Piedmont Benefit Concepts, Inc,

05/26/2023

04/17/2023

Article from AARP Bulletin. Sleep is something I struggle with and according to this article, apparently I’m not alone.

08/02/2019

Training for the new Medicare plans for 2020 has begun. You will be hearing from us soon and if you know someone that could benefit from our knowledge and expertise please contact us.
AETNA UNITED HEALTH CARE AARP HUMANA
MUTUAL OF OMAHA COVENTRY

09/10/2018

Fall is the time for Medicare beneficiaries to explore their options regarding traditional Medicare, Part D prescription drug plans and Part C Medicare Advantage plans. Often referred to as "open enrollment," Medicare beneficiaries can return to traditional Medicare from a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. Those who do not have a Part D plan can enroll in one, and those who do have Part D coverage can change plans. Beneficiaries can also enroll in an MA plan, or change MA plans. Enrollment requests made during the AEP will have an effective date of January 1 of the following year.

04/17/2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin sending new Medicare cards that include a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) instead of the HICN that has been used previously in April 2018.
Timeline
April 2018 – April 2019: CMS will mail new Medicare ID cards to Medicare beneficiaries using the MBI.

Member information
Once a member receives the new Medicare ID card with the MBI, they should securely destroy the old Medicare card.
Important! UnitedHealthcare members should continue to use their UnitedHealthcare cards to receive coverage. They should not use the new Medicare card.

03/15/2018

A few facts on Honey:
Honey is mostly made up of water and sugar, If you don’t count the water, it’s 95% to 99% sugar. It’s mostly fructose and glucose, but it also has some probiotic sugars that can help you maintain a healthy mix of bacteria in your gut. And most kinds of honey have vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that help with digestion. It is mostly made up from bee vomit. You may not want to think about this as you squeeze the natural sweetener into your cup of tea. Bees collect all that yummy flower nectar and keep in it a special second stomach only to throw it up and pass it to another bee who does the same thing. Finally, it’s put in an area of the beehive called the honeycomb. The bees flap their wings to cool it, and that makes water evaporate, which helps it thicken. Bees may visit a flower 2 million times. The 60,000 bees in a hive may fly as many as 55,000 miles in search of the right blossoms. The kind of flower determines the color and flavor of the honey. There are more than 300 different kinds in the U.S., like buckwheat, clover, and orange blossom.

03/13/2018

What is Saturated Fats?
It's a type of fat that's typically solid at room temperature, like lard, butter, or coconut oil, and is only good for you in small quantities. Too much can raise your LDL "bad" cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease. That's why you shouldn't get more than 10% of your calories from saturated fat. That's 200 calories in a 2,000-calorie diet, or 22 grams of saturated fat.
Which has more saturated fats- 16oz Cafe Latte or a small bag of french fries?
A 16 oz Cafe Latte has 7.5 grams while the french fries has 3.

01/23/2018

Easy on the Wine, Chocolate & Caffeine:
I found this article in AARP magazine that challenges the popular thinking about their benefits. If you previously heard that red wine, dark chocolate or caffeine might help your brain stay sharp then think again. An independent study sponsored by AARP has looked at the way diet and food choices can effect your brain. If you drink wine, do so in moderation and only with meals. While caffeine found in coffee and tea may contain antioxidants, there are scant reports that support long term positive results on the brain while short term effects of caffeine has been shown to increase alertness. For all you dark chocolate lovers (including me), research shows high consumption of cocoa can cut memory loss, it is cancelled out by the number of calories and sugar you consume. So what to do? You have heard it all your life- a plant based diet rich in green leafy vegetables and berries contributes to better brain health while diets high in red meats, saturated fats, sugar and salt can harm brain health.
To your health.

12/05/2017

2 more days left for Open Enrollment.
If you wish to have your current plan reviewed please contact us.

10/25/2017

1 in 5 North Carolinians will be 65 or older by 2035. To help communities keep pace, AARP North Carolina will launch the Great Race to Age-Friendly in November. It is a friendly challenge for bragging rights as the best place in the state to age . This will challenge communities to improve factors that effect the well-being of older residents like transportation, housing and social participation. Also helps boost property values and economic growth. Watch UNC-TV in late November for highlights.

10/16/2017

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) has started. If you would like a review of your current Advantage Plan, give us a call. Being independent agents we research the best plans for your healthcare needs. Unbiased free consult. 33 years experience.