The crunch of a gravel road and rolling fields spotted with cattle and crops lead visitors to Geri and Bob’s home, nestled between Crete and Pleasant Dale, Nebraska. Here, they built their life together on farmland owned by their family for more than 100 years.
Geri and Bob have added their own special touches to the land in their time, such as planting now-grown fruit trees. Geri harvests them in the spring to make cherry pies and in the fall for canning applesauce and other goods to enjoy during Nebraska’s long winters. Their family tree has grown as well to include 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
“They multiply pretty fast,” Bob says with a chuckle.
While it’s just the two of them on their farm now, they remain as active as ever in retirement – visiting family, keeping up with yardwork and enjoying their hobbies, like collecting and selling antiques at flea markets.
The couple is in good health but has faced a few complications in recent years, such as when Geri was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heart rate that causes poor blood flow.
This fall, Bob had hip surgery – a procedure he looked forward to completing, so he could get back to work on a prized antique of his own: a refurbished 1928 Chevy truck, which he bought from a neighboring farmer for $75 when he was 14 years old, using his earnings from hauling hay.
Geri and Bob rely on a Medicare Advantage plan from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) to stay healthy and going strong. The plan offers a variety of benefits, including:
- $0 premiums and low copays
- Access to a broad network of doctors, hospitals and care options
- Annual wellness visit incentives
- Prescription drug savings and over-the-counter medication benefits
- Travel coverage
- And more
The two joined BCBSNE in 2018, after attending a local seminar. At the time, they had a high-deductible health plan from another insurance carrier and were looking for an alternative. They made the switch to BCBSNE Medicare Advantage and found it to be a great fit for them.
“I don’t know what I’d do without it now that I’ve had it,” Geri says. “I’d be comparing all the time. I don’t think I’d come up with anything close. We love it.”
She frequently recommends the plan to their friends who are looking for affordable coverage with quality benefits.
“Any chance I get, I tell them!” Geri says. “I think the security of knowing that we’ve got good [health] insurance, that makes you feel a lot better; I sleep better at night.”
“I like it because I want to push for another 18 years and make 100,” Bob adds. “I want to enjoy it.”
Hear more of Geri and Bob’s story below:
For more information on BCBSNE’s Medicare offerings, visit NebraskaBlue.com/MedicareAdvantage. The Medicare annual enrollment period ends Dec. 7.
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