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LYN’S LEDGER
Lyndon Thomas Insurance
October 2023
We Help You With Medicare.
FARMING AND MEDICARE — I’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE!
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period reminds me of life on the farm in South Dakota where I was raised. Crops harvested in late summer and fall months provide the majority of income for the year. Likewise, our activities conducted during the seven weeks of the Annual Enrollment Period comprise nearly 70% of agency income for the year. However, just as there is no harvest without planting, cultivating, and waiting for rain, our community and sales activities during the rest of the year support the intense activity of the fall quarter. Another similarity is that if something breaks down, no one is going to come fix it for you. I remember the urgency of equipment repairs when cut alfalfa was on the ground in 95-degree heat, and the quality of the crop declined by the hour as it dried. Also, a breakdown while racing to get the grain harvested before a July thunderstorm easily turned a profit into a devastating loss. Bottom line: If it breaks, you fix it. No one is riding to your rescue. The same is true for our business. Anticipating market factors correctly in the coming AEP is the difference between a mediocre and a fantastic result. If something breaks or I make a mistake, I must fix it myself. A further similarity is that there are many factors beyond my control. One’s destiny with dry land farming — without irrigation — is up to the weather. An old Midwest proverb — If you are going to pray for rain, take your umbrella to the prayer meeting!
A farmer has no control over getting to the happy medium of the right amount of rain and avoiding windstorms, hailstorms, and tornadoes. Our business — and your health care — are all downstream from Medicare. Each year, Medicare posts new marketing regulations which tend not to make our lives easier. Health plans enter and exit service areas. Cuts or increases in Medicare payments significantly affect the plans we represent. Factors beyond our control are a fact of life. The Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Program market in our home service area of Ventura County is experiencing more change this AEP than in the past several years. We monitor plans and changes in 17 other states where we actively serve clients. Most of our clients have received letters, emails, or phone calls with our analysis of “stay where you are,” or “we definitely need to meet because of changes with your plan.” Please contact our office if you have not received our annual prescription drug review form and would like us to update and review your prescriptions. We enjoy our work. We are blessed. From the growing team here at LTI, thank you again for the opportunity to assist you with your Medicare plan needs.
–Lyn Thomas
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Lyndon Thomas Insurance
MASTER THE CHALLENGE OF COOKING FOR 2
There’s one part of empty nesting almost no one talks about: After feeding a family for years, how do you rethink your kitchen to cook for two? Classic recipes like pot roast and roast chicken are challenging to cook in two-person portions and will create a metric ton of leftovers. But that doesn’t mean you have to eat from your freezer for weeks or survive on cereal and pizza rolls! Here are three tips to help you cook for two without compromising healthy eating.
of Eat This Much (EatThisMuch.com). It costs $9 per month, and you can use it from your phone or computer. Once you choose your recipes, it will automatically create a grocery list and even give you the option to order grocery delivery! 2. Invest in a meal kit service. If you’re exhausted by cooking and don’t want to build a new repertoire, you might want to use meal kits through your golden years. Dozens of companies will deliver ready-made meals or pre-portioned ingredients directly to your door, including Blue Apron, HelloFresh, Sunbasket, Home Chef, Dinnerly, EveryPlate, and Purple Carrot. Read up on each service (they’re all recommended for two!), and choose the best fit for your diet and budget. A meal kit can be a permanent fix or a temporary tactic to find two-person recipes you love.
1. Meal plan like you’re a young parent again. This will be a familiar tactic for big families. Back in the day,
you probably had “Taco Tuesdays” and “Pizza Fridays” to keep your grocery shopping on track and your kids happy. Now, it’s time to develop a new meal plan! Work with your partner or spouse to choose your favorite recurring meals and find new two-person recipes that fit your preferences. If you’re not sure where to start, consider using a digital meal- planning tool. The editors at CNN recently compared the top meal- planning apps and recommend downloading the premium version
3. Turn to the experts. For more inspiration and advice, pick up books like “The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook” by America’s Test Kitchen or “One Pan, Two Plates” by Carla Snyder.
If all else fails, buy backyard chickens — they’re fantastic at gobbling up leftovers!
VENTURA COUNTY MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CORNER Be Aware of Plan Changes!
We would like to alert our members in the following plans to consider taking action during this Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).
Blue Shield 65 Plus is ending service in Ventura County: Members of this plan must proactively enroll in another plan for Jan. 1. While we have made a first contact attempt with all of our members in this plan and have met already with several for plan changes, if we have not yet reached you for consultation and enrollment, let’s get together!
WellCare GiveBack and No Premium: Please review your Annual Notice of Change mailed to you in September. The Part B “giveback” is trimmed
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2 1211 Maricopa Hwy, Ste 222, Ojai, CA 93023
CA# 0D96309
We Help You With Medicare.
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to $76 per month. Several copays on both plans have increased significantly, which brings these plans’ copays into alignment with the other plans. What stands out, however, is the increase in medical cost Maximum Out-of-Pocket amount to $8,850 on the GiveBack plan. Aetna SilverScript CHOICE Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Program: Your premium is increasing from $29.60 to $55.20 per month. Depending on your prescription needs, continuing with this plan may result in a reasonable overall (premium plus copays) cost. But it’s a real “it depends.” Members of this plan are encouraged to contact us for a plan review. If your plan is not included in this alert, our analysis is that unless you have a compelling reason to change plans, our suggestion is to take no action during AEP and continue next year with your plan. Contact our office at 805-646-6409 or LT-Ins.com with any questions.
SUDOKU
ONE-BOWL VEGAN PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Keep the dishwashing to a minimum and enjoy these fluffy vegan pumpkin muffins!
Ingredients
• •
15 oz can pumpkin purée
• • • • • •
1 tbsp baking powder
1/3 cup melted vegan butter (or vegetable oil) 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• • •
1 1/4 cups brown sugar 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground cloves
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare muffin pan by greasing and placing paper liners. 2. In a large mixing bowl, add pumpkin, melted vegan butter (or oil), milk, and brown sugar, then whisk until well combined and smooth. With a sifter, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices over the wet mixture. 3. Using a large wooden spoon, mix until just combined (do not over-mix). 4. Fill the muffin cups and bake for 22–25 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy! Directions
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Inspired by NoraCooks.com
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Lyndon Thomas Insurance
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
P.O. Box 207 Ojai, CA 93024
INSIDE
CA# 0D96309 | www.LT-ins.com | 805-646-6409
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Farming and Medicare — I’ve Seen This Before!
Empty Nest, Full Flavor: Tips for 2-Person Meals
Ventura County Medicare Advantage Corner
3 4
Sudoku
One-Bowl Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
Use Your Garden’s Fall Bounty for Home Decor!
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
TRANSFORM YOUR FALL HARVEST INTO STUNNING INDOOR DECORATIONS!
If you have a backyard garden, you may find yourself looking for new ways to use all the crops you’ve grown. After all, there are only so many pumpkins you can carve, seeds you can roast, or squash you can spaghetti. So, instead of looking up “squash recipes” for the hundredth time this week, consider these indoor decor tips that utilize your garden’s bountiful harvest! A Centerpiece Fall fruits and vegetables make great centerpiece arrangements because they have both seasonal colors and unique textures. Consider arranging a few squash or pumpkins in a bowl or basket and topping them with a bouquet of festive flowers. You can also mix herbs like basil, parsley, thyme, or rosemary into the bouquet for fragrance and a fuller appearance.
Play with the different shapes and sizes of your gourds. Have them lean against each other or stack them for variation and depth in your display. A Natural Wreath Fresh herbs, flowers, or leaves from your fall harvest are perfect for an autumn
beautifully, but you can use any seasonal flower you have growing. An Autumnal Herb Swag A “door swag” is a traditional holiday decoration, and it’s an easy way to add some color to your door without creating an entire wreath.
wreath. All you need is a wreath form, which you can buy from your local craft store or online, and some floral U-pins. Use large leaves as a base (pumpkin leaves are great), then layer on smaller seasonal herbs such as sage, rosemary, or
To make a swag, grab a few bundles of your favorite herbs, secure the stems with a rubber
band, wrap them with twine, and tie them off, leaving a few inches of twine on both sides. Then, tie those ends together to form a loop
oregano. Finally, attach some flowers to it! Squash or pumpkin blossoms work
and hang the swag on your door!
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1211 Maricopa Hwy, Ste 222, Ojai, CA 93023
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