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MEDICAREBLUEPRINT.COM Health Matters
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
Family, Friends, and Clients Dedicated to Those I Care For
Although Valentine’s Day is traditionally seen as a time to connect with your romantic partner, it’s genuinely about showing the ones you care about some extra love. This can include friends, pets, coworkers, clients, communities, and family. One of my favorite ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day is by recognizing the value of family. Whether you have a big family or you’re a single parent, you can bring love to the table. Children do well when they have nurturing, warm, sensitive, responsive, and flexible parenting — regardless of how many parents they have.
television commercials can be confusing. I want to put someone in a plan or product that is right despite what a network is saying to do. Of course, it’s their call, but I will always help find what works best for them. Giving support and showing care can go a long way — not just for family but for everyone around you. We all have our own ways of showing appreciation, but it’s the small things we do that make a difference to those we care about. When you get older, many of your values and views change. You always hear and see how the family is important, and as a young man, I obviously agreed. But it was more an intellectual understanding, not an emotional one. It’s the same when it comes to losing a loved one. You genuinely don’t know what you have until you lose it. And I know those reading this have experienced it in some way. Whether you’re 65 or 7 years old, you still experience loss the same. This is just what it is: Life gives us our family and some good friends here and there. So, I think Valentine’s Day is a great time to reflect on and recognize their value, too. Be sure to spread love and kindness everywhere, not only during this time but daily!
“Giving support and showing care can go a long way — not just for family but for everyone around you.”
I don’t think it always takes a whole village because one single parent can make a difference in a child’s life. I’ve been fortunate enough to raise my
son on my own after the passing of my first wife. Although it was difficult for both of us, I ensured my son and I had a positive relationship where he always felt secure and loved. I’ve always pointed him in the right direction and had the best intentions for him, and he could never doubt my love for him. It may just be who I am because I’ve always had the best intentions for those I care for. This is especially true with my clients! The many different Medicare Advantage Plans you see in
—Tim Hanbury
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VALENTINE’S DAY ISN’T JUST ABOUT HEARTS
It’s Also National Organ Donor Day!
Feb. 14 is the day many of us wear our hearts on our sleeves and let the ones we care about know they’re loved. But what about your other organs? Many people don’t know this, but Feb. 14, the day of hearts, shares its day with National Organ Donor Day. In the United States alone, over 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, according to Mayo Clinic. For many people, the idea of giving your organs to someone else after you die can be hard to think about, but choosing to become a donor can save someone’s life who is still alive. In fact, for each person who decides to donate their organs, up to 75 lives can be saved! However, when it comes time to choose whether to become a donor or not, many people are held up by common misconceptions and myths that get circulated about the “dangers” of becoming a donor. So, to dispel those misconceptions, we’re busting the top organ donation myths to celebrate National Organ Donor Day. IF I’M AN ORGAN DONOR, THE HOSPITAL WON’T TRY TO SAVE MY LIFE IF I’M INJURED. When you enter a hospital with a life-threatening injury, the doctors are only focused on saving you . When you’re rushed into a hospital, often the staff begin life-saving measures before they’re even aware that you’re an organ donor. THE HOSPITAL WILL TRY TO TAKE MY ORGANS IF I’M IN A COMA OR NOT ENTIRELY DEAD. This is probably the most common myth about organ donation, and it’s completely untrue. In reality, patients who are registered organ donors need to undergo more testing (for free) to ensure they’re truly dead before they can donate. IF I DONATE, I CAN’T HAVE AN OPEN-CASKET FUNERAL. Organ donations in no way disfigure your body, and there are no visible signs of donation on a clothed individual in their casket. I’M TOO OLD TO DONATE. There is no official cutoff age for organ donation, and many registered organ donors die of natural causes in their old age. It’s up to the doctors to decide if your organs meet specific donor criteria after you pass. We hope that clears up any worries about becoming an organ donor. If you’d like to register to donate, or learn more, visit OrganDonor.gov.
What Our Clients Think!
“All my questions and concerns were answered fully in terms I understood. Follow-up in a timely manner, allowed me to make my choices in medical and drug coverage.” –David M., Client since 2017 “Jason is very knowledgeable about the spectrum of Medicare choices and evaluated our family situation to determine the best plans for me. Once decided, he facilitated the enrollment process to make it easy and seamless. Not only will I refer
others to Jason, I already have!” –Janet M., Client since 2018
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Feb. 4 is National Cancer Day, and with 1.9 million Americans diagnosed with cancer every year, according to the National Cancer Institute, we thought this month would be the perfect time to talk about the importance of regular cancer screening tests. Having regular screenings is critical because they can identify cancer when it’s in its earliest stages and before a patient ever shows any symptoms. And when cancer is diagnosed early, soon after it appears, treatments are more likely to be successful. You Don’t Need Symptoms to Have Cancer THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR SCREENING TESTS
In honor of National Cancer Day, here are some answers to the most common cancer screening questions so you can make the most informed decision about your health. WHO NEEDS TO BE SCREENED FOR CANCER? While anyone would benefit from having their bodies checked for cancer, regardless of whether or not they’re showing symptoms, some populations might be at a higher risk for the disease. People are at a higher risk of cancer if they:
On a cold winter night, few things are better than warm bites of yummy cobbler. This recipe’s sweet and fluffy crust perfectly balances the tart cherry filling to create the ultimate after- dinner treat. If you or someone you love is due for a cancer screening, celebrate National Cancer Day this month by visiting a doctor and talking with them about their screening options. Your loved ones will thank you! CAN REGULAR SCREENINGS HELP YOU LIVE LONGER? In theory, yes! The idea is that by getting tested on a regular basis, your doctor will become aware of your cancer pretty close to the moment it appears. Then, they’ll be able to start you on treatment, which will subsequently be more likely to work, and you will live the rest of your life cancer-free. WHAT CANCERS CAN SCREENINGS FIND? While there are many screening tests for all different types of cancers, the most successful screenings include tests done for breast, cervical, colon, and lung cancer. Examples of tests for these cancers include mammograms, Pap tests, colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies, fecal occult blood testing, and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for individuals with a smoking history.
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Have had cancer before
Have someone in their family who has had cancer Have any gene mutations linked to cancer Have been exposed to carcinogens like tobacco or other chemicals Have had a sudden blood clot with no known cause
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Are an older adult
None of these factors guarantee cancer, but possessing one or multiple of these traits does put you at a higher risk.
EASY CHERRY COBBLER
WORD SEARCH
Inspired by Life-In-The-Lofthouse.com
DIRECTIONS
1.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In the bottom of a 2.5-quart baking dish, pour melted butter.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk until combined. 4. In the baking dish, pour batter over the butter, and don’t stir. Then, pour the cherry pie filling over the batter, and don’t stir.
INGREDIENTS •
1/4 cup salted butter, melted
•
1 cup cake flour or all-purpose flour
COCOA FLEECE FROST GLOVES HIBERNATION IGLOO
LAYERS PENGUIN SCARF
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 tsp baking powder
SLEDDING TRADITION WONDERLAND
5. Bake 45 minutes, or until crust is
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1 cup milk
golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
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1 21-oz can cherry pie filling
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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CELEBRATING THE VALUE OF FAMILY DURING VALENTINE’S DAY
BUSTING COMMON MYTHS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK
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3
GET REGULAR CANCER SCREENING TESTS EASY CHERRY COBBLER
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THE FURRY SAVIORS OF BANGLADESH
THE FURRY FRIENDS OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY How Bangladeshis Use Otters to Harness Their Catch
If you wander down a riverbank in southwest Bangladesh, you might happen upon a squealing, squeaking crate of river otters. The otters aren’t in danger. In fact, they’re the pampered helpers of the region’s fishermen and women, who’ve trained them to herd fish. Yes, that’s right — just as we use herding dogs to corral sheep and cows into pens, people who fish in Bangladesh use otters to drive fish, crabs, and prawns into their nets. The practice dates back hundreds of years — and it’s impressive to watch. First, in the dead of night, the Bangladeshi anglers load crates of otters onto their boats and head out to fish. Each otter wears a small rope harness and leash attached to a wooden pole. As soon as the boat reaches the fishing area, the fishermen release the otters. They dive into the water and paddle furiously
The fish the otters bring in sustain their owners through lean times and help them survive periods of famine. However, according to the BBC, the tradition is slowly fading away. Rivers in the region are drying up, pollution is surging, native fish are disappearing, and families are getting out of the otter business. One third-generation fisherman told Roads & Kingdoms that as of 2015, only 12 families in Gopra Village, where he lives, continue to fish with otters. That’s a tiny fraction of the 100 families that fished when his father ran their family business. However, he told the reporter he “will continue to work with otters as long as there are fish to catch.” To learn more about this fascinating human-animal partnership and see a video of the otters in action, head to YouTube and search “Bangladesh otter fishing.”
after schools of fish, encouraging them to swim into their owners’ nets.
According to the publication Roads & Kingdoms, Bangladeshi fishers can catch more than 20 pounds of fish per excursion thanks to their otter helpers. Locals breed otters specifically for this purpose, raising them just like Westerners raise dogs and cats.
This otter-human partnership is an important part of Bangladeshi culture.
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