Winter\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waning Moon of the Cold Month<\/p>\n
Kathryn Kiegler has restored, no, wait that’s too strong, has challenged my opinion about insurance sales folk.\u00a0 She gave us good advice, walked us through the labyrinth that is Medicare and the various parts attached to it A, B, C, and D, then helped us evaluate a plan best suited to Kate’s needs.\u00a0 She was clear, patient, gave us the time we needed.\u00a0 Great person to work with.<\/p>\n
We did hit one weird snag.\u00a0 Kate had not gotten her part B card, nor her letter telling her she had been enrolled.\u00a0 Without this letter or the card Kate couldn’t sign up for Medicare advantage at all.\u00a0 Kathryn called Social Security, finally, after a really long and tedious animated voice, a real human came on the line.\u00a0 Kathryn explained Kate’s need for the letter, the woman agreed to fax it and all seemed in order.\u00a0 Except.\u00a0 By the time we were ready to leave, no fax.\u00a0 None of us wanted to wait the 10-12 minutes to go through the animated phone information.<\/p>\n
What to do?\u00a0 Kathryn recommended going to the Social Security and getting the letter in person.\u00a0 Not a bad solution since the SSA office is on Chicago Avenue and 18th, not all that far from Kathryn’s office near Westminster Church downtown.\u00a0 So, we drove over there.\u00a0 Kate went in while I waited outside.\u00a0 I’m not real patient with bureaucracy.\u00a0 When she returned a bit later, letter in hand, she told me why we had received no fax.\u00a0 “The man told me the Social Security Administration never faxes anything with a social security number on it.”<\/p>\n
Hmmm.\u00a0 Have you ever read Kafka?\u00a0 Can you imagine, say, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles choosing to never fax something with a license plate number on it?\u00a0 Yes, of course. Identity theft. I know.\u00a0 Seems that such intelligent folks could have figured out a solution.\u00a0 One idea.\u00a0 When faxing a document to the person whose social security number is involved?\u00a0 Leave it off and let them fill it in on the other end.<\/p>\n
The really good news in this is that our budget for Kate’s insurance costs was about double the cost we’ll pay.\u00a0 That probably means the same will hold true for me.\u00a0 That will remove several thousand dollars a year from our expenses, maybe a bit more.\u00a0 Where was that cruise brochure?\u00a0 Maybe we could afford that round the world jet junket?\u00a0 Nah, even at $65,000 that sounded like a cheesy deal.\u00a0 The Amazon River?\u00a0 Egypt?\u00a0 Possible.\u00a0 Maybe possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Winter\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waning Moon of the Cold Month Kathryn Kiegler has restored, no, wait that’s too strong, has challenged my opinion about insurance sales folk.\u00a0 She gave us good advice, walked us through the labyrinth that is Medicare and the various parts attached to it A, B, C, and D, then helped us evaluate a plan … Continue reading A Decent Insurance Sales Agent<\/span>