Life is not slowing down!!
Last Saturday (November 15) was our annual gingerbread house decorating party at church. Hunter went somewhere else with Lori that day, but I went anyway to take pictures and see what everyone was doing. It was a bit early in the season for this activity, but Curt and Louise, who head it up, will be leaving for Florida soon for a few months.
Then there was a Quilts of Valor ceremony. Ten veterans received quilts in honor of their service to our country. My good friend Peg is an avid quilter, and she was the emcee for the ceremony. She always adds humor and so many personal anecdotes. She read a bio of each person as they received their quilts. We learned SO much about each one that we never knew. There were definitely tears shed.
On Monday Dick took the day off work, and we went to talk to an insurance broker about our ever-increasing Medicare Supplement premiums. We started in 2016 (when I turned 65) with Mutual of Omaha. It seemed affordable then, but the premiums have dramatically increased each year. We are now paying $787.70/month for the two of us, PLUS $130/each for our Part D prescription insurance through Humana which will soon increase for 2026.
This insurance broker said she would never recommend Mutual of Omaha for a Medicare Supplement, because they are notorious for starting out at a reasonable premium, then making dramatic increases each year. Well darn!!! I wish the broker who advised us in 2016 had been smart enough to know that then. GRRR.
She was doubtful we would be accepted by any other insurance company for a supplement plan due to some of the medical issues we have had, so she showed us a Medicare Advantage plan. We have been mulling over things this week, talking to my friend at church who recommended this broker to us, and also to my sister Mary Ellen who encouraged us to go through the medical underwriting process to see if any other company would accept us for a Medical Supplement plan.
This evening we had a phone appointment with the broker. She took us through the questions for medical underwriting. Then she submitted them to Humana for a Medicare Supplement plan she was recommending. I was accepted, Dick's is pending. She said they will probably be calling him in a day or two with more questions. The premium would be so much lower than we are paying now. I am PRAYING Dick will be accepted!!
On Monday evening we had a concert at church by the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus. An older gentleman from our church has sung with them for 50 years!!! However he was not able to be at this concert. He is very ill in the hospital. In fact just yesterday he was moved to a nursing home. He has sung with my choir for over a year now, a beautiful tenor voice. I am SO SAD!!!!!
On Tuesday morning we woke up to a complete surprise! It was icy, so schools were delayed two hours.
The rest of the week was filled with cooking and Christmas program planning and practicing. Not only is my choir working on a musical, but the children will have a program too - both on the same day, December 14. The children will present theirs in the morning worship service, and the adults in the evening. I'm in charge of the music for each.
Our weather was cloudy for 13 days straight!!! When I saw the sun on Saturday I was ecstatic!!! I even sat on the front porch for a while!
I splurged a bit on Saturday when I saw an ad for a personalized book for kids. I submitted some pictures of Elizer just to see what it would look like. WELL!!! When I saw the preview of the book, do you think I could resist???
So this is Thanksgiving week!! Destiny said they'll be coming! I guess Thanksgiving and camping weekend are two traditions she feels she can't give up, even from a distance.
I have SO much to do before Thursday, and not just food prep. Music prep and food prep are the themes of my life!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
3 comments:
When I retire, in about six months, my husband and I will have to get some supplemental Medicare Insurance. I've heard some pretty negative things about Medicare Advantage Plans, but I had no idea that supplemental Medicare insurance costs so much! Wow - that's really high! I sure hope that you can get on the plan that will help you most. I'll be very interested to know how the Medicare Advantage plan works out for you. Have a great week. See you again soon!
Deb, this is Jean. The plan we applied for this evening is a Medicare Supplement plan, but not as expensive as the one we currently have. We too are hesitant about Medicare Advantage plans.
That book for Elizer is SO CUTE!! I gave up my supplement plan when Joe died. I couldn't afford it anymore. I've been happy with my AARP United Health Care Advantage Plan. My insurance guy is so good about what will work best for me each year when I meet with him. Good luck with your choices! It's great that Destiny and Elizer are coming for Thanksgiving! Can't wait to hear about it and see your photos!!
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