Omaha Insurance Solutions - March 2020
Club MED
March 2020
My Journey From Priesthood to Omaha Insurance Solutions
We were desperate. I called a friend of mine who I’d previously worked with and who did Medicare planning, and he helped us get the whole situation ironed out. Ultimately, once she was admitted to the assisted living home, my mom was only with us for a few more weeks. But my friend, and his ability to unpack and explain the complexities of Medicare, was the hero of the story. That same friend asked me if I’d ever considered doing Medicare planning, and I jumped at the opportunity. I was already a certified financial planner, and with everything I had just been through with my mother, it was a natural fit. I started to meet with people working in the industry, and right away, I loved it. I liked working as a financial planner, but one of the frustrating things was that, given the size of the team I was working with, I could never really specialize in the way I wanted to. It was also scary because the last thing I wanted to do was risk giving bad advice. But now I’ve been in insurance for 17 years and in Medicare for seven. I know the ins and outs of Medicare like the back of my hand, and with my specialized knowledge, I know I can help my clients avoid pitfalls and save money. Usually, when people are struggling to navigate the Medicare system, they’re vulnerable because of advanced age or chronic issues. They don’t know the rules, and they generally have a gargantuan medical expense looming over them for a treatment they need but don’t know if they can afford. My work at Omaha Insurance Solutions allows me to help people and improve their lives in a tangible way, and that’s why I love what I do so much. That feels good.
My road to working as a Independent agent specializing in Medicare Health Insurance had many twists and turns. For the first 16 years of my career, I was a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha. But at 42 years old, I knew I needed a change. I decided I wanted to get married and have a family, and on June 26, 2003, I handed in my resignation, rolled up my sleeves, and set about looking for a second career. I applied to all sorts of job openings, and by chance, in that process, I got called in by some folks in financial services. Being a priest taught me a lot about the things that financial planners do, like building trust, communicating, and dealing with abstract ideas. It turned out that I was a good fit. I found my next career, but there was a problem: The 2008 financial crisis blew everything up. After the financial meltdown hit, everything crashed hard . I remember being with one of my clients and watching the market drop something like 400 points in one hour. The company I was working for at the time started laying people off. Originally, we had eight employees in my division. Then we had six, and then we had four. I was one of the last two people standing, but in the end, I lost my job and found myself back at square one. Right in the middle of all this, my mom was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer. I was shuttling back and forth between Omaha and Lawrence, Kansas. It was a difficult time in my life. I had just lost my job, and I was facing losing my mom. On top of all of that, the doctors told us that she needed to move to an assisted living home, and I was broke. My brothers couldn’t afford it either, and the doctors told us that Medicare wouldn’t pay for her care. “My work at Omaha Insurance Solutions allows me to help people and improve their lives in a tangible way, and that’s why I love what I do so much.”
—Chris Grimmond 402-614-3389 • 1
Medicare Insurance Made Easy
Feel Like You Can’t Do DIY Projects Anymore? Check Out These 3 Power Tools
Dremel 7300-N/5 4.8V MiniMite Cordless Rotary Tool
As you age, it can be harder to tackle the home projects you once did without a second thought. That said, just because they appear harder doesn’t mean they’re impossible to do. And, luckily, with age comes experience; you know how to get a job done faster and more efficiently than any 20-year- old would — you just need the tools to do it right. Here are three of the best power tools you can use to turn your home project dreams into reality. Makita DT01W 12V Max Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver Drill Previous drill models were built out of hard plastic and steel, which made them heavy, hard to maneuver, and difficult to grip. However, Makita drills are designed with soft grip handles, making them easier to use if you have arthritis or other joint conditions. In addition, they weigh only 2 pounds, so they’re safe and easy to handle in the tightest of spaces. That said, don’t let the size fool you: This drill can deliver 800 pounds of maximum torque, making it an ideal drill for your heavy-duty projects.
Getting the amount of precision needed for smaller projects like engraving, polishing, and finish work with older rotary tools is near impossible. Fortunately, this handy power tool is perfect for polishing, cutting small-scale copper piping, engraving, or even spot- grinding a nasty weld. It also weighs only 1.1 pounds, so it’s perfect for intricate engravings or polishing your favorite set of wheels. For bigger DIY projects, it might not be realistic for you to work with the heavy, corded, and bulky saws that you used to use. When it comes to home renovations or those bigger DIY projects, there is nothing better than this BLACK+DECKER saw. With a tool-free depth of cut and easy-to-use bevel, it’s so much easier to get the type of cut you need. At 6.1 pounds, it’s painless to manage and less risky when you need to stretch to get a longer cut. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 5-1/2-Inch Circular Saw
Understanding Medicare is notoriously difficult, but before you can figure out the supplements and other plans that might benefit you, you really need to understand how this confusing system works. When it comes to Medicare plans, there are 10 possible supplement plans insurers can offer. Medicare Advantage, or Part C, plans sometimes come with Part D prescription drugs included, but not always. Depending on your area, you may have up to 40 Part C plans to choose from, and the same goes for Part D plans. To say it’s convoluted would be the understatement of the year. At Omaha Insurance Solutions, we look at a few things to help you choose the best Medicare plan for your situation. We begin by helping you find relevant information about how Medicare works from the official Medicare handbook. It’s 162 pages long, so we help you focus on only the most pertinent information.
Medicare plan availability varies by area, so another factor we consider when choosing your
Medicare plan is all of the different plans available in your area. Then, we look at pricing and how each plan works. The third thing to consider when choosing your Medicare plan is, of
course, any concerns or issues you might have about your own care. From there, we put together a plan that is tailored to your needs.
Omaha Insurance Solutions is an independent firm, and we specialize in delivering straightforward, unbiased, and expert advice about Medicare. We’re here not only to help you pick the best coverage for your current situation but also to check back in on our clients to ensure their Medicare coverage changes along with their life and needs. To learn more about how we can help you choose the right Medicare plan, visit OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com.
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Hear What Our Clients Have to Say
Answering Your Medicare Questions What About Skilled Nursing? provides post-acute skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services. People sometimes confuse skilled nursing care with nursing home care because it usually takes place in a nursing home location. But Medicare doesn’t pay for nursing home care. In other words, if someone is frail and cannot perform certain tasks of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and dressing, then Medicare will not pay for those services to be provided exclusively. What Medicare does pay for, though, is skilled nursing, which occurs after surgery or acute illness. For example, you would qualify for this service if you’ve had hip surgery for a fractured hip or suffered a stroke. After being in the hospital, patients are admitted to a skilled nursing facility for a short period of time to aid in their healing and rehabilitation. Hospitals are incredibly expensive, and oftentimes, a skilled nursing facility can provide necessary treatment at a much lower cost. Such facilities provide services like physical therapy for a hip injury or occupational therapy after a stroke. The tricky part about skilled nursing facilities is admittance. It’s important to note that the following essential criteria need to be met for you to be admitted to a skilled nursing facility that Medicare will pay for. • The patient must be admitted to a hospital as an “inpatient” for at least three consecutive days, not including the day of dismissal. The patient can’t be in the hospital for “observation” for it to count. • The patient must be admitted to the skilled nursing facility within 30 days of discharge from the hospital. • Only a skilled nursing facility can provide the type of care necessary for the patient’s recovery. • A doctor, or another appropriate medical provider, must certify that skilled nursing care is required for recovery. • The patient must be treated for the same condition for which they were in the hospital for in order for Medicare to pay for treatment. One of the questions I get on a regular basis is about skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). A skilled nursing facility is an institution that
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes “Chris has been our insurance agent for five years. He made the whole Medicare process easy to understand and paid attention to every detail to tailor a program that would be a best fit for us. If we have a question or issue, Chris responds back immediately! He’s been an absolute pleasure to work with! We highly recommend Chris for all your Medicare and insurance needs.” - Cheryl B. a nd Ma ry N.
Brighten up after a cold, dark winter with this fresh and flavorful springtime dish
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness • Salt and pepper to taste • 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 6 tbsp spinach pesto • 2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
Directions
1. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan from heat. 3. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. 4. Spread pesto over chicken and top with panko mixture. 5. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. 6. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. 7. Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes. 8. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 9. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar. 10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
It is important to arm yourself with the facts when planning. Assumptions that “Medicare will take care of it” could result in some painful surprises.
Inspired by CookingLight.com
402-614-3389 • 3
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
11414 W Center Rd, Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144 402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
INSIDE This Issue
1
From Priesthood to Omaha Insurance Solutions
2
Best Power Tools for Older Folks
2
What’s the Right Medicare Plan for Me?
3
What About Skilled Nursing?
3
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes
4
Fearless Women Who Pioneered Motor Sports
From Zero to 300 Meet the Women Who Pioneered Motor Sports While Danica Patrick and Courtney Force are well known as modern faces in motor sports, they’re far from the first women to cross the finish line. Since the early 1900s, women have been a constant fixture of automotive racing, including the following three who each left their marks on the sport. racing career in 1963. After taking home two class wins in the famed 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race, Guthrie became a well-known figure among racing gurus. In 1976, she became the first woman to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series when she finished 15th in the Coca-Cola 600, then called the World
600. To date, Guthrie’s storied career has landed her in the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Shirley Muldowney Shirley Muldowney is professionally known in the drag racing community as “The First Lady of Drag Racing.” In 1973, she was the first woman to earn a Top Fuel license from the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and, despite backlash from competitors, went on to win the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series an unprecedented three times. Twentieth Century Fox documented her trials and accomplishments in the 1983 biopic “Heart Like a Wheel.” Muldowney famously loathed her own characterization but still lauded the film as required viewing for anyone interested in the sport of drag racing. Janet Guthrie Janet Guthrie had her sights set on the stars from day one. A skilled aerospace engineer, she began her
Dorothy Levitt Dorothy Levitt is known for her driving skills on both land and water, setting the first water speed record and an early women’s world land speed record. Her motor racing career started slow in 1904 due to illness and various car troubles, but Levitt eventually went on to garner a reputation for her speed and earn the nickname “The Fastest Girl on Earth.” When she wasn’t racing, she spent her time writing. In her book “The Woman and the Car,” Levitt recommended that women carry a small mirror with them for driving in traffic, effectively inventing the rearview mirror five years before it went into production.
If you want to learn more about these women and others in motor racing, pick up Todd McCarthy’s book “Fast Women: The Legendary Ladies of Racing.”
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