Upper Cumberland Life & Health

09/07/2026

Come see us!

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

Your mailbox Is about to get a letter that really matters - here’s what to do with it:

The 2027 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, with changes effective January 1, 2027. Beneficiaries should be watching for their Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letters, arriving in late September, which spell out changes to premiums, drug formularies, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs for the coming year.

Most people toss their ANOC letter without reading it — and that’s how they end up in a plan that quietly stops covering their pharmacy or their doctor. Walk with me through the three things worth actually checking: has the premium changed, is your specific medication still on the formulary at the same tier, and are your doctors still in-network. Before you assume your plan will renew as-is, let’s do a 15-minute review together!

09/01/2026

Twenty-one hospitals and health systems have dropped Medicare Advantage contracts so far this year. The reasons are consistent: prior authorization denials and slow reimbursement from insurers.

Here’s what that means for you: a plan that covers your hospital in January can lose that hospital by August. If it happens mid-year, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to switch, but only if you know to look for it.

This is exactly why I tell clients to review their plan every year instead of enrolling once and forgetting about it. Not sure if your hospital is still in network on your plan? Message me and I’ll check!

08/30/2026

Fun fact Friday: Medicare’s first cardholder wasn’t just anyone.

When President Johnson signed Medicare into law on July 30, 1965, he did it at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, and handed the very first Medicare card to Truman himself. Card number two went to his wife, Bess.

It was a deliberate move. Truman had pushed for national health insurance for the elderly all the way back in 1945, twenty years before Medicare existed, and Congress shot him down. Johnson wanted him in the room when it finally happened. Truman, then 81, called it “a profound personal experience.”

08/29/2026

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7. If your plan changed its costs, drug list, or network this year, this is your window to switch.

Most people keep the same plan every year because switching feels like a hassle. Then January hits and their pharmacy isn’t in network, or the premium jumped $40 a month.

We sit down with clients one-on-one and walk through their plan so they actually understand what they have and what’s changed. Not a quick call. A real conversation.

If you want that before AEP gets busy, message me or call the office! We’re right here in Cookeville.

08/27/2026

Medicare News!

CMS Administrator Dr. Oz says drug prices dropped 3.1% in July — the fastest drop in 63 years. The reason: 17 drug companies (85% of the market) agreed to charge Americans the same low prices they already charge in other countries. One example: GLP-1 weight-loss drugs went from over $1,000 a month to $50 for eligible Medicare beneficiaries.

That's a real win. But these are deals with individual companies, not one big rule covering everyone — so it's worth watching whether the savings stick around or fade once the spotlight moves on.

08/25/2026

It’s almost that time of year. Come see us at one of our festivals! We love connecting with our community & meeting people’s needs.

See you soon!

08/23/2026

You can be talented, intelligent, well-connected, and full of great ideas, but without follow-through, much of that potential never turns into anything tangible. Follow-through is critical because ideas and intentions don’t create results—completed actions do! If you want to position yourself ahead of 88% of your peers, always follow up & follow-through!

08/21/2026

Upper Cumberland Life & Health is collecting purses for the upcoming 9th Annual Handbags for Hope Auction. The proceeds from the auction benefit The Genesis House (our local domestic & sexual violence shelter). This is a super easy way to make a difference in survivor’s lives!

Please help us make this year’s contribution the best yet by donating your new or gently used purses at the following location:

Upper Cumberland Life & Health
1435 S Jefferson Avenue
Suite D
Cookeville, TN 38506

We appreciate you!!