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MED I CAREBLUEPR INT.COM Health Matters
MAR/APR 2022
Will My Boys ComeWork With Me? Continuing Family Tradition
If you visited our offices from February through August in 2019, chances are you met our most popular employee.
I would be elated if I had that same opportunity with Logan or my oldest son, Jackson, who is 19 years old. Yes, I may be a little insane for having a 19-year-old and 3-year-old, but as you may have discovered, I love being a dad. It’s one of my favorite roles in life. And as I have learned, part of being a dad is teaching lessons. When I was a teen and figuring out what I wanted to do in life, my dad knew coming to work with him was not the answer. Instead, I joined the military, learned a lot about what good leadership looks like and what it doesn’t, and four years later, I joined my dad at work. It was the right time for me, and being out “in the real world” was valuable. I want the same for Jackson and Logan. Currently, Jackson is going to school and working, learning lessons I had to at his age. I was actually very excited to hear he had earned a job at a local outdoor furniture store in the summer, which meant he would have to spend his whole day in the blazing South Carolina sun discovering true hard work. Lo and behold, three weeks later, he was promoted to an in-store job! I’m proud of him for the promotion, but that lesson backfired on me a bit. Regardless, I’m proud of Jackson for forging his own way in the world. He’s learning lessons now that will serve him well as he grows. And when he’s ready, I would love to pass on this family tradition to him, if he wants to come work with me and in this industry. And perhaps we could pass it onto his little brother, too.
During that time, my wife, Ashley, and I were fortunate enough to bring our newborn son, Logan, into work with us. We would station Logan in his pack-n-play in Ashley’s office. Selfishly, I stopped by a lot, too. During moments when I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I would spend a few moments with Logan. It would cheer me up. Ashley and I were incredibly lucky to do this. We spent every moment of the first six months of Logan’s life with him, and we were able to do so without impacting our work. That time is one of our slowest moments of the year, so ultimately, it couldn’t have been more perfect. I’ve been thinking a lot about that time lately, especially now that Logan is already 3 years old! That smiley, adorable baby many of you know is now a wild, very excited little toddler. And we are firmly in the “terrible 3s!” I laugh at the thought of having Logan return to the office right now; we wouldn’t get anything done. Like Logan, I went to work with my dad — although, as an adult — and I loved that experience. I learned so much from him during that time. I am grateful I had that opportunity. We learned how to balance our relationship between work and home, and I am better at what I do because of it. (Ashley and I follow a similar structure working together, too.) Dad taught me how to love what I do every day.
Although, admittedly, I’m not sure Logan could outdo his performance in 2019.
—Jason Mackey
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DOES MEDICARE COVER THAT?
How to Get a Definitive Answer to That Question
These days, our health and wellness are at the forefront of every decision we make, but often, affordability wins out. A January 2021 CNBC report found that 49% of people who responded to the survey had concerns about paying medical bills under $1,000. As an enrollee in Medicare, you are guaranteed certain protections and rights to funded medical care and assistance. Yet, as Medicare continually evolves and your healthcare needs change as you age, you may also have concerns about healthcare affordability and coverage. A diagnosis of a chronic condition, like heart disease, may have you worried about what Medicare will cover and what you may need assistance with. Luckily, getting answers to your questions about what Medicare can cover is easy. Here are three ways to discover what’s covered and what isn’t. SEARCH ONLINE: This is one of the easy parts of Medicare. There is a Google-like search engine installed into Medicare.gov that will allow you to search for treatments, tests, and services. Once you type in the medical need you’re inquiring about and hit “enter,” a number of results will appear, allowing you to get the answers you need. You can find this handy tool at Medicare.gov/Coverage.
What Our Clients Think!
“You provide options to your clients so they can make informed choices.” –Thomas Andrews, Customer since 2019 “Always there and taking care of the customer!” –Customer since 2017
SEARCH YOUR BOOKLET: Regularly, Medicare updates its guidelines, plans, and descriptions in its “Medicare and You” handbook. While it’s tempting to ignore this booklet as another piece of junk mail, this can be a
valuable tool! Scan the digital or print version of “Medicare and You” to learn more about your coverage. And check it continually as updates are published and your healthcare changes.
SEARCH YOUR PLAN: Medicare’s offerings and coverages vary by plan, so while the first two options can offer you a wide range of knowledge, to get a crystal-clear, no-confusion answer, examine your plan. Within it will be details about what’s covered and what isn’t.
If all three of these options fail you, our team is ready and willing to help. Simply call us at 888-335-9448 to get the guidance you need.
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Remembering Lives Lost CELEBRATING CELEBRITY ICONS AND LOVED ONES WHO PASSED IN 2021
As we finish our second year in a pandemic, no one is a stranger to loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is mourning a loved one. As Maya Angelou famously said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This month, we want to remember the feelings that are associated with some of our greatest public losses in 2021. As you grieve for your loved ones, we hope the legacies of these stars remind you that it’s the lessons people show us that are worth cherishing. FOLLOWYOUR HEART — HENRY LOUIS “HANK” AARON Passing away at the beginning of 2021, Hammerin’ Hank taught us to stand up for what you believe in. When Aaron made his first appearance for the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, he set about a course of excellence
and activism, fending off racial slurs en route to a World Series Championship. Aaron would go on to shatter Babe Ruth’s 33-year home run record, break batting records, and win several MLB seasonal awards. Hammerin’ Hank’s legacy both on and off the field are a testament to hard work, patience, and grit. LAUGH MORE — BETTYWHITE For nearly seven decades, BettyWhite entertained audiences on TV, in movies, and on the radio. Her palpable energy, snarky sense of humor, and lovable characters were among the many traits she became known for as her career progressed — and boy did it! White was honored by the Guinness World Record books in 2018 for being the person who has worked in television the longest. When she passed on Dec. 31, 2021, at the age of 99, the world mourned the loss of the woman who taught us to not take life so seriously.
TEACH OTHERS — JOHN MADDEN On Dec. 28, 2021, legendary National Football League (NFL) coach and broadcaster John Madden passed away at age 85. Madden led the then- Oakland Raiders to its first Super Bowl championship and never had a losing season as a coach. But after retiring, the desire to teach football still lingered. Madden began calling broadcast games in a way that had never been done before: by teaching America how to play football. Madden is now synonymous with football, with his video game, Madden NFL, and vibrant game-calling forever changing the game — just by teaching.
Indulge in this St. Patrick’s Day classic — vegan style!
VEGAN REUBEN
SUDOKU
Inspired by MyDarlingVegan.com
DIRECTIONS
1. Cut tempeh into 4 thin slices.
2. In a shallow bowl,
combine broth, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, onion powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Marinate tempeh in mixture for 30 minutes.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
8 oz tempeh
1/2 cup vegetable broth 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3. In a large skillet, heat the
1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
olive oil. Cook tempeh in the oil for 5 minutes per side.
1 tsp liquid smoke 1 tsp onion powder
SOLUTION
1 tsp paprika
4. Between toasted bread, layer tempeh, sauerkraut, cheese (optional), and dressing. Enjoy immediately.
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp olive oil
Bread of choice, toasted
1/2 cup sauerkraut
Vegan Swiss cheese (optional) 1/4 cup Thousand Island dressing
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Inside This Issue
WILL JASON’S BOYS CARRY ON THE FAMILY TRADITION?
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DEFINITIVELY KNOWWHAT MEDICARE COVERS WITH 3 GUIDES WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK
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REMEMBERING CELEBRITY ICONS AND OTHER LIVES LOST IN 2021 VEGAN REUBEN
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MEET ‘DR. PEYO’ — FRANCE’S ONLY 4-LEGGED DOC
MEET FRANCE’S 4-LEGGED DOCTOR Dr. Peyo’ the Therapy Horse Will See You Now!
Peyo — affectionately known as “Dr. Peyo” by the staff at Calais — wasn’t always a therapy horse. In his early life, he competed in dressage, but it didn’t take long for his trainer to realize Peyo was more interested in the crowd than the competition. In a moving article about Peyo, The Guardian reported, “After shows, he would pick out people in the crowd, approach them, and choose to stay next to them.” This was the first sign of Peyo’s secret talent: Like a bomb-sniffing dog, it appears Peyo can detect cancerous tumors. In the hospital, he uses a raised hoof to point his trainer toward rooms he’d like to visit. Inside, he comforts the dying patients and their families. “What really pushed scientists to take an interest in him and open the health establishment doors to us was this [seeming] ability to greatly reduce [the patients’ dosage of] all hard drugs and
thus allow a more peaceful departure,” Peyo’s trainer, Hassen Bouchakour, told The Guardian. Peyo has been working as a therapy horse since 2016 and stood vigil by the bedsides of more than 1,000 people, bringing them comfort, and letting their children ride him through the hospital halls. It’s an amazing achievement for a 15-year-old horse! Of course, Peyo is far from the only animal visiting hospitals to bring people comfort. Here in the U.S., Johns Hopkins partners with more than 15 volunteer therapy dog teams that make patients smile, lower their blood pressure, improve their mood, and reduce their pain. At least 45 hospitals in the country have similar programs. Want to know if your local hospital employs therapy animals? Visit their website to find out. You might be surprised by what you learn!
Imagine you’re sitting in a French hospital, minding your own business and waiting for a doctor to see you. Suddenly, the elevator doors slide open and a full-sized horse clip-clops out into the waiting room! That might sound like something out of a children’s book, but it’s actually a regular occurrence at Calais Hospital. There, a therapy horse named Peyo visits sick and dying patients to help ease their anxiety, bring them comfort, and distract them from their pain.
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