Oh, Ellin, Ellin, Ellin ... and Jamika! I think I *understand*. I so wanted you both with me the past few days as I've tried SO HARD to UNDERSTAND Medicare, Parts A, B, C, D; BC/BS/ United/, formularies, original medicare, Advantage plans, PPO, LMXYZ and whatever other letters could be strung together to make nonsense!!! Jamika, I'm with you, girl! I could barely restrain myself from saying to the 43rd (or so) chirpy Senior Health Insurance Information Program counselor: "But, none a y'all ever say what make sense mean."
chirpy lady: Well, honey, there are two parts: do you want Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage? me: I don't know. That's why I called!! (you and the other 12 girls: an aside) Could you help me understand what the difference is between the two? chirpy lady: Well, dear, the Original Medicare is what was original. And Medicare Advantage is an advantage. Now do you understand. me: No, I don't. Could you please give me an understanding of what would make one choose one or the other? chirpy lady: Well, it would depend on whether you wanted Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Would you like me to send a booklet to you? me: No, I have several books. I've read them all three times (true!) and I don't really understand the advantages of each. What kind of a person would want Original rather than Advantage? chirpy lady: Well, I guess that would be someone who wanted the Original. I have some website links I could send you after I get them from my office assistant. Would that help you? me: Well, let's see. Could you please tell me what characteristics about a person would make them take Medicare Advantage? It would really help me if you could tell me with different words, because I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! chirpy lady: You know, it just occurred to me that a counselor from western Nebraska would be able to help someone like you more. me: Well, let me get my boots and spurs on and I'll ride on over to the office. Of course, it is 250 miles away. chirpy lady: Well, you could come to Grand Island, that part of western Nebraska, would that be closer? me: Well, I think my map would indicate that GI was not even in the western TWO-THIRDS of the state. It would be a 320 mile trip, and that might take me and my steed a few days. chirpy lady: I have an idea!! I could send you a diagram of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Do you think a diagram would help? me: I HAVE DIAGRAMS!!! I need more words. I DON'T UNDERSTAND!! not-so-chirpy lady: SWEETHEART, let's review!! Now, what is it again that the Original Medicare is for? Original Medicare is for people who want original Medicare. Who would want original Medicare? People who want Original Medicare. What People? Yes, people who want Original Medicare. Did that help? me: NO!!!!! I want to know what OM is!! Then I would also be able to figure out Medicare Advantage! very-little-chirpiness lady: (sigh) All right. I'll review that one more time. If you can say it with a 13 % error rate, you'll UNDERSTAND. Okay, get ready. Medicare Advantage plans are wanted by people who want Medicare Advantage Plans. Who would want MA plans? People who want Medicare Advantage. What people? Yes, people who want Medicare Advantage. Now you get it. me: *WHICH PERSON AM I?????????????* And why? very-chirpy-lady: Oh, my goodness, darling, look at the time. We here in eastern Nebraska go to lunch at Central Daylight Time 12:00. It's only 11:00 way out there. You know, Mountain Daylight Time. Do you understand it's not regular Mountain Time? Oh, look at the clock. Let me give you someone to help you that's in your ZONE!! Thanks for asking; I was very happy to help you today. GO HUSKERS!!! Jamika, Jamika, Jamika: Where are you when I need you? I tried to tell them that "none a y'all ever say what make sense" but they just don't get it. Well, I'd better get back to my book. I'm going to outline the *Medicare & You*, and make a glossary. And I think I'll make myself some little flashcards, too, so I can remember the vocabulary. If I still don't get it, I think I'll put it on my IPod so I can listen to it more. I guess I just haven't read it enough. Or, Ellin, could you please just tell me which one to take?? On Thu, Jun 9, 2011 at 10:27 AM, Ellin Keene <ellinke...@earthlink.net>wrote: > At the end of each chapter in Mosaic of Thought, there is a definition for > the strategy described in the chapter. If you email me off the list I'm > happy to send them to you as a single attachment and go into a bit more of > the history/research behind strategy instruction, though the bibliography > in > Mosaic may help you. > Best, > ellin > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
