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DECEMBER 2022
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If you’re turning 65, you probably already know that Medicare can be very confusing. There’s a lot of information you must know when it comes to Medicare, like enrollment periods and start dates. And Medicare doesn’t mess around with these deadlines. If you make one mistake, you can be penalized for the rest of your life. Avoid Medicare Mistakes That Could Penalize You Forever 3 Secrets of Medicare
they’re pushing down your throats is just the time frame to sign up for these plans without underwriting.
From the propaganda you see, you’d never know that this enrollment window isn’t even Medicare. Medicare pays private insurance companies to push people into HMO and PPO coverage plans, earning around $1,000 a month per person. So you can see, there’s a lot of money in trying to convince people to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. The worst part is that these advantage plans aren’t always the best fit for everyone who unknowingly opts into them. However, there is one hiccup: If you’re part of original Medicare and have parts A and B, you also have part D, which includes prescription drug coverage. This window from Oct. 15–Dec. 7 is when you can change your drug coverage for the coming year. So aside from part D, this window has nothing to do with Medicare and everything to do with big companies making money. If you sign up for one of these advantage plans, it’s likely you’ll never get back on to original Medicare without underwriting. No. 2: The Secret of Part B on Social Security Many people don’t know that you’re automatically enrolled in Medicare part A and part B when you’re on Social Security. Since most people don’t even realize that claiming Social Security automatically enrolls them in part B, they entirely miss that their coverage has started. This is extremely important because once your part B coverage begins, a clock ticks down for you to enroll in a Medicare supplement or Medigap plan without underwriting. You only have six months to enroll, and if you’re sick or have a preexisting illness, this time frame is critical because you’ll want to get on one of these plans to make sure you’re protected from the gaps in Medicare coverage.
Choosing the best plan for your needs can be complicated, so here are three secrets to help you avoid mistakes and master your Medicare strategy.
No. 1: The Secret of Annual Enrollment You see the commercials on TV and receive those endless postcards in the mail — all of them screaming at you that open enrollment is from Oct. 15– Dec. 7. They’re all trying to convince you that you’re missing out on benefits if you don’t utilize this window. The big secret they’re not sharing is that the enrollment window has nothing to do with Medicare ( except for part D). This open enrollment window is an opportunity for you to get into a Medicare Advantage plan, which includes things like HMO and PPO coverage. This enrollment window
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THAT’S A WRAP Make the Worst Holiday Task Easier
Wrap small gifts with ease. The most difficult items to wrap are the tiny ones. Many people cut little bits of wrapping paper and cover them in tape, but anyone who has ever received such a present knows it’s no fun to open. Others spend money to buy small, beautiful gift boxes. But a more straightforward and less expensive route involves a used toilet paper roll. Remove any residue, place the gift inside, then fold the ends of the roll in. Ta-da — you have an instant gift box. You can also wrap small presents like a piece of hard candy. Instead of struggling to fold and tape, fold the paper around the present horizontally, then twist the edges shut. Keep it simple. There’s nothing more frustrating than realizing you cut your wrapping paper too short. Do you throw it out and recut it? Place a strip of paper over the bare spot? Before you go to any desperate measures, turn the gift diagonally and see if the paper is now long enough to cover the entire present. Whether this hack works depends on your gift’s size and shape, but it’s worth a shot before wasting more time and materials. Oddly shaped gifts seem to cause the most strife of all, though. What do you do with wine bottles, stuffed animals, and other non-rectangular items? The internet has you covered with plenty of detailed tutorials, but we offer a different solution: Go with your gut and do your best. Most people don’t expect your gifts to look picture-perfect. And research by SciTechDaily found that intricately wrapped presents create unrealistic expectations. Those who receive an averagely wrapped gift are more likely to be impressed by the contents than those who get one that looks like Martha Stewart herself wrapped it. So, rest assured there’s nothing wrong with a utilitarian job. What’s underneath the wrapping paper matters most.
Some lifestyle blogs and magazines act like it’s normal to make your own hand-stamped wrapping paper or attach pine cones to gifts with ribbon as a decorative flourish. But when it comes to wrapping presents, most of us just want to get it done. So, we’ve compiled some expert tips to make this year’s gift-wrapping a breeze — or at least less of a chore. Use what’s on hand. Before you start wrapping, you should confirm you have all the supplies you need. But unexpectedly running out of paper, tape, or gift boxes has happened to the best of us. You could run to the store to buy more — or get creative. Wrapping paper is the easiest item to substitute. Brown paper bags work very well, whether or not you make them fancier with ribbons or stamps. A unique alternative is the aluminum foil you already have stored in your kitchen. Meanwhile, cereal boxes can be great if you run out of gift boxes. And if you have too little tape, you can use stickers in a pinch. Best of all, you can tell everyone your material reuse was an eco-friendly choice.
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ONCE YOU POP, YOU CAN’T STOP
ARE AT-HOME PIMPLE EXTRACTION TOOLS SAFE?
Inexplicable to some and irresistible to others, pimple-popping videos have a strong following on social media, and television shows are even dedicated to the practice. Professional poppers often use comedone extractors or blackhead tweezers, and you can purchase them yourself online and in stores. But are they safe to use at home? You’ve probably heard since puberty that popping your pimples will lead to infection and scarring, and it’s best to let the blemish heal on its own. So, the advent of professional pimple popping is somewhat puzzling. Using blackhead tweezers or comedone extractors implies that popping your pimples isn’t so bad as long as you use the right tools. The reality is a lot fuzzier.
The tools receive mixed reviews from dermatologists. Most agree they are safe in the hands of professionals, but amateur use poses problems. Inexperienced poppers can bruise their skin, create scarring, or even cause an infection. At the same time, experts agree that an extraction tool is a better option than the old-fashioned method of popping with your fingers. Tools are safer, cleaner, and less likely to do widespread damage. So, most dermatologists think it’s best to exfoliate, treat, and refrain from picking your blemishes. But if you insist on at-home extraction, you can make the process somewhat less dangerous by always cleansing and steaming your face first, rewashing your face after extraction, and sterilizing tools after every use. Though it still poses a risk, it’s the second-safest option to just leaving it alone. Ultimately, leave pimple-popping to the professionals. Most of us should be patient and wait for acne to resolve naturally. Those who suffer from more than an occasional breakout should visit a dermatologist for medically approved acne‑clearing treatments.
First, what are these devices? Comedone extractors are typically small metal wands with a flat loop at the end. You use the tool by putting the loop around the pimple and pressing down. Ideally, the contents will come bursting out. More recently, blackhead tweezers have also gained a dedicated following. Blackhead tweezers have curved tips, giving you a gentler edge to press down on either side of your blackhead. A small squeeze can help release the blackhead more easily than a traditional extractor.
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If you miss this six-month window and have a preexisting condition, you may never be able to get onto original Medicare and will have to be put on a lesser quality HMO or PPO plan. No. 3: The Secret to Switching Coverage Everyone always thinks this open enrollment window from Oct. 15–Dec. 7 is the only time you can switch your coverage. That isn’t true. If you’re on original Medicare with a Medigap plan, you can change coverage anytime. For example, if you’re on the Medigap G plan and prices go up, you can switch to the N plan whenever you want. Even if you are outside of the open enrollment window, you can move between Medigap plans freely to suit your needs as long as you make your payments.
Inspired by TasteMade.com
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1tbsp paprika • 2 tsp black pepper • 2 tsp salt • 3 tbsp olive oil • 1 5-lb bone-in rib-eye roast • 3 tbsp butter
• 2 heads of
garlic, halved • 2 bay leaves • 4 thyme sprigs
• 2 rosemary sprigs • 1/2 cup beef broth • 1 12-oz bottle of stout beer • 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes (with liquid)
Directions
There you have it, the three secrets everyone needs to know about Medicare! If you want to learn how
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, pepper, salt, and olive oil. 3. Place roast in a roasting pan and coat with spice mixture. Let marinate uncovered in refrigerator for 1 hour. 4. Place pan on stove over high heat. Brown the roast on all sides, then add butter, garlic, and herbs.
to utilize these secrets and get the most out of your Medicare strategy, visit Calendly.com/ bridgeriver to make a FREE appointment with me. I look forward to helping you! -Dan Casey
5. When butter melts, add broth, beer, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. 6. Transfer pan to oven. Braise until meat is tender, up to 2 hours.
7. Remove roast from pan and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, strain pan juices and put back into pan and boil until reduced by half. When finished, slice roast and serve with pan sauce.
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INSIDE
This Issue
3 Dirty Secrets Medicare Doesn’t Want You to Know
Gift-Wrapping Made Easier
The Truth About At-Home Pimple Extraction Tools
Whoville Roast Beast
You’re a Mainstay, Mr. Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Our Hearts
Behind the Timeless Christmas Tale
As regularly as Rudolph does, the Grinch appears on our television screens every December. Despite his negative attitude and nefarious intentions, the protagonist of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” remains a family favorite more than 55 years after the animated TV special first aired. The Grinch’s transformation into a cultural icon began with a 1957 children’s book. Author Dr. Seuss had recently experienced great success with “The Cat in the Hat” and was a hot commodity. He published “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” later that same year, and the black-and-white book was an instant smash. The story might have ended there if Dr. Seuss had his way. Dr. Seuss was protective of his creations and didn’t trust them in anyone else’s hands, but his filmmaker friend, Chuck Jones, eventually persuaded him to reconsider. Still, the story required some changes. Jones assigned the Grinch his signature green color, and the Grinch’s dog, Max, was given a more prominent role to increase the special’s runtime. But the songs were the most important of all. The TV special contains nine total musical numbers, the most famous featuring lyrics only Dr. Seuss could have written. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” is a hilariously clever song and a highlight of the program. The filmmakers also
secured a big win in the voice talents of horror movie legend Boris Karloff, who provided an alternatingly sneering and tender tone to the production. Thanks to its full animation technique featuring 25,000 drawings, Variety says “The Grinch” may have been the most expensive television special made at that time. Later, Hollywood upped the ante
with a live-action adaptation in 2000 and an animated full-length film in 2018. Both movies were box office successes, but neither has overtaken the 26-minute TV special as our favorite way to enjoy the Grinch. Why does the Grinch endure? Dr. Seuss based the character on himself, so it may be that there’s a little bit of the Grinch in all of us. Unlike that other well-known holiday-hater Ebenezer Scrooge, he gives those who aren’t full of Christmas cheer a favorable mascot. The Grinch’s wild schemes and comical complaints are more fun than menacing, and his story produces a reliably happy ending. As its greatest gift, an annual viewing can leave even the most hardened Grinch feeling as if their own heart has grown a size or two.
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