LYN’S LEDGER
Lyndon Thomas Insurance
Oct 2019
We Help You With Medicare.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME BASEBALL GAMES PAST AND PRESENT
Last Friday, after a late lunch at Porto’s Bakery and Cafe in Glendale, Dad, my three sons, and I arrived at Dodger Stadium a few minutes before the gates opened. Despite the three home runs given up by ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers won, and the perfect fall evening was marred only by Mom’s absence. We miss her deeply but wouldn’t wish her back into the slow, brutal robbery of the Parkinson’s disease she battled. She is safe in the good care and presence of God. What a joy it is to have Dad here in Ojai for a few weeks. As a third-generation South Dakotan, he has no desire to stay long in California. Medicare is on a great run from 1965 forward. It serves the needs of senior adults in a championship manner. The current political season reverberates with calls to change Medicare. Heed the old warning — Dad, please disregard my incorrect grammar — beware of what you wish for.
Dodgers fans have had quite a run lately. Cheering for a team that has won the National League West Division for the last seven years is dampened only by not having won the World Series during that time —maybe this year! I grew up in South Dakota, listening to broadcasts of the Minnesota Twins. Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, and Tony Oliva were in the field, and Bert Blyleven was on the mound. It’s sad these greats never won the Commissioner’s Trophy. Two Twins’ World Series championships came later, after I’d moved to California. Over the years, Mom followed the Twins more closely than Dad. More recently, interleague play presented the opportunity for the American League Twins to visit the National League Dodgers while Dad and Mom were on their annual Ojai visit. We had pretty good seats for the game. Mom enjoyed seeing some of the players whose names she knew in action on the field. Dodger Stadium’s accommodation for wheelchair users equals those of airlines and airports, so we enjoyed every aspect of that particular Dodgers victory in the fall of 2016.
–Lyn Thomas
1
www.LT-ins.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Published by The NewsletterPro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Lyndon Thomas Insurance
College expenses aren’t what they used to be. What used to be affordable to any student with a part-time summer job now can take years to pay off. If your grandkids want to go to college, the cost of education should not be a barrier to their future. Luckily there are ways that you can help ease that financial burden. INVEST IN A 529 SAVINGS PLAN. There are no limits on age, income, or monetary contributions attached to this college savings account, and contributions are tax-deductible in some states. Just like a Roth IRA, the earnings grow over time and can be used tax-free for qualifying expenses, like tuition and room and board. There are a few downsides, however. Funds from a grandparent’s 529 savings plan are considered student income and could hurt your student’s eligibility for financial aid. If you choose to fund through a parent’s 529 savings plan, which doesn’t count as student income, you lose control over the funds you contribute. around, but if you do, using it to pay for your grandchild’s tuition isn’t a bad way to spend it. Normally, annual financial gifts that are exempt from the federal gift tax can’t exceed $15,000, but payments toward someone’s tuition, for any amount, are not taxed. Keep in mind, however, that the money can only go toward tuition, not toward other college expenses like room and board or textbooks. Even if you don’t have thousands of dollars to give, you can still help your grandkids look for other opportunities to save. There are thousands of available scholarships, grants, and programs to help students pay for college, and helping them look online and in your community can go a long way. College could be your grandchild’s first stop on the path to achieving their dreams. You can be a part of that journey by making sure money doesn’t get in the way of that. PAY THEIR TUITION . Not everybody has $20,000 just lying HELP THEM FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE. DON’T LETMONEY GET IN THEWAY Of Your Grandchild’s Education
PLEASE DON’T KEEP US A SECRET
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN SEMINARS
DATE
PLAN
DAY
TIME
LOCATION
Oct. 15
Blue Shield
Tue
1 p.m.
Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Ojai Day—Downtown Ojai Booth on Ojai Avenue Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Church Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Lyndon Thomas Insurance 216-B E. Matilija St, Ojai Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church 105 E. Topa Topa St, Ojai Evergreen Wellness 214 E. Matilija St, Ojaii
Oct. 16
Central Health Plan
Wed
10 a.m.
Oct. 17
AARP/ UnitedHealthcare VARIOUS PLANS Informal setting
Thu
10 a.m.
Oct. 19
Sat
10 a.m.
Oct. 24
Blue Shield
Thu
1 p.m.
Nov. 2
Central Health Plan
Sat
10 a.m.
Nov. 7
AARP/ UnitedHealthcare
Thu
10 a.m.
Nov. 13
Central Health Plan
Wed
12:30 p.m.
AARP/ UnitedHealthcare
Nov. 19
Tue
2 p.m.
Humana
Nov. 23
Sat
1 p.m.
AARP/ UnitedHealthcare
Dec. 2
Mon
2 p.m.
Blue Shield
Dec. 3
Tue
1 p.m.
Central Health Plan
Dec. 4
Evergreen Wellness 214 E. Matilija St, Ojai
Wed
12:30 p.m.
Medicare and its related insurances aren’t the easiest things to understand. The Annual Enrollment Period can be confusing to people. I’ve been at this business for nearly 17 years, so I’m able to walk people through not only their Initial Enrollment Period but the Annual Enrollment Period, as well. It is a real joy for me to wrap up an appointment and hear the words, “Now I understand!” I have learned that if I help people understand their health care coverage first, they have a much better experience, and the commissions take care of themselves later. If I’ve gained favor as your agent, please let a few friends or neighbors know about us this AEP. They may have questions about their Medicare options. We can help them. Call 805-646-6409 or visit our downtown Ojai office at 216-B E. Matilija Street (across from Rainbow Bridge). I am also available for in-home appointments. Visit LT-ins.com for more information.
2 216-B E. Matilija St., Ojai, CA 93023 www.LT-ins.com CA# 0D96309
We Help You With Medicare.
CHANGE ONLY IF YOU WANT TO For anyone who’s been in Medicare for a year or more, it’s pretty easy to know when it’s Oct. 1. That’s when your mailbox begins filling up with fourth-class mail from insurance companies and brokers. Also, from October through Dec. 7, most of the TV advertisements are trying to get you to call a toll-free number.
1. File your ANOC and Evidence of Coverage for 2020 in a safe place for reference. 2. Watch the mail for your member ID card for the 2020 year. 3. Move all that AEP fourth-class marketing junk mail directly to the recycle bin. 4. Start getting ready for the holidays. However, if your ANOC reveals changes to your current plan that inspire you to take a look at other plans available to you, then as your full-service Medicare agency, we are here to answer questions about your coverage options with other plans and to help determine your best plan for 2020. Lyndon Thomas Insurance contracts with just about all of the companies filling up your mailbox and TV screen. We would like to suggest that a local agent who provides personal service over time provides a better value for your premium dollar. We are compensated by commission from the company and never charge for a benefits review or consultation. Medicare Supplement policies have separate guidelines and enrollment options. To review Supplement options and MAPD and PDP options during the Medicare AEP, you may reach us by cell at 805-798-3245 or by email at Lyn@LT-ins.com.
This means the Medicare annual enrollment period (AEP) is once again upon us. The Medicare AEP is the time of year when anyone with a Medicare Advantage Plan and those with a stand- alone prescription drug plan are able to make a plan change — BUT ONLY IF THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE ACTION. There is one piece of mail from your current plan for which you should keep alert. This is the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). All changes from this year’s MAPD or PDP going forward to next year are lifted out into the ANOC on a side-by-side table so that they are clearly seen for you to compare. Aspects of the plan not included in the ANOC remain the same for the next year. As you review the ANOC for your plan, if you decide the changes identified are manageable and are happy to continue with your current plan, then there’s nothing you need to do for your plan to continue next year. However, there are four other things you may want to do.
SUDOKU
CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT
This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy.
Ingredients
•
1 package melting chocolate
• Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.
3
CA# 0D96309
805-646-6409
Inspired by Food Network
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
2 1
Baseball Games Past and Present
3 Strategies for Helping Grandkids Pay for College
Please Don’t Keep Us a Secret
3 4
Change Only if You Want To
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit
Avoid Getting Your Hands Dirty This Halloween
JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN NO-CARVE PUMPKIN DESIGNS! Jack-o’-lanterns go hand-in-hand with Halloween, but digging through the inside of a pumpkin is not something everyone enjoys. If you aren’t keen on cutting open a pumpkin, here are a few no-carve ideas you can try this Halloween! HAUNTED HOUSE Take a few pumpkins, stack them on top of each other, and create a spooky pumpkin haunted house! Then, use paint, balsa wood sheets, and hot glue to create silhouettes, ghosts, windows, and doors for a haunting effect! CREATIVE WITH STRING Use cotton twine and hot glue to create a web-like design on the surface of your pumpkin. Don’t forget to add a few plastic spiders! You can also use string art to create ghostly words or images. Lay out your design with small pegs or nails and wrap the string around them to reach your desired effect. NOTHING BUT NET You can create eerie pumpkins using fishnet stockings. Spray- paint your pumpkin if desired — just make sure the design of the
stockings will stand out. Once the paint is dry, cut the legs off the stockings, slide the pumpkin inside, remove the extra fabric around the stem, and use hot glue to secure it. COLORFUL PAINT Painting your Halloween pumpkins gives everyone a chance to participate. Be creative by using different designs, cutouts for silhouettes, drip paint to create a marble design, or nail polish and water to give white pumpkins a unique and vibrant look. A SPOOKY MONSTER By adding a witch hat, wrapping a pumpkin in cheesecloth, attaching spider legs, or tying on a vampire cape, you can create a pumpkin version of the most popular Halloween monsters. Along with these accessories, you can also use paint, construction paper, and other craft materials to add the details that will make your creation pop!
For more detailed directions for these pumpkin designs and more ideas, visit WomansDay.com.
4
216-B E. Matilija St., Ojai, CA 93023
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Published by The NewsletterPro •www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator