Françoise Keli'imahia'i Mueller

As the Annual Enrollment Period begins on October 15, you're going to be hit from every direction—phone calls from agents, piles of mail in your mailbox, and TV commercials promising the world. Starting October 1, agents will have access to the updated Medicare plan details, and you can look up licensed agents through the Medicare Agent Hub or search for "Medicare agents near me."

But here's the truth: most of the mail you'll receive is simply marketing. Some of it looks official. Some of it appears urgent. Some pieces are even designed to look like they're coming from Social Security. It can be alarming, confusing, and stressful. Many of these mailers are designed to get you to call a number—and once you do, you may find yourself in a system that rushes you through important decisions.

And don't put too much stock in the commercials promising $3,000 in grocery benefits or large amounts of money back on your Social Security. While some people may qualify for certain benefits, many do not. These ads are designed to get you to pick up the phone, not to educate you.

Why Choosing a Local Independent Agent Matters

This is exactly why choosing a local independent agent matters. There is a significant difference between working with an independent agent and speaking with someone in a call center. Call center agents are often expected to handle a high volume of calls, with managers encouraging them to keep conversations short and move quickly to the next caller. That pressure can leave little time to discuss the personal details that matter most. They may not have the opportunity to slow down, thoroughly explain your options, or ensure you fully understand your choices.

A local independent agent isn't working against a call-time quota. They're not being rushed to end the conversation. They can take the time to walk you through your options, answer your questions, compare plans, and help you feel confident in the decision you're making.

And after you enroll, that same agent is there to continue supporting you—with real follow-up, personalized customer service, and someone who knows your situation. You're not calling into a rotating call center queue or speaking with a different person every time you need assistance.

Choosing the right agent helps you make an informed decision so you can move forward with confidence, knowing your healthcare needs are the priority.

Preface: How the Kailua Kids Club Began

Before I can tell this story, I have to explain why it mattered so much to me.

I became a stay-at-home mom after one of my children was abused by a babysitter. That experience broke my trust and made me determined to create a safe, loving place where my children—and eventually other children—could feel protected and cared for.

Out of that pain, I opened my own daycare in our small town of Kailua on the island of Oahu, Hawaiʻi. I called it Aunty Fran's Daycare, and I even wrote a monthly newsletter to share updates, little stories, and what the children were learning.

It was fun for me, but it also meant a great deal to the parents. Through those newsletters, they could stay connected to the small milestones they might have missed during the day—first steps, first words, and all the little moments that make childhood so precious.

At the time, I had two children in elementary and middle school and two toddlers at home. Soon, my older children's friends began coming over after school to play, grab snacks, and do homework. Little by little, all of these kids ended up in my yard, and our home became a gathering place.

During the school year, it was manageable. The children had eaten lunch at school and usually stayed for only a couple of hours after class. But summer was different. Summer meant full days spent in and out of my yard, with hungry kids needing snacks, meals, and something meaningful to do.

I loved having them there, but I knew I needed a way to keep everyone fed without carrying the entire cost myself.

That is how the Kailua Kids Club was born: a way for children to do something constructive, contribute to their community, earn money honestly, and learn the value of working together.

The Sweetest Lessons Came in a Red Wagon

One of my favorite memories from the Kailua Kids Club happened during summer vacation, when the children learned some of life's sweetest lessons with a little red wagon and a cooler full of warm malasadas.

Before the sun came up, I would make dozens of fresh Portuguese doughnuts called malasadas. I'd fill a large cooler with the warm pastries, load it into a little red wagon, and hand each child sandwich bags and a pair of tongs so they could package and serve the malasadas.

When everything was ready, they would set off together through our hometown of Kailua.

To anyone watching, it may have looked like they were simply selling malasadas. But I knew they were learning something much deeper.

During those summer months, they visited local businesses, where owners came to know them by name. Some shop owners even looked forward to their summertime visits, planning their morning coffee around the arrival of the children and their fresh malasadas. Over time, it became a tradition the community embraced.

The money they earned became more than spending money. It helped pay for summer activities, trips to the county fair, school clothes, school supplies, and even gave them a chance to save a little for the future.

More importantly, they discovered that earning something for yourself feels different from simply being given it.

They learned how to introduce themselves with confidence, speak respectfully with business owners, count money, make change, work as a team, and save for a rainy day instead of spending everything they earned. Looking back, I realize we were teaching life skills disguised as summer fun.

Those children discovered that hard work creates opportunity, that communities thrive when neighbors support one another, and that success is sweetest when it is earned.

But what made those summer vacation months truly special was not just the malasadas or the money the children earned. It was the people of Kailua.

The local businesses were not just buying doughnuts; they were encouraging children. Every purchase was their way of saying, "We believe in you." They were investing in the next generation, one warm malasada at a time.

Those business owners helped the children build confidence, learn responsibility, and discover the pride that comes from honest work. Together, we created more than a fundraiser. We created a community where children knew they were seen, valued, and supported.

Every time I watched that little red wagon roll down the street surrounded by smiling children, I was not just watching kids sell malasadas.

I was watching an entire community come together to teach its young people that they mattered.

Sometimes the greatest lessons in life do not happen in a classroom. Sometimes they begin with a warm malasada, a little red wagon, and a community that quietly says, "We believe in you. You belong here."

Turning 65 Means Making One of the Most Important Healthcare Decisions of Your Life

The best Medicare plan is not always the one with the lowest premium. The right plan gives you access to care, covers your medications, and helps keep your healthcare costs manageable.

Focus on total value. A low-premium plan can still cost more overall if it comes with high copays for doctor visits, lab work, imaging, emergency care, or prescriptions.

Essential Benefits to Review Before You Enroll

• If your doctor is not in the network, the plan may not be right for you. Confirm that your primary care physician, specialists, hospitals, urgent care centers, and pharmacies are included. Also, make sure emergency and urgent care services are available nearby.
• If your medications are not well covered, your plan can become expensive quickly. Check the formulary, medication tiers, prior authorization requirements, and pharmacy costs.
• Dental, vision, and hearing benefits can add real value, but review annual limits and provider restrictions before enrolling.
• Extras such as grocery cards, flex cards, transportation assistance, or meal support can help, but ask how they work, who qualifies, and whether unused benefits expire.
• Low monthly premiums do not always mean low total healthcare costs. Compare deductibles, copays, and what you will pay for lab work, CT scans, MRIs, specialist visits, emergency care, and hospital stays.
• Review the plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit so you understand your potential worst-case medical costs for the year.

Questions You Should Ask Before Making Your Decision

Ask these important questions before enrolling:

✓ Is my doctor in network?

✓ Are my medications covered and affordable?

✓ Is emergency care available nearby?

✓ What are my deductibles, copays, and maximum out-of-pocket costs?

✓ Are dental, vision, hearing, and additional benefits such as grocery cards or flex cards included?

✓ Am I eligible for programs that may help reduce Medicare-related costs or lower certain premiums?

Make an Informed Choice, Not a Rushed One

Choosing Medicare coverage at age 65 is not just about enrolling in a plan. It is about protecting your access to care, managing your costs, and selecting benefits you will truly use.

Call to Action: Before you enroll, compare your options, review your doctors and prescriptions, and ask the questions that matter most.

About the Author

Aware of how frustrating nonstop calls and interruptions can be, Fran is guided by the Aloha spirit of kindness, respect, and genuine care.

Fran wants people to know she sees you, hears you, and looks out for your needs just as she does for her own parents and family.

She also keeps people informed about updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services so they can review their options with greater confidence.

This type of personal guidance and ongoing support is increasingly difficult to find, which makes Fran’s commitment especially meaningful. Her continued support can be valuable throughout your Medicare journey.

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