LYN’S LEDGER
Lyndon Thomas Insurance
SEPT 2018
We Help You With Medicare.
WHEN YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS,
THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN
W hen I was growing up, mixed emotions getting back together with my classmates and being another grade older and bigger. Forestburg (South Dakota) Unified School District was small enough that grades 1–8 were combined, with two grades per teacher. First and second, third and fourth, and so on. So while one grade was receiving instruction in their appointed subject, the other half of the room was supposed to be studying. Right. After reading my history assignment, which I enjoyed, I would often blow off my math and science assignments and get a World Book Encyclopedia from the back of the room and immerse myself in reading about the people, places, and events that interested me more. I may have learned more science from the encyclopedia than from science class! That curiosity has served me well through the years, although Kathy wishes I would read the books I already have before buying any more. Amazon.com may be destroying the world, but it sure makes it easy to buy more books! Even though birthdays keep sneaking up on me, I’m still learning, and easily the greatest learning experience I’ve had in recent years has been running my own business. I learned the ins and outs of the Medicare system in depth while working for SCAN Healthplan, but learning to run my own agency and business in the last four years has been quite the stretching experience in and of itself. My appreciation has really grown for anyone who takes the risk to strike out on their own to build their own business. Ironically, as an agency that sells insurance, Lyndon Thomas Insurance purchases four insurance policies to cover our activities. Business liability coverage is required by my landlord. Errors and omissions insurance is required by the companies with which I contract. Data and cyber- security insurance is just a good idea these days. And accompanied returning to school in the fall. More summer vacation is what I would have really liked, but at the same time, I enjoyed
workers’ compensation is required by the state. Things seem to be getting more complex and expensive!
From filing for a business license, paying rent, and making payroll to finding ways to get my name out there (including this very newsletter), I’ve built my agency through hard work, trial, and error. While it’s quite less than perfect, I’ve tried to keep an open mind and have learned a great deal along the way, improving as a business owner. Hiring staff and moving to a better customer-relations management software are current projects we are working on to better serve our clients. From time to time, I meet with Medicare beneficiaries whose coverage is already the best it can currently be, and I’m happy to tell them, “Your coverage is already what I would recommend, so we’re not going to do business at this time. Let’s review your coverage in a year or two from now and see if anything has changed.” In this issue, we provide guidance on the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7) and the new Open Enrollment Period (OEP, Jan. 1 through March 31). Hey! We help you learn the acronyms of Medicare! For those enrolled in a Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan, be looking for your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) to arrive in the next 2–3 weeks. This will highlight any changes in your current plan for 2019. Helping people with Medicare is what we do, and we love doing it. Whether assisting people with making the transition at 65 or retirement to providing guidance during the Annual Enrollment Period, our first goal is to help our clients understand Medicare better so they can make the best decision for their situation. For a personal benefits review or to attend an upcoming AEP sales meeting, call our office or visit our website after Oct. 1. We get excited about helping you with Medicare!
–Lyn Thomas
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www.LT-ins.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Published by The NewsletterPro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Lyndon Thomas Insurance
NEWAND REDISCOVERED PASSIONS IN LATER LIFE
A Guide to Picking a Post-Career Hobby
I’d like to outline the services Lyndon Thomas Insurance provides for our clients and prospects throughout the year, with a focus on the upcoming Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. PRESCRIPTION DRUG REVIEW Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Programs change from year to year. Premiums may go up (or down!), copays may change, or a drug you are taking may change tiers. Birthday presents are nice surprises, but finding out in January that your premium or copays went up is not the way to begin the new year. Lyndon Thomas Insurance will mail clients a Prescription Drug Review Worksheet in September. If you would like us to review your prescriptions, simply complete the worksheet and return it to our office via mail or email. SALES EVENTS MEETINGS In the October issue of Lyn’s Ledger, we will list our Annual Enrollment Period sales meetings if you would like an in- depth review of your plan’s 2018 benefits. Each sales meeting will be plan-specific in compliance with Medicare guidelines. In this way, you may attend meetings based on the plan about which you would like information. Please invite a friend to come along! INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS CONSULTATION You can always schedule an individual appointment with Lyndon Thomas Insurance for a benefits review of your MAPD, SA-PDP, or Medicare Supplement. You may call our office at 805-646-6409, text us at 805-798-3245, or email us for an appointment. Our goal is to make your entry into Medicare and any changes during the Annual Enrollment Period as informed and as smooth as possible. Let’s get the Medicare piece solved so you can move on to what you’d rather be doing, like getting ready for the holidays or hanging out with the grandkids! HowWe Help You With the Annual Enrollment Period
Aside from financial concerns, the No. 1 question that most impending and recent retirees struggle to answer is how they will fill up all their time. While spending time with family and relaxing are priorities for most folks entering the post-career chapter of their lives, these aren’t enough to fill up the bulk of your newly acquired free time. Cultivating a hobby is a great use of your time at any age, but especially during retirement. As Dick Van Dyke once said, “To me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing.” Here are three questions to help you discover a hobby that’s right for you. DO YOU HAVE A DORMANT PASSION? Work has a tendency to put our other interests on the back burner. Maybe you painted for pleasure during college but put the canvas away to focus on your career. Perhaps you were once a chess fanatic, and today you find your board gathering dust from lack of use. Now is the perfect time to rediscover those once-beloved activities. WHAT HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO? Discovering new hobbies is just as rewarding as rekindling old ones. Have you ever heard about a pastime and thought, “I’d love to do that, if only I had the time”? Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe opened a winery after retiring from football. While you probably don’t have the financial resources of a professional athlete, there’s nothing stopping you from pursuing a newfound passion at the same velocity as the footballs Bledsoe threw. IS THERE A CAUSE YOU WANT TO SUPPORT? Volunteer work can be incredibly fulfilling, especially when you have the time and energy to devote to it. Many older adults find that giving back to the community adds meaning and purpose to their lives. The best way to figure out how to donate your time is to think about a cause dear to your heart. From there, find a reputable organization that supports said cause, and see what you can do to help.
Retirement is the perfect opportunity to throw yourself head-first into something you’re passionate about. So what are you waiting for?
This flyer has not been approved by Medicare.
2 216-B E. Matilija St., Ojai, CA 93023 www.LT-ins.com CA# 0D96309
We Help You With Medicare.
IT’S TIME AGAIN FOR ANNUAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD! Time flies when you’re having fun! So the saying goes. I’m
Oct. 15 through Dec. 7: This is the Annual Enrollment Period , during which agents may continue marketing activities and receive enrollments. AEP enrollments become effective on Jan. 1. Jan. 1 to March 31: New for 2019 is the Open Enrollment Period. This is the period of time when someone who is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1 may make one plan change for the year. If desired, the plan member may enroll in a different MAPD plan with an effective date of the first day of the following month. During OEP, a member of an MAPD may also enroll in a Stand Alone PDP (which auto-disenrolls the MAPD) and return to original Medicare. Please note that the Jan. 1 to March 31 Open Enrollment Period is NOT available for Stand Alone PDP changes. All of this enrollment period jazz can be pretty confusing. That’s why we’re here to keep things straight and in order to help our clients understand Medicare and have the best experience possible. Give us a call to clear up the confusion! Keep in mind that all enrollment activities for those turning 65 and entering Medicare follow the Initial Enrollment Period guidelines. Medicare Supplement policy changes follow different guidelines. In a future issue, we will discuss Special Enrollment Periods.
getting to the stage of life where time just simply flies. Do I hear an “Amen, brother”? Another Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is just around the corner. Annual Enrollment Period is the time of year when anyone already in Medicare may add, change, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) or Stand Alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). On or around Oct. 1: If you are enrolled in a 2018 MAPD or SA- PDP, your Healthplan will mail you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). The ANOC highlights any changes in your current plan for 2019. If you are satisfied with your plan and any changes are acceptable, you do not need to take any action for your plan to roll over and continue next year. You may also inform your plan that you wish to receive such plan materials via email. Oct. 1–14, aka “Pre-AEP”: Medicare Advantage Plans and Stand Alone Prescription Drug Plans publish their next year’s plan benefits online, including any premium, copays, and plan changes. Agents may begin marketing activities and meeting with Medicare beneficiaries to discuss their 2019 plan benefit options. However, agents are prohibited from accepting AEP enrollments during Pre-AEP. HERE’S THE TIMELINE:
This flyer has not been approved by Medicare and all information included here can be verified at Medicare.gov.
SUDOKU
BRAISED SWISS CHARD
Ingredients
• • • •
2 carrots, peeled and chopped 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
•
1 1/4 pound (2 bunches) Swiss chard, trimmed and halved crosswise 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 large shallots, peeled and chopped
• •
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
3. Add 1/2 cup water, bring to a simmer. 4. Partially cover skillet and cook until liquid is nearly evaporated, about 15–20 minutes. 5. Transfer to a large platter and serve. Inspired by Saveur magazine
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium. 2. Once heated, add Swiss chard and
sprinkle with carrots and shallots. Put canned tomatoes over chard, add sugar, and season with salt and pepper.
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CA# 0D96309
805-646-6409
Lyndon Thomas Insurance
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
PO Box 207 Ojai, CA 93024
INSIDE
CA# 0D96309 | www.LT-ins.com | 805-646-6409
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The Pleasures of Perpetual Learning
What Have You Always Wanted to Do?
How We Help You With the Annual Enrollment Period
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It’s Time Again for Annual Enrollment Period!
Braised Swiss Chard
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Have You Heard About Mauritius?
WALK THROUGH HISTORY More than a tropical escape, Mauritius is an island full of history and culture, so there are plenty of opportunities to learn about the island’s layered past. You can visit one of the historical rummeries or explore Mauritius’ two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can also check out Aapravasi Ghat, the Immigration Depot, and Le Mourne Brabant. TASTE THE MEMORIES A day spent playing on an island is always better with great food. Influenced by its French, Creole, Indian, and Chinese heritage, Mauritius offers a vast menu of delicious dishes to try, from curry to dim sum. And the rich soil and bountiful ocean provide more than enough fresh fruit and seafood to go around. Despite its amazing vacation potential, Mauritius is all but unheard of to people in the United States. This means travelers can find amazing five-star resorts at unbeatable prices! With this in mind, isn’t it time you got to know the island of Mauritius? MARVELOUS MAURITIUS A SECRET ISLAND OF ADVENTURE
Just over 1,000 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean lies the small island of Mauritius. The island is often overlooked by the rest of the world. Most people are more likely to have heard of the island’s most famous extinct occupant, the dodo bird, than the island itself. This is shocking when you discover how much fun there is to be had in this tropical wonderland. ADVENTURE AWAITS Looking for fun in the sun? Start your trip to Mauritius with a hike up the lush Lion Mountain, or take time to snap a photo of the Seven Coloured Earths, where volcanic soil has created sand dunes of seven distinct colors. And what’s a trip to an island without the beach? Beautiful coral reefs surround Mauritius, keeping sharks away from the pristine beaches. Island guests and locals can fearlessly scuba dive around the brilliant reefs, swim with dolphins, kite surf, and find lots of other ways to enjoy the warm ocean waters.
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216-B E. Matilija St., Ojai, CA 93023
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Published by The NewsletterPro •www.NewsletterPro.com
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