Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
Club MED
June 2023
How Omaha Insurance Solutions Got Its Name
When I started my company, I toyed with different names. Bev and I were living in Lawrence, Kansas, at the time. I was driving to Kansas City to meet clients and discuss Medicare insurance. I couldn’t settle on a name. Before Medicare, I had worked for an insurance company that flew me around the country to meet with insurance agents. Alaska and Hawaii were cool. Arizona was fantastic, especially in January and February. I had an apartment in California. California has some remarkably beautiful places, but you don’t live there unless you are a multimillionaire. Seattle was exciting, but the steel-gray sky got to me after a while. Phoenix was perfect in the winter. There were only two seasons, however: winter and summer. Summer is eight months out of the year, and it’s not pleasant. Texans are the friendliest people on earth, but Texas is a dusty desert. Every place had its pros, but all of them had multiple cons. After visiting all these cities and states, I thought I would eventually find the perfect place to live. The strange thing is I realized the same thing Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” did: “ There is no place like home. ” Our son-in-law’s company — Homeland Security — transferred him back to Omaha with our daughter Rachel and two grandkids, Madison and Brooke. Samantha and Jake were born in Omaha — true red Cornhuskers. None of this burnt-orange Texas Longhorn trash talk their father peddles. Bev worked for the VA (Veterans Administration) as a physical therapist in Topeka, so she applied for a transfer
When we moved to Omaha, I remember the first time someone was a no-show. I stood on her front porch. No one answered the door. I called her phone number. It went to voicemail. Then I drove to my next appointment. In five minutes, she returned my call and apologized profusely for spacing off the appointment, and we rescheduled. That was six months. I had been back in Omaha six months before my first no-show appointment. It is still rare for someone not to show up for an appointment. Cancellations are equally rare. After being back in Omaha for a while, I got used to how things are here. I used to get mad when someone didn’t show up. Then I reminded myself how blessed I am with people here in the Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs areas. Now, when someone doesn’t show up, I’m a little relieved because I have plenty of work to do and not enough time. When I was coming up with a name for my company, Omaha felt like the best fit. Voila, Omaha Insurance Solutions . I love this area — my strongest memories are here. The people have tremendous character and are the kind of people I want to be around. Omaha is home. Traveling and seeing the world is exciting, but I’ll always return home to Omaha. That’s why Omaha is on the door of my office. –Christopher J. Grimmond
to the Omaha VA. When she got the job, we moved north. There were plenty of people on Medicare in Omaha, so I could work anywhere. I didn’t realize how much I missed Omaha until we moved back. Both of my parents had recently passed. Driving around Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Lincoln brought back memory after memory. Just the other week, I had an appointment in Lincoln. It happened to be a couple of houses down from where my aunt Helen, uncle Bob, and six cousins used to live for 30-plus years. I sat in my car in front of that house for a half hour. Looking at the house and yard, I recalled everything my cousins and I had done there years ago. When we were in Kansas, my first year in the Medicare business, I might have had 10 appointments set for a week scattered around the Kansas City metro on both sides of the river. Out of those 10 appointments, four would flake, or they canceled an hour before the appointment, and I had already driven from Lawrence to KC. That was par for the course. I never thought much about it. Other agents in the area had similar experiences.
Medicare Insurance Made Easy
402-614-3389 • 1
STAY HEALTHY WITH A WELL-BALANCED DIET 4 NUTRIENTS TO KEEP YOU ENERGIZED
We all know what we eat directly impacts our health. However, as our bodies change with age, so do the nutrients we need to keep us strong. I always thought I'd be set for success if I ate various foods from each food group. But our bodies require specific nutrients as we age, and it’s our responsibility to focus on incorporating them into our diet. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I hope to stay as healthy as possible well into my later years. The key to making that goal happen is by staying nourished and active. If you struggle to identify the nutrients you need and how to add them to your meals, here are some helpful tips to get you started on the road to a long, healthy life.
• • •
Brain health and memory
Higher energy levels Better heart health
Some foods rich in vitamin B12 are meat, fish, chicken, dairy, and fortified breakfast cereals. It may be difficult to absorb the appropriate amount of vitamin B12 from foods alone, so be sure to speak with your doctor about the possibility of taking the vitamin in supplement form. FIBER-RICH FOODS Fiber is a type of carbohydrate the body can’t digest. This nutrient can help prevent constipation, improve digestion, and help our stomach feel full when we eat. Fiber can also reduce the risk of certain cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
PROPER PROTEIN PORTIONS Getting the perfect amount of protein can be difficult, but doing so can help prevent muscle loss. It’s easy for our bodies to lose lean muscle mass as we age, so adding protein to every meal and
Unfortunately, 95% of adults are not getting the fiber they need, according to the National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging. You can improve your fiber intake by eating whole grains (not processed), beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. The top three fiber-rich foods are beans, broccoli, and berries.
ensuring you meet your daily protein requirement is crucial.
You don’t have to rely on the usual lineup of meat and eggs when adding protein to your
meals. You can try including different
CALCIUM FOR BONES Bone loss is more likely as we age, but you
protein sources such as seafood, dairy, soy, nuts, beans, or lentils. The
can counteract this by getting more calcium in your diet. Calcium is a mineral that promotes strong bones and teeth, which we all need to pay more attention to as we age.
amount of protein your body needs depends on different factors, including height, weight, and more. Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist to learn how much protein you need to stay strong.
If you want to increase your calcium intake, I recommend making dairy your new best friend! Milk, cheese, and yogurt are all excellent sources of calcium you can add to your diet.
VITAMIN B12 BOOST After age 50, our bodies have trouble absorbing vitamins like B12. This B vitamin is essential for older adults as it supports vital functions, including:
People say getting older isn’t for the weak for a reason, but you can make the process go a little easier! When you incorporate proper nutrients into your meals every day, you can know you’re doing your best to keep your body nourished and healthy.
• •
Healthy red blood cell count (preventing anemia)
Bone health
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Some Medicaid Coverage Is Going Away
Testimonial
“Omaha Insurance Solutions made Medicare understandable
ARE YOU GOING TO BE AFFECTED?
for me. They answered all my questions and kept explaining until I understood.” –Chuck T.
The Dept. of Health and Human Services estimates that between 8 to 24 million people may lose Medicaid throughout the country soon. The reason is that Medicaid rules were relaxed and expanded during the pandemic. The exceptions that allow people Medicaid coverage will stop at the end of May. I have a few clients who are on Medicare and Medicaid. The way the two work together is that Medicare pays first, according to Medicare payment rates. State Medicaid comes in and pays the Medicare Part B premium for the beneficiary on the lower level of Medicaid. At the higher levels, Medicaid will also cover some or all copays and coinsurance. Those on FULL Medicaid and Medicare are eligible for the various Medicare Advantage DUAL plans offered through insurance companies. Dual plans may maximize your needs. Sometimes, people fall out of the Medicaid program because they do not respond to correspondence from the Dept. of Health and Human Services and Medicaid. The state generally reconfirms income levels every couple of years. If you do not complete the proper paper work, you may lose your Medicaid coverage, along with your Dual Special Needs plan. Some beneficiaries have a “ spend down. ” A spend down is when a person purchases health insurance plans to reduce their income. The reduction in income makes them eligible for Medicaid. (Bizarre rule.) Sometimes, people forget to pay their health insurance or there is no money in their bank accounts when the insurance company makes the auto draft. The policy then cancels. Income goes up. Medicaid is turned off. I have been through this scenario too many times. Right now, the special pandemic allowance for Medicaid is ending. I’ve spoken to several clients. DHHS and NE & IA Medicaid have contacted them by letter. Most will lose their Medicaid. Some need to reapply under a different set of criteria and will qualify. Those who lose their FULL Medicaid status will also lose their dual plan. The problem is that they do not automatically go to a regular Medicare Advantage plan. If they remain on the dual plan, they will be charged more for their Medicare plan, and the out of pocket costs may be larger than if they enrolled in one of the other Medicare Advantage plans.
Seafood Pasta Salad
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com
If you can’t get to the beach this summer, bring the ocean to you with this refreshing seafood pasta salad. Ingredients
• 4 cups fusilli noodles • 2 cups crab meat or shrimp • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese • 2 cups ranch dressing • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed • 1/2 cup chopped green peppers
• 1/2 cup chopped red peppers • 1/2 cup diced onions • 1/2 cup shredded carrots • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes • 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions 1. In a large pot, bring the fusilli noodles to a boil and cook until al dente, then drain. 2. In a large bowl, combine noodles, crab or shrimp, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, peas, green and red peppers, onions, and carrots, then mix together gently. 3. Refrigerate the pasta salad for 3–4 hours. If salad is dry upon removing from refrigerator, add more ranch dressing. 4. Once you’re ready to eat, top salad with tomatoes and Parmesan cheese if desired.
I call clients, advising them I need to switch them to another plan. Unfortunately, you can only lead a horse to water. You can’t make it drink.
I recommend you call us if you are in this situation. For friends in this situation, please encourage them to call us to speak with a licensed and experienced insurance agent professional. Ignoring it will not make it go away.
402-614-3389 • 3
11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144 402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Code 74053_051523_MK
INSIDE This Issue
How Omaha Insurance Solutions Got Its Name
1
2
The Nutrients a Changing Body Needs
3
Some Medicaid Coverage Is Going Away
3
Testimonial
Seafood Pasta Salad
3
4
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Monkey Around This Summer
Check Out Some of America’s Best Zoos Summer is one of the best times of the year to travel. Kids are out of school and want to do something
elsewhere. It has the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, and one of the major highlights is the Desert Dome, an 84,000-square-foot indoor desert that maintains an authentic desert ecosystem. This is a must-visit for any animal lover in your family. THE BRONX ZOO You don’t usually think about seeing exotic animals when you visit New York City, but the Bronx Zoo is one of the best places to view animals in America. Opened in 1899, the Bronx Zoo is responsible for many of the advancements relating to animal captivity. This was one of the first zoos to ditch cages for natural environments and create an animal hospital. With over 6,000 species, there’s an animal for everyone at the Bronx Zoo. THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS While the San Diego Zoo is often boasted as California's largest and best zoo, another zoo is worth checking out. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens outside Palm Springs has entertained visitors for decades. There are events at this zoo every day, one of the most popular being the keeper connections and animal encounters, where you get up close and personal with the animals while learning more about their habitats and lifestyles.
fun every weekend, which can be difficult to accommodate if you’ve already exhausted your local options. If you’re looking to travel, you can visit a beach, take in the sights and sounds of an amusement park, or spend some time with animals while visiting a zoo. Nearly every state in our country has a handful of zoos or aquariums, but some stand above the rest.
Here are three of the best zoos you can visit in the U.S.
OMAHA’S HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, is consistently ranked as one of the top five zoos in the world. It prides itself on hosting rare, endangered animals you can’t see
4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator