Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs
Jay Looft Owner/Agent
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The tale of two paths
different paths.
Build up your Medicare insurance knowledge.
Path 1: Traditional Medicare + Medicare Supplement + Drug Plan
Path 2: Medicare Advantage (with built-in Drug Plan)
It’s important to become educated on the two different paths for your Medicare insurance coverage. I see so many people go with a plan because someone tells them their plan is the “best” or simply because a family member went with XYZ company.
This will very likely lead to disappointment and frustration, because there was not a full understanding of both paths.
Every client I sit down with, whether over the phone or in-person, will receive a review of how BOTH paths will play out.
If you know what to expect when you use your Medicare insurance, it brings a level of clarity and confidence to your ultimate plan decision.
I speak to so many Medicare consumers who are confused about their coverage options. What doesn’t help is that Medicare Insurance Call Centers are calling millions of Medicare consumers, trying to sell them a new Medicare plan. Many times a “Full Review”, like the one I referenced earlier, is not taking place. Instead it’s the “quick sale” without explaining the ins and outs of these two
A great place to start building a strong foundation of Medicare insurance knowledge is on our website at SeniorSourceMedicare.com. Here, we give a complete breakdown of what to expect with each of the paths.
Having enrolled thousands of clients over the last 17 years, I’ve seen satisfied clients, with both of these paths.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to your Medicare insurance. Medicare Supplements costs more per month than Medicare Advantage, yet Medicare Advantage comes with copays and could get costly as you use the coverage. Consider your healthcare needs, what you are willing to pay on a monthly basis, and most importantly what your expectations are from your Medicare insurance plan when you do need medical services.
Time should be spent studying these two paths and working with your insurance broker on getting answers to your questions and understanding the coverage differences.
If you’d like personalized help understanding your Medicare insurance options, reach out to us by calling (770) 913-6464 or send a message on our website at SeniorSourceMedicare.com/ contact-seniorsource.
Solutions
Icotyde and the advent of oral peptide medication
protein-based drugs if you try to swallow them—they are broken down before they can work.
We are in a golden age of medicine. The last few decades have brought one breakthrough after another, and we may now be seeing another important step forward in psoriasis—a step that could hint at a broader shift in how medicines are designed.
To understand how far we’ve come, it helps to look back. Not that long ago, patients with psoriasis sometimes spent weeks in the hospital undergoing tar baths and other crude treatments just to get partial relief from this itchy and often debilitating disease. In severe cases, psoriasis could progress to erythroderma—a widespread, inflamed, scaly rash that could even be life-threatening due to problems with temperature and fluid regulation.
Things began to improve in 1972 with the approval of methotrexate for psoriasis. Methotrexate is reasonably effective but comes with risks like liver toxicity. Over time, light therapies and topical treatments helped, though they were often cumbersome. Starting in the early 2000s, biologic medications such as Humira, Enbrel, and later Skyrizi dramatically improved outcomes. These drugs are remarkably effective and generally well tolerated, but they are large protein molecules and must be given by injection or infusion.
Oral options followed. Otezla (2014) offered a safer alternative to methotrexate, though it is typically less effective than the best biologics and can cause GI and headache side effects. Another oral medicine, Sotyktu (2022), improved on some of those issues, but Sotyktu still doesn’t quite match the best biologics in efficacy.
That brings us to Icotyde, a newly approved oral medication targeting IL-23, a key driver of inflammation in psoriasis. In head-to-head trials versus Sotyktu, it has shown greater efficacy, with low rates of side effects. Early data suggest it may approach biologic-level effectiveness in a pill form—a long-sought goal in psoriasis treatment.
What makes Icotyde especially interesting is how it was designed.
The challenge with biologics is simple: they are proteins, and our digestive system is built to break proteins down. When you eat chicken, or take a collagen supplement, stomach acid and digestive enzymes reduce those proteins into amino acids and small peptides, which the body then reuses as building blocks. The same thing happens to most
For a long time, making an effective oral peptide drug was considered extremely difficult. Icotyde represents a different approach. It is a small peptide—just 13 amino acids—but carefully engineered to resist breakdown long enough to be absorbed.
One key feature is that it is cyclic. Most peptides are linear chains with exposed ends, which enzymes can easily attack. Icotyde is chemically “closed” into a loop, which makes it much harder for many enzymes to degrade it. It also contains structural features—such as steric bulk (imagine big lumps of atoms) and internal “bridges”—that further protect vulnerable bonds and resist digestion.
Its chemical properties are also balanced so it can function in the gut. It can dissolve in the watery environment of the digestive tract while still interacting with lipid membranes, allowing some of the drug to cross the intestinal barrier. This doesn’t mean it completely avoids digestion—some of it is still broken down—but enough survives and is absorbed to have a therapeutic effect.
Another important point is potency. Icotyde binds very effectively to the IL-23 receptor. Because of this, even a relatively small amount reaching the bloodstream can be enough to produce meaningful clinical benefit.
Working in concert, these design elements make Icotyde succeed where other peptides couldn’t. Icotyde is not “immune” to digestion, but it is engineered to resist it, survive long enough, and be absorbed in sufficient quantities to work. That combination—molecular stability, absorption, and potency—is what allows an oral peptide drug to succeed. And the decision to push forward with designing a protein that could survive our digestive process was surprising, creative, and incorporated solutions that are truly ingenious.
Multiple companies are now working on similar strategies, trying to design peptide-based drugs that can be taken by mouth rather than injected for multiple different diseases. Icotyde accomplished proof of principle and led the way.
We may be at the beginning of a broader shift—one where some medications that once required injections can instead be taken as pills. If that trend continues, Icotyde could end up being an early example of a new class of therapies rather than a one-off breakthrough.
Insist on the BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 23 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
Importance of skin checks for mature skin
Brought to you by - Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany DermatologyBrookhaven
As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, routine skin examinations are essential for mature skin to maintain health and catch any issues early.
Addressing skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures
Dermatologists can assist with a variety of skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures for mature skin. Common issues such as dryness, age-related pigmentation and conditions like rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, which can persist or develop with age, are also addressed with specialized care plans.
In addition to treating conditions, dermatologists offer rejuvenating procedures to enhance the appearance and health of mature skin. Treatments such as chemical peels, laser rejuvenation and injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and promote collagen production. These procedures not only rejuvenate the skin but also boost confidence and overall well-being. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist ensures that your skin receives comprehensive care tailored to its evolving needs, promoting longterm skin health and vitality.
How can dementia affect mobility?
Brought to you by – Mobility Plus Alpharetta
According to a 2023 study by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) each year, 40%-60% of individuals with advanced dementia fall. These falls further limit independence, participation in meaningful activities with friends and family, and general well-being. Read more to learn about the specific relationship between mobility and dementia.
Exercise Benefits: Research shows that exercise slows cognitive decline and improves emotional health. Maintaining physical strength can also prevent bedsores and limit pneumonia risk which both occur at higher rates in those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Guided group activities like Tai Chi can strengthen fine muscle groups and improve balance while also calming the mind.
Increased Independence: A 2022 study of 1,400 Medicare beneficiaries with dementia showed that regular movement and exercise improved ease of completing ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living).
Proper Mobility and Assistive Equipment: Cognitive function must be considered when purchasing assistive items such as lift recliners, rollators, power wheelchairs and mobility scooters. For example, lift recliners range in size and complexity. Someone living with cognitive impairment needs a simple remote control that limits choices. Addi-
tionally, the lift recliner must be properly sized to mitigate fall risk. Because brain changes can impact gross motor skills and coordination, an improperly fitted chair can increase fall risk.
This same principle applies to powered mobility items. A trained mobility expert can assess the user to determine their ability to understand the joystick or paddle-style controls of the powerchair or scooter. Certain scooter and power wheelchair models can be reprogrammed (by an authorized dealer) to limit speed. This adjustment can keep your loved one safe...but still mobile!
Easy Ways to Move More: Join a group class specifically for those experiencing cognitive impairment! Here are a few choices for in-person classes in the Atlanta area as well as some virtual options:
• The Center for Movement Challenges
• JF&CS Brain Health Boot Camp
• The Alzheimer's Foundation Online Virtual Activities
• University of Wisconsin Alzheimer's Research Center Online
At Mobility Plus Alpharetta, we sell and install a variety of mobility and fall prevention devices such as grab bars, scooters, wheelchairs, rollators, lift recliners, shower chairs and more! Call us today at 470-545-1827 to schedule your in-home grab bar evaluation, or visit us Mon-Fri 10- 5pm and Sat. 9-1pm in our Alpharetta showroom!
The tale of two paths
Build up your Medicare insurance knowledge.
Path 1: Traditional Medicare + Medicare Supplement + Drug Plan
Path 2: Medicare Advantage (with builtin Drug Plan)
It’s important to become educated on the two different paths for your Medicare insurance coverage. I see so many people go with a plan because someone tells them their plan is the “best” or simply because a family member went with XYZ company.
This will very likely lead to disappointment and frustration, because there was not a full understanding of both paths.
Every client I sit down with, whether over the phone or in-person, will receive a review of how BOTH paths will play out.
If you know what to expect when you use your Medicare insurance, it brings a level of clarity and confidence to your ultimate plan decision.
I speak to so many Medicare consumers who are confused about their coverage options. What doesn’t help is that Medicare Insurance Call Centers are calling millions of Medicare consumers, trying to sell them a new Medicare plan. Many times a “Full Review”, like the one I referenced earlier, is not taking place. Instead it’s the “quick sale” without explaining the ins and outs of these two different paths.
A great place to start building a strong foundation of Medicare insurance knowledge is on our website at SeniorSourceMedicare.com. Here, we give a complete breakdown of what to expect with each of the paths.
Having enrolled thousands of clients over the last 17 years, I’ve seen satisfied clients, with both of these paths.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to your Medicare insurance. Medicare Supplements costs more per month than Medicare Advantage, yet Medicare Advantage comes with copays and could get costly as you use the coverage. Consider your healthcare needs, what you are willing to pay on a monthly basis, and most importantly what your expectations are from your Medicare insurance plan when you do need medical services.
Time should be spent studying these two paths and working with your insurance broker on getting answers to your questions and understanding the coverage differences.
If you’d like personalized help understanding your Medicare insurance options, reach out to us by calling (770) 315-8145 or send a message on our website at SeniorSourceMedicare.com/contact-seniorsource.
Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs
Paige Gorman Agent
Atlanta
• Experienced Medicare Insurance Broker
• Provides Personalized Plan Analysis
• Annual Plan Updates, Including Upcoming Trends
• No Cost to Use Our Services
• Individual Health Coverage for those under 65
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