Lyndon Thomas Insurance October 2017

L yndon Thomas Insurance

4WAYS YOUMAY BE ABLE TO PREVENT DEMENTIA BEFORE IT STARTS

It’s that time of year again! As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) gets into full swing, you’ve noticed your mailbox TIME TO THINK ABOUT CHANGE companies. While it may seem a bit overwhelming, there is one item of mail you really should be looking for. It’s the Annual Notice of Change from the Medicare Advantage Plan or Stand- Alone Prescription Drug Program, of which you are currently a member. Also affectionately known as the “Ay-nok,” the ANOC notifies members of changes to their current plan for the coming year. All changes, such as the raising or lowering of premiums, copays, coverages, or other contract modifications are lifted out and printed in the ANOC. 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 you are happy to continue with the plan you’re on, then you need do nothing for your plan to continue next year. However, there are four things you may want to do:

From the moment you wake up in the morning, it feels like a dense fog fills your head. When you drag yourself out of bed and go to make yourself a plate of eggs and toast, it suddenly seems like a much more complicated task than before. You lose track of time, and the smell of smoke enters your nostrils. Frantically turning the burner off, it occurs to you that you can’t remember the day of the week. According to Time Magazine, 47 million people around the world live with some type of dementia. Typically, as we age, we’re told that all we can do is hope for the best and bide our time until there’s a cure, but recent research by the Alzheimer’s Research Center paints a different picture. A set of simple lifestyle changes may be the key to staving off cognitive decline as we get older. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 50 percent, according to Help Guide, and it can even slow the onset of already-present cognitive decline. Walk or swim for about 150 minutes each week, along with two to three sessions of moderate resistance training, as well as balance and coordination exercises. Check out eldergym.com for more info on staying active as you age. Heart-healthy eating may also protect the brain. Limit your intake of sugar and saturated fats and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Replace butter and margarine with olive or canola oil. Two diets that have been linked to heart health are the DASH diet (dashdiet.org) and the Mediterranean diet. Frequent social engagement may help keep your brain sharp. Make efforts to speak face to face with someone you’re close to as often as you can. Try to make new friends, volunteer, join a club or social group, get to know your neighbors, or connect with people over social media. Mental stimulation may also be important to brain health as we age. Study something new to you, such as a foreign language or a musical instrument. Make reading books and newspapers part of your regular routine. Try doing crossword or sudoku puzzles. It’s not difficult to find an activity you enjoy that will also help keep your brain active.

1. File your ANOC and Evidence of Coverage in a safe place for reference.

2. Keep your eyes peeled for your member ID card for the new year.

3. Move all that AEP fourth-class junk mail straight to the recycle bin.

4. And start getting ready for the holidays.

However, if the 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 agent, I am here to answer questions about your coverage options with other plans and to help you determine the best plan for you in 2018. I contract with five Medicare Advantage health plans and many prescription drug programs, so I’m here to help!

You can reach me with questions by cell or text at 805-798-3245 or email at Lyn@LT-ins.com.

2 216-B E. Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023 www.LT-ins.com CA# 0D96309

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