Hello June – June 2022

Here in AZ, we’ve already had our fill of 100-degree days by now, so it’s just a waiting game for monsoon season to start to get some relief. In the meantime…. What are you going to do this summer?

May I suggest exploring your state? Or visiting ours!

How about a county fair? Some of the more rural County Fairs have awesome rodeos and live-stock competitions. Oh, and the food! Man, oh man, go for the wide selection if nothing else!

How about watercraft? When’s the last time you tubed a local river (the Salt River in AZ is excellent for that) or paddled a canoe on one of the many small lakes around your state? Maybe rent a ski or pontoon boat on a large lake or go big by rafting the Grand Canyon.

Looking for cooler weather? We sure will be here in AZ! Hiking our many trails is sure popular. The Mogollon Rim country is a good day trip, and it’s only about an hour and a half north of Phoenix. Did someone say picnic? Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas has a large picnic area with tables in a nicely shaded wooded area and more hiking trails.

For Arizonans headed south, the town of Tombstone is very western and campy with its gunfight reenactments, and yes, you can visit Boot Hill! If something quieter suits your desires, head over to the Patagonia area. It is a lovely spot for birders as 100s of bird species migrate through this area yearly on their way south or north.
Like the AZ air up there? Mount Lemmon in Tucson at 9,171 feet or Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff at 12,633 feet might be your answer. Maybe a rental cabin is your ticket to paradise. Lots of choices around Show Low, Sedona, Strawberry, and Pine.

New to Arizona? Perhaps some of these activities might be the answer for you to start summer exploring!

How will you explore your state where you are this summer?

No referrals? -May 2022

Tracy called our office in a panic after being notified that her Medicare Advantage plan did not cover a lab she used. "My plan denied coverage of this $300 lab procedure because they said I didn't get a referral!" She cried. "My Summary of Benefits book plainly states that I don't need referrals," she continued.

We reviewed her plan’s benefits book, and then we explained that her insurance carrier's plan does not generally require a referral to see in-network doctors, but labs, x-rays, and diagnostics, do require a referral. And yes, unless there is a referral, your plan can deny paying the claim.

So we suggested Tracy pursue an appeal. Did one of her doctors request the test? If so, there would be a note in her file at the doctor's office. We explained that she could appeal to the carrier to reconsider paying the bill. She would need to get a copy of the note from the doctor requesting the test and include it in her appeal. Most carriers have a 30–60-day appeal period if they initially deny a claim. So there is an element of time required in the appeal process.

Fortunately, our suggestion worked. Tracy was able to get the note from her doctor that said she needed the test, the appeal process with her insurance plan succeeded, and she got the claim paid! While this type of result doesn't happen in every case, Tracy did the right thing by calling us when she encountered an issue so we could provide possible solutions!

Remember, we're here to help.

Music Anyone? -May 2022

Do you remember the first time you fell in love with music? How old were you, where were you, who was with you, and what was the type or title of the music? Because whatever it was, it made you…you!
As you think back, it could have been a simple nursery song, or maybe you were in church and had a favorite hymn? Did your parents take you to the opera or symphony? Maybe you just had a favorite radio station and listened to the top 40 all day long. Or you spent your Saturday afternoon at your friend's house playing 45s on the record player.
I'm always amazed that some folks are vehemently opposed to certain types of music. I have friends who wouldn't be caught dead listening to country and western music, while other friends think RAP is not music!
While growing up, my brothers and I were exposed to all types of music either through church or school. We were both active in our church choir (gospel), and throughout our school years, we were exposed to secular music and symphonies, and even participated in school bands.
My interest in music continued with a music scholarship at university, where I studied classical and opera. Then after graduation, I worked for Six Flags in Show Operations and performed in Six Flags’ live Broadway review-type shows. At this point, you could say I'm a pretty well-rounded music lover! My friends are always somewhat amused that there are preset buttons on my car radio, ready to play just about anything when they ride with me. Classical, country, gospel, and rock & roll. But no...I'm not a fan of rap music. Broadway music is probably my favorite music genre, and my favorite opera, "Tales of Hoffman" outshines.
So, thinking back, who or what event introduced you to music? When, where, and what type was your first love? Because your love of music makes you...you!

How Much? -May 2022

Up, up, up she goes! As we progress into 2022, everything is getting more and more expensive. As goods continue to be in short demand, there is an impact on the average American family of ever-increasing prices outpacing what we earn and get paid.

Everyday products seem to rise in cost overnight. So what to do about it? With no predictable end in sight of increasing prices, particularly on food, it might make sense to cut down on the convenience of buying prepared food and tackle making things yourself! For instance, how about baking your bread or cakes & cookies instead! For example, a bag of flour and sugar are still reasonably priced. And you can turn this into a fun activity for the whole family!

When I was growing up, our mom taught us how to make many items at home that we now buy at the grocery store. Birthday cakes, cookies, bread, and even candy were all made from scratch and never purchased at a store. Instead of buying soda pop, we enjoyed gallons of homemade iced tea and lemonade. And everyone in our neighborhood had a vegetable garden to grow salads at home!

Now you might be feeling like this is a task too big to take on. Maybe you think you're not a good cook and lack confident skills in the kitchen? Well, it's time to change all that! And if you can get your spouse and family to assist, it makes it more fun and enjoyable! Assign tasks to each person and make an assembly line (this works well when making and decorating cookies). The thing is, most young people can't even boil an egg! So, now's the time to teach your youngsters a thing or two!

So, pull out those cookbooks, make a list of ingredients, and get cookin'! Oh, by the way, I work all day and still go home and cook dinner from scratch most nights, and I’d enjoy hearing what you got cookin’ too! You may surprise yourself with how rewarding and delicious a freshly cooked meal tastes!

Free Stuff! Do you Know? – 2022

As I meet with folks every week, they commonly ask how their health insurance plan covers a particular medical service or medical equipment.

But I am surprised that many folks miss their plan's extras or free benefits, and they don't know they have them because they don't read their plan's Summary
of Benefits.

For instance, does your Medicare Advantage plan offer dental coverage? How much coverage? Is it a copay or a reimbursement benefit? Is the benefit limited to a certain amount of dental work per year or unlimited as long as you pay a copay? Can you use any dentist, or does it have to be a dentist in the plan network? Some plans only cover a yearly cleaning, while others cover preventative comprehensive coverage. Do you know?

What about free "over-the-counter" (OTC) drug store items? Some plans give you $40, $50, or even $75 per quarter to get OTC items like vitamins, bandaids,
shaving cream, toothpaste, and even medical equipment like walkers, canes, knee or elbow braces. Does your plan offer this benefit? You better "use it or lose it" each quarter, unless your plan lets the quarterly OTC benefit accumulate and spend it before the year's end. Do you know?

Many Medicare Advantage plans provide an allowance for a pair of glasses or hearing aids. Do you know?

Are you using all the benefits your plan offers… and are the benefits what you expected? Do you, know?

If you're not sure what's in your plan or you can't find your Summary of Benefits, call us! We'll be happy to send you a link to your Medicare Advantage plan. So you will know!

Crazy things! – 2022

I’m sure just like most folks that you’ve done something crazy or had something crazy happen to you during your lifetime. Either a freak accident, a surprise, or something that was just plain bizarre. And whatever it was made you…you!

During my life, I’ve had several weird or goofy incidents and I can probably tick off five or six without working too hard. I don’t know that any one of these are a standout as the craziest thing, but I’m sure something flashed into your mind as soon as you started reading this article.

You remember what it was, don’t you? Well, there was this one incident for me. While on the road some 20 years ago I was performing audits of branches for the financial services company I worked for. After landing and getting my rental car, a lady hit me in the parking lot as I was getting into the car and injured my arm to the extent that I had to go to the emergency room. The good news was that it was just a bruised bone and not broken. Nonetheless, I had to wear a removable cast and an arm sling for a few weeks for my arm to heal. I was also in a great deal of pain. The emergency room doctor gave me a bottle of pain pills for relief. Next, I received a pager notice to call the corporate office (yes, no cell phones yet). My CEO heard of my accident and instructed me to just get on a plane and go home and he would send someone else to perform the audit.

I got to the airport and after checking in I sat down and took a pain pill the doctor had given me and thought “I’ll sleep on the flight home.” A few minutes later the loudspeaker announced the boarding of two flights, the boarding gates were side by side….. You guessed it! I boarded the wrong flight! You would have thought that one of the boarding agents would have caught the mistake when they checked me in at the door, but this was before computer scanning. I got on board, found my assigned seat, and fell asleep. I woke up in Maine! The airline had already discovered the mistake and had an agent waiting on me when I got off the plane and took me to another gate to get me home where I arrived safely.

So, what was your crazy thing? Who was with you, and when did it happen? Whatever it was…
it made you…you!

Yeah Spring! – 2022

Ah, springtime! In some parts of the country, folks are getting their annual springtime showers with trees and plants starting to turn green. Here in Arizona, it’s time for our desert flowers to do their thing! If you haven’t taken a hike during this time of the year now’s the time before it gets too hot!

What’s really unique about Arizona is that it has the most varied plants and wildflowers out of all 50 states in the US. Some could make an argument that California holds that title, but we’ll let the intellectual botanist argue about that.

Arizona’s climate, desert, mountains, and foliage make it distinct in the USA’s 50 states. There are many climate zones to pick from mountains to deserts, rivers, and lakes. They all have varying ecosystems. I’m always amazed when hiking, I can start at the bottom of a mountain and literally pass through 3-4 ecosystems while hiking to the top. Trees and plants that will grow at desert sea level disappear and are replaced by totally different foliage as we head up. Cactus graduates to scrub brush, then to actual trees.

Then there are the many different plants that have medicinal uses and can cure everything from an upset stomach to a headache. Next, there are the culinary applications where many of the plants are edible either as a raw plants (think salad) or cooked to perfection steamed or roasted. Yum!

Point is …. it’s Spring! It’s time to shake off those winter doldrums and get out into some sunshine for some much-needed Vitamin D! So, what are you waiting for? Get outside!

Do Over !! – 2022

Randy switched his Medicare Advantage plan on Dec. 7, 2021, during Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP) from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2021. He called the 800-phone number from one of the TV commercials touting all the great benefits of a particular plan, including dental, vision, hearing aids, and free over-the-counter stuff. His welcome kit arrived with his new card, and the new plan was effective 1-1-2022. Great, he thought proudly, after selecting a plan all by himself!

His issues surfaced when he tried using his “New” plan with added benefits. He soon found out that the benefits he thought he was getting were not all they had claimed to be. Almost everything had limits and restrictions that he wasn’t informed about when he talked to the salesperson on the phone.

After realizing he didn’t get the benefits he was sold, he called our office in a panic for help. We reminded him why he should not switch plans in the future without talking to us first! As fiduciaries, we will assist him in researching all available plans in his geographic area each and every AEP. In addition, we will point out the “Gotcha’s” in every single plan before deciding to switch.

At American Retirement Advisors, our advisors take the time to get certified with nearly every Medicare insurance carrier every single year. This process takes each of us no less than 150 hours of testing annually! We do this so that when we discuss and research changing plans or even guide with plan selections for first-time enrollees, we help you find the most appropriate plan for you.

But all was not lost for Randy. He was in luck that he called us in time to use the “Open Enrollment Period” or OEP, Jan. 1 through Mar. 31. This period allows for a do-over for folks who signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during the AEP but found out the new plan wasn’t the right one. Maybe the new plan was missing their doctor or hospital they wanted or, like in Randy’s case, didn’t have the extra benefits he thought he was getting.

So, if you are on a Medicare Advantage plan and that 2022 plan isn’t what you expected or the benefits weren’t what they promised, you have a second chance to get it right! We can help before Mar. 31!

Determination – 2022

You showed determination to get something you wanted at some time in your life. And no matter when, where, or what that thing was you wanted, that experience made you...you!

How many times in your life did you need to make the extra effort and not give up? A few times, or literally dozens of times toward making the extra effort or sacrifice to accomplish a certain goal or achievement?

Were there times when you just wanted to quit? Maybe in your thought process, the goal became just too difficult to reach? But something down deep in you propelled you to simply not give up! What was that motivating factor for you?

Was it a personal task, or maybe it was team-oriented? If you were the leader at the office where you worked, perhaps your determination spurred creativity, hope, and motivation to have your team stay focused and driven.

In my earlier years working at an international financial institution, a few management people underestimated me. But I always had a secret weapon, determination, which proved them wrong! I took on projects that no one else wanted and became the subject matter expert in those areas until, at some point, I made myself invaluable to the organization.
You might encounter coworkers who do not like you- whether jealous or simply don't like the competition you create for them, thinking you might take something they feel is theirs. Whatever the reason, your gumption created a threat.

The bottom line is that you must believe that your future is in your hands. And remember, determination can take on different aspects or applications. Maybe you work longer hours; perhaps you are creative and can come up with unique solutions. Don't allow your actions to affect what others think of you. Always set your sights toward a future of positive outcomes!

As you look over your life's achievements, only you can identify what it took to succeed in each endeavor. That's what made you...you!

March On! – 2022

As we slug our way through the beginning of yet another year of navigating subsequent versions of the pandemic, I say, “March On!”
Whether you are staying at home and having everything delivered, or you’re bravely going out to complete your chores in person, do what’s most appropriate for you!
There is no ignoring that Covid continues to be newsworthy. However, so much negativity in the media is doing nothing for our mental health! What we need is more positive news - to balance out the gloom. Inspire us with messages of positivity! Tell us about the good around us! Give us more success stories, heartwarming and uplifting moments happening everywhere around us!

For example, I caught these positive moments recently. It would be nice for them to share the same center stage with the other news:
1. A teen who is only 19 years old became the youngest person to fly solo around the world!

2. Last month, the “Betty White Challenge” raised over $13 Million for animal shelters!

3. After a terrible snowstorm, several neighbors who were snowed in were surprised to see someone had taken their trashcans, through the deep snow, to the curb for pickup.

4. The mystery man turned out to be their 75-year-old neighbor!

5. A Coach had to cancel the wrestling team’s workout due to the school being closed from a snowstorm in Western Pennsylvania. Instead, he emailed all the players instructing them to get their workout by shoveling snow for an elderly or disabled neighbor and accepting no payments. Results? The entire team did exactly that! Some of the teens emailed photos of their work to the coach while expressing how many neighbors they had already helped!

If you can’t hear about it in the news… you can create your own happiness! You control what you can and cannot do! Only you have the power to create the life you want! March On!