Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
Club MED
We Need Your Vote (and Yes, We’ll Earn It!) Best Medicare Insurance Agency — Best of Omaha 2026 July 2025
• B2B Omaha: Highlighting local CEOs, companies, and business trends. • Family Guide: The parenting survival guide we all wish we had sooner. • FACES: Celebrating amazing locals who make Omaha shine. • Hotel editions, neighborhood directories, and custom publications for everything from events to hidden gems. AND THEN THERE’S THE BEST OF OMAHA CONTEST … Let’s get down to the heart of this message: The Best of Omaha contest. You’ve heard of it. You’ve probably voted in it. Maybe you even proudly display a "Best of Omaha"
Have you ever flipped through a magazine and thought, "Wow, I didn’t even know that was in Omaha!" Or read about a neighbor’s award-winning barbecue and suddenly felt like you needed to up your grill game?
That’s the magic of Omaha Magazine — Omaha’s local storytelling powerhouse.
A STORY THAT STARTS IN 1983 (BUT GOES BACK EVEN FURTHER) Even though the name Omaha Magazine was officially claimed in 1983 by publisher Todd Lemke, the publication’s roots go way back. Like 150 years back. (That's before
electricity, folks.) No one else had thought to register the name Omaha Magazine? Shocking, we know. But lucky for us, Todd did — and he turned it into one of the region’s most loved magazines.
magnet on your fridge. Every year, thousands of locals vote for their favorite pizza joints, boutiques, dentists, dog groomers, and more. This year, we want your vote in one special category:
BEST MEDICARE INSURANCE AGENCY IN OMAHA And yes, we are asking — very politely and just a bit dramatically — for your support.
Today, Omaha Magazine is:
•
Delivered to 23,000-plus print subscribers
• Reaching 250,000 to 500,000 online readers • A charming mix of beautiful
WHY VOTE FOR US? We know you have choices. You could sign up for Medicare through a 1-800 number, a website, or a big call center based in Florida, California, or (let’s be honest) probably somewhere in the Philippines.
photography, insightful interviews, and stories that spotlight the very best of our city
All this magic happens from their office tucked right here in town at 5921 S 118th Circle. No faceless
media conglomerates. Just a team of passionate locals: Publisher Todd Lemke , Managing Editor Julius Fredrick , and Sales Director Gil Cohen .
Those folks might offer the same plans. But here’s what they don’t offer:
• A real person who knows your name. • Someone who will still pick up the phone next week … and next year.
NOT JUST ONE MAGAZINE — A WHOLE FAMILY OF THEM You may have seen their other publications around town:
• OmahaHome: For house lovers, home designers, and people who just really like a good backsplash.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...
Call 402-614-3389 to speak with a licensed insurance agent! • 1
Medicare Insurance Made Easy
(SPOILER: IT’S COMPLICATED) WHO’S WATCHING FOR MEDICARE FRAUD?
You may not think much about fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare. But behind the scenes, it’s a big deal and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year. So, who’s keeping an eye on things? That depends on what kind of Medicare you have. Let’s take a look… MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS: BUILT- IN FRAUD WATCHDOGS If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you're getting your Medicare through a private insurance company. These companies must keep fraud under control — it's in their contract with Medicare. Because they're managing your care and paying the bills, they have a strong reason to make sure: • Doctors aren’t overbilling • Services aren’t being faked • Your card isn’t being used by someone else They use technology, analytics, and even real humans to catch suspicious behavior. If they see a doctor billing for 100 patients a day or someone traveling 100 miles for weekly foot massages, red flags go up fast. They also work with law enforcement if someone breaks the rules.
It’s not that nobody is watching, but compared to private Medicare Advantage companies, the fraud
years, including $1.2 billion just last year. There’s even a new version called Rapid Fraud Intelligence (Rapid FI) , which works even faster and smarter. WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW? This new effort is part of an initiative from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — yes, that’s a real name, not a meme! Their job is to: • Cut down waste in federal programs • Cancel shady contracts • Pause suspicious payments • Make sure taxpayer money goes where it’s supposed to DOGE and CMS are working closely together now, sharing systems, data, and new fraud-fighting strategies. SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Whether you’re on Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, know this: • If you’re with a Medicare Advantage plan, your insurance company is already looking out for fraud every single day. • If you’re on Original Medicare, the government is finally getting the tools it needs to catch up — and crack down. • It means your Medicare benefits are being better protected. And it means your tax dollars are being used more wisely.
detection tools in Original Medicare have been slower, older, and less connected.
GOOD NEWS: BIG CHANGES ARE COMING
Thanks to pressure from Congress, the public, and the Trump administration, the federal government is now making huge improvements in its fight against fraud in Original Medicare. One of the most powerful new tools is the Fraud Detection Operations Center (FDOC) , which is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) .
Here’s what it does:
• Uses artificial intelligence and machine learning (yep, robots!) to spot fraud faster • Flags suspicious billing behavior from doctors or clinics • Stops payments before the money is sent • Removes providers who were convicted of crimes or who don’t meet standards For example? FDOC recently found that Medicare was still sending payments to a doctor who died 20 years ago .
Bottom line? With Medicare Advantage, fraud detection is part of the deal.
Yep. Twenty. Years. Ago.
ORIGINAL MEDICARE + MEDIGAP: NOT QUITE THE SAME If you have Original Medicare (Parts A & B) plus a Medigap (supplement) plan, things work differently. Here, Medicare is run directly by the federal government. While Medigap plans help cover costs like deductibles and copays, they don’t manage your care or claims. Until recently, the government’s fraud system was mostly “ pay and chase. ” That means someone gets paid, and months later , investigators might realize something fishy happened. By then, the money is gone.
THE TECH POWER BEHIND IT The government has partnered with Peraton , the technology company that built the Fraud Prevention System (FPS) .
WHAT YOU CAN DO You can help, too! Keep an eye out for:
• Bills for services you didn’t receive • Duplicate charges • Providers who pressure you into services you don’t need If you see something that doesn’t look right, report it to your Medicare plan or to Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE .
And what exactly does the FPS do? It:
• Scans billing records in real time • Flags doctors who look suspicious • Tracks patterns (like billing for services no one needs) • Compares one provider’s claims to others to spot outliers
Peraton has already helped save $13 billion for taxpayers over the past 10
Together, we can all fight fraud — one step at a time.
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Testimonial
• A team that remembers your prescription history and helps you re-shop your plan every October. • Compassion, kindness, humor, and a touch of Midwest humility. ... CONTINUED FROM COVER
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Omaha Insurance Solutions because it's time for me to sign up for Medicare Insurance and any supplemental plans. Chris and Anna turned what I thought would be a daunting process into something very easy to understand and navigate through. "I appreciated their patience and consideration of my specific insurance needs when it came to choosing which plans I would use. Their customer service is exceptional! I love how they integrated modern technology (via large on-screen charts and pictures that helped explain the various products) with just simple conversation and a cup of coffee! I felt like they gave me all the time in the world to ask the questions I needed to in order to make my decision ... And this was all done in a professional and yet very comfortable office environment. "And now — the sale is done — I've made my final choices and Anna and Chris are still readily available and easy to reach should I have any questions. "I am so glad I followed the advice of a friend and went to Omaha Insurance Solutions. I highly recommend them to anyone in the market for a good Medicare Insurance Company!” —Greta R.
We’ve been doing insurance since 2002 and Medicare exclusively since 2012 . That’s thousands of clients, stories, and times we’ve said, "Don’t worry. We’ve got this." HOW WE’RE DIFFERENT (AND BETTER) Sure, we use phones, Zoom, and email, but we also sit across the table from you. We’ve mailed cards when clients lost a spouse. We’ve shown
up to answer questions face-to-face. We’ve walked folks through claim denials, plan changes, and those confusing Medicare letters with the scary government fonts. Our clients know us. And we know Medicare — inside and out. (Sometimes in our sleep. Ask our spouses.) While we might joke that most mistakes are Anna’s (she’s a great sport), the truth is, we run a tight ship. Your applications are processed cleanly and quickly. Your ID cards arrive. Your drugs are covered. Your doctors are in-network. Your phone calls are returned.
Ingredients • 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1/2 cup basil pesto • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • 1/3 cup oil-packed sun- dried tomatoes, drained, oil reserved Inspired by HalfBakedHarvest.com Cheesy Tomato- Basil Stuffed Chicken
That’s not just “doing business.” That’s doing it right .
VOTE, CELEBRATE, REPEAT Voting for Best of Omaha 2026 begins July 1, 2025 . If we win, we get featured in the magazine, toasted at a grand celebration called “ Soirée: A Night of the Best ,” and maybe we’ll hand out complimentary colonoscopy coupons as party favors.
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, divided • 2 cloves garlic, smashed • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
But really, the best prize is knowing our clients believe in us. If we’ve helped you or someone you love, we’d be honored to have your vote.
• Chili flakes, to taste • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
HOW TO VOTE
1. Scan the QR Code 2. Or go to OmahaMagazine.com/bestof 3. Find the Medicare Insurance Agency category 4. Type in our name 5. Do a happy dance (optional but encouraged)
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Slice chicken down the middle horizontally (not cutting all the way through). 3. Spread pesto inside filleted chicken, then stuff with cheese and tomatoes before closing chicken, covering filling. 4. Place chicken in a large oven-safe skillet. Drizzle with reserved oil.
THANK YOU Thank you for being part of our journey — whether you’re a longtime client, a new friend, or someone who accidentally stumbled into this newsletter (welcome, by the way!).
5. Set the skillet over medium heat; cook 5 minutes. 6. Add 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and season with chili flakes. Cook 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat. 7. Bake in oven for 7–10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tomatoes burst. 8. Toss remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes with basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. 9. Serve the chicken topped with fresh tomatoes. Call 402-614-3389 to speak with a licensed insurance agent! • 3
We’re honored to do what we do — and to serve you .
Licensed Insurance Agent –Christopher J. Grimmond
11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com Chris@OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Code 86074_07092025_JL
INSIDE This Issue
Politely Asking for Your Support (and Vote!) 1
2 Medicare Fraud Is Finally Getting Harder for Schemers
Testimonial 3
Cheesy Tomato-Basil Stuffed Chicken 3
4 The Most Dangerous Game of Monopoly Ever Played
When Monopoly Helped Win a War Allied Powers Outwitted the Enemy, One Game at a Time
You know Monopoly as the game that ruins friendships and sparks hourlong battles over Park Place. But during World War II, it played a much more significant and far braver role: helping Allied soldiers escape from German POW camps. Yes, really . In one of the most brilliant covert ops of the war, the British Secret Service turned Monopoly into a top-secret escape kit.
Before this tactic, smuggling noisy paper maps without tipping off the guards was too risky, and getting caught could be fatal for prisoners. Enter silk — strong, weather- resistant, and, most importantly, silent. The British turned to John Waddington Ltd., the licensed Monopoly manufacturer in the UK, who also happened to be an expert in printing on silk. It was a match made in espionage heaven. Waddington didn’t just tuck maps into game boxes, though. In a locked room most employees didn’t know existed, craftsmen rigged Monopoly sets with tiny metal files, magnetic compasses, and even real currency hidden beneath the play money. Each game was marked with a secret red dot on the Free Parking space — an insider’s clue for captured soldiers to look out for.
Thanks to a clever partnership with the Red Cross, these “games” were slipped into POW camps as humanitarian aid packages. The guards thought they were passing along innocent entertainment. Meanwhile, inside the box were the tools to freedom. By the end of the war, over 35,000 POWs had escaped German camps — many with the help of these customized Monopoly sets. Though exact numbers are lost to history, Monopoly's role in those escapes is one of the war’s clever secrets. The mission was kept quiet for decades to preserve the strategy for future use. Today, the story reminds us that the simplest tools can sometimes carry out extraordinary missions. Next time you pass “Go,” just remember Monopoly once helped people pass barbed wire.
4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator