! TIPS FOR HEARING LOSS Hearing loss can make you feel limited in what you can accomplish and daily activities can become a challenge. But with affordable hearing treatments, that weight can be lifted off your shoulders. Hearing aids can be a tremendous help, but in certain situations, what if they’re not enough? This is where assistive listening devices (ALDs) can come into play. There are many types of ALDs, such as captioned phones, alerting devices, or even personal sound amplifiers, and these devices can provide an enhanced auditory signal for better reception of telecommunication signals as well as monitor important sounds in environments through visual or tactile sensations. TUNE IN AND LISTEN UP
What Our Clients Think!
“Tim answered all my many questions even before I purchased any supplemental policies. He has gone above and beyond to make sure I had all the information needed to make the correct decisions to meet my needs. I highly recommend Tim and his company Medicare Blueprint Advisors. Take advantage of their free evaluation. I think you will be glad you did.”
Alerting devices can use one or more of the following signals to stay connected and safe in emergency situations:
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Visual, such as flashing lights
Vibrotactile, such as a vibrating component
• Auditory, such as increased amplification and use of lower frequency sounds
–Furman Shorter, Client since 2022
Lip-reading training is also beneficial and cost-efficient when it comes to treating hearing loss. For people with previously normal or limited hearing, it does take time and practice to develop. It also depends on each person’s natural aptitude for lip-reading and the amount of effort they are applying. But with facial expressions, gestures, and contextual cues, it allows lip readers to understand what is being said and in what manner. While ALDs and lip-reading training are not replacements for hearing aids, they are supplemental for those who need extra assistance in specific listening situations. So, don’t just live life, hear it as well!
“Tim and his staff are top notch and very responsive to our questions and concerns. I heartily endorse his practice ! Michael R. Ugino, M.D.”
–Michael Ugino, Client since 2021
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MyMedicare Benefits WHY WAIT FOR YOUR QUARTERLY NOTICE?
Being on top of your specific benefits and services is a must because having your medical information ready and on standby when you need it most alleviates the stress and urgency to find it quickly. So, after you have enrolled in Medicare and received your unique ID number, you should prioritize creating a MyMedicare account. This free, 24-hour secure online service keeps your information private and accessible only to you. Instead of waiting three months for your quarterly notice, a MyMedicare account allows you to check your claims more quickly and efficiently. You never know when you might need to see a doctor while you’re out of town. With a MyMedicare account, you can access that personal information with a simple tap of your finger. This account can make it easy for you to perform tasks such as:
• Accessing previous vaccination, health screening, or other preventive services • Updating your emergency contact information Medicare is made up of multiple parts, so it’s often confusing to learn about and navigate. But your online account can help you distinguish any uncertainties about your insurance plan. Whether it be Part A, Part B, Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan, you can use MyMedicare to understand the type of coverage you have. In addition, a MyMedicare account allows you to check any new medical claims. You are able to see what Medicare has approved and what they have paid for each bill. It also includes how each
claim can impact your deductible and whether or not you have reached it for the calendar year.
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Sharing health information with health care providers Making your medical records available to loved ones in case of an emergency Viewing Medicare claims and your current Medicare Summary Notice
Knowing every detail about your coverage can be overwhelming, but having a MyMedicare account makes it easy! Check out Medicare.gov and click on “Create Account” to get started.
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RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TIRAMISU
Your friends will see fireworks when they taste this all-American dessert at the Fourth of July barbecue.
WORD SEARCH
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, gently mix all berries with 1/3 cup sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes. 2. In a medium bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. 3. In another medium bowl, mix mascarpone cheese, vanilla, and 1 cup sugar. Gradually fold in whipped cream. 4. Over a shallow bowl, drain the berries. Dip the ladyfingers in the leftover juice and allow the excess to drip off. 5. In a 13x9-inch dish, place half the ladyfingers in a single layer. Add a layer with half of the berries and then half the mascarpone mixture. Repeat layers, starting with ladyfingers. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • • • • • •
3 cups raspberries 3 cups blackberries 2 cups blueberries
2 cups strawberries, sliced 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
AIRPLANE BEACHBALL
HIKING REVOLUTION RUBY SCOOPS SPARKLER TUBING
4 tsp orange zest 1 cup orange juice
BONFIRE FESTIVAL FOURTH GRILL
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 8-oz cartons mascarpone cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 7-oz packages crisp ladyfinger cookies
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7 GAMECOCK AVE., STE. 709 CHARLESTON, SC 29407 888-335-9498 MEDICAREBLUEPRINT.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
I’M A PROUD LEFTY — ARE YOU?
2
TIPS FOR TREATING HEARING LOSS WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK
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SETTING UP A MYMEDICARE ACCOUNT RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TIRAMISU
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A TRUE CANINE HERO
A ROUND OF A-PAWS This Amazing Pup Saves the Day — Twice!
Heroes don’t always wear capes or stand on two legs — and in a specific case with a German shepherd, this is exceptionally true! A dog noticed that one of his favorite tiny humans was in some serious danger, so he saved the day, two times! A little boy and girl enjoyed the day, tossing a ball back and forth in their backyard. When the girl overthrew the ball, it unfortunately fell into a small pond behind the boy. The girl rushed inside the house to get help, but the boy stayed outside and even ended up leaning over the edge of the pond as he tried to retrieve the ball on his own. This is when a protective German shepherd,
lying nearby in the grass, saw everything and immediately sprung into action.
The dog first looked into the pond to locate the ball. Then, knowing the boy was in danger as he teetered on the edge, the dog tugged on the little boy’s vest with his teeth, pulling him backward to safety near the back patio of the home. Once the little boy was in a safe location, the dog located a pole net that had been leaning against the house and brought it over to the pond. While his tail wagged with pride, the dog fished the ball out of the pond. The dog then put the net down on the ground near the pond and brought the ball over to the boy, who petted him with appreciation. This German shepherd saved the day for this little boy and girl — and also saved the boy from injury and needing a dry set of clothes! What an amazing canine. He deserves a treat and a round of a-paws!
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