The federal government (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also known as CMS) gives an annual rating to Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans (Part D), based on categories such as: Customer service * Management of Member Complaints * Quality of care *Preventative Services * Plan Responsiveness * Managing Chronic Conditions Plans are rated as follows…. 5-star: Excellent 4-star: Above Average 3-star: Average 2-star: Below Average 1-star: Poor In 2022 Medicare Advantage (MA) plans saw a huge boost in performance with 68% of MA-PD (Medicare Part C) plans rated 4+ Stars which is a great thing! Another thing to know is that if a plan in your area has five stars, you get a Special Election Period (SEP) to enroll in that plan. Even though the star rating is important, it’s not the end all of your coverage. In order for the plan to be the best fit for you your doctors and hospital must be in the network (unless you’re willing to change your medical team), it includes prescription drug coverage and that your particular drugs are covered under the plan. Don’t be fooled into thinking every prescription is. Keeping these things in mind, it’s always better to work with a local agent to make sure every aspect of the plan you’re looking for meets your individual needs. Want to know more about the 5-Star plans available in Calcasieu Parish? Give our licensed and knowledgeable agent a call: 337-310-2253 Tommy Curtis and Staff Disclaimers: Life and Medicare Products marketed through Curtis & Associates Financial Services, Inc. {A Life and Health Agency} Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. Not connected or affiliated with any United States Government or State agency. Calling this number will direct you to a licensed Agent/Broker. *By contacting us and providing information, you agree that an authorized representative or licensed insurance agent may contact you by phone, e-mail or mail to answer your questions and provide additional information about Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. It’s that time of year again where the television is filled with commercials on what you can spend your tax refund on. Granted, with many folks still in rebuild after the weather events of 2020/2021, new furniture or a vacation sounds lovely. But is that really the wisest use of your hard-earned dollars? Let’s look at a few ideas…. Most of us grew up with spring cleaning…. that time of the year in which you spent a whole weekend cleaning walls, cabinets, drawers, etc. A weekend you’d have much rather spent doing anything else. Now, with Spring approaching, you may already be preparing your summer toys for usage. Washing and waxing boats, RV’s and Jet Skis will help protect and keep them in good condition. Be sure and change the oil, plugs and any filters too. This is important for pulling them out of storage and before putting them away for the winter. If cleanliness is next to godliness, how often should you clean various household and outdoor items? Many of us have a weekly or monthly routine where the most used and/or high traffic areas of our homes get cleaned on a regular basis. But what about those deep-cleaning things like cabinets, walls, mattresses, etc.? Let’s take a look at the different items and levels of clean. Some folks say jeans can be washed every other month or less by putting them in the freezer to kill germs, unless of course, something is spilled or splashed on them. Hmmmm, I don’t know so much about this one. Towels, washcloths, dish rags…those get washed after one or two uses. Shoes, boots, and other footwear need regular cleansing and/or polishing to maintain their look and performance. Bedding is another story altogether. Some say weekly for sheets and quarterly for comforters and pillows. I say as often as you feel the need. Most of us go to bed clean so sheets can wait a couple of weeks. Once or twice a year is good for pillows and other bedding items –vacuum & refresh your mattress too–unless you or someone you sleep with has been ill then it’s always a good thing to wash and disinfect right away. Computers, I-pads, phones, and other electronics should also be cleansed often, daily, or weekly at best. Cabinets, walls, drawers, carpets, furniture, and closets deserve a deep clean at minimum once each year, but twice is better and remember, decluttering helps you stay calm and focused, especially if you incorporate Feng Shui into the process. Oven, dishwasher, microwave, and vehicles can be on your monthly list or at the very least, quarterly. These are standard household/personal items. But what about things you don’t see or even think about daily? Dryer hose and vents, AC unit and vent covers, shower heads, stove vents & filters, windows, curtains and blinds, ceiling fans, light fixtures and lamp shades, baseboards, molding and woodwork, toasters, and other small appliances? How about on top of or behind your refrigerator and/or stove? Items such as these can be part of your annual or semi-annual cleaning sprees. Waxing your AC vents will help keep the dust from collecting on/in them between cleanings. Cleansing and repairing your window screens on a regular basis will help keep the sun shining in all the time. While you’re at it, does that house and/or patio (furniture?) need a good pressure wash? What about that shop or garage? For tips, tricks and checklists check out Pinterest. Until next time, take care and remember preventative maintenance goes a long way in your vehicles or toys maintaining their value. Oh and, while we’re talking about keeping things clean and routine maintenance, any time is a good time to review your insurance policies and be sure your recreational vehicles (boats, jet skis, camper/rv, etc.) are properly covered! Not sure? Give us a call 337-433-1683. Tommy Curtis & Staff ©2016 Pamela S Thibodeaux *previous printing Thrive Magazine 2016; Used with Permission Medicare AEP officially began Oct. 15th and will continue through Dec. 7th. Whether you're new to Medicare or have been in the program for years, NOW is the time to review your coverage with your local agent. PLEASE beware of Medicare Scams and folks calling to "check or review your coverage." Unless the person calling is someone you know and trust, Do NOT give your information over the phone! Most of the time these callers are telemarketers or agents out of state or out of your region and will change your coverage simply by your answers to the questions they ask. In many instances, these people have no idea, nor do they care, if your doctor or prescription medicines are in their particular network nor do they know if they are actually giving you the best benefits for your situation and budget! Be even more wary of celebrities or sports legends touting Medicare benefits on television or radio ads of which they are PAID endorsers who have no clue what they are talking about! Like the telemarketers mentioned above, the people on the other end of those "Medicare hotline" numbers have no clue nor do they care about your personal situation. Why don't they care? Because they don't know you. Here at Curtis Insurance/Curtis & Associates, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and working with our clients to advise them on the best possible solution to their individual Medicare needs. We understand changes to Medicare can be puzzling and we're here to help clear up the confusion and aid you in fitting the pieces of your Medicare plan together in the program that benefits YOU best. So, give our Licensed and Trained Medicare agent a call today at: 337-439-7730 Until next time take care and remember ... we are here to serve you. Tommy Curtis and Staff Disclaimers:
Life and Medicare Products marketed through Curtis & Associates Financial Services, Inc. {A Life and Health Agency} It’s “Life Insurance Awareness Month” and we’ve shared several articles with you over the years to encourage you to consider how important insuring your love (life) is. We’ve talked about juvenile life insurance, explored frequently asked questions and explained the differences in whole and universal life. There is no shortage of information on our blog and website to educate you on the importance of life insurance. So, instead of boring you with statistics and other useless data, I have a question for you…. How much IS your life worth? Tips for Reconstructing Your Lawn After a Natural Disaster by Pamela S Thibodeaux (c) 20117/20/2021
In the wake of natural disaster, people scramble to reclaim their lives and do their best to get back to normal. However, a minor home repair job oftentimes turns into a major overhaul. Once you repair the roof and redo two rooms, you realize that you might as well touch up the rest of the house. After completing the inside, you find that the outside begs for new paint or siding and while you're at it, you might as well revise your landscape. Landscaping your lawn not only beautifies, but also adds depth, texture and value to your property. Here are a few ideas on creating your dream lawn. The National Hurricane Center is considering changing Hurricane Season from June 1 to May 15th. You’ve got to be kidding me – Right!?! Let’s face it, many of us haven’t fully recovered from 2020 hurricanes and now, as if we don’t have enough to fret about, the powers that be in the Weather Center want to add 2 more weeks of hurricane worry upon us. RELAX.
Regardless of when the National Hurricane Center states hurricane season starts or ends, there is no need to panic or fear. Being prepared and having a plan, however, is imperative. We may not be able to control Mother Nature, but here are some things you can do… Have an Evacuation Plan. No matter if the storm hits east or west of us, having an evacuation plan in place helps alleviates the stress of leaving. Review Your Home or Renters and Flood Insurance Policy ahead of time. Understanding your policy coverage, deductibles and limitations makes you a responsible homeowner/renter. Take pictures or a video of your home, contents, sheds or outbuildings, and yard helps you be more organized if you have to file a claim. Include pictures of closets and drawers, dishes, pots, silverware – everything! Many folks lose out on valuable reimbursement without proper documentation of what you own – especially those who have total or near-total losses. Have items in storage? Have pictures and an inventory list of those too as a percentage of your contents coverage extends to these things. It is especially important to record any existing damage on your home! If you happen to get caught with a new claim, this will help you and your insurance company from butting heads over details between claims. Keep a travel kit ready. A single suitcase or tote or briefcase with policies (including life, health and auto), Vet Records, Kid’s immunization records, Medications and/or a list of medications (include dosage!), Allergies, legal documents that may be important if you or a family member becomes ill or dies during evacuation, etc. saves you from having to think about these things when preparing to evacuate. Find more ideas on what to bring with you or have on hand if you decide not to evacuate in this post. Other important things we learned during 2020 hurricanes can be found HERE and more tips for travelling smart are listed in THIS blog post. Hopefully we’ve provided you enough information in this and other posts to help ease the stress of travelling or evacuating. Until next time, take care and remember…. Preparation is the key to success. Tommy Curtis and Staff |
Tommy Curtis
Is an insurance agent with integrity and your best interest in mind. Call to speak directly to him. Contact us Phone: 337-433-1683 Address: 509 7th Street Lake Charles, LA 70601 Office Hours: M-F 9a - 5p (CST) Follow Us
|