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LYN’S LEDGER
Lyndon Thomas Insurance Agency
We Help You With Medicare Plans.
July 2024
Enjoy a Little Humor
BEFORE WE HEAD OUT ON VACATION …
Now that I’m of Medicare age myself, certain forms of humor are becoming more meaningful. In earlier editions of Lyn’s
Ledger, I provided quotes my mother had found and recorded in her journal. In the same vein, here’s a good list that’s been on the internet for some time. You may have come across it yourself. It’s good, so here it is again. 12 COMMANDMENTS FOR SENIORS 1. Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice. 2. “In Style” are the clothes that still fit. 3. You don’t need anger management. You need people to stop making you mad. 4. Your people skills are just fine. It’s your tolerance for idiots that needs work. 5. The biggest lie you tell yourself is, “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.” 6. On time is when you get there. 7. Even duct tape can’t fix stupid — but it sure does muffle the sound. 8. It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes, then come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller. 9. Lately, you’ve noticed people your age are so much older than you. 10. Growing old should have taken longer.
11. Aging has slowed you down, but it hasn’t shut you up. 12. You still haven’t learned to act your age and hope you never will. And one more: “One for the road” means going to the bathroom before you leave the house. Which reminds me of the bronze plaque over the urinal in the Libbey Bowl backstage men’s restroom, immortalizing the enduring wisdom of a long-ago famous performer: “Never pass up a chance to go pee.” Okay! Enough of that! Time for me to go on vacation. See you when I get back. We are blessed!
–Lyn Thomas
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AGELESS ADVENTURES
Fun and Memorable Date Ideas for Older Adults
For those of a certain age, it can be too easy to forget to prioritize the connection between us and our partners. While snuggling into pajamas and watching a familiar favorite on TV is convenient, breaking up the routine and embarking on a romantic outing is a great way to brighten the flame between you and your significant other. With these date night ideas, older adults can rekindle the warmth and love they share in fun new ways. Court with a class. With a little searching, you can easily find a variety of educational, culinary, and hobby classes available. From learning how to prepare and roll your own pasta to mastering painting, you have ample opportunities to enjoy learning a new skill together. If you are so inclined, you can even go to a PaintNite event, where fun-seeking couples paint along with a tutor, in-person or virtual, while enjoying the adult beverages of their choice. Pitch the perfect picnic. On a clear and sunny day, a daytime picnic can be an ideal way to enjoy nature and leisure at the same time. Pack a flavorful dinner and head out to a park or pristine plot of nature, then sit down, reminisce, and enjoy! Alternatively, you can head out near sunset and watch as the sun drifts down and the stars light up. A stargazing picnic can make for a memorable and romantic rendezvous. Changes Are Afoot
Rerun the first date. Recapturing the magic of the past can be magical in itself. Few events are more cemented in a couple’s memories than their first romantic encounter. Why not celebrate the love you two share by reliving the experience of the first date? If the two of you met at a restaurant, book reservations for two; if you saw a movie, snuggle together on the couch and rewatch it together. The experience will bring back memories from the birth of your romance and the incredible legacy of love you have built with your partner in the years since. This can also be an excellent way to celebrate an anniversary and may prove popular enough to become a yearly tradition!
Remember Your ANOC in September!
Many readers of Lyn’s Ledger likely remember me saying at some point in a conversation that, “My role as your health insurance broker is not to defend the morality nor the efficacy of our system. My role is to help you navigate that system.” As we look forward to the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period, I feel this more strongly than ever. Our health care system is made up of what I often call the three behemoths: the government, the pharmaceuticals, and in the middle are the health insurance companies. In the face of ever-increasing drug costs (pharmaceuticals), certain provisions of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (the government) will go into effect in January 2025. Some of these new regulations will dramatically change Medicare Part D and the Prescription Drug Program (insurance companies). While changes are intended to help Medicare
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beneficiaries with high out-of-pocket drug costs, everyone’s Part D premium will likely be affected.
for your current plan when your company mails your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in mid-September. The ANOC lists all aspects of your plan that are changing on Jan. 1. Next year’s premium, deductible, and copays are listed in a side-by- side chart so you can be aware of those changes.
A significant change for all 2024 Part D plans, both Stand Alone and built into an Advantage plan, will have a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs. In other words, when out-of-pocket costs, meaning deductible (if applicable) and copays combined, reach $2,000 for the year, that’s it, no more out-of-pocket expense This will be a real budget saver for about 10%–15% of Medicare beneficiaries but will raise premiums for everyone. Medicare health plans will post their Part D 2025 plan information on Oct. 1. So, we have four words for you: Annual. Notice. Of. Change. You will get an early preview of the changes
LTIA will be sending out our Client Prescription Drug Update form in August. Please complete and return this form so we are able to review
and offer recommendations for you for next year. The staff at Lyndon
Thomas Insurance Agency is preparing and stands ready to assist you with your Medicare plan needs.
Remember! Annual Notice of Change from your plan in September.
SUDOKU
INSTANT POT BEEF STEW
Ingredients
• • • • • • •
2 tbsp olive oil
• • • • • • •
2 cups beef broth
2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
1 onion, diced
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 carrots, diced
1 tsp dried thyme
2 stalks celery, diced
1 bay leaf
2 potatoes, diced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and heat olive oil. 2. Add beef and cook until browned, then add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and potatoes. 3. Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. 4. Secure the lid and set the pressure cook feature to high for 30 minutes. 5. When the stew is done cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before releasing the remaining pressure. Serve and enjoy!
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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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Enjoy a Bit of Humor, Care of the Internet
Endearing Date Night Ideas for Older Adults
Get Ready for Medicare Changes
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Instant Pot Beef Stew
Tips for a Stress-Free Backyard Barbecue
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.
you might offer family fare such as lemonade, iced tea, ice water, or premixed cocktails like strawberry vodka lemonade or passion fruit margaritas. Martha Stewart suggests allowing amateur mixologists to concoct their own beverages by setting out bottled juices, artisanal sodas, and kombucha. A stylish yet simple way to serve hors d’oeuvres and side dishes to complement your grilled entree is to assemble or have catered a charcuterie board. These feature finger foods such as meats, cheeses, olives, spreads, fruits, nuts, chips, and crackers. A fully stocked charcuterie board adds a decorative touch while keeping guests well- fed for hours, adding what Quinn calls “a real wow factor.” And to make sure your day ends well, look for disposable, compostable bamboo or wooden dishes. Searching for “eco-friendly tableware and cutlery” should turn up some good options. This one last detail can go a long way toward supporting sustainable living while ensuring you don’t spend any valuable party time cleaning up broken glass or washing dishes.
Host a Summer Barbecue for Everyone Grill and Chill
Enjoying your own party can be more complicated than it sounds. Backyard barbecues are a high point of summer, but hosting one you enjoy with your guests requires planning. “If swimming is on the agenda, consider protecting new or light-colored indoor furniture with water-resistant covers so guests in wet swimsuits can sit wherever they want without stressing out their host,” says Calla Quinn, a TikTok influencer who recently posted tips on hosting up to 50 friends at your home. Another tip she shares is using portable misting fans in dry
climates. These devices create a fine mist to refresh passersby in seconds, and they are especially popular on patios and decks. If attendees offer to bring something, don’t hesitate to accept, and be specific about what you want — from lawn chairs to beach towels. Martha Stewart recommends having a stain remover on hand to manage stains and cloth towels that guests can use to wipe up spills. Expert hosts also recommend a self-serve bar for casual summer gatherings. Consider filling several 3-gallon drink dispensers with popular options. Depending on your guest list,
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