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MEDICAREBLUEPRINT.COM Health Matters
JULY/AUGUST 2025
THE GIFT OF GENUINE LISTENING Ears in Gear
“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” —Jimi Hendrix.
me from fulfilling my obligations to clients, as we’ve put best practices in place — such as recording our calls, producing transcriptions of our conversations, and having a fantastic customer relationship management system that enables me to enter and preserve notes — to help me reach the finish line. People who are unfamiliar with ADD might assume that having it in my line of work would be a liability, but it’s actually a tremendous asset. It helps me hyper-focus on matters of importance. More significantly, my ADD has taught me that there is strength in adaptability. My team here has developed ways to accommodate my strengths and challenges, precisely what we do for our clients. Medicare is complex, so we help our clients navigate their health concerns within today’s medical industry maze. If a client feels overwhelmed by their situation and is unsure where to go, I can help them because I’ve been there, too. I don’t just want to help them find a solid direction in their health care choices; I want to feel they’re being heard, and the only way to do that is by being the best listener possible and supporting them the same way my team supports me.
Being a good listener at work has nothing to do with generating revenue for our company. I’m not here to sell people anything — after all, Medicare Blueprint Advisors’ services are free to clients — but I am here to build relationships. If I don’t listen to a client well enough to understand what they need from me, I won’t be able to provide it. That lack of personal attention and care hurts any business, like ours, built on referrals and word of mouth. Honestly, I’m sure I’d be a terrible salesperson, so I’m much more comfortable being an educator who helps people make informed decisions on matters that impact their lives. It’s been a long road since I struggled to pay attention to my teachers at school, but I’m glad I have arrived at a place where I can listen to people and introduce them to new things. Life is full of possibilities — we just need to listen for them. This World Listening Day, take the time to hear others more deeply. You may be surprised by how much they can teach you and how much they can learn from you.
Fireworks may light up the sky and amaze our eyes on the Fourth of July, but what we hear — or don’t — changes lives. Independence Day is unquestionably the biggest day of the month, but another, lesser-known holiday a few days later is also worth mentioning. World Listening Day is on July 18. It’s not an occasion that gets you out of work, but it’s still significant. After all, our ears are two of our most important tools. Admittedly, I haven’t always been more of a listener than a talker. When I was in elementary school, people noticed that I enjoyed chatting with people a lot — something that sometimes came at the expense of other things I should have been focused on. After being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), I knew I had to put in extra effort to better hear and understand those around me. Although I’ve done well adapting to my situation over the years, Tim and the rest of our team are fully aware that my ADD is ever-present. Thankfully, it doesn’t prevent
—Jason Mackey
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If you’re a senior in 2025, you’re likely well aware of the sticker shock that often comes when purchasing everything from groceries to auto insurance. Unfortunately, your Medicare supplement rates are likely the next thing to take a hit. We’ve received a fair number of calls recently from clients who have been notified their rates are increasing. This jump in cost is not exclusive to your state, as a variety of companies in multiple states have been affected. Average rates nationwide have jumped 20%–40%, impacting millions of consumers. BUDGET BLOWBACK The Pandemic’s Price on Medicare
What Our Clients Think!
And, according to the insurance industry, the pandemic is to blame.
As insurers are starting to realize, COVID-19 changed their practices in two significant ways. First, most people elected to stay home during the era’s worst months, often delaying critical surgeries. Second, the lack of policyholders seeking medical attention
“Appreciate your expertise in
Medicare craziness.” –Steven Campbell “Always helpful and friendly!” –Michael Ugino “Very professional. Always there if we have any questions.” –Luigi Scognamiglio
during that time meant fewer expenditures by insurers, leading to record profits. However, the latter scenario didn’t last once COVID-19 concerns eased and people resumed pursuing surgeries. Unfortunately, people’s decisions to put off critical procedures often made their medical issues worse. For example, someone who put off knee surgery for 18 months now has to have knee and hip surgery because their condition escalated over time. Naturally, this meant a flood of costly claims are hitting insurers at once, causing a ripple effect that dramatically changed their loss ratios. If you’re wondering why insurers didn’t just dip into those aforementioned profits, industry analysts suggest that many companies simply didn’t retain this additional revenue when they had it. The current rate increase is one factor that makes the insurance market so challenging to understand and navigate, but we’re here to help. Please contact us if you have any questions about your particular increase or would like resources to help mitigate its financial impact.
—Tim Hanbury
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PLAY AND PRECAUTION WHAT NOT TO DO THIS SUMMER
We all know that wearing sunscreen outdoors is a wise thing to do in summer, but what about knowing who shouldn’t operate a lawnmower or which pool accessories to avoid relying on to prevent drowning? Here are a few commonly overlooked safety tips that could mean the difference between a fun day in the sun and a stressful stay at the hospital. WATER WISDOM Nice weather typically prompts us to find the nearest pool, but our delightful dips can lead to disaster if we ignore basic safety rules. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that drowning is the second-leading cause of death for people under the age of 15. Although foam or air- filled flotation devices like pool noodles,
water wings, and inner tubes are popular summertime accessories, experts caution that they’re more toys than legitimate safety devices and are often unreliable. To provide your little ones with stronger protection, seek Coast Guard-approved life jackets instead. Most importantly, no one should swim alone, regardless of age. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance recommends that any pool party — solo or otherwise — have at least one person watching who is at least 16, trained in CPR, able to contact 911 quickly if necessary, and sober . LAWN LOGIC A delightful breeze is blowing, your grass is getting long, and your grandkids are out of school. Seems like a perfect scenario to put the children in your family to work,
right? Not so fast! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that no one under 12 operate a push mower, and riding mowers should only be operated only by people 16 or older. If you’re fortunate enough to have a volunteer mower of the appropriate age, make sure they remove any jewelry and replace any baggy attire with safer clothing before switching on any lawn equipment — and don’t let them start their outdoor chores without putting on eye protection and closed-toed shoes! Injuries (or worse) can occur in an instant. Stay vigilant this summer to ensure summer stays a season of joy. —Tim Hanbury
CHEESY TOMATO- BASIL STUFFED CHICKEN
WORD SEARCH
Inspired by HalfBakedHarvest.com
INGREDIENTS • 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1/2 cup basil pesto • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • 1/3 cup oil-packed sun- dried tomatoes, drained, oil reserved
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Slice chicken down the middle horizontally (not cutting all the way through). 3. Spread pesto inside filleted chicken, then stuff with cheese and tomatoes before closing chicken, covering filling. 4. Place chicken in a large oven-safe skillet. Drizzle with reserved oil. 5. Set the skillet over medium heat; cook 5 minutes. 6. Add 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and season with chili flakes. Cook 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat. 7. Bake in oven for 7–10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tomatoes burst. 8. Toss remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes with basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. 9. Serve the chicken topped with fresh tomatoes.
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2 cups cherry tomatoes, divided 2 cloves garlic, smashed 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• • • •
AMERICAN BICYCLE CHERRY FIREWORKS FLAG INDEPENDENCE
PADDLEBOARD PICNIC RUBY STARS SHERBET TRAMPOLINE
Chili flakes, to taste 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• •
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves Salt and pepper, to taste
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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HEAR WITH HEART
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THE TRUE COST OF DELAYED CARE
WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK
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SUN AND SUPERVISION
CHEESY TOMATO-BASIL STUFFED CHICKEN
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COMPANY ENLISTS GOATS TO REDUCE RISK OF WILDFIRES
GOATS ON THE JOB IN COLORADO Hooved Helpers Ward Off Wildfires
When a Colorado wildfire threatened one of Lockheed Martin’s plants last summer, the big defense contractor decided they needed better fire protection measures. So, the company called in an unlikely emergency workforce — a battalion of 1,200 grazing goats. Lockheed contracted Goat Green, a local Colorado company, to put its herd of hungry Cashmere goats to work clearing 98 acres of wilderness terrain near the company’s worksite, which includes a $350 million satellite-manufacturing facility. The terrain is too steep and hazardous for machine clearing or human crews, but it posed little challenge to the goats.
The goats could mow down an acre of land dense with plants and underbrush in a day, eliminating invasive vegetation and reducing the terrain to a nearly level, trimmed surface. The goats’ work also prevents overgrowth near powerlines, where fires often start. Lockheed embraced this unusual fire- protection strategy after last year’s 580-acre Quarry Fire came within a mile of the company’s Waterton aerospace facility near Littleton. Five firefighters were injured battling the blaze, which forced the evacuation of 600 homes and put thousands of Colorado residents on edge. Goat Green has contracted with parks, government agencies, municipalities, farms, ranches, and private land owners across 15 states to provide low-tech clearing services. The company’s
workforce consists of 1,500 Cashmere goats native to the Himalayas and comfortable in cold, dry temperatures. Unlike most domestic goats destined for the slaughterhouse early in life, Goat Green’s employees work for about 12 years for as many as 265 days a year. Kids are born on the worksites and learn to eat a wide range of weeds and forage as adolescents. These goats even have a retirement plan: After losing their teeth, they live out their final days in peace on a ranch. After a dozen wildfires in the last 10 years in the Littleton area, residents are bracing for another wildfire season. The area is a little bit safer this year, however, thanks to the goats. As one regional fire-protection official said on Facebook, “These goats are a wonderful partner to us.”
Their mission: to eliminate fuel for future fires and clear paths for firefighters, if needed.
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