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LYN’S LEDGER
Lyndon Thomas Insurance Agency
We Help You With Medicare Plans.
Introducing Kelley Rasmussen February 2025
Medicare plans have been a big part of my life for many years. Starting in 2008, SCAN Healthplan employed me for six years marketing their Medicare Advantage plans in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Ten years ago, in November 2014, I moved on as an employee of SCAN Healthplan to become an independent agent. What began back in the day as Lyn doing everything has now grown to a full-time staff of five. We serve Medicare beneficiaries in 21 states. Our Sales Associate, Rod Owen, has brought in many clients in California and in Midwestern and Eastern states. Thank you, Rod! When you call LTIA, several people may answer the phone. Our fantastic support staff you may have talked with on the phone are Beth Finsaas and Denise Moreno. More recently, if you’ve called in, you may have talked with the newest member of our sales team, Kelley Rasmussen. Kelley came aboard with eight years of experience in health insurance. She loves people, and Medicare plans are a natural fit for her. Kelley is always trying to learn more and is a true professional. She was recently telling me about her experience with a client. Noting her smile, I said, “You’re having fun, aren’t you?” Note: Here in Southern California, one identifies where we live first by the county, then by the valley, and last by the city. Here’s Kelley in her own words. “A true Southern California native, I was born and grew up in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. My early life was filled with typical ‘70s and ‘80s Valley Girl activities: swimming pool parties, mall shopping, Dodger games, cheerleading, drives to the beach, and watching iconic TV shows! My family (Dad, a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy, Mom, and an older sister) often hosted weekend barbecues with friends from church. “I moved to the San Francisco Bay area for college, attending San Jose State and UC Santa Cruz, but then took a break going into my final year. “Shortly after, I came to the Ojai Valley (29 years ago) and found my home in Sisar Canyon of Upper Ojai. I later completed my education, squeezing in classes at UC Santa Barbara between school drop-offs for my kids, soccer practices, and making
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Kelley
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breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my family of seven. Through it all, I was able to attain a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies in 2006. “I am a mother to six lovely (now) grown children (ages 21-31): five daughters and one son. One of my children came to our family in a special way, joining my crew when she was 8 years old. “From 2011 to 2022, I ventured out to live in Portland, Oregon, with my kids. My professional career developed later in life, when I started in the insurance industry about eight years ago. As many say, ‘You don’t find Insurance, it finds you.’ “I am now working locally as a Medicare consulting agent with the Lyndon Thomas Insurance Agency. I am blessed to have work that is meaningful and allows me to provide a service to our community. “My greatest passion is maintaining my homestead farm where I grow subtropical fruits, including guavas, mulberries, avocados, jujubes, and several other varieties of crops. “Lastly, I LOVE our little town and am grateful for the beauty and kindness we all share.” Kelley, welcome to the team! You’re the best! We are grateful.
www.LT-ins.com –Lyn Thomas
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Lyndon Thomas Insurance
HOW E-BIKES MAKE FITNESS FUN AND ACCESSIBLE FOR OLDER ADULTS Revive Your Love for Cycling
As we age, staying physically active whenever possible becomes increasingly important. However, many of us start to experience difficulties with our normal exercise routines as we approach our senior years. It’s not as easy to go for an extended run, lift weights, or participate in sports, so we have to start looking for less intense alternatives that still boost our physical fitness and keep us entertained. Electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes, are becoming a popular fitness trend for older Americans. When did you last take your bicycle from the garage or storage and ride around town? It’s probably been several years, but many of us have fond memories from our youth of biking to a friend’s house or a local hotspot. E-bikes are making it possible for us to relive those memories without risking injury or overexertion. The technology behind e-bikes has improved significantly in recent years. They’re now more user- friendly and accessible than ever before. Some models even have built-in GPS to ensure you never get lost, regardless of whether you’re riding through city streets, peaceful neighborhoods, or scenic nature trails. Many e-bikes are lightweight and easier to maneuver than traditional bikes. E-biking provides amazing physical and mental health benefits that are easily noticeable after only a few rides. You’ll see improvements in cardiovascular health, muscle strength, weight management, balance, and mood. Plus, it’s a low-impact activity, so you can explore to your heart’s content while also being kind to your joints. THE PHONE KEEPS RINGING
branch, in this case, the FCC and CMS, regulates based on those laws, and the Courts then adjudicate the constitutionality of the laws. In this case, “written,” as added by the FCC, changed the definition of “prior express consent” significantly enough to be struck down. I’ve read the 26-page ruling of the Eleventh Circuit Court. The Court held that in adding “written” to its regulation, “The FCC … exceeded its statutory authority in redefining ‘prior express consent’ to include the additional ‘prior express consent’ restrictions.” Okay, I get it. The finely grained definitions of words carry enormous real-world weight. Congress will have to get motivated to protect consumers. Call or write your House and Senate representatives and tell them your experience of being harassed by countless phone calls. Prior express consent, as permitted by law, is included every time we check the consent box on a form. Perhaps read the fine print a little more carefully. Sadly, in the meantime, maybe the best line of defense is just don’t answer your phone. Next month, I’ll discuss defensive measures we as consumers can take. While e-bikes present opportunities to improve your physical fitness while limiting your risk for injury, they’re also a great way to meet like-minded people in your community. You can find e-biking clubs and events nationwide, and many host group rides throughout the year. It’s a great way to meet new friends! An e-bike can boost your overall well-being, but follow all safety measures, such as wearing a helmet and obeying road signs. Even though e-bikes are safer and more efficient than ever, you can still get injured while riding, especially if you are going too fast for road conditions — some e-bikes can get up to speeds of almost 30 mph. What are you waiting for? Get riding! Your body and mind will thank you!
Telemarketing, the marketing of products and services over the telephone, has been around for a long time. Telemarketing became far more obnoxious when computers started robocalling. A few years ago, early forms of artificial intelligence started talking to you when you answered. Weird. Nowadays, on the occasion I answer a call, my first question is, “Am I talking to a real human being?” It’s creepy when the AI chuckles and tries to pass itself off as human. The April 2024 edition of Lyn’s Ledger carried news that, based on a recent regulation issued by the Federal Communications Commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare) had published in its 2025 Final Rule including heightened marketing rules that established a “[o]ne-to-one consent structure where Third-Party Marketing Organizations must obtain prior express written consent through a clear and conspicuous disclosure for each Third-Party Marketing Organization that will be receiving the beneficiary’s [your] data.”
In other words, no company or marketing firm could ever call you unless you first gave them written (clicking on a clearly defined webpage link included) permission. “Each” meant that your personal information could not be given to anyone else unless you, again, gave prior express written consent. It is a very draconian definition, essentially killing telemarketing, but given the level of telephone harassment, many consumers welcome it. This rule was to go into effect on Jan. 27, 2025, giving Medicare beneficiaries some much-appreciated peace and quiet. However, this FCC rule was struck down by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 24, based on the definition of “prior express consent.” “Prior express consent” is statutory law (Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 2012), passed by Congress and signed into law, and is the basis for Do Not Call lists and the like. “Prior express written consent” is 2023 FCC and CMS Agency added language. Our system of governance is designed so that Congress writes the laws, the Administrative
2 1211 Maricopa Hwy, Ste 222, Ojai, CA 93023
CA# 0D96309
We Help You With Medicare.
Just this week, we received calls from clients stating they’ve taken phone calls about Medicare. Since we’re still getting them, here are a few pointers on phone calls. Any telephone call allegedly from Medicare? SCAM! Medicare, the IRS, and Social Security NEVER make first contact by telephone. If any of these federal agencies want to communicate with you, they always send you a letter first. Telephone calls may become a part of the ongoing communication on the specific matter, but that is after initial contact by mail. Any call about Medicare card replacement? SCAM! Medicare recently sent out replacement cards with new ID numbers to over a million beneficiaries. Medicare just sent the cards without making telephone calls. Anyone calling you to ask for your Medicare number or to “update” your Medicare information is a scam. Any call about a Medicare plan? MARKETING CALL! Just as during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7), any telephone call you receive about a Medicare plan is a sales call designed to get you to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, most likely an HMO. These calls come from third-party marketing organizations in another state or another country with little or no knowledge of your local network of doctors or hospitals. Proceed at your own risk! IF YOU DO TAKE A CALL …
Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake
Inspired by EasyDessertRecipes.com
Ingredients
• 1 cup chopped dark chocolate • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup almond flour • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts • 4 large eggs, separated • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Thank you for trusting Lyndon Thomas Insurance with your Medicare plan needs. Never hesitate to call us with any questions.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a springform pan with butter or nonstick spray. 2. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour warm, melted butter over it, wait for 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. 3. Add sugar, almond flour, and walnuts and stir to incorporate. Stir in the egg yolks and set mixture aside. 4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium until stiff peaks form. 5. Fold 1/4 of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter. Repeat, 1/4 at a time, until egg whites are incorporated. 6. Pour batter into springform pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before removing from the pan. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
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Lyndon Thomas Insurance Agency
P.O. Box 207 Ojai, CA 93024
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
We Help You With Medicare Plans.
INSIDE
CA# 0D96309 | www.LT-ins.com | 805-646-6409
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Introducing Kelley Rasmussen
The Ideal Fitness Trend for Aging Americans The Phone Keeps Ringing
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If You Do Take a Call … Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake
Fun Ways to Diversify Your Weekly Menu!
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 of your options.
Tips to Level Up Your Home Cooking! BREAK FREE FROM BORING
Do you regularly make meals for yourself or your family? Have you ever struggled to decide what to make? Are you tired of your regular menu of recipes and dishes? If you answered yes to these questions, know that you’re not alone. Many individuals grow tired of cooking the same dishes, especially if they get on a routine of making the same five dinners every week. However, you don’t need
to feel this way. Trying something new in the kitchen is easier than ever! Here are two ways to revitalize your passion for cooking while discovering new recipes. Get out of your comfort zone. How many different cultures do you know recipes from? You are probably familiar with Italian, Mexican, and even some Chinese dishes, but how often do you explore dishes from cultures you know little about? Trying out recipes from new cultures can be incredibly fun. However, it can be challenging to know where to start. Simply pick a country with a cuisine that interests you and Google what they eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You’ll receive a few different options to choose from. Want to get even more adventurous? Consider combining ideas from multiple cuisines to create a unique fusion dish! Deviate from the recipe. Many amateur cooks follow each recipe without missing a step. However, if you’re making the same things every week, these recipes can grow stale quickly. Instead of trying to find something brand-new to make, consider swapping out ingredients. Change out the spices, sides, or even the proteins to create something entirely new and delicious.
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1211 Maricopa Hwy, Ste 222, Ojai, CA 93023
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