Rx Blues! – September 2022

Melody had always been in good health and took only a few generic prescription medications, which were only a few dollars or even free on the drug plan she had for several years since enrolling in Medicare.

However, in mid-year 2021 she developed several medical issues that resulted in her taking more medications. Unfortunately, a few of these new medications had extremely high co-pays and even triggered the deductible on her plan. "There's got to be a better plan for me," she thought.

While checking her email the next day, she saw her annual email from American Retirement Advisors requesting her new current updated drug list. "Wow," she thought, "Talk about good timing."

The email was simple but important. It was a reminder of the Annual Election Period (AEP) that runs from Oct. 15th through Dec. 7th. It also asked her to provide a list of her current prescriptions so that we can complete the research on all the Part D drug plans available for next year and recommend the most appropriate plan for her.

She immediately got all her prescription bottles to complete the "Request for Information form" included in the email. She needed to provide the name of each drug, the strength of each medication, and how often she takes it. Once, twice or three times a day? After completing the form, she would send us her responses by hitting the "submit" button.

Towards the middle of October 2021, she received a recommendation and was pleasantly surprised at how much she would save in the new year. She didn't realize that drug plans change every year! So now you are reminded too!

So, whether you have a Medicare Part D stand-alone drug plan, or your Part D drug plan is included in your Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to respond to the email that will be arriving soon!

Estate planning needs to be done properly – September 2022

Estate planning done improperly can be a family nightmare. Adding insult to injury is that when a loved one passes away, the executor or trustee is responsible for the estate and pays the final bills. This can include legal fees, court costs, and time delays. They also must settle disputes and ensure the estate is distributed according to the instructions left behind.

Often, the executor pays out of pocket for expenses, such as the funeral, travel costs, and celebration of life. Depending on family dynamics, this can lead to disagreements and even arguments regarding reimbursement. Interesting side note: Do you know who paid for the singer Prince's funeral? George Lopez did. Yup, the comedian and friend. Why? Because Prince's 4-million-dollar estate was tied up. They couldn't release any assets until they had a death certificate and legally settled the estate.

No one wants to talk about the end of their life. But prepared or not, it is still going to happen. And there will always be a cost associated with it, whether it's the simplest of cremations or a traditional funeral. The planning is for the family that carries on after you. Having a plan will give families peace of mind from the financial stress so they can focus on the hundreds of decisions that will need to be made.

Buying preneed directly from a funeral home can sometimes be a good option. Even choosing the details of your send-off will ensure that the family won't have to make or pay for those decisions. And the estate doesn't have to be settled to get to the funds.

Another option is a unique product from a life insurance company that doesn't require a death certificate because of the way it's set up. Why is that important, you ask? Well, depending on where you live, getting a death certificate could take up to a month or more. You can get this product up to age 100, and there are no health questions (yes, really).

Suppose the family needs liquid assets right away. You could gift the assets to your family now to avoid probate, court costs, and time delays. But now, the assets belong to the person you entrusted. It now belongs to them. That means that they can be sued for it. It can be divided in the case of a divorce —all kinds of ramifications of this method.

We still feel that you should consider all options; wills, trusts, quit claim deeds for real estate, etc. We can help you determine what may be the right strategy for you. No charge. We just want to help.

All of that said, we wish you a long, healthy, and happy life!

Don’t neglect your prostate health. – September 2022

September is dedicated to raising awareness about prostate health. Control-led portions of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins combined with regular exercise help to improve and maintain prostate health. A high-fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle seem to contribute more to prostate cancer.

Your family history is also another essential part of prostate health. So scheduling routine exams with your family physician is necessary because early detections will increase treatment success.

Medicare covers digital rectal exams, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests once every 12 months for men over 50. If you see a participating provider who accepts Medicare assignments, you will pay nothing for your annual PSA test. Medicare Part B will cover 100% of the approved amount, with no copay or deductibles. This screening is also part of your initial “Welcome to Medicare” visit and your “Annual Wellness” after that.

So please don’t forget to schedule your screening with your doctor.

Information sourced from: Medicare & You/cance.org./ Harvard.edu./prostatehealthed.org/Phenpsa.com

Romantic Fun Moments? – September 2022

When you were courting your sweetie, what did you do to be fun or romantic? Sure, we all imagine flowers and candy, maybe even a nice dinner out. Or you went dancing or to a club? Maybe the romantic evening was a concert to see their favorite entertainer. Whatever it was you probably remember it being one of the most romantic things you’ve planned or experienced. Whenever and whatever it was made you…you!

Now just because you might think something you planned was the most romantic thing you’ve ever done; your partner might have other ideas. So, you might want to have that conversation sometime.

I had what I thought was one of the most romantic fun and exciting thing I’d done for my charming bride over our 40 years. But…I discovered I was totally wrong! I had asked her to lunch and had brought along a bag with a stuffed leopard inside and it had an envelope pinned to it. Inside were tickets to an African photography Safari! Out of all my memories, I would have thought that was “it.” The most romantic moment.

But it turned out that it was some of the small things she talked about. She mentioned the occasion I had gotten a nice bonus, and instead of just handing the check to her, I went to the bank and got cash in small bills. I piled the cash on the bed in our spare room. And when she got home, I handed her a note. It was a clue to where the next note was located. After visiting a dozen spots around the house, the last clue was to check the bed. But it wasn’t just the pile of money on the bed that she loved, it was the time I took giving her a treasure hunt!

Another thing was a simple cardboard Easter bunny I had made for her and had written “Good for a back rub anytime” on the back of the cardboard bunny. That was 20 years ago, and she still has it, treasured with love!

So a conversation about what romance means to your sweetie might surprise you. And those romantic experiences are parts of what make you… you!

Out with a bang! – September 2022

Wow! August went out with a bang (and a few booms!) Monsoon storms and rainfall in Arizona were at levels we haven't seen in years! Our "wet" season officially starts June 15th and ends September 30th. Flooding and rainfall have been record-setting in 2022. The rest of the country is seeing rain and flooding not seen in years too.

While September in Arizona can still be a hot month, it's usually when the night temperatures start to drop. It's not uncommon to be in the 100s during the day and drop to the 70s at night. Some days can experience a 30-to-40-degree swing!

For many parts around the USA, September is the month for leaves to start changing. Lovely Sunday drives to witness nature's color in all its glory is another favorite activity this time of year.

And for all the sports-minded folk, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? College football has become increasingly popular versus professional sports as there doesn't seem to be as much political nonsense with college football. So, root on with your favorite team! If baseball is your thing… it's time for the playoffs!

Hopefully, with kids returning to school, parents and even grandparents are getting a bit of a break in their daily schedules.

Oh, and it's only 16 weeks until Christmas!!! So enjoy your fall!!

I’m mad… not sure what to do! – September 2022

This is behind-the-scenes information, not reported by any news outlet…yet.

I had dinner last month with a friend in our business. He is actually a big deal in one of the largest insurance companies in the Medicare space. I tried to enjoy my meal after he shared some coming changes to Medicare plans in 2023 and 2024.

He mentioned briefly that MEDICARE has changed a rule affecting every Medicare beneficiary. We have all seen the latest "Landmark Bill to Cut Prescription Drug Prices," the one slated to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year… that one.

This is great for folks with medications, severely cutting into their monthly budget. But what about the majority of Medicare beneficiaries that only take generic maintenance medications, pay low or no copays, have no deductibles on their plans for those medications, and their plan premium is less than $20/month? What about those folks?

I was so flabbergasted at what he shared. Then, heartbroken for our clients. So, here it is.

"Medicare will no longer allow insurance companies who offer Part D prescription plans and Medicare Advantage plans (which include Part D prescription benefits) to pass through their savings from drug manufacturers to Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2023."

What does that mean for the 50-plus million folks reliant on Medicare for prescription drugs? Again, we will see when the plans are released in October, and we will begin our research. My guess is Higher costs!

Higher costs in multiple ways. For folks with Medicare Advantage plans, in the past, most plans did not have a deductible for any prescriptions. For folks on Medicare supplements, the inexpensive Part D plans will go away or back to the old prices averaging about $30 per month. That is potentially triple the current premium for many people in 2022. But, again, my comments are a guess. We will see what the plans look like in October.

The other effects could just be higher copays for maintenance drugs. Some drugs could move up a tier. For example, some generics are actually on the preferred brand tier this year. So I guess we could see more of that. (In English, less $0 copay medications.) These changes could also be phased in 2023 and 2024.

I am mad. I feel that the elected folks are lying. First, they say they want to reduce the cost of prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries; that's a good thing! Then they change a rule that may negatively impact them later down the road.

This makes what we do for our clients even more vital.

It is absolutely critical that everyone has a Certified Medicare Planner® to help them with their plan research. Initially, when just turning 65 and going on Medicare, and again annually to ensure their plan continues to be suitable for them. Experts will look at every plan available, not just the plans that will pay a commission.

Stay tuned to the newsletter for more critical information as we approach the Medicare Annual Election Period.

Hearing Loss & Brain Health – August 2022

Scientists are finding more evidence that hearing loss can make you more likely to experience cognitive decline.
However, that does not mean that people with hearing loss are guaranteed to have dementia.

Cognitive overload fatigues the brain and can accelerate brain atrophy or shrinkage. How does this happen? As hearing becomes harder, your brain works harder to register and comprehend what you’re trying to listen to. This process,
in turn, steals the energy needed fof memory and thinking. Dr. Frank Lin, MD, Ph.D. of Johns Hopkins University, says three
things may be involved:

1. People with hearing loss tend to feel isolated since it’s harder to join conversations
   or understand. This tends to make a person feel lonely.
2. Your brain works harder to process sounds. Again, this steals the energy
   needed for thinking.
3. If ears no longer pick up many sounds, your hearing nerves will send fewer
   signals to your brain. As such, the brain can decline.

1. I have noticed a little hearing loss as time goes on myself. It seems like I must increase the volume for any new TV programs I watch… but I am not adjusting the volume for earlier TV programs. Is it me or the networks I am watching?
   This article stresses the importance of having our hearing checked annually to determine the rate of hearing loss occurring. Many Medicare Supplement plans offer discounts on hearing aids, as do the Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO plans. Please talk to your doctor about your hearing health.
2. 
   Information sourced from: WebMD/John Hopkins/NIH

July tends to be weak – August 2022

Hi all! Again, I must start out by saying that I’m writing this article in mid-July. June was a roller coaster ride for the stock market but had a little bit of a budding rally here towards the end of the month. In a typical year, July isn't that bad of a month. You see the S&P 500 up 0.05% on average, going all the way back to 1950. But July is usually the weakest month of all the summer months. And in years where the S&P 500 is down 10% or more through June, well, we're looking at a tale of two markets here. The S&P is down almost half a percent and is positive less than 50% of the time.

The other thing that complicates the S&P 500 in the month of July, outside of being down through June, is that big elephant or donkey in the room known as the midterm elections. Typically speaking, the S&P 500 is weaker during midterm years than it is in non-midterm years. And when the market is down 10% or more, those losses are magnified in midterm years. If we look at the S&P 500 average monthly returns in midterm years, going all the way back to 1946, it just looks like garbage, basically, from June through September. July, you get a little bit of a bump compared to say June or August, but still not very good-looking. And you see just from July through September, a pretty mean selloff, but by October, we typically see the market rip
off those September lows through the end of the year. The scariest part of the year in midterm years is actually during the summer.

When you look historically at markets where the S&P has been down 10% or more through June, and in midterm years, the weakness is just much too strong to ignore. So, make sure you're taking precautions. You've got sell stops on your trades if you're a trader, or if you're a long-term investor, you might want to buy these dips, but knowing you're going to have to have a strong stomach for what could be a volatile month here in July. As I've been saying all year, the back half of 2022 should be very nice.

If you are just pulling your hair out and would like to turn it over to the pro’s to manage, we are here for you. Our team is on top of the changing market as well as positioning portions of our portfolios in products that are fully insured and have no fees but can also take advantage of potential market gains.

Give your American Retirement Advisor a call. We can help!

Please and Thank You! – August 2022

What the heck has happened to manners? Did they just disappear? If not, they certainly are taking a hiatus! I am simply amazed by the language and lack of manners that is predominate in our society these days. Why, even famous people, athletes, and politicians don’t mind being crude, blunt, and to the point of being obtusely rude with foul language and lack
of civility!

Growing up in the Deep South, we were taught to be gentlemen by our parents. Every question and the answer was started or finished with a “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am.” It was a given that we use magic words like “Please,” followed by a “Thank You.” To this day I still open doors for ladies, and assist an elderly or handicapped person if allowed to.

Do you have manners? If so, who taught you? If you seem to have a lack of, then there’s no time like the present to correct that deficiency. Even Dear Abby started a campaign years ago with her simple booklet on “Good Manners.”

While we don’t want to blame everything on our education system, there is a total lack of respect for teachers and administrators in our schools. If we look at society, we can trace some of this downfall to our family units over the past 30-40 years. With both parents working and children becoming “latch-key” kids, there exists a growing lack of parental responsibility to the effect that we now have disrespectful adults raising disrespectful kids, compounding the challenge. What are these kids
exposed to for poor influence? Well for one thing, popular music with incredibly foul language and explicit sex acts is described, and what’s on TV isn’t much better.

What’s the cure? I might be so bold as to describe why my single mother was successful in raising three boys by herself. The answer was “structured activity,” plain and simple. If we were not at baseball practice, we were at band rehearsal, and if not that, we were at Boy Scouts, and if not that, we were at church doing activities with our youth group, if not that, we
were at the library checking out books to read. In other words, we didn’t have time to get in trouble. All the time we were subjected to male and female role models where respect and good manners were reinforced. Fred Astaire once said “The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.”

It’s Hot! – August 2022

I don't know where you are… but here in Arizona, we are dealing with some of the hottest summer heat on record. Our local
power company just recorded the largest power draw on their system in history… now that’s hot!

Guess all of our air conditioners are running at full power here in the valley, I know mine is! When I do venture outside I have these reminders running through my mind:

Drink plenty of fluids! You need to stay hydrated.

Put on a hat! (If you didn't know I am bald as it gets!) Now is not the time to get careless! Sunburn hurts!

How is your aloe vera supply?

The heat isn’t all bad though. It give us a chance to go explore new places we wouldn't otherwise had a reason to go visit. Like a day trip for a picnic up to the mountains or rim country,

Payson, is beautiful this time of year… It’s not just the heat we’re still dealing with, but also a late monsoon rain could appear.

If hiking, stay out of dry creek beds and caverns as it could be raining miles away but the flash flood could affect you!

Make the best of these next few weeks and get the kids and grandkids out on a few extra outings as it’s almost time for school to start!

Stay safe and hold on for another month or two before we start getting cooler temperatures.

Until next month…