Newsletter - Columbia River Insurance Services

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of gifts to give your friends and loved ones. Finding unique gifts can present a challenge, and most people never consider giving pet-related gifts. Since the chances are good that more than one person on your holiday gift list has a pet that he or she adores, why not give a distinctive gift that your recipient will treasure? Here are five great gift ideas to get you started:

Fine Art Animal Prints
Dogs may come in many shapes and sizes, but each has a personality all its own. One of the most delightful gifts you can give to a pet lover is a fine art print of his or her breed. One of the most notable artists offering fine art animal prints is Lorena Pugh. Her print, “Princess,” for example, depicts a white toy poodle laying atop a stack of twelve colorful pillows, while “Angel Face” showcases a gorgeous pug who has just snagged a cluster of grapes off of a dining room table.

Crystal Animal Statues
Whether your gift recipient has a dog, cat, horse, or rabbit, he or she is sure to enjoy an elegant crystal animal statue. Typically made from 24 percent lead crystal, hand-finished animal statues are beautiful yet whimsical. Crystal animal statues can depict a wide variety of pets, from a sitting cat to a dog with a bone; from a turtle to a frog; from a horse to a mouse; and from a duck to a dove.

Stone Animal Statues
Who wouldn’t love a playful stone animal statue depicting their beloved pet? Animal garden statues are perfect gifts, as are stone animal statues for the home and office. While some statues – like a sleeping spaniel puppy or an eager dachshund – make you feel warm inside, others – like a cat holding a pair of binoculars up to his eyes, ever watchful for a bird – make you chuckle. Stone animal statues are available for virtually any type of pet, and are certain to be cherished.

Animal Posters
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know how funny they can be. Animal posters depict pets in a variety of outlandish situations (remember the cat in “Hang in There”?), and are eminently affordable. An animal poster is sure to bring a smile to your recipient’s face.

All of us at Columbia River Insurance Services would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
 

A healthy body is a happy body, and there’s no better way to preserve your health and your family’s health than with a health insurance policy from Columbia River Insurance Services.

Let’s face it, medical treatments aren’t cheap. Without health insurance coverage you could end up paying off medical bills for the rest of your life. Columbia River Insurance Services can help you find an affordable healthcare plan that’s right for you. Contact one of our friendly agents today to learn more.

What are Health Insurance Exchanges?

Exchanges (also called "marketplaces") are online markets where consumers and small businesses can go to shop for health insurance. On these sites, they can compare the available plans and then purchase online. In many cases, consumers shopping on a public exchange may be eligible for subsidies to help make health insurance more affordable,.

In addition to the plans explained above, you may have other Medicare health plan choices available to you. To be eligible for these other health plan choices, you must:

• Have both Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance).
• Continue to pay the monthly Part B premium.
• Live in the plan's service area (the counties in which the plan is offered).
• Not have permanent kidney failure (End-Stage Renal Disease).

The following types of plans may be options for you:

Medicare Managed Care Plans

You may choose to get your Medicare coverage through a managed care plan. Medicare Managed Care Plans may include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), HMOs with a Point-of-Service option (POS), Provider Sponsored Organizations (PSOs), and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). These types of plans involve a specific group of doctors, hospitals and other providers who provide your care as a member of the plan.

Medicare Managed Care Plans

provide all services covered by both Part A and Part B. Most offer a variety of additional benefits, like preventive care, prescription drugs, dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses and other items not covered by the Original Medicare Plan. Costs for these extra benefits vary among plans.

Other Choices

Let the Columbia River Insurance Services, help you understand and protect all of the risks you run and all of the perils your business faces. We will do this with a well thought out and executed business insurance policy designed just for our Medicare Insurance policy holders.

In addition to the Original Medicare Plan and Medicare Managed Care Plans, other Medicare health plan choices may be available in your area. These include Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans, and Religious Fraternal Benefit Plans. These plans provide all services covered by both Part A and Part B. Some offer a variety of additional benefits.

For information about which ones are available in your area, look on the Internet at www.medicare.gov.

Now that it is fall it is time to plan out your year regarding Medicare services. Here are a few things to remember and act on.

1. Do you have the right drug plan? If not you can make changes before the next enrollment period. Any time during the year you can change Medicare Advantage Plan including Medicare Drug Plans that has a 5-star rating.
2. Plan your deductible. Make sure you pan out your Medicare deductible if you have Medicare Part B or are in Original Medicare.
3. Make preventative care appointments. Medicare covers many different preventative care screenings. Ask you medical provider to schedule your wellness visit.
4. Is your doctor using Electronic Health Records?Using Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and electronic prescribing can help reduce paperwork, medical errors, and health care costs

 

Up-to-date information about Medicare is available on the Internet at the web site http://www.medicare.gov. If you don't have a computer, your local public library or senior center may be able to help you find this information.
Let the Columbia River Insurance Services, help you understand and protect all of the risks you run and all of the perils your business faces. We will do this with a well thought out and executed business insurance policy designed just for our Medicare Insurance policy holders.

If you have questions about how to enroll in Medicare, call Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, any business day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The lines are busiest early in the week and early in the month, so it is best to call at other times. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call a toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on business days. When you call, have your Social Security number handy.