Griffith Client Got a Bill

WOODROW WILCOX

On February 14, 2023, I got a bill from a client in Griffith, Indiana. The client got the bill from a local hospital. The client bought a Plan F Medicare supplement insurance policy through our insurance agency. That is the best policy that can be bought. It pays on any bill that Medicare approves.

The client wanted to know why he was getting a bill since he bought the best policy possible. I investigated. With some editing to protect our client’s privacy, here is the letter that I sent to the hospital that billed him.

Dear Diane Burnell and staff,

Our client sent to our firm a bill from your firm for our review. The bill seeks a balance of $72 on Account Number XXXXXX for services rendered on 08/26/2022.

I phoned the secondary insurer to learn what it knew of this bill. It said that the Medicare EOB that they received said that Medicare denied this claim because it was filed as a routine preventative exam at the same time that another routine preventative exam was filed. That sounds like your firm may have accidentally filed the same claim twice. On your bill to our client, there is a credit of some payment. Why would Medicare pay anything on a claim that it denied because it was filed twice?

I requested that Medicare send an MSN to our client. When he gets that, he will bring it to me so that we can compare it with your bill to him.

Our client is not ignoring the bill. Please, check the work of your employees. If a mistake was made, please correct it and tell the patient what you did. Thank you.

All the help that I am giving this client is FREE OF CHARGE. The Medicare system is NOT perfect. When there might be a mistake that would cost our client some money, we help to review the matter without charge. It is a way for us to show our clients that we really care for them.

Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville, Indiana. He has saved clients of that firm over three million dollars by correcting billing errors. Also, Wilcox wrote the book SOLVING MEDICARE PROBLEM$ which is available through book stores or online.

Real Estate Specialists Real Estate Questions & Answers

CATHY

& JIM HIGGINS

Question: Do you see the real estate market collapsing like it did in 2008? So many people we knew lost their homes.

Answer: Although no one can predict the future, we don’t see this happening, nor does the National Association of Realtors chief Economist, Lawrence Yun. There are several key indicators of how this market differs.

For one, In the last major housing downturn, there were 8 million job losses in a single year. Now there are virtually none. Though layoffs in the technology and mortgage industries are occurring, they haven’t accumulated enough to form a net job loss, Yun noted. A strong job market bodes well for housing’s future.

The subprime loans that were prevalent during the 2008 housing bust are basically nonexistent today.

Home inventory is less than half of what it was then. This means more of a demand for homes.

About 10% of all mortgage borrowers were delinquent on their loans in the previous housing bust. The mortgage delinquency rate is now at 3.6%, holding at historical lows. Homes in foreclosure reached a rate of 4.6% during the last housing crash as homeowners who saw their property values plunge walked away from their loans. Today, the percentage of homes in foreclosure is 0.6%—also at historical lows, Yun said. He predicted foreclosures to remain at historical lows in 2023.

Overall, the fundamentals don’t point to a housing market that is operating similarly to the 2008 cycle, Yun said. While home sales are slowing, prices remain good. Also, inventory remains low, which will keep home prices elevated, Yun said. “The chance of a price crash is very small due to the lack of supply.”

We feel Real estate is still a very good long term investment. The economy has its ups and downs, investments have their highs and lows. Hopefully, inflation will come down, making housing more affordable to everyone!

E-mail us your Real Estate questions at Cathyah@aol.com. Thinking of selling your home? Call Cathy & Jim Higgins, Licensed Broker/Realtors in Indiana & Illinois. IN: 219-865-4361 IL: 708-828-3304. McColly Real Estate. Website: www.Cathyhiggins. com. Personal Real Estate Journal: www. Higginshousechat.blogspot.com

Bonaguro

A Funeral Mass for Armando “Lefty” Bonaguro was held on March 6th at St Francis Assisi Church with Rev. Art Sowa officiating. Mr. Bonaguro was born December 14, 1928 and died March 2, 2023. He was the husband of Frances; father of Dr. Ronald (Dr. Sheila) Bonaguro. grandpa of Dr. Anne Marie, Patricia, James, Mary Therese and Michael Bonaguro; brother of Armida (late Andrew) Galvan; brother in-law of Isabelle Nocera; uncle and friend of many. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Thornridge Funeral Home(Janusz Family Funeral Service). 708-460-2300 or thornridgefuneralhomes. com

Kowalski

Annette L. Kowalski, nee Rzyski, age 95, of South Holland, IL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Ereal Kowalski. Loving mother of the late Wayne Rolek. Proud grandmother of Lisa (Javier) Gauna and Michelle (George) Nikitaras; greatgrandmother of Jacque Nikitaras, Aidan Carter, Noah Nikitaras, Gianna Nikitaras, Javier Gauna Jr., and Jillian Gauna; greatgreat grandmother of Javier “Tre” Gauna III. Dear sister of the late Harry, late Esther, late Millie, late Daniel, and late Steven “Buddy”. Kind aunt of Kathy Padgett and her family, and several other nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents Steven and Sophie Rzyski. A private family graveside service will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Holy Cross Cemetery – Calumet City, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). Arrangements entrusted to Smits Funeral Home – South Holland, IL. For further information, please contact 708-333-7000 or visit our online obituary and guest book at www.SMITSFH.com

Schaap

Luke A. Schaap, age 91, of Homer Glen, IL, formerly of Lansing and South Holland, passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Beloved husband for 54 years of the late Pauline Schaap, nee Klompien. Loving father of Paul (Lori) Schaap, Ruth (David) Dykstra, Jean (Rodney) Korthals, and Mary (Brent) Yurschak. Devoted grandfather of Benjamin Schaap, Hannah (Colin) Middel, Matthew Schaap and Jonathan (Nadine) Schaap, Mark Dykstra, Sarah (Aaron) Hooyer, Scott and Brian Korthals, Nathaniel, Rebekah, and Ella Yurschak; great-grandfather of Abigail, Tyler, and Caleb Middel. Dear brother of Richard (late Marcia) Schaap and the late Marjorie (late John “Joe”) Verbeek. Uncle of many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents Dick and Esther Schaap. Luke was a Research Chemist for Amoco Oil Company for 35 years. He lived a life of humble service to his Savior, his church, his family, and Kingdom causes. The flourishing of Trinity Christian College was near to his heart and he served there as board member, volunteer, and even parttime instructor. He and Pauline also promoted the Luke Society, preserved the local history of South Holland, did extensive gardening and traveling, and were dedicated grandparents. Luke loved the Word of God and later in life joined the Gideons and was a mentor for Crossroads Prison Ministries.

Visitation Friday, March 3, 2023 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Smits, DeYoung-Vroegh Funeral Home 649 E. 162nd St. (Rt. 6 / 159th St.) South Holland, IL. Funeral service Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Cottage Grove Christian Reformed Church, 16556 Cottage Grove Ave. South Holland, IL. Interment will be held prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery –Lansing, IL. Memorials may be given to The Luke Society (www.lukesociety.org) or Crossroads Prison Ministries (www.cpministries.org). For further information, please contact 708-333-7000 or visit our online obituary and www.SMITSFH.com.

Butler

Gregory C. Butler, age 73, of Beecher, IL passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Beloved husband of Margaret “Peggy” Butler, née Lemaster. Loving father of Lacey Butler and her husband Ryan McNeil, Marta Butler, Kyle Butler and his wife Raija McIntyre. Devoted son of Eva Joe Butler Allison and the late Louis Butler and step-son of the late Curtis Allison. Dear brother of Floyd, LaKelver, Linda, Les, Mary Beth, Lonnie, Ginger, David, Hannah, Joan, and the late Gwen. Cherished uncle to many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and a friend to many who became like family to him. Greg’s life is summed up in his love for his family, living his life to the fullest, and of course…golf. One of Greg’s favorite sayings was “Circle the Wagons” when referring to how family comes together in both happy and difficult times. He loved Peggy as his wife and partner and was the epitome of a father. His own father died when he was very young and because of that Greg dedicated himself to being the best father he could be. He was always caring and providing advice to his children. He was a life coach and mentor, always inspiring and thinking of others. “His people were his people.” He loved to laugh and tell stories and was often the center of attention in the room. However, he would also effortlessly give others the spotlight as he listened intently and passionately to their stories, hopes and dreams. He loved reading and learning and was a lover of cars and all types of music. All who knew Greg knew his passion for the game of golf, he practiced often at the driving range and he always had a golf club in his hand (even sometimes in the bed with him!). He taught hundreds of people how to play the game and gave away free sets of clubs to anyone who showed an interest in picking up the game. Greg served his country in the United States Army. A memorial service to celebrate Greg’s life will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1800 S Governor St, Evansville, IN 47713. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in memory of Greg, may be given to The Pinkney Foundation (https://www. thepinkneyfoundation. org/aatq) or Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (https://nhschicago. org/donate) For further information please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online guestbook and obituary at www.SMITSFH. com.