Tag: Dan Hoelscher

2017 Medicare Numbers Announced

Posted on November 11, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Supplement, News, Social Security

2017 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles Announced

 

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2017 premiums for the Medicare inpatient hospital (Part A) and physician and outpatient hospital services (Part B) programs.

 

For 2017, the Part B premium (for those already on Medicare and having their premium deducted from their social security check) will have an average of $109.00 per month. For those just coming on to Medicare in 2017, the part B premium will be $134.00 per month. The Part B deductible will go up slightly ($183). There are some changes to the numbers which are listed below, but if you have a Medicare supplement policy, it will take care of some, if not all, of these expenses.

 

2016 2017
Part B Premium $104.90 $109.00
Part B Premium for those just enrolling in Part B for the first time in 2017 or those not having their premium deducted from their social security check $121.80 $134.00
Part B Deductible $166 $183
Part A Hospital Deductible $1288 $1316
Part A Hospital Coinsurance Days 61-90 $322/day $329/day
Part A Hospital Coinsurance Lifetime Reserve Days $644/day $658/day
Skilled Nursing Coinsurance Days 21-100 $161/day $164.50/day

 

For more information on the 2017 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles, please contact our office at 937-492-8800, or RSVP here for our next workshop.

 

Warning: Confusing Medicare and Social Security Eligibility Could Cost You Thousands!

Posted on November 9, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning, Social Security

Warning: Confusing Medicare and Social Security Eligibility Could Cost You Thousands!

Medicare and Social Security eligibility used to be the same. The full retirement age was 65, and you could receive full benefits for each program at that time.

 

However, it’s not that simple anymore. The full retirement age (FRA) is evolving. Ever since Ronald Reagan signed the 1983 SSA Amendments, the full retirement age has been creeping up. For people of the baby boomer generation, the FRA is now 66. So—in order to get full Social Security benefits—you now have to wait until age 66 to sign up.

 

But here’s what throws people for a loop: The time to sign up for Medicare is still 65, despite the change for Social Security. Not only will you be rewarded full Medicare benefits at 65, but you will also avoid costly penalties for signing up on time.

 

If you wait until 66 to sign up for Medicare (barring a qualifying reason), it’s already too late. The penalties that you have accrued will likely add up to well over $3000 throughout your lifetime.

 

Don’t believe me? Let’s crunch the numbers together.

 

We’ll Start With The Part B (Medical Insurance) Penalty.

The Part B penalty is an extra 10% added on to your monthly premium for every year you were late. In 2016, the Part B premium for most people is $121.80. So this is an easy calculation: 10% of $121.80 is an extra $12.80 per month.

 

This doesn’t sound too menacing, right? If you look at it in the right light, it’s actually kind of cute.

But don’t get too close. This cute and fuzzy fee will eat away at your lifesavings every month for the rest of your life. According to the SSA’s life expectancy calculator, the average 65 year-old can expect to live another 20 years—give or take a couple years. This comes out to 240 months. S0…take that $12.80 and multiply it by the 240 months of life expectancy, and you’ve got yourself $2,923 in penalties.

Nope…not nearly as cute.

 

But that’s not all.

 

You’ve Also Got the Part D (Drug Plan) Penalty.

Here’s how this one works: for every month that you were late, an extra 1% of the average drug plan cost in the U.S ($34.10 in 2016) is added on to your premium. So if you signed up a year late, you’ve got 12% of $34.10 in penalties. If you had a calculator handy, you will know that this number comes out to $4.09 per month. Again…not very scary. But multiply 4.09 by 240 months like we did previously, and it has grown into a terrifying $982 beast.

 

Adding It All Together

Ready for the grand reveal?

$2,923 Part B Penalty + $982 Part D Penalty = $3905.

Ouch!

 

Sure, it’s a big number. But what makes this number so tragic is not its size. It’s the fact that it was based on one, simple mistake. One mix-up. One aspect of Medicare left unexplored.

 

This is why Seniormark is so committed to educating our clients and the general public about Medicare. According to a Merill Lynch Retirement Survey, Less than 7% of people ages 55-64 feel very knowledgeable about their Medicare options. This is staggering! Knowledge saves retirees money!

 

So do yourself a favor and sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 unless you have a qualifying reason. And while you’re at it, learn as much as you can about your options. Knowledge is valuable. And you never know when a nugget of information will be pure gold, saving you thousands of dollars in mistakes.

 

Want to avoid costly Medicare mistakes and coast into your retirement hassle and penalty- free? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation. Our Medicare experts will walk you through the whole process at not cost to you.

 

Or, sign up for one of our free workshops — held in three convenient locations — Sidney, Troy, and Vandalia, Ohio.  You can sign up for one of them here:  workshop signup.

 

Why You Can Try a Medicare Advantage Plan at No Risk

Posted on November 1, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement

Why You Can Try a Medicare Advantage Plan at No Risk

Infomercials have done it for years. When people feel uneasy about trying a new product, they offer a free trial or a money back guarantee. It provides security for the buyer to know that even if the supposed benefits of a product were oversold or blown out of proportion, he can still send it back. There’s no risk.

 

Well, Medicare offers something very similar. It’s called the “Medicare Advantage Trial Right”.

 

A lot of people are uncomfortable with trying Medicare Advantage because they don’t want to feel trapped in a plan they hate until the next Annual Enrollment Period. The trial period takes this risk away. As long as it will be your first time enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you qualify for Medicare Trial Right! This means that—no matter what time of year it is—you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan with no penalty and enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan. This “free trial” period lasts 12 months from the date the Advantage Plan coverage goes into effect.

 

But as the infomercial cliché puts so obnoxiously…

 

WAIT…There’s More!

Some people believe that if they have pre-existing conditions and get on an Advantage Plan, they will be denied switching back to a Medicare Supplement Policy based on their health. In other words, they think that if they give up their Supplement for an Advantage Plan, they will never get it back. But that’s where the “money back guarantee” part of the deal comes in. Regardless of health, the Medicare Trial Right guarantees that you will be able to get back on a Supplement, no medical underwriting involved.

 

It’s true that Medicare Advantage plans are alluring with their sometimes shockingly low premiums. But they aren’t always the right fit for retirees. They change unpredictably and can be quite a hassle. This is why the Trial Right is so beneficial. It allows you to try a plan on for size, and then toss it back on the rack. To test drive it around the block, and then park it in the lot if it doesn’t meet your standards. And all the while, it guarantees that your old, trusty Medicare Supplement will be there.

 

Want to look into switching to a Medicare Advantage Plan? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation.

 

Other questions about what to do during Medicare Annual Enrollment?  Download our Annual Enrollment Checklist and you can relax when it is complete!

 

 

Don’t “Set It and Forget It” This Annual Enrollment Season!

Posted on October 18, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement

Don’t “Set It and Forget It” This Annual Enrollment Season!

 

Does anyone remember Ron Popeil? If you don’t, allow me to rephrase the question. Does anyone remember the “set it and forget it” infomercial king?

 

I bet it’s ringing a bell now.

 

I, for one, can still see him in his green apron, armed with nothing but some well-seasoned meats and a fancy rotisserie cooker, taking the cheesy and overly scripted infomercial world by storm: “All you have to do is…” The unrealistically enthused audience chants, “SET IT AND FORGET IT!”

 

He was like the Billy Mays of the 70s, but with food instead of cleaning products.

 

But I digress…back to the topic at hand. The reason I retrieved this slogan from memory lane is to make a point: Many people have the “set it and forget it” mindset with their Medicare Health Insurance Plans. They think that once they undergo the process of enrolling in Medicare, enrolling in supplemental coverage or an Advantage plan, and signing up for a drug plan that they never have to change anything again. Happily ever after.

 

But this just isn’t true. Yes, most of the work is done. And you’ve definitely done the minimum to get by. But there’s a good chance your situation will change over time. And, even if your situation doesn’t change, there is a very good chance your health care plans will, oftentimes drastically. This leaves you in an ill-fitting plan that doesn’t meet your needs or your budget. You may need to switch!

 

When it comes to Medicare Annual Enrollment, there is a reason for the season. From October 15—December 7, you have the opportunity to make strategic changes to your health care plans.

 

Here are 3 reasons you might need to make changes this year!

 

1.  The Medicare Supplement Creep

Medicare Supplements are typically consistent from year to year. The benefits are guaranteed to stay the same, and the premiums rarely increase drastically. But the premium cost almost always creeps up, dollar by dollar, slowly but surely.

 

If you stay on that ride for too long, you could end up paying $100+ more a month than you should. In fact, if you have been in the same Medicare Supplement Plan for 4-5 years, there’s a good chance you’re paying too much for it. Shopping around for a better deal this year could save you hundreds…and all without reducing your coverage.

 

REMINDER: You can change your Medicare Supplement any time of year, not just annual enrollment.

 

2.  The Advantage Plan Leap

There are so many aspects of an Advantage Plan that can frog around over time. The deductible may go up. The premium may go down. You might have higher copays. Your coinsurance might drop. And beyond benefits and price, doctors and hospitals may go in and out of your plan’s network. A doctor available to you this year, may not be available the next.

 

This is why it is important to review your plan. Is your family doctor still within the plan’s network? Is it still the best value for you? If you simply set it, forget it and let it skate by another year, you’ll never know.

 

3.  The Drug Plan Drop

A drug plan may vary in cost from year to year, but what you really need to check is the list of medications the policy covers, also known as the formulary.

 

Over the years, a drug plan may discontinue or reduce coverage on certain medications. Imagine if the drug it discontinued was your most expensive one, and you didn’t realize it. Yeah…it could be a financial disaster.

 

Review Your Plan This Year!

So make sure to take control of your health insurance options. Review your plans, and take careful note of all the changes. The “set it and forget it” philosophy might work well for cooking chickens, but it doesn’t work for this.

 

For your health insurance, I offer another slogan: If you set it and forget it, you might regret it.

 

Maybe that will catch on…

 

Yeah…probably not.

 

If you haven’t already downloaded our Annual Enrollment Checklist, there is no time like the present!  Make sure you have completed it — and then you can forget it — until next year this time!  Download it here:  https://seniormark.com/annual-enrollment-period-checklist/.

 

Looking to review your plans with a Certified Senior Advisor? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation.

 

Warning Retirees: 5 (or 6) Annual Enrollment Dates You Don’t Want to Miss

Posted on October 7, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement, News, Retirement Planning, Social Security

Warning Retirees: 5 (or 6) Annual Enrollment Dates You Don’t Want to Miss

Clip these dates up on your fridge. Write them on your calendar. Sticky note them to your bathroom mirror or your spouse’s forehead (or maybe not). Annual enrollment is approaching!

 

But before we get into the dates, you’ll first want to know…

 

What Is Annual Enrollment?

Annual enrollment is the busy time of the year for Insurance agencies such as ours. Department stores have their black Friday. Local ice cream shops have their last day of school. And Insurance companies have the Annual Enrollment Period. During this roughly 3-month time frame (October 15- December 7), all Medicare beneficiaries are free to change their plans. They can switch from:

  • An Advantage Plan to a Medicare Supplement
  • A Medicare Supplement to an Advantage Plan
  • One Advantage Plan to another
  • One Part D Drug Plan to another
  • One Medicare Supplement to another (Although you can do this at any point during the year)

The Annual Enrollment Period is for any existing Medicare beneficiary. For those just turning 65 and joining Medicare, you have a different enrollment period called the Initial Enrollment Period, which is the 7-month time frame that surrounds your 65th birthday month. But for those of you who have already enrolled for the 1st time, this is for you!

 

There are 6 very important dates for you to remember.

  1. October 1

This is the day we get all the plan changes, details, benefits, and prices for the following year. It is also when we can start talking to you about which ones will best fit your needs.

  1. October 15

Let the games begin! Annual enrollment is officially started. You can now enroll in a new plan.

  1. December 7

I hope you like the choices you’ve made because, at this date, you are locked into your plans for another year. Annual enrollment is closed.

  1. January 1

It’s a new year, a new resolution, and—quite possibly—new insurance. This is the date any changes you made during the open enrollment period go into effect.

  1. January 1

I apologize for the unsettling déjà vu. I know this is a repeat, but I want to emphasize why this date is doubly important: It is also the first day of the Advantage Plan disenrollment period. Just in case you’ve got some buyer’s remorse, Medicare set up a disenrollment period where you can get out of your Advantage Plan.

  1. February 14

All good things must come to an end. This is the last day of Medicare’s disenrollment period. If you are in an Advantage Plan and don’t like it, this is your last chance to drop it!

BONUS: February 14th is also Valentine’s Day. You’re welcome.

 

And that’s it! I hope you commit these dates to memory or you write them down somewhere. If you forget it, you might regret it!

 

To be sure you have covered ALL of your bases, be sure to download our AEP Checklist by clicking here.

 

Look to switch plans during open enrollment?  Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation.

6 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Their 2 Medicare Choices

Posted on September 27, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement

6 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Their 2 Medicare Choices

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements. Two feasible choices. Two Medicare buzzwords. One startling misconception. And here it is: Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplements are the same.

 

But this is just not true…not even a little. In fact, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplements are fundamentally different. So different that not knowing these differences could cost you…in convenience, in security, and in dollar signs.

 

So…without further ado…these are the 6 things you need to know about the 2 Medicare choices:

 

  1. Medicare Supplements pay secondary. Medicare Advantage Pays Instead.

The “street name” for a Medicare supplement is a “Medigap” plan, and it is a nickname rightfully earned. Medigap plans are called as such because they “fill in the gaps” of what traditional Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover. Therefore, you will have little to no out-of-pocket expenses. A Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t do this. It functions as an alternative for traditional Medicare. This means that—if the Advantage plan doesn’t cover it—you can be stuck with some pesky deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

 

  1. Medicare Advantage Plans have Networks. Medicare Supplements Don’t.

Medicare Advantage plans contract with specific hospitals and health care providers. And if you don’t go to their pre-picked “network” of providers, your share of the costs may rise. In some cases (especially out of state), the plan may not cover you if you receive care at a hospital outside of their network (except in the case of emergency)! Medicare Supplements allow you to go to any doctor or hospital you want as long as they accept Medicare.

 

  1. Medicare Supplements Don’t Change. Advantage Plans Do.

Since Advantage Plans are funded by government subsidies, their benefits are greatly affected by politics. The more money they can get from the government, the better their benefits and premiums can be. This means that plans will likely change from year to year and you may have to reevaluate, re-shop, and re-enroll in a different plan. Medicare Supplement plans are the opposite. Since the policyholder funds them, the plans are usually consistent from year to year.

 

  1. You Can Always Change to an Advantage Plan. You Can’t Always Change to a Medicare Supplement.

If you are in a Medicare Supplement plan, you can switch to an Advantage plan without any medical health questioning as long as it is during the annual enrollment period. It doesn’t matter if you have pre-existing conditions (with the exception of kidney failure); you will still be able to obtain coverage.

 

However, if you want to switch from an Advantage plan to a Medicare Supplement, it is not as simple. Although you can still enroll during annual enrollment, you will have to qualify based on your health. This can be a problem for those with pre-existing conditions. For instance, let’s say the government curbs their funding for your Advantage Plan. This raises the premium and lessens the benefits significantly. You have cancer. You can’t change to a Medicare Supplement because you couldn’t qualify based on health. What do you do? More than likely, you will have to stay with your unwanted Advantage plan!

 

  1. Medicare Supplement Have Premiums. Advantage Plans Have Low Or No Premiums.

While the average Medicare Supplement premium is up around $100-120 a month for a 65 year-old, the average Advantage plan premium is about 50-60. And (aside from your Part B premium) they may be completely free!

 

  1. Two Choices Can Quickly Become Two Hundred.

You only have two options in the beginning, but once you choose a route—whether Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement—it will likely multiply into many more choices. There are 11 supplements, 24 drug plans, and dozens of Advantage plans. Not to mention the other decisions you have to make regarding when and how to go about signing up for Medicare to avoid penalties. Like I always tell my clients, Medicare is a big animal. I always recommend consulting with a retirement advisor for help.

 

Turning 65 soon and not sure what to do? Click here to sign up for our free Medicare workshop. No high-pressure sales pitches here, just in-depth discussion about the ins and outs of Medicare!

Medicare: It’s as easy as A B C…and D

Posted on September 13, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized

The Jackson Five’s number one hit single in 1970 takes the convoluted topic of love and boils it down to a few letters. Sweet simplicity. “All you gotta do is repeat after me,” Michael sings, “It’s as easy as A B C.”

 

Well, I figured if the Jackson Five can make love easy to understand, the least I can do is attempt the same thing with the complexities of basic Medicare. So here goes nothing. Medicare: it’s as easy as parts A B C…and D.

 

Part A (Inpatient Coverage)

Part A is hospital insurance. A.K.A inpatient care. A.K.A healthcare coverage for any care received while you are officially checked in at a hospital. Beyond that definition, Part A also covers limited home health services, hospice care, and skilled nursing facility care. If you paid into Social Security for more than 40 quarters (10 years), then good news! Part A is provided at no cost to you.

 

Part B (Outpatient Coverage)

Part B is exactly the opposite, covering care received while checked out of a hospital. It covers services such as outpatient surgeries, diagnostic tests, lab tests, x-rays, and a laundry list of preventive services that are covered in full. Unfortunately, Part B does have an associated premium of $121.80 per month (in 2016), a fee which is adjusted for those of higher income (don’t worry…this applies to very few people).

 

Part C (Medicare Advantage)

Part C is a whole different ball game. So pay attention, it could get a bit messy. Although Part C is offered as a Medicare associated program, it actually replaces Medicare Parts A and B as the payer of your claims. As opposed to being offered by Medicare, it is offered by private insurance companies who have contracted with Medicare. It covers everything that Parts A and B covers and may even provide additional benefits such as drug coverage. However, you usually have to pay a separate premium to receive Part C.

 

Part D (Drug Plan)

Part D helps cover the bills for your pills! In other words, it is your prescription drug coverage. Like Part C, it is offered through private insurance companies. And like Part B, the premiums are sometimes (but rarely) adjusted for those of higher income. The cost is difficult to pin down because it varies so drastically from company to company. But—just to give you an idea—the average cost of a Part D drug plan is $34.10 (in 2016).

 

At Seniormark, we believe that the transition to Medicare does not need to be confusing and stressful. We would love talk to you about your options to get you in the right plan for your needs. Medicare may not be as easy as the Jacksons’ suggest, but that does not mean it cannot be made simple with the help of our trusted experts. So sit down and relax! Let us spell it out for you.
Not sure what to do next? To get you started, download our free guide, “Introduction to Medicare”. 

 

Call Seniormark today at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation!

Do you “wonder” who is turning 65? Read below to find out!

Posted on July 25, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning

Lynda-Carter

July 12—Cheryl Ladd

Cheryl_Ladd The actress, singer and author is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the ABC television series Charlie’s Angels, replacing Farrah-Fawcett Majors. The popular 1976 to 1981 series followed the adventures of three women working in a private detective agency in Los Angeles. Born in South Dakota, Ladd initially came to Hollywood in 1970 to begin a career in music as a singing voice on Hanna-Barbera’s Josie and the Pussycats animated series. She soon began to land non-singing roles in commercials and episodic television, including guest appearances on shows such as The Rookies, The Partridge Family and Happy Days. The Charlie’s Angels series made her an overnight star, and Ladd guest-starred in musical-comedy variety series and specials, plus she released three albums, including a Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 single and a Gold record. In 2000, Ladd starred on Broadway in a revival of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun.

Following Charlie’s Angels, Ladd starred in more than 30 made-for-television films, including as Grace Kelly and in Purple Hearts, Millennium and Poison Ivy. Ladd had the lead role in the television series One West Waikiki (1994–96), and made guest appearances in other TV shows. She’s published two books: the children’s book The Adventures of Little Nettie Windship (1996) and Token Chick: A Woman’s Guide to Golfing With the Boys (2005).

July 24—Lynda Carter

Lynda-CarterThe actress, singer, songwriter and beauty pageant titleholder starred in the TV series Wonder Woman from 1975 to 1979. In 1978, Carter was voted “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World” by the International Academy of Beauty and the British Press Organization. Carter started out by winning a local Arizona beauty contest and gained national attention in the United States by winning Miss World USA, representing Arizona. After taking acting classes at several New York acting schools, she made her first acting appearance on the 1974 police drama Nakia. She then began making appearances on such TV shows as Starsky and Hutch and Cos, and in several “B” movies.

Carter’s acting career took off when she landed the starring role on Wonder Woman as the title character and her secret identity, Diana Prince. Carter’s earnest performance endeared her to fans and critics, such that Carter continues to be closely identified with Wonder Woman. Credits since then include the title role in Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess (1983) and a variety of her own musical TV specials, including Lynda Carter’s Special (1980) and Body and Soul (1984). Throughout the 1990s, Carter appeared in a string of television movies. In 2001, she was cast in the independent comedy feature Super Troopers as Vermont Governor Jessma, and played a washed-up, former beauty queen in The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park (2004). Carter made her first appearance in a major feature film in numerous years in the big-screen remake of The Dukes of Hazzard (2005).

In 2005, Carter played “Mama Morton” in the West End London production of Chicago. In 2007, Carter toured the U.S. with her one-woman musical cabaret show, An Evening with Lynda Carter. In June 2009, her second album, At Last, was released and reached No. 10 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums Chart. In June 2011, she released her third album, Crazy Little Things, Carter is married to Washington, D.C, attorney Robert A. Altman, and they have two children. They live in Potomac, Md.

Source: Wikipedia

Look who’s Turning 65! (You might be surprised!)

Posted on April 13, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning

Look Who’s Turning 65

April 6—Bert Blyleven

Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/35602564@N00/5513027855/ ES

Born in the Netherlands, Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1970 to 1992 and was best known for his curveball. In 2011, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Blyleven was drafted straight out of high school by the Minnesota Twins in 1969, and at age 19 in 1970, was called up to the Majors after only 21 minor league starts. In his first season, his sharp curveball helped him to 10 victories, and he was named American League (AL) Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. In 1973, he pitched the most shutouts of any AL pitcher, with 9.

In 1976, Blyleven was traded to the Texas Rangers, and his 2.74 career earned run average (ERA) with the Rangers remains the best in team history. After he gave the finger to a television camera, Blyleven was traded in 1977 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, with which he led the team in ERA, strikeouts and complete games in 1978 and helped them to a World Series victory in 1979. In 1980, Blyleven was traded to the Cleveland Indians but sat out most of the 1982 and 1983 seasons. He came back in 1984 with one of his best seasons: a 19–7 record with a 2.87 ERA. In 1985, he again led the AL in shutouts with 5 and pitched 293 ⅔ innings and completed 24 games, a feat never repeated. However, Blyleven forced a trade back to the Twins, where he passed the 3,000-strikeout mark and helped the Twins to a 1987 World Series victory.

Blyleven’s first two full seasons back with the Twins also produced major league records for home runs allowed in a single season (50) and in back-to-back seasons (96). He never surrendered more than 24 home runs in any year before and after the 1986–87 campaigns, averaging 21 allowed per season over the course of his career. In 1989, Blyleven went to the California Angels and pitched a 2.73 ERA for a 17–5 record in his first season, and led the league for his third and final time in shutouts (5). He retired following the 1992 season with a career 287–250 record, with 3,701 strikeouts (only 16 other pitchers have at least 3,000 career strikeouts) and a 3.31 ERA. In 1996, Blyleven became a color commentator for the Twins.

April 7—Janis Ian

source https://www.flickr.com/photos/dubpics/71293417/in/photostream/

An American singer-songwriter who was mostly active in the 1960s and 1970s, Ian’s most successful songs were “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen.” At the age of 13, she wrote and sang her first hit single, “Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking),” about an interracial romance forbidden by a girl’s mother and frowned upon by her peers and teachers. After it became a national hit in the summer of 1967, some radio stations banned it from their playlists, and Ian received hate mail and death threats. In 2001, “Society’s Child” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. “At Seventeen,” a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty, was released in 1975 and was a major hit, receiving acclaim from critics and record buyers alike, and winning the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance – Female. The album, Between the Lines, was also a smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Album chart and was quickly certified Gold and later earned a Platinum certification for over one million copies sold in the U.S.

In 1979, “Fly Too High” earned Ian a Grammy nomination and became a hit single in many countries, including South Africa, Belgium, Australia, Israel and the Netherlands. Ian’s album Aftertones topped Oricon’s album chart in October 1976. After “At Seventeen,” she reached the pop charts only once more with “Under the Covers” at No. 71 in 1981. However, Ian continued to write songs from 1982 to 1992, which have been covered by, among others, Amy Grant, Bette Midler and Marti Jones. She released Breaking Silence in 1993, about coming out as a lesbian, and Folk Is the New Black, in 2006, her first album in more than two decades.

Ian’s short stories have been published in science fiction anthologies. In 2008, she released her autobiography Society’s Child to critical acclaim. An accompanying double CD, The Autobiography Collection, has been released with many of Ian’s best loved songs. In December 2015, Ian appeared in the series finale of HBO comedy series Getting On, playing a patient who refused to stop singing.

April 10—Steven Seagal

Author=Gage Skidmore

A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, actor Seagal began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked as a martial arts instructor on the movie Never Say Never Again, accidentally breaking actor Sean Connery’s wrist during production. In 1988, Seagal made his acting debut in Above the Law, which was followed by four successful films. He achieved further fame in 1992, when he played Navy SEALs counter-terrorist expert Casey Ryback in Under Siege. During the latter half of the 1990s, Seagal starred in three more theatrical films and the direct-to-video film The Patriot.

Since that time, his career has shifted almost entirely to direct-to-video productions (released to the public on video instead of to movie theaters)—a total of 27 from 1998 to 2014. At the age of 58, he starred in his first widely released film since 2002, the 2010 film Machete. Between 2009 and 2013, he filmed three seasons of his reality show Steven Seagal: Lawman, which depicted him as a reserve deputy sheriff in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana (season 1–2) and Maricopa County, Arizona (season 3). He also created and starred in two seasons of the undercover police drama series True Justice between 2011 and 2012.

As an accomplished guitarist, Seagal released two studio albums (Songs from the Crystal Cave and Mojo Priest) and performed on numerous film scores. As a businessman, Seagal is estimated to be worth anywhere from $5 million to $16 million (as of 2015). Steven Seagal Enterprises markets his own energy drink, Lightning Bolt, and represents the Russian firearms manufacturer ORSIS. He is a supporter of both the 14th Dalai Lama and Vladimir Putin, calling Putin “one of the great living world leaders.”

April 21—Tony Danza

Author=Larry D. Moore

Born Antonio Salvatore Iadanza, the Italian-American actor is best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who’s the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards. A professional boxer, Danza got his start on Taxi after a producer discovered him at a boxing gymnasium in New York. On Taxi, he played a cab driver and part-time boxer on the award-winning comedy that aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC. From 1984 to 1992, he starred in ABC’s popular comedy Who’s the Boss?, in which he portrayed retired baseball player, housekeeper and single father Tony Micelli.

Danza also starred in the short-lived sitcoms Hudson Street (1995) and The Tony Danza Show (1997), for which he won the 1998 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for a guest-starring role in the 1998 TV series The Practice. He made his movie debut in the comedy The Hollywood Knights (1980), which was followed by Going Ape! (1981). Danza received critical acclaim for his performance in the 1999 Broadway revival of the Eugene O’Neill play The Iceman Cometh.

Danza hosted his own TV talk show, The Tony Danza Show, which ended in May 2006. He starred on Broadway as Max Bialystock in The Producers in 2006-2007. In 2010, he had his own reality show Teach: Tony Danza (on A&E), in which he co-instructed a 10th grade English class in Philadelphia. The book I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High, was released in 2012 and was based on his year of teaching.

April 27—Ace Frehley

source: http://flickr.com/photo/43547797@N00/257190364 using Flickr upload bot

Best known as the former lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Kiss, Frehley adopted the persona of the “Spaceman” or “Space Ace” and played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982. After leaving Kiss, Frehley embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour. His second tenure with Kiss lasted until 2002, when he left at the conclusion of what was originally purported to be the band’s Farewell Tour. His most recent solo album, Space Invader, was released in 2014.

Guitar World magazine ranked him as the 14th greatest metal guitarist of all time. His solos often incorporate the minor pentatonic scale and the usage of vibratos. Outside of Kiss, Frehley has continued to be commercially successful, with his first solo album going platinum. He is also known for the use of many “whimsical” guitars, including a Gibson Les Paul guitar that emits smoke from the neck humbucker pickup and produces spinning pyrotechnics, and a custom Les Paul that emits light based on song tempo.

Source: Wikipedia

 

Happy birthday to these celeb favorites!

Posted on January 19, 2016 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning

Look Who’s Turning 65…

Crystal Gayle   January 9 — Crystal Gayle, an award-winning country music singer, is best known for her 1977 country-pop crossover hit song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” During the 1970s and 1980s she accumulated 20 No. 1 country hits with six albums certified gold. Gayle became the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album We Must Believe in Magic. Also famous for her nearly floor-length hair, she was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine in 1983. She is the younger sister of singer Loretta Lynn, who once told her, “You record what I couldn’t record—you do MOR,” middle of the road, “and that was the best advice I could get. I don’t think I ever would have made it if I went down the road and did the music my sister did. I would only have been compared to her.”

Gayle had her greatest success from 1977 to 1989 when she did music considered crossover. Her hits included “When I Dream,” “Talking in Your Sleep,” “Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For,” “Half the Way,” “It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye,” “You and I” (a duet with Eddie Rabbitt), “The Sound of Goodbye,” “Turning Away,” “Makin’ Up For Lost Time,” “Cry” and “Another World.” Gayle continues to perform and tour.

KirstieAlleyJanuary 12 — Kirstie Alley, an American actress and comedian, is best known for her role in the TV series Cheers, in which she played Rebecca Howe from 1987 to 1993, winning an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award as the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1991. She is also known for her role in the thriller Shoot to Kill and the Look Who’s Talking film series as Mollie Ubriacco. More recently, Alley has appeared in reality shows revolving around her life.

Alley made her movie debut in 1982 in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, playing the Vulcan Starfleet officer Lieutenant Saavik. In 1987, she joined the cast of Cheers, replacing Shelley Long and remaining on the show until its eleventh and final season. In 1989, Alley starred with John Travolta in Look Who’s Talking, which grossed over $295,000,000 worldwide. They went on to make two other films centered on the same theme, Look Who’s Talking Too and Look Who’s Talking Now! In recent years, Alley’s weight gain and loss has received much public attention. In September 2012, she appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, where she said she spent her whole life eating obsessively. She has been a member of the Church of Scientology since 1979.

Eric HolderJanuary 21 – Eric Holder, Jr. was the 82nd attorney general of the United States from 2009 to 2015. Serving in the administration of President Barack Obama, Holder is the first African American to hold the position of U.S. attorney general. Previously, he served as a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, after being appointed in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed him United States attorney for the District of Columbia, the first black American in that office, and in 1997, nominated him the deputy attorney general under Janet Reno. While U.S. attorney, Holder prosecuted Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (D–Illinois) for corruption charges related to his role in the congressional post office scandal.

During Obama’s presidential campaign Holder was his senior legal adviser and one of three members of Obama’s vice-presidential selection committee. During the Fast and Furious investigation (involving guns and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), he became the only cabinet member in U.S. history to be held in contempt of Congress. From 2001 until he became attorney general, Holder worked as an attorney at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., representing clients such as Merck and the National Football League. After he resigned as attorney general in 2014, he returned to Covington & Burling. The law firm’s clients have included many of the large banks Holder declined to prosecute for their alleged role in the financial crisis.

Phil CollinsJanuary 30 — Phil Collins is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, actor and author. He gained fame as both the drummer and lead singer for the rock band Genesis, as well as worldwide success as a solo artist. Collins sang the lead vocals on dozens of hit albums and singles in the U.K. and the U.S. between 1976 and 2010, either solo or with Genesis. He is among the best-selling music artists of all time, with 33.5 million albums sold in the U.S. and an estimated 150 million worldwide. He is one of three recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) who has sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and (separately) as principal members of a band. AllMusic describes Collins as “one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the ’80s and beyond.”

Collins joined Genesis in 1970 as the group’s drummer and became its lead singer in 1975 following Peter Gabriel’s departure. In 1981, Collins launched a solo career. His best-selling singles include “In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” “Sussudio” and “Another Day in Paradise.” His music has earned him seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Disney Legend Award. Totaling his work with Genesis, other artists and his solo career, Collins had more U.S. Top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s. In 2008, Collins was ranked the 22nd most successful artist on the “Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists.”

Source: Wikipedia