60+ year old thread.

Happy Anniversary Ken!

Did a little work today at home. Modified a Ring door contact sensor by taking it apart and soldering two 20 awg wires across the magnetic reed switch, drilling a small hole to run the wires through. put it all back together and wired it to my grinder pump high level float switch in the control panel outside. I had already tested it to make sure it would function at tha distance from the base station in the house. In the Ring ap on my phone I set it to send an alert to my phone whenever it goes into alarm. Tested by tilting up the hi level float switch in the grinder pump tank and works beautifully. Later I may add a relay to have it alarm on an open rather than a close contact since that’s what’s needed to show all sensors clear on the main ap page (ring sensors are normally closed and open to alarm), but works well as is to send an alert. A $20 fix for the failed high alarm at the panel.

For medicare I have Parts A &B, and D (a drug plan) as well as a “Medigap” supplemental plan G. The supplemental plan G costs more but covers medical and hospital etc whatever Medicare parts A and B don’t cover and I pay nothing. I prefer the plan G over the typical Medicare advantage (part C) plans that typically leave you paying 30% of the balance Medicare parts A &B don’t cover (going on memory you can review plans to see).
Here’s an overview though it doesn’t discuss Medigap supplemental plans in detail you can google that. If you want it you need to apply for a Medigap plan (G recommended) during your initial Medicare enrollment period to be guaranteed to be accepted for coverage otherwise they can require lots of forms and maybe even a medical to decide whether to accept you.
https://boomerbenefits.com/new-to-m...MI2fyU4eb7-QIVTxZMCh0OVAPCEAAYBCAAEgJRhvD_BwE

 

With regard to insurance, the first thing to consider is that insurance of all kinds is a form of a loan to pay your unexpected expenses. Insurance companies are not playing games, they intend to make a profit on your policy.
As insurance applies to medical costs, Insurers hold the upper hand for both providers and for patients. If you're like me, you prefer the right to choose your own Providers, but with insurance dictating the rules of the game, Providers today are more likely to belong to medical groups, so consider an HMO while shopping for services and insurance, because Medical Groups and HMOs can get an edge on the game with insurance companies.
Gone are the days of having no medical insurance, as you have no leverage whatsoever with Providers, who jack up their charges for Government Payers, Insurance Negotiators, and Tax Write-offs, leaving uninsured individuals as collateral damage.
One factor deliberately not mentioned in the above is that of America being a litigious society. Court cases with enormous awards being responsible for high insurance costs is a red herring. Insurance companies celebrate those awards, which in effect take the heat off them and put the blame on greedy Lawyers and their clients.
As Consumers, we are all vulnerable to unexpected costs of one type or another, making it important that we place ourselves in a position of power against those risks. Self Insuring is still an option for certain risks, but to lessor extent these days. Planning ahead, considering benefits from Employers, Military Service, and Government Programs is important, and the use of Insurance Brokers can also be rewarding. In all cases, an honest evaluation of cost vs benefit can determine a smart course of action. This is, by the way, exactly what insurance companies do when determining your premiums.

 

Many people don’t know this but most large employers and corporations are self insured for health insurance. The company not some health insurance company pays the medical claims. They use a third party administrator like Aetna or Blue Cross and others to administer the plan and pay the claims. In effect the company is the insurance company.
My retirement supplemental health plan is run by and administered by Aetna but the money to pay the health claims comes out of corporate funds.They charge you premiums but the premiums are to off set some of the health care costs and to pay the administrator company.
Corporations that are self insuring do not make a profit from the premiums they charge. They may come close in some cases to offsetting the bulk of the claims paid.

 

I've wondered why communities don't self-insure.

 

Crabs, Maryland style.

 

Boy, I have some catch up to do!

Good Evening & Happy Labor Day Weekend Porch Pals & Gal! Got up kinda' early for the Pistons in the Park up in Pflugerville. Then the Toyota group goes on up to the Round Rock Donut shop in Cedar Park. Here's a mess of Toyota trucks, and some rod pics for your entertainment.



























And Little Big Red & I are grateful and happy for the 1.6" of more rain last night.

 

Good morning fellow Porchatonians!! Happy Anniversary @Sprig Ken!!

 

Good Morning 6

Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations on Retirement!

I find I can't keep up with ya'll any more, but do hope all are well.
Have a Happy Labor Day!

RESPECT

 

Good Morning, Rob!!! Live it large!!

 

Thanks all...appreciate it!!

 

Welcome to the thread Steve. Post up a pics of your Tacoma, or any other vehicle for that matter.

Miffed I was not invited! JK Crabs look great. I will be having crabs next weekend down at my sisters second home in Ocean Pines. Going to aerate and seed her lawn.

Kurt the pics as always are fantastic!

Yesterday turned out great. Going to take a few more cooks to get the new top shelf for the EX6 dialed in. So fsr I am liking it!

Today is a relaxing day. Son is cooking burgers on whatever grill. or flattop, he wants to use.

Pics from yesterday's cook.

 

Good Morning Porch Pals & Gal! Happy Labor Day!

Let's see....
Happy Anniversary @Sprig !
Happy Retirement @Harry2015 !
Welcome @Stelcom66 !

And there was a @MQQSE sighting!

 

Fixed it for ya!

 

Kurt

 

Afternoon all:
That sure do look good Tom!

Hey there MQQSE, how goes it!

 

Well I had 3,500 miles on the taco since its last oil change, but it's been over a year so I changed it. I guess I just call that an annual oil change. Now I'm good for another year, lol. I just dont put that many miles on the truck since I got my ebike, I ride that back and forth to work as much as possible, if it's not raining or gonna rain I'm on it. My taco is still like new, I dig that!

 

114 degrees here today and tomorrow. My home was custom built 8 years ago and I had them insulate it to the max and had them upgrade the A/C unit. I have ceiling fans all over the house running 24/7
Still the A/C runs on and off all day and night. Can’t wait to see my electric bill. May have to find a part time job for wifey. Please no one tell her I said that…..

 

Good Morning all from New Zealand. Tuesday Morning here and just getting over jet lag and settling in.
Congrats to all the new Retirees
Enjoy every minute of retirement you can.
Posting some pictures over in Moose and Stitches Shack thread. Once things get rolling I'll post some here.
Have a safe and happy Labor Day folks.

 

Evening all:

New Zealand , here's what I'd be after if I went there, their rivers are known for big brown trout.