Cities IG - 9-7-24

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Next up this Saturday Morning, Knowledge is Power, hosted by
Rob Kane of City's Insurance Group. If you have a
question for Rob and would like it answered on an
upcoming show, email him at r Kane at citiesig dot com.
And now, Rob Kane, good.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Morning, and welcome to our show. This is Rob Kane.
I'm happy to be here with you today. Lindsay and
Kenny Washington are a little under the weather, or at
least I believe Lindsay is. I think Kenley's doing pretty good.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. I
know it's hard to get back in the swing of things.
I know for me it certainly felt like a Monday,

(00:38):
but it was Tuesday at getting things all mixed up,
But you know that's part of it. Again, had a
great time over the weekend. Time to turn and start
looking towards fall. I guess you know, those of you
that lessens the show a long time know that you
know we'd take a Wisconsin trip in September every year.
So yeah, just a couple of weeks away. I got

(00:59):
to get ready for that.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
First all, I'll talk a.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Little bit about insurance stuff or whatever. I already just
had my last meeting at KSIDE for the year. As
we are approaching medical what we call Medicare season, which
is October fifteenth to December seventh, and this year is
going to be a really, really important one for people
to take the time to go and check their drug list.

(01:24):
And that doesn't matter if you're on Medicare supplement with
a separate drug program, or if you're on Medicare advantage
because of the new laws. And we'll come back and
talk about that here in a little bit. Still getting
a lot of training and updates on how that's all
going to work. So again I'm not yet one hundred
percent positive on how that's all going to work, but

(01:45):
I do know with the big changes again, it's going
to be very important for seniors that you know, get
out there and again check that drug program for sure,
make sure you got the best overall value. And that's
what kind of city's insurance group's all about. Whether it's Medicare,
whether it's home, auto, motorcycle, boat, you know, whatever it

(02:06):
is you need. Again, we're independent agency. We're out there
just trying to make sure we can find the best
value for our customers. We're going to go ahead and
take a quick commercial break and then we'll be right
back with.

Speaker 4 (02:18):
You turning sixty five soon. It doesn't cost anything extra
to work with a well marked agent. Let's work together
to find the right Medicare supplement plan for you. Call
Rob Kine with Cities Insurance Group in Leclair at five
sixty three three five nine zero eight five four to
talk about your Medicare supplement options. Rob Kaine is a
local authorized independent agent for well Marked Blue Cross and

(02:39):
Blue Shield of Iowa. To be eligible, you must reside
in the service area of the plan. Well Marked Medicare
Supplement insurance plans are not affiliated with any government agency.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Hi, this is Rob Kaine, and I just want to
remind you it's all there in Leclair.

Speaker 5 (02:57):
It's been over a decade strong for one of televisions
most popular history loving partnerships. American Pickers may be the
hit show on the History Channel, but antique Archaeology holds
a special place in the hearts of Leclair locals, including
show host Mike Wolfe. For him, the most beautiful aspects
of picking are usually the least attractive. We're talking dirty fingernails,

(03:18):
rust covered metal, and even those tough negotiations with strong
willed owners and collectors. All these bits and pieces work
together to create this everlasting story of how closely tied
are present is to history's past.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
That's right, it's all there in Leclair. We can't wait
to see you all right, Welcome back, everybody. This is
Rob Kane with Citi's Insurance Group again, happy to be
here with you today. Lindsay and Kenley Washington are unavailable
under the weather.

Speaker 3 (03:46):
Like I said, I think Lindsay is. I think Kenley's
doing okay. Boy.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
If any of you of our customers have been out
and senior lately, she she's really really growing up and
becoming very, very independent. We know how it is when
you have those two year olds, but it's awesome being
the grandparent and not the parent. I can assure you
of that. Anyway, back into talking about the Medicare stuff again,

(04:13):
I just hosted the last meeting for this year out
at kse I that we normally hold the first Wednesday
of every month. Also for those again that follow along
Mississippi Valley Sportsman. I've been volunteering with them for a
number of years and we were dissolving that organization just
didn't have enough young people coming in, people you know,

(04:35):
unable to step up and then get involved. A lot
of work goes into those and you know, like any
other organization, eighty percent of the work gets done by
twenty percent of the folks. And just got to a
point where nobody wanted to step up be president or
be the treasurer, be in charge of it. So we're

(04:55):
going to win it, solve it now. We're very proud
of all the conservation efforts that we have done over
the years. We had a really big John Deere project
that we did that was nice, and then we've contributed
to many other purchases of lands through the dn R.
And as we're dissolving the organization, you know, the majority
of our money is going to help DNR with future

(05:19):
conservation projects, but we also wanted to spread that out
for these organizations that are still working.

Speaker 3 (05:26):
Two different.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Pheasant groups, Clinton County and Scott County Pheasants. We also
donated to Big River Conservation, which is a new turkey
club in the Quad City area. And then we also
had one that was a Myelin Turkey I believe gave
them some of our games and so forth and White

(05:50):
Tails Unlimited. So again there was five or six different
groups who were able to give some donations to to
help them continue with their projects and conservation efforts. Again
in the sportsman's world talking about the Medicare stuff, though,
one of the rules that changes for twenty twenty five

(06:11):
versus twenty twenty four if you haven't heard me talk
about it already, is the fact that they say seniors
will pay no more than two thousand dollars for their medications,
which is great for seniors that have very costly medications.
And I've been very, very concerned about this over the
past few years because like with drug programs, you know,

(06:34):
they had gotten to the point where, oh, I don't know,
it's five, six, seven years ago, Humanity had the cheapest
drug program premium wise, that you could get what's twenty
five dollars a month. These are for people that have
a Medicare supplement. I have to purchase a drug program separately,
our PDP program, part D program, whatever you want to

(06:56):
call it. And it had worked its way down to
last year. On the Illinois side they actually had a
zero premium product and on the Iowa side it was
fifty cents a month.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
So for people that just had a.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
Few generic drugs or whatever you could get really an
expensive drug program. And on the Medicare advantage side, the
drug programs are built into that and they have to
do an overall with their medical and their extra benefits,
their goodies that they give you, the health club membership,

(07:34):
over the counter products, dental vision, hearing, all of those
kind of things. They have to present their overall package
to Medicare, and Medicare has to approve those.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
So if they're giving you a.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
Benefit in one area, you know, they got to kind
of take away from a different area.

Speaker 3 (07:50):
So depending on.

Speaker 2 (07:51):
What was important to you, you could make your selection
among the different ones. Well, with them making this change,
then the insurance companies are having to absorb a lot
of this drug cost, so you know, like with Medicare Advantage,
are going to have to figure out what they're going
to have to tweak and the other benefits to make

(08:11):
that drug program work effectively. So again I've been very
very confused as how this is going to work. And
what they were telling us the whole time is that
what they use the number is true out of pocket
or troop troop is what they call it for Medicare
used to be what you truly paid out of your pocket.

(08:35):
But this next year twenty twenty five, I don't from
the one training that I attended, I don't think that's
how it's going to work, because you're getting credit for
the highest cost, whether it's retail retail cost or what
you pay. So to me, it's not really tracking true
out of pocket.

Speaker 3 (08:56):
It is combining.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
Like say, for example, the medication costs twenty five dollars,
but you have only a ten dollars copay. From what
I understand, you're going to get a twenty five dollars
twenty five dollars towards that two thousand dollars, not just
the ten that you paid. Also, and I again don't
understand this, so I could be saying it wrong, so
don't hold me to this. But like if your drug

(09:20):
program doesn't have a a deductible, the max deductible this
year is like five hundred and seventy dollars or ninety dollars.
I again haven't fully trained and don't see all the
new numbers out for twenty twenty five. But what they
were saying was say, you have a forty dollars drug
that you have to pay for, but you have no

(09:42):
deductible on your program, but you get credit for paying
that full deductible. So even though that says two thousand
looks like some people, depending on your drug and or
Medicare advantage program, well you'll actually pay less than two
thousand to get to your two thousand. What they're calling
true out of pocket, which again is not through out
of pocket because it didn't come out of your pocket.

(10:04):
So that's why I'm saying it's so important to get
in there and get with an agent, independent agent, or
whoever you utilize for that, or if you're really good,
you know, go to medicare dot gov and put your
information and put all your medications, and you've got to
put the different pharmacies, not only the one that you

(10:24):
currently use, but ones that you would use if it
saved your money, and run that through the system. Another
element that they're adding to that is that you can
opt instead of having to pay well, for example, maybe
you have a drug program that has a three hundred
dollars instead of having to pay three hundred dollars the

(10:45):
first month and then you know, seventy five dollars the
next month and copays. Somehow they're going to figure out,
I guess what you're going to owe for the year,
and you can pay it throughout the year so they
can have more of a monthly, normal month please payment
instead of it, you know, a big deductible or big
payments up front and this and that.

Speaker 3 (11:05):
So it's really.

Speaker 2 (11:07):
Important again that you get with a professional, get with
someone that you know is familiar with what's going on,
has all.

Speaker 3 (11:15):
The ins and outs.

Speaker 2 (11:17):
Very very important, So please please please make sure if
you help somebody or know somebody, or if you are
somebody that's on Medicare, make sure you get with someone
and run those programs. Make sure you have Just because
it was best last year does not mean it's going
to be the best one for you this year. That's
always on a normal year to year basis, and again

(11:40):
especially this year, people really really need to get out
there and get that done. So okay, I'll quit preaching
in on that, and then I'll let you know that
we have had a ton of calls, you know, this
year in regards to home and auto increases. They've been
very very high increases for a lot of people, a

(12:02):
lot of companies. Some companies have been pulled out of
different states and so forth. Just because of all the
tremendous losses.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
And whatnot that are out there.

Speaker 2 (12:13):
Plus we've got all this inflation, and of course your
rates were based on lower numbers, cost numbers and so
forth to make these repairs. So again a lot of
the increases, I mean, fifty sixty percent, we've been getting
calls with a ton of those kinds of things.

Speaker 3 (12:32):
Now.

Speaker 2 (12:33):
Most times, as an independent agent, if we run those
numbers for you, we can find you a similar type
product for a better value.

Speaker 3 (12:42):
But not always.

Speaker 2 (12:43):
I mean some people have called in they've had these
tremendous increases and it's the best program out there that's
for them. But again I certainly recommend that you take
the time submit these you know, get the quotes. I mean,
it doesn't take that long, like well, it depends on
how many companies they run it through, but it could

(13:05):
take you know, a day or two for them to
get new quotes put together for you. But you know,
give us a call five six three three five nine
oh eight five four. Again, we want to make sure
you're getting the best overall value for your money. Also,
I normally have my customers call me, you know, first
part of October because I can't talk to you about
your Medicare plan. I can talk to you about your

(13:28):
personal plan starting October first, but I can't talk to
you about all the plans until October fifteenth.

Speaker 3 (13:35):
So what I.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
Always recommend my customers, especially my Medicare advantage customers, do
is call me on the first if there's some big
changes or whatever. I'll let them know that, yeah, you
want to come in so that we can review those.
But if you know there's nothing really exciting for them
to look at, I let them know, hey, if you
just do nothing, that will roll over. And again, some

(13:56):
of those we can just check the drug program real
quick over the phone if you just have a couple
of medications, and make sure that you got the right program.
So again, give me a call if it has to
do with any Medicare type stuff. Five six, three, three,
five nine and eight five four. I'm gonna go ahead
and take another break, and then we'll get back and
talk about some more fun stuff.

Speaker 4 (14:17):
Signing up for Medicare doesn't have to be complicated. With
well Marked, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, you can get
all of your health insurance needs in one place. Wellmark
offers hassle free Medicare supplement plans, optional dental coverage and more.
Call Rob Kine with Cities Insurance Group in Leclair at
five sixty three three five nine zero eight five four
to choose coverage that nine in ten stay with year

(14:38):
after year. Rob Kine, your local healthcare insurance expert, is
available to answer all of your questions. Call today. Rob
Kaine is a local authorized independent agent for well Marked
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Biowa. To be eligible,
you must reside in the service area of the plan.
Well Marked Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not affiliated with
any government agency.

Speaker 2 (14:57):
Hi, this is Rob Kaine, and I just want to
remind you it's all there in Leclair. You guessed it.

Speaker 6 (15:02):
Cody Road and the Cody Road Historic District honors the
namesake of the iconic William Buffalo Bill Cody, an American soldier,
bison hunter, and showmen with national notoriety. Today, over sixty
structures create the Historic District in Leclaire, Iowa, a nine
block stretch of US sixty seven, reaching all throughout our rivertown.
Both picturesque views of the Mighty Mississippi River. This district

(15:26):
contains both residential and commercial structures filled with some of
the best eateries, boutiques, gift shops, museums, and historical sites
found in Leclare, Iowa. On your visit, you'll find a
healthy mix of old timey appeal in the rustic downtown
buildings and modern dwellings with glass fronts and large parking
lots for visitors. So yes, there's a little something for everyone.

Speaker 3 (15:47):
That's right. It's all there in Leclair. We can't wait
to see you.

Speaker 2 (15:51):
Okay, welcome back once again. This is Rabkin here with
you today. Lindsey's a little under the weather, so her
and Kenley will let.

Speaker 3 (15:58):
Me joining us just again.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
A reminder if you're just now joining us, that we
I hosted the last Medicare educational meeting out a case
I you know, where we go to and explain, you know,
the different parts of Medicare, parts of a B C, D,
explain how Medicare supplements work, Medicare advantage, et cetera. Just
really giving you some good education and a good good

(16:23):
base if you're, you know, getting ready to turn sixty five. Now,
of course again I won't be having those meetings coming
up throughout medical what I call Medicare season. October fifteenth,
through December seventh because I'm busy working with customers. But again,
if you need that information, if you need that education,
please give me a call.

Speaker 3 (16:44):
Let's set up an appointment, walk you through, make sure
you get.

Speaker 2 (16:48):
Started on the right foot when it comes to your
medicare stuff, very very important. Again, I was going to
talk a little bit about, you know, just some funds do.
Like I say, we just got with the holiday weekend.
I hope everyone had a great time, was able to
hang out, do some family time. We actually got to
go to a friend's house and enjoy their pool. Hopefully

(17:12):
it's not the last time, but you know, at least
one last time before fall comes around. Also, those folks,
those friends of ours, are going to be moving, so
I hope we get a chance to use it again
before they move. But they won't be moving to early
next year, so definitely hope we're able to celebrate with
them somewhere. I hope you all had some great celebrations

(17:33):
with the American Legion. We went over and did on
Monday the mccauslin Parade, which again they had a nice
little festival, a bunch of house things set up for everybody,
a car show, a bunch of other activities going out there,
so hopefully you were able to get out either to
the mccauson or other area. I know other areas had

(17:53):
celebrations as well. Like I said, we've got our fishing
trip coming up. This year been crazy the weather, not
being able to do very much fishing, so not in
the mental state where I used normally am this time
of year. But it just seems like it's sneaking up
on us so fast. We just had so much weird

(18:14):
weather this summer. It seems like, you know, we only
really had half a summer. So again we'll be musclinge
fishing up in Hayward, Wisconsin, which is a great time.

Speaker 3 (18:27):
It's kind of my normal, my.

Speaker 2 (18:30):
Annual relief stress relief get away before medicare season.

Speaker 3 (18:36):
But again we will have all of.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
The information for you for you know, anything Medicare wise
that you may want to know, any of the changes
the different programs. I know there's companies coming in, there's
companies pulling out. Got seventy five people who I know
are on a program where that company is leaving, so
we'll be redoing those. That's why it's important to work

(19:01):
with again, an independent agent such as myself, and I'm
not the only one.

Speaker 3 (19:04):
There are plenty in the area.

Speaker 2 (19:06):
I just recommend using an independent because we will have
information on all the programs and kind of help you
do the comparison based on what's important to you. Not
everybody feels like the dental is important. Some people feel
like that dental is the most important. Some people want
the health clubs. Some people want to make sure that
they they do the health lout and they get sober

(19:28):
sneakers because they want to play pickleball at certain places.
I mean, some it's going to be their drugs. They're
expensive the drugs. Others it's going to be whether they can,
you know, use it while they are snowbirding down in
Florida or Arizona. So everybody has different key elements that
they really want in their program, and that's what we're

(19:50):
here to do. Educate you so that you know what's
available out there, how it works, and what's the best.

Speaker 3 (19:57):
Tool for you. You know.

Speaker 2 (19:59):
I have people tell me the time, oh, I heard
Medicare advantage is bad, and no it's not. It's a
tool that you use just like any other tool. If
you use properly and understand it it's going to do
the job effectively. Could there be things that are different
between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Sure, Medicare Advantage is

(20:21):
a managed care program, so they're going to be a
little bit more involved. You might have to get some
pre approvals for certain things. But really, folks, most of
my people don't have issues with any of that. This
year was actually the first year that there are more
Medicare Advantage. More seniors are on Medicare Advantage than are

(20:42):
on Medicare supplements this year, and that's been the trend
for quite a while. We don't see that changing, just
because of the value that you can get out of that.
My wife and I personally, you know, we turned sixty
this year, but a couple of years ago we realized, hey,
you know, we're getting closer and closer to sixty five,
so we switched over to HSA's are now build building

(21:07):
up a an accountful of money as actually you know,
tax free money because we put it in pre tax
that we can use once we do become seniors. That
way we can take full advantage of Medicare advantage. So
if they if we've already got more than the couple

(21:28):
of years where the max out of pocket saved up
in an account waiting for our copes. Then we've created
our own supplement plan and are able to take advantage
of the others all the other goodies like the dental
excuse me, the dental division, the hearing, the over the counter,
the reimbursement products, whatever they've got that they can offer

(21:50):
in that package. So again, if you have any questions
on any of that, please feel free to give me
a call five six Street three five nine to eight
fight four. Obviously Lindsay and Whitney would love to help
you with your home, auto, boat, motorcycle, whatever other needs
that you have for property, casualty insurance. Then we are
independent and we're here to serve you, so give us

(22:12):
a call five six three three five nine eight five four.
Have a great weekend. Talk to you again soon.

Speaker 1 (22:21):
Thank you for listening to this week's edition of Knowledge
is Power with your host Rob Kane. If you have
a question for Rob and would like it answered on
an upcoming show, email him at r Kane at citiesig
dot com. Please tune in again next Saturday morning,