Well, I waited until this morning as I was still hoping that cooler heads would prevail.
They did not.
Effective immediately Humana insurance is not longer taken with Baptist Health Medical Group. Baptist Hospitals all over the state will continue to take it but the Baptist Health Medical Group has pulled out of Humana effective 9/22. This means that you will not be able to use your insurance with any Baptist physican’s office that I know of. Call me at 859.800.7774 for questions.
It is not place to editorialize or to point the finger and lay blame so let me just say that this is a problem between two monster egos who want more money. Honestly I am disgusted with everyone involved. I will say that it is a travesty that Baptist Physician’s Group would do this in the middle of a plan year, when beneficiaries have no way to change their plans. Medicare should financially penalize them with a daily fine that exceeds the amount of money they are extorting from Humana for such a stunt. But, that is just my opinion.
Here is the reality.
FOR MOST OF US… WE ARE STUCK. WE CANNOT CHANGE OUR PLANS UNTIL OPEN ENROLLMENT (for an effective date of January 1st). However, if you are on Medicaid, have LIS or a Medicare Savings Plan, we can change you BUT, We have to change you prior to Otober 1st. We have 1 week. For the rest of us though, we cannot change our plans.
For those that are not able to change their plans, I am happy to say there is a another solution.
Continuity of Care FORM
We did however learn today that if you have certain illnesses, you may be able to keep seeing your physicans for another 90 days, or until December 22nd. So, that helps a lot, for most of us. It will take some work.
A SEPARATE LETTER WILL BE OUT FOR KYNECT CLIENTS IN OCTOBER, SINCE THIER OPEN ENROLLMENT IS NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST.
MICHAEL TODD OLDFIELD Your Cool Financial NINJA!
859.800.7774, option 1 then option 1
September 15, 2023
TO ALL MEDICARE CLIENTS
FROM MICHAEL TODD OLDFIELD
I would like to say thank you to each and every one of you for your trust, your business, your friendship, and your REFERRALS! My business has grown nearly 50% since this time last year.
If you are new to this, an annual review of your Medicare or Kynect plan is necessary during your Annual Election Period (“AEP”). Why is the “open enrollment” or AEP season so important?
Well, this is the time of the year that each of you get to see NEXT year’s health insurance plans and make your selection as to which plan you believe will serve you best. In Medicare, the right plan should of course cover which doctors you wish to see, which meds you need to take, and then and only then, what “free stuff” the insurer is offering. Never make a healthcare plan choice based upon the “free stuff”. The television commercials like to sell the idea that you “should not miss out on everything you are entitled to”. That is horse snot. Good healthcare, your doctors being covered and getting your drugs as cheap as possible; that is what matters. Do not let television commercials confuse you. Their purpose is to scare you into thinking you are missing something.
PRE-ANNUAL ELECTION BEGINS OCTOBER 1st FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES (NOVEMBER 1 FOR KYNECT CLIENTS)
Just about the time you receive this letter, Medicare clients will be receiving a text message with a link to go to, to schedule their appointment to talk to me this year (Kynect clients will be next month). Do not “Dawdle” as I have almost four hundred Medicare clients to see in the month of October. It is much better to be one of the first to schedule than one of the last… It takes less than 2 minutes. This coming text message should happen by this weekend.
Step 1 for Medicare Clients – Immediately Schedule Your Annual Review
To schedule your appointment, you simply click https://toddoldfield.com/booktodd/ pick a day and time to meet that is convenient to you; and answer some questions. That’s it. You are then scheduled.
Kynect/Medicaid clients will schedule next month.
If we cannot reach you by text message, do not worry. Regina will call those that do not get their appointment scheduled this way. She never let’s anyone slip through the crack.
Step 2 is About Saving My Contact Information in Your Phone
From your phone, please click www.popltodd.com in your browser and visit my digital business card on Popl.co. There you click the green “Save Contact” button. Follow your phone’s instructions, and save my contact information to your phone, along with my picture. Even if you have done this previously, please do it again. Some of my contact information seems to change every year. The benefit to doing this is you will see my picture pop up when Regina or I call you.
Step 3 is Leave Me a Testimonial (if You Like)
You can do this or not. It’s up to you. I would appreciate your feedback on the work I do and on my processes. Simply drop by www.toddoldfield.com/addmine and tell me what I did for you that helped you. I need that feedback. While you are there be sure to read some of more than 100 other testimonials that have been sent in.
IMPORTANT: ANNUAL ENROLLMENT NEWS!!!
I am very happy to report that I have added SEVERAL NEW companies above into various places in my life. These include many long standing relationships as well such as;
Allstate has a really nice Medicare Supplement plan with good rates and offers discounts if you wear a Fitbit or other tracker.
Essence Healthcare has been a five-star Medicare Advantage plan. It might be this year. We do not know yet.
Ameritas has a nice dental and vision plan.
Molina and UnitedHealthOne offer great products for the under-65 Kentucky clients.
Cigna is now allowing agents to write their drug plans.
UnitedHealthcare has been a national leader for a long time. I am still not very fond of their Medicare Supplement rates, but their Medicare Advantage products have improved every year.
And, of course, Humana, Anthem, Wellcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Mutual of Omaha (and others) will be returning. So, we have to factor all these new companies into our decisions this year. No matter who you chose, I have them covered. We need to look at ALL companies and ALL plans and offerings and compare ALL our choices.
Let’s now talk a bit about the changes in Medicare Marketing Guidelines; the “Disclaimer”, “Scope of Appointment”, and “call recording” requirements.
MEDICARE DISCLAIMER GUIDELINES (KYNECT/Medicaid can ignore)
CMS (CMS is the governing body over Medicare) has changed the marketing rules on us. Now any conversation that discusses Medicare plan choices must begin with…
“We do not offer every plan in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the ten insurers we do represent (which includes Aetna, Allstate, Anthem, Cigna, Essence Healthcare, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, CVS/Silverscript, Wellcare, and UnitedHealthcare) and their more than 60 plans they do offer in Kentucky. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance program to get information on ALL your options.”
Argh. I literally represent every option there is. I leave no one out. Again, check the list above. The irony is only licensed, honest, hardworking agents follow the rules. We are not allowed to call Medicare beneficiaries that are strangers and ask them to do business with us. It is just simply not done. If someone calls you, hang up the phone. They are not licensed. Trust me or another licensed professional.
So, to be in compliance with Medicare guidelines this year, it means you will have to call me for our appointment. I can no longer call you. You have to call me and listen to the above greeting. Regina will remind you the morning of your appointment. She will tell you how to call in. Please do not be late!!!
MEDICARE SCOPE OF APPOINTMENT (“SOA”) GUIDELINES
CMS is also beefing up their SOA rules. For many years we have had SOA’s to deal with. You have done a SOA with me before.
If you think back when I signed you up for either a Medicare Advantage plan or a PDP, the first document you signed was a “Scope of Appointment”. That was where I said “this outlines what we will be discussing” and then I told you we have to keep these documents for 10 years. Yuck. But, it is true. I have 100’s or 1000’s of them dating back 10 years.
Well, this year CMS is really cracking down on SOAs. In theory, if I cannot produce an SOA on any appointment I had with any Medicare client, that was not completed at least 48 hours prior to our appointment I am dead meat. LOL. Maybe even lose my license. So, for sure Regina will be texting a SOA and following up on them for each Medicare client. If you cannot do the internet, Regina will mail you one. But, we MUST have it back 48 hours before your scheduled appointment or we will have to cancel.
CALL RECORDINGS
LASTLY, MEDICARE REQUIRES ALL CALLS TO BE RECORDED WHEN DISCUSSING MEDICARE PRODUCTS SO YOU MUST CALL ME FOR OUR APPOINTMENT AT
1-859-800-7774, CHOOSE OPTION 1, AND THEN CHOSE OPTION 1
ONE LAST TIME TO REACH ME.
The first Option 1 will take you to the disclaimer mentioned above and then from there, the second option 1 will transfer you to the recorded line and to me. Then we can talk. It’s actually pretty simple.
SUMMARY
That’s all there is to it this year. If you would prefer to call in and schedule your appointment, that is fine. Regina will begin calling everyone September 18th and will keep calling until we get everyone’s appointment scheduled. You may know this already. Honestly, she pesters people to death until they schedule their appointment. LOL. The best thing to do is “head her off at the pass” so do it NOW! TODAY! There really are only a limited number of slots available.
If you do not want to meet this year. That is fine as well. Just tell Regina that you are VERY happy the way everything is set up and we will not meet. These appointments are for you; not for me.
The last topic I wish to address is… I am no longer The Medicare NINJA! I have always loved that nickname, but, it does not really tell the whole story. I am so much more than a Medicare resource or Kynect advisor. Did you know, I am equally skilled at;
Getting people out of debt…
Providing them with a legacy for their families through the right kind of Life Insurance…
Helping them save for retirement…
Assisting them in creating a plan should they need care services…
Helping them create a guaranteed income stream so they will not run out of money…
My goal is to save you money on your healthcare, and protect your income during retirement, and your family at all times should you not be around as long as they are. Anyways, that is all I have today. So, I proudly announce… I am your Coooooool Financial NINJA!
To ALL Clients (“Medicaid, Kynect Exchange, Medicare”)
Sorry, this is going out by text and email. I really need to get the word out.
Click the video below to have a “TOD Talk” on the subject of the end of the Medicaid Expansion.
Yep! The free ride is over. For the past three years anyone could get Medicaid. But that time is coming to an end. Here is what this all means to most of you….
You should take the following steps.
First, if you have never done it, you need to add my contact information in your phone. It’s very easy. From your phone click www.popltodd.com and click “SAVE CONTACT“. This way when I call, you will know it is me for real. You will even see my picture.
Second, schedule your own appointment with me at a time that is convenient for you by going to https://calendly.com/michaeltoddoldfield/kynect and picking a day an time. Currently the state is sending me like 20-30 hours a week of new cases to help, so do this now. My calendar is going to be very clogged up this summer. Some cases are taking a week to clean up. Yuck. You should know me by now. Well enough to know that if there is money to be saved, I will find it for you.
If you currently have Medicaid, inquire (or watch for a notice) about when your next review date is. At that time you will either be able to keep Medicaid or you will not. If you are under 65 and have no Medicare, it may be that you will qualify for an exchange plan with maximum assistance. This is excellent.
If you have Medicare, AND, Medicaid (or a Medicare Savings Plan) you and find that you are about to lose your Medicaid ACT FAST. It’s ok. We do have to make a change in your plan. If not you could end up with no plan whatsoever.
Remember, the last three years have been a gift for some of us (Where Medicaid is concerned. Anyone in Kentucky could get it, due to COVID regardless of their income and assets. That is just coming to an end. If you qualify for it then it is there for you. If you do not, then you have to get your records straight. This is where I come in.
Call me ASAP or schedule some time with me well in advance of your review date.
Regards.
Michael Todd Oldfield
PS – be sure to drop me a testimonial at https://toddoldfield.com/addmine/
It’s really simple. When you get to the site from your phone, you will see a green button to save my contact record to your phone. Click save.
This is all my contact information, social media links, and a nice pic of me on your phone as my contact record.
I need you to do this so that you have me in your phone always and will be able to differentiate me from spammers. If you do not save me in the phone and have spam blocker, I will not be able to reach you.
This was a real problem this year. Many of you I called for our scheduled appointment and you never received my call which threw my schedule off.
Please do this now so you will know when Regina or I am calling, AND, that it is truly us, AND, that it is safe to take a call from us. Remember, these annual calls are for you, not me. This year almost 20% of you had to change your plan. I know most of you are very happy with what you have (I do my job well), but we still had to change a bunch so they had the best plan for them for 2023. The calls I do are for you, not me.
It’s time to schedule your annual Medicare / Kynect / ACA review. Remember, this is for YOU; not me. We need to make sure always that you have the best plan for YOUR needs.
You may schedule your appointment 1 of 3 ways.
OPTION 1 – SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT YOURSELF – It’s very easy. Simply click the link below, pick a day and time, answer a couple questions and you will be scheduled.
OPTION 2 – You can call Regina and she will schedule your appointment for you (she is out having surgery today (Friday) so she will return calls on Monday. Call her at 859.800.7774 extension 1 (If her voice mail is full, she will call you)
OPTION 3 – Wait and Regina will call you when she can.
I advise picking option 1 or 2. We have 350 more appointment slots only, and that many appointments to schedule. Do not wait!!!!
I do not want you to be overlooked.
And please, do not forget to drop by www.popltodd.com and save my contact information. See you soon, God Bless!
AEP is around the corner. Each established client should have received their “Medicare.gov Update Form”. If you have not received yours by now, down load this one, fill it out, and mail it back to me at;
Michael Todd Oldfield
3408 Crimson King Court
Lexington, KY 40517
The decade is fast coming to a close, and there are some BIG changes coming in a lot of the plans for 2019. For sure we need to set aside some time to meet this year. I want all my clients to be well-prepared for 2019.
As always I will be doing all I can do to see every one of you. Please call me ASAP so that we can set up your appointment. My number is 859.654.0120 extension 1000. You can call that number any time.
Medicare.gov Updates
Have you sent in your drug list? If not, here is a link to this important document. It’s not required of course. It does however help me to save time. By sending this document to me, I can pre-enter your drugs into Medicare.gov so that I don’t have to do it once I have arrived. This can very often save 5-30 minutes depending on how many you take.
You can get this document HERE or by clicking the picture on the right. Once you open the document, you can then print it, fill it out, and mail it back to me at;
Michael Todd Oldfield 3408 Crimson King Court Lexington, Kentucky 40517
Travel Plans
Below is a general guideline for my travel plans for October 1 – December 7, 2018. This is our entire Medicare Open Enrollment and Pre-Enrollment season. This is my funnest and busiest time of the year. I travel more than 5,000 miles per month to visit with 300-400 clients located all across our great state of Kentucky. During this season I work 7 days per week and mostly 12-14 hour days.
It’s very important for you to understand that I do my best to be to every appointment on time, but I will NOT leave a client if they still have lingering questions. So, this means every appointment has the potential of lasting only 15 minutes… or may run as long as 3 hours. I just never know. So, having said that, if you would like to meet, please be patient with me as I work very hard to serve every Medicare beneficiary.
This year there are also many different venues in which to meet. As always I will be in my Wal-mart (Hamburg location), but in addition to that, I will also be in my office (2808 Palumbo Drive, #204, Lexington, KY, 40509). For out of towner’s I will traveling all over Kentucky on various dates. See below for more information.
ASAP, please call me at 859.654.0120 x1000 so that we can book your appointment.
Travel Plans By Date
For planning, below is where I will be on various days and dates.
October 1-October 14 – Western Kentucky – Mostly new business visits.
October 15-December 7, Mon – Thu, 9AM-1PM – Wal-mart in Hamburg – Existing Lexington area clients.
October 15-December 7, Mon – Thu 2PM-8PM – My Office – Lexington area clients.
October 19 – Northern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
October 20 – Eastern Kentucky – Along I-64 – New and existing clients.
October 27 – October 28 – Eastern Kentucky – Far Eastern – New and existing clients.
November 3 – Southern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
November 9 – October 11 – Western Kentucky – New and existing clients.
November 16 – November 18 – Eastern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
November 24 – Northern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
November 25 – Southern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
November 30 – December 2 – New and existing clients.
Travel Plans By Geography
Or, if it is easier for you, below is a list of where I will be headed in a general sense during the entire season.
Lexington Area – You can meet with me daily at my office on Mondays – Thursdays from 2PM – 8PM. This is the best place to see me. I book appointments there on the hour (6 per day). You can also meet me at Wal-mart in Hamburg Mondays – Thursdays from 9AM – 1PM. Be sure to call me to book this appointment as there are frequent walk-ups there.
Western Kentucky – I will be there October 1 – 14 mostly seeing new clients but will also be seen. I will then return November 9 – 11 to visit with existing clients remaining to be seen. There is not a place I do not travel to in Western Kentucky during this season.
Southern Kentucky – I will be down south of Lexington on November 3rd and on November 25th. I will come through Corbin, London, Berea, Richmond, Danville, Lancaster, and Wilmore, etc.
Northern Kentucky – I will be up your ways on November 19th, maybe the 20th, and on November 24th.
Eastern Kentucky– I will make my first trip into Eastern Kentucky on October 20-21. This trip will probably keep me close to I-64. I will hit Winchester, Mt. Sterling, Salt Like, Owingsville, Morehead, Grayson, Flemingsburg, and maybe Ashland and Louisa. Then I will return the following weekend on October 27-28 and dig deeper into Eastern KY and hit places like Pikeville, Inez, Whitesburg, Harlan, Hazard, Salyersville, and many other towns. I will finish Eastern Kentucky with another 3 day trip on November 16 – November 18.
This is the plan. Of course, it’s subject to a LOT of change. If you have referrals, please have them call me ASAP, so I can get them booked the same time as I get your appointment scheduled (to save time). I LOVE referrals. They are the lifeblood of my business. Please have them call me and mention your name.
They can reach me at 859.654.0120 x1000
Love All The Testimonials
I am just so thankful to the nearly 100 people that have sent in testimonials concerning the work I do. To leave a real life testimonial, go HERE!
Click the link above for the article. This is not good news sadly. For years they have been estimating when Social Security and Medicare would run out of money. It seems like every time they update the estimate, the end date is moved a smidge closer to now… and it happened again.
Now they are saying Social Security will run out in sixteen years or 2034 and Medicare will run out in just another eight years or 2026.
Medicare is a real problem, just when you think about the timing. So they are telling us it will be done, right when the biggest group of baby boomers are probably going to need healthcare services. Right?
Wow. that is just nuts. So, we are going to be a bunch of old farts and no one to take care of us. Which we already knew any ways, being that the average age of a nurse is above 53. They cannot keep working forever. So what do you think when in 20 years, the average age of a nurse will be 60 or more… but the number of patients will be double? Right? Boomers Rule!!!!
However, we will not have money for our healthcare or our groceries by then. Social security will be gone.. healthcare will be in shambles.
And, all this has been known for, well…. like, forever. Politicians did not want to deal with the problem because the solutions are politically unfavorable. Meaning, if they wanted to work on a solution, no matter the solution, they are going to have to piss someone off. Pissed off constituents translate into votes for candidates who don’t do anything, being that no action is better than a wrong action in their minds. So, by trying to do right, a decent politician will end up possibly out of work. They know this. So, they have not done anything.
It’s all just a mess. This is what our government has left us with.
It’s crazy time again!!!! Let the madness begin!!! Medicare “Open Enrollment” is upon us! We are surely expecting some change to the Medicare system and plans. Rates are liable to go up. Copays may shift. And I do even expect to see some plans just simply “go away”. BUT, DO NOT WORRY. I will have all the “news to use” on the topic by October 1. Today I need to speak to you regarding your annual review.
ANNUAL CLIENT REVIEWS
As always, my client’s come first during this season. That includes you. I will again be working straight through, seven days a week during the entire nine-week “Open Enrollment” season.
Appointment scheduling begins September 19th. It does not matter whether you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement plan or simply a Prescription Drug Plan. You need to see me every year. Premiums, copays, covered services change every year. Your needs change annually as well. This is our opportunity to make sure you are set up correctly.
Medicare Season Travel Plan & My Schedule
This year I will have more than three hundred families to see during “Open Enrollment”. Being that they are scattered all over Kentucky from Whitesburg to Paducah, it means that I will be putting on a lot of miles. That’s ok. I love Kentucky this time of the year. BUT, we do need to work together in an organized manner so that I have ample time to see everyone and get all their questions answered.
Mostly, I will be traveling around Kentucky during the weekends. You can also find me at Walmart and Kroger in Lexington. My ongoing weekly schedule can be found at www.toddoldfield.com/schedule.
There are many different venues in which to reach me this year.
You may meet with me in any of these locations. Please do call my office and let me know when you are thinking about coming so I can make sure I am not already tied up with other clients;
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
9AM-1PM
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
9AM-1PM
MONDAY-SUNDAY
BY APPOINTMENT, 2PM-6PM
Hamburg – 2350 Grey Lag Way
Lexington, KY 40509
1650 Bryan Station Road
Lexington KY 40505
2808 Palumbo Drive, Suite 204
Lexington, KY 40509
SEND BACK – Medicare.gov Update Forms
It is very, very important that you get this back to me in a timely manner.I need these completed and returned to me no later than September 15th.
Each year, I send out a Medicare.gov update form for you to complete. This is a simple place for you to update me on your prescription(s) and/or physician lists. This way I can do all my research on your case and if there are changes you need to make to your plan, then we will know that BEFORE I come see you, and we will save time in our appointment since I will have already done all the research.
Researching this information on your behalf is the single greatest service I provide for you each year. This is just simply the best way to figure out what your potential healthcare expense might be next year.
Please do get these back to me in a timely fashion. I will call you once I have received it back to arrange a time for us to get together.
REFERRALS
Nothing is more important to me than your referrals. I know you do not know this but, I happily accept referrals. You see, due to Medicare marketing guidelines, I am not allowed to approach Medicare beneficiaries to discuss their Medicare. They have to call me. So, referrals are my #1 way to grow my business.
This means I RELY on my clients a LOT to introduce me to their friends, family, coworkers, golf buddies, and anyone else that they think I might be able to help. I earn referrals from my clients by doing my best to help them then they need help.
PLEASE, if you have some referrals, feel free to pass out my cards and tell them to give me a call. I am enclosing a couple extra cards in this mailing.
TESTIMONIALS
SEND BACK – Testimonial Form
If you have a testimonial, please send it back with your Medicare.gov Update Form.
Thank you to the many people that have taken time to either write in with a testimonial or complete their online testimonial.
It means so much to receive a kind word. I do love my work for sure. If you would like to send me a testimonial, please use the attached form and send it back with your Medicare.gov update form, OR, simply go to www.toddoldfield.com/testimonials and tell your story there.
SUMMARY
Well, that’s it for now. PLEASE do get your forms back to me QUICKLY. I will be scheduling appointments in the order by which they are returned. It’s going to be a very hectic season for me through the end of January (Medicare & ACA Open Enrollment Season). Stay in touch with me. I guarantee I can help you protect yourself and your family.
