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MEDICAREBLUEPRINT.COM Health Matters
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024
WAYS TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE Unlock Your Greatness
OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS DEC. 7!
Please review your plan ASAP if you haven’t already done so.
There is a vast difference between meeting expectations and exceeding them.
a member of the U.S. Air Force. Serving my country was an honor, and I dedicated myself to expanding my skill set and giving as much of myself as possible. Along the way, I was granted top-secret security clearance to work on a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber — a role I served with the utmost pride and commitment. With Veterans Day also in November, I commend my fellow servicemembers for keeping our nation secure and setting such an extraordinary example of what it means to go beyond the call of duty. My past military experience greatly informed my life as a civilian, and I do my absolute best to honor the lessons I learned in the Air Force by excelling at my work at Medicare Blueprint Advisors. The world of health insurance is often tricky to navigate, so everyone at our agency works hard to stay on top of trends and coverage changes that impact our clients. We aim to inform you of your options and obligations and help alleviate much of the stress involved in the progress of healthcare. Naturally, that means staying engaged in an ever- evolving field to ensure that paperwork never overshadows your peace of mind. As consumers ourselves, we understand how
frustrating it is to go through a maze just to meet basic needs. That’s why we strive to make your Medicare journey as smooth and worry-free as possible. I hope this message motivates you to think about how you already go the extra mile every day. Maybe you’re a friend who always offers words of support when times get tough, or perhaps you’re the person your neighbor calls when they need a ride to the doctor’s or a helping hand around the house. If you’re doing good for others, please keep it up — but never forget to go the extra mile for yourself ! If your self- improvement plans include taking a closer look at your health insurance, we’re ready and happy to help you. Martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who would have turned 84 this month, put it best: “Put ‘going the extra mile’ to work as part of one’s daily habit.” It’s terrific that Extra Mile Day exists, but it’s nothing more than a date on the calendar unless we all work to be of greater service to others — and ourselves — all year long.
Whether in our careers or at home, we commit ourselves to meeting life’s challenges and fulfilling our responsibilities. Our success as bosses, employees, coworkers, parents, spouses, or community members depends on our willingness to go above and beyond. Doing just enough is never enough — excellence is only achieved when we push past our perceived limitations and reach our fullest potential. I’ve thought about the above sentiment a lot since I learned that Nov. 1 is Extra Mile Day. Although every day of the year seems to be designated as one thing or another, Extra Mile Day is a meaningful occasion with a surprisingly large reach. Created in 2009 by the nonprofit organization Extra Mile America, it is currently acknowledged by more than 500 cities across the U.S. The informal holiday encourages everyone to change the world through positive thinking and good deeds that surpass their typical efforts. The philosophy of going the extra mile has served me greatly over the years. Before starting my insurance career, I was
—Jason Mackey
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The world of Medicare is on the verge of significant change — and your coverage will feel the impact. Your Medicare Future Needs a Review This past summer, we contacted all our clients to update them on critical revisions to Medicare enrollments and plans that could greatly affect their benefits in the new year. If you haven’t responded, please contact us immediately with your current coverage information. You only have until Dec. 7 to enroll in Medicare for 2025, and you must review your current plan before it’s too late! WHAT’S NEXT — AND WHY IT MATTERS Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Medicare was given the authority to negotiate the pricing for select high- cost medications for seniors — a right previously granted to only Medicaid, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Department of Defense. Among other provisions, the Act established a $35, deductible-free monthly cap for a one-month supply of Part D-covered insulin. In January, Medicare beneficiaries will see their out-of-pocket spending cap for Part D medications fall from $3,500 to $2,000. Additionally, plan participants will have access to a new opt- in feature that will help alleviate upfront costs by stretching prescription payments over several months. The anticipated revisions also aim to welcome more mental health professionals into the Medicare system. However, the $1,500 cap reduction could lead to more significant costs for Medicare participants in other areas, particularly with Medicare Advantage plans. Changes for 2025 will also include adjustments to the list of covered drugs. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO Please be aware that you won’t be able to keep your current plan! We strongly urge you to review their plans as soon as possible and ensure that we have this information to help you prepare for these future changes. Your health coverage is too important to put on the back burner. Make preparing for 2025 a priority — let us help you get started today. DON’T DELAY — PROTECT YOUR COVERAGE NOW!
What Our Clients Think!
“Jason is very knowledgeable and is always looking out for
our best interests.” –Dianne Farrelly
“Tim and his team have pointed me in the right direction each and every year.” –James Murdock III “I didn’t have to do it. Options narrowed down to a reasonable number. Selected option best suited to me. If anything changes in the coming year we can adjust as necessary next
open enrollment.” –Mark Johnson
—Tim Hanbury
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LESSONS FROM A REMARKABLE MAN WALKING IN MY FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
In addition to marking the official start of the holidays, November is National Inspirational Role Models Month. We all have people who’ve inspired us through the goodness they’ve brought to the world, but few people have encouraged me and enriched my life more than my father, Dalton. Growing up, I always looked up to my dad as someone who’d literally give people the shirt off his back. A true example of actions speaking louder than words, he served in the Coast Guard before getting into the insurance business. By the time he started his agency in the late ’80s, I was in high school and old enough to appreciate all the hours he put in to make the business grow. He would always say,
“Take care of the clients, and the business will take care of itself.” That philosophy still rings true for us today. After a stint in the military, I joined my father at the family business in 1998. Helping people for a living has always been the best part of the job, but I also cherish that being here allowed my dad and me to eat breakfast or lunch together every day for more than a decade. When he retired in 2014, I was honored to follow in his footsteps as company president. During my early years at the agency, I became a parent myself. The demands of the job had prevented my dad from attending many of my sports games and other activities when I was growing up, and
I knew that bothered him. When my first son, Jackson, was old enough for sports and field trips, my dad didn’t bat an eye — he always encouraged me to take time away from the office to be involved in my child’s life. I carry that commitment to this day with my youngest son, Logan — who, at 5 years old, is a little daredevil who loves sports and even taught himself how to ride a bicycle! Yes, we’re a family business , but my father taught me that the second word in that phrase should never come at the expense of the first. Thanks, Dad, for touching so many lives and being the best role model I could ask for. —Jason Mackey
WORD SEARCH
SPINACH, LENTIL, AND ROASTED BEET SALAD
Inspired by MinamalistBaker.com
INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup green lentils, rinsed clean • 1 cup vegetable stock (or water) •
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400 F and grease a rimmed baking sheet. 2. To a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add lentils and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20–30 minutes uncovered until all liquid is absorbed. Set aside. 3. Add leeks and beets to the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake 15–20 minutes. For crispier beets, bake for an additional 10–15 minutes. Set aside. 4. In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients until combined. 5. In a larger serving bowl, combine spinach, beets, leeks, and lentils. Add dressing and toss to coat.
3 medium leeks, chopped 1 medium beet, quartered
• • • •
1–2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
4 big handfuls of spinach
APPLE BASKETBALL BLACK FRIDAY
NAP PARADE PIE STUFFING TURKEY VETERAN
Dressing •
1/4 cup tahini
• • • •
1/2 medium lemon, juiced
FIREPLACE GRATITUDE LEAVES
2 tbsp maple syrup
3–4 tbsp olive oil
1 pinch each salt and pepper
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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THE PATH TO EMBRACING YOUR POTENTIAL
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ACT FAST TO SECURE YOUR BENEFITS!
WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK
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HONORING AN INSPIRATION
SPINACH, LENTIL, AND ROASTED BEET SALAD
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PAWS OF HOPE
A WARRIOR’S BEST FRIEND How a Rescue Dog Changed a Veteran’s Life
When Marine William “Bill” Lins returned home from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, he felt ruined. He wasn’t the same man anymore and felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. After sustaining multiple injuries and witnessing the horrors of battle, he never thought he would be able to go back to living a normal life.
friend at the VA bring in his service dog, he noticed a remarkable change in him and decided to apply for the program.
Bill felt an instant connection to the goofy rescue dog Link, who was recovering from his own trauma after living a rough life in a kill shelter. Bill said his canine companion is his 24/7 therapist, providing him with support and safety at all hours. Link doesn’t just impact Bill’s life; he makes a difference with everyone he encounters, from Bill’s children to the youth athletes he coaches.
That is until the nonprofit K-9s For Warriors helped him find his missing link — a rescue dog appropriately named Link.
K-9 For Warriors has been pairing highly trained service dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma since 2011. The free program strives to better the lives of veterans through special canine bonds and ultimately end veteran suicide, which claims the lives of roughly 20 veterans every day. When Bill returned from deployment, he had to recover from two surgeries and realized he had PTSD. He had developed severe alcoholism, drinking every day nonstop as his only coping mechanism. In a hopeless place, the Marine felt like he was losing every piece of his identity and had nothing left. After seeing a
“Together, we kind of make each other whole,” Bill said. “He makes everyone’s world better, and he makes it seem effortless.”
Link has inspired Bill to help others and spread a message of awareness that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of strength. Bill has since earned his master’s in social work and provides mental health services with his tail-wagging companion by his side for every session.
Together, the pair are showing veterans everywhere that there is hope and that life can get better with a little help from a four-legged friend.
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