• ACA Agent Moratorium Lawsuits & Call Recording Best Practices + 2027 Medigap Deductibles
    Oct 30 2026
    The Friday Five for October 30, 2026: CMS ACA New Agent Moratorium UpdateCMS Recommendation on ACA Call Recording for PY 2027CMS Exchange Pre-Eligibility Verification Proposed RuleCMS 2027 Med Supp Plans F, G, & J DeductiblesCMS 2027 Med Supp Plans K & L Out-of-Pocket Limits Get Connected: 🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode 🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast 📰 Get Field Notes delivered to your inbox! 💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com. Resources: 2028 MA Proposed Rule, ACA Agent Moratorium Lawsuit & Epic’s Rx Marketplace Content Corner: Spooky Season and All Things Pumpkin How a CHOICE Partnership Can Support ACA Sales Integrity Launches ACA EDE in IntegrityCONNECT The 2027 COLA Increase & How it Affects Your Clients The Secret to Long-Term Success ft. Debbie Hoffman CMS ACA New Agent Moratorium Update: "CMS Hit With Another Broker Suit Over ACA Registration Bar." Hafamerica.org, Health Agents for America, 22 Oct. 2026, https://www.hafamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Law360-10-22-2026.pdf. CMS Temporarily Pauses New Marketplace Agent Registrations for 2027 "HAFA filing suit over ACA agent moratorium." Insurancenewsnet.com, Insurance News Net, 21 Oct. 2026, https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/hafa-filing-suit-over-aca-agent-moratorium. "HAFA Official Site." Hafamerica.org, Health Agents for America, https://www.hafamerica.org/, Accessed 27 Oct. 2026. "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Temporary Moratoria on Certain Agent and Broker Registration To Participate in the Exchanges." Federalregister.gov, Federal Register, 23 Sep. 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/23/2026-19493/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-temporary-moratoria-on-certain-agent-and-broker. "Trump administration sued for second time over ACA broker freeze." Healthcaredive.com, Healthcare Dive, 23 Oct. 2026, https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/aca-broker-agent-freeze-lawsuit-hafa-hhs-cms/833828/. Under-65 Team at Ritter Insurance Marketing CMS Recommendation on ACA Call Recording for PY 2027: "Best Practices for Issuers for Plan Year 2027 Agent and Broker Oversight." Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 19 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/py27-issuer-ab-oversight-guidance.pdf. "CMS issues new guidance on ACA insurers as open enrollment looms." Insurancenewsnet.com, Insurance News Net, 21 Oct. 2026, https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/cms-issues-new-guidance-on-aca-insurers-as-open-enrollment-looms. "CMS urges marketplace insurers to have brokers record consumer calls." Beckerspayer.com, Becker's Payer Issues, 20 Oct. 2026, https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/aca/cms-urges-marketplace-insurers-to-have-brokers-record-consumer-calls/. Stover, Danica. “PY27 Issuer AB Oversight Guidance Final: Danica Stover.” LinkedIn, 26 Oct. 2026, https://lnkd.in/p/eegtPAA9. CMS Exchange Pre-Eligibility Verification Proposed Rule: "CMS Proposes New Verification Requirements to Implement Law that Combats Exchange Fraud and Protects Taxpayer Dollars." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 23 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-new-verification-requirements-implement-law-combats-exchange-fraud-protects-taxpayer. "Exchange Pre-Eligibility Verification Proposed Rule (CMS 9873-P)." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 23 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/exchange-pre-eligibility-verification-proposed-rule-cms-9873-p. "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Exchange Pre-Eligibility Verification." Federalregister.gov, Federal Register, 27 Oct. 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/27/2026-21891/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-exchange-pre-eligibility-verification. "Submit A Public Comment on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Exchange Pre-Eligibility Verification." Federalregister.gov, Federal Register, 27 Oct. 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/27/2026-21891/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-exchange-pre-eligibility-verification. CMS 2027 Med Supp Plans F, G, & J Deductibles: "F, G & J Deductible Announcements." Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, October 2026, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/medigap/f-g-j-deductible-announcements. CMS 2027 Med Supp Plans K & L Out-of-Pocket Limits: "K & L Out-of-Pocket Limits Announcements." Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, October 2026, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/medigap/k-l-out-of-pocket-limits-announcements. Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://...
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    17 mins
  • HSA-Eligible Health Plans: Benefits, Savings, and Sales Tips
    Oct 28 2026
    With the passing of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, your clients may have questions about how health savings accounts may play into their healthcare costs. In this episode, we’ll be giving you the breakdown of everything you need to know.

    Read the text version

    Get Connected:

    🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!

    📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!

    📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode

    🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast

    💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

    Resources:

    Affinity Partnerships for Insurance Agents

    IntegrityCONNECT

    The Insurance Agent’s Guide to Establishing Successful Affinity Partnerships

    The Ritter Platform

    References:

    Medicare Made Clear. (n.d.). Health savings accounts and Medicare. UnitedHealthcare. https://www.uhc.com/news-articles/medicare-articles/hsas-and-medicare

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance

    Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social

    Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

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    11 mins
  • The 2027 COLA Increase & How it Affects Your Clients
    Oct 26 2026
    With 2027 right around the corner, the SSA has released their new numbers on what to expect for the cost-of-living adjustment and Social Security benefit checks. Here’s what your clients can expect for 20227! Read the text version Get Connected:

    🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!

    📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!

    📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode

    🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast

    💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

    Resources:

    $90 Rebate for Qualifying Medicare Beneficiaries

    Can Insurance Agents Charge Consulting Fees for Medicare Sales or Services?

    Q4 Medicare Sales Planner

    References:

    Social Security Administration. (2025, October 24). Cost-of-living adjustment (cola) information. Social Security. https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/cola/index.html

    Social Security Administration. (2026, October 14). Social Security announces 3.6 percent benefit increase for 2027. Social Security. https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2026-10-14.html

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance

    Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social

    Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

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    6 mins
  • The Secret to Long-Term Success ft. Debbie Hoffman
    Oct 24 2026
    Debbie Hoffman joins Sarah to talk about her journey as an independent insurance agent. Listen to learn about Debbie’s approach to building her agency and how she defines success.

    Find Debbie Hoffman Online:

    HIR Insurance Agency

    LinkedIn

    Resources:

    ACA in 2027: CMS Changes, Fraud Prevention & Identity Proofing ft. Arthur Barlow

    How to Stay Top of Mind & Build Trust That Drives Growth ft. Bjorn Piltingsrud and Andrew Saksa

    Turning Life Changes into Sales Opportunities

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance

    Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social

    Opinions expressed by interview guests are their own and not representative of Ritter Insurance Marketing or Integrity. The Agent Survival Guide Podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency. For Agent Training and Educational Purposes Only. Any plan benefits, premiums, copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs shown are hypothetical examples provided for illustrative purposes only and are not representative of any specific insurance plan or product. Actual plan benefits and costs vary by plan, service area, eligibility, and other applicable factors. Agents must reference current, carrier-approved plan materials when discussing specific plan benefits or costs with consumers.

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    49 mins
  • 2028 MA Proposed Rule, ACA Agent Moratorium Lawsuit & Epic’s Rx Marketplace
    Oct 23 2026
    The Friday Five for October 23, 2026: Medicare Advantage Stakeholders Survey ResultsEpic Announces New Prescription MarketplaceCMS Removes Duplicate Enrollments from ACA RollsNABIP Files Lawsuit Over Moratorium on New ACA AgentsCMS Medicare Advantage Proposed Rule Get Connected: 🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode 🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast 📰 Get Field Notes delivered to your inbox! 💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com. Medicare Advantage Stakeholders Survey Results: “Charting A Path Forward For Medicare Advantage: Expert Consensus On Policy Priorities And Trade-Offs.” Healthaffairs.org, Health Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026, https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01724. “Little room for stakeholder onsensus among potential Medicare Advantage reforms.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 8 Oct. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/look-stakeholder-perspectives-medicare-advantage-reform. Epic Announces Prescription Marketplace: “Epic teams up with Amazon Pharmacy, LillyDirect and Mark Cuban to launch prescription drug pricing tool.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 15 Oct. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/epic-teams-amazon-pharmacy-mark-cuban-launch-prescription-drug-pricing-tool. “Prescription Marketplace Will Let Patients Compare Pharmacy Cash Prices Before Leaving the Doctor’s Office.” Epic.com, Epic, 15 Oct. 2026, https://www.epic.com/epic/post/prescription-marketplace-will-let-patients-compare-pharmacy-cash-prices-before-leaving-the-doctors-office/. “New Regulations Make It Easier to Find, Compare, and Report Healthcare Pricing and Coverage Information.” 5 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-regulations-make-it-easier-find-compare-report-healthcare-pricing-coverage-information. “Transparency in Coverage Final Rules (CMS 9882-F).” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 5 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/transparency-coverage-final-rules-cms-9882-f. CMS Removes Duplicate Enrollments from ACA Rolls: “CMS takes aim at duplicative ACA, Medicaid enrollments.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 14 Oct. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-takes-aim-duplicative-aca-medicaid-enrollments. “Trump Administration Delivers Second Year of Savings by Stopping Taxpayer Payments for Duplicate and Deceased Enrollees in Obamacare.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 14 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-delivers-second-year-savings-stopping-taxpayer-payments-duplicate-deceased. “US cuts Obamacare subsidies for 189,000 with duplicate coverage.” Reuters.com, Reuters, 14 Oct. 2026, https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-government-cuts-subsidies-189000-obamacare-enrollees-2026-10-14/. NABIP Files Lawsuit Over Moratorium on New ACA Agents: “Agent, broker group sues CMS to block ACA registration freeze.” Beckerspayer.com, Becker’s Payer, 16 Oct. 2026, https://www.beckerspayer.com/legal/agent-broker-group-sues-cms-to-block-aca-registration-freeze/. “CMS Cracks Down on Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 22 Sep. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-cracks-down-fraud-waste-abuse-federal-health-insurance-marketplacer. “NABIP Seeks Injunctive Relief Against HHS and CMS Over Marketplace Moratorium Affecting Nearly 19,000 Agents and Brokers.” Nabip.org, National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, 15 Oct. 2026, https://nabip.org/media/11423/cms-lawsuit_press-release_final_261015.pdf. “NABIP sues CMS over moratorium on new ACA broker registrations.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 15 Oct. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/nabip-sues-cms-over-moratorium-new-aca-broker-registrations. CMS Medicare Advantage Proposed Rule: “CMS Proposes Reforms to Strengthen Transparency and Affordability in Medicare Advantage and Part D.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 16 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-reforms-strengthen-transparency-affordability-medicare-advantage-part-d. “Fact Sheet: Medicare Program; Implementation of Sections 6219, 6220, and 6224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (CMS-4214-P).” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 16 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-program-implementation-sections-6219-6220-6224-consolidated-appropriations-act-2026-cms. “Medicare Program; Implementation of Sections 6219, 6220, and 6224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026....
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    17 mins
  • Learning from Lost Medicare Insurance Sales
    Oct 20 2026
    Nothing hits (or hurts!) quite like a lost sale. While it’s easy to focus on the loss, we choose to focus on solutions. Find out how you can too, and make lost opportunities few and far between. Read the text version Get Connected: 🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode 🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast 💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Resources: 3 Additional Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales 4 Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales Developing an Agency – Your Guide to Getting Started Diversify Your Insurance Portfolio & Reap Real Rewards PlanEnroll Request a Portfolio Review The Ritter Platform The Ultimate Agent Resource List Pt. 3: Staying Organized Why Hiring an Assistant Can Transform Your Insurance Business References: “5 qualities effective sales leaders need to have + how to cultivate them for yourself” blog.hubspot.com, Hubspot, 3 Nov. 2025, https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/habits-to-become-a-more-effective-salesperson. “7 Active Listening Techniques for Better Communication.” Verywellmind.com, verywellmind, 14 Apr. 2026, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-active-listening-3024343. Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
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    17 mins
  • How a CHOICE Partnership Can Support ACA Sales
    Oct 22 2026
    Learn more about Custom Health Option and Individual Care Expense (CHOICE) Arrangements. These healthcare options (formerly known as Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements or ICHRA) can be offered by agents and are increasing in popularity.

    Read the text version

    Get Connected:

    🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!

    📧 Connect with our Under-65 Health Team to Get More Info on CHOICE Arrangements

    📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode

    🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast

    💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com.

    Resources:

    Getting Started Selling Group Ancillary Benefits ft. Max Ravenelle

    Insurance Agents Can Generate More Leads

    References:

    “CHOICE Arrangements: A Guide for Employers.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/employer-initiatives, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

    “Growth Trends for ICHRA & QSEHRA Volume Five: 2025-2026.” Hracouncil.org, HRA Council, https://www.hracouncil.org/resources/Documents/2026%20HRA%20Council%20Data%20Report%20-%20PDF%20Version.pdf, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

    “Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator.” Kff.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance

    Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social

    Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

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    10 mins
  • How to Prevent Insurance Agent Negligence
    Oct 17 2026
    As an insurance agent, remaining compliant is a top priority in order to prove that you’re trustworthy to your clients. Today, we’re going to be teaching you what to look out for to make sure you avoid agent negligence. Read the text version Get Connected: 🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Resources: Do's and Don'ts of Medicare Compliance Getting Started Selling Medicare Supplements The Complete Guide to Client Loyalty and Retention Why Trust Is an Insurance Agent's Most Important Non-Renewable Resource References: Insurance agent & broker negligence. Gump, Faiella & Bugalski. (2024, September 20). https://www.centralmolaw.com/services/other-practice-areas/insurance-agent-broker-negligence/. McDuffy, T. (2025, October 20). Negligence and the “reasonable person” . FindLaw. https://www.findlaw.com/injury/accident-injury-law/standards-of-care-and-the-reasonable-person.html. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.-a). Subpart V—Medicare Advantage Communication Requirements. Code of Federal Regulations. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422/subpart-V. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.-b). Subpart V—Part D Communication Requirements. Code of Federal Regulations. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-V. Understanding insurance broker negligence. Rah Law. (2023, December 14). https://www.rah.law/understanding-insurance-broker-negligence/. What is insurance law?. Super Lawyers. (2025, October 8). https://www.superlawyers.com/resources/insurance-coverage/. When do an insurance agent’s actions constitute negligence? Glickman & Glickman. (2025, September 29). https://www.glickman-law.com/blog/2025/09/when-do-an-insurance-agents-actions-constitute-negligence/. Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
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    10 mins