(BPT) - Navigating Medicare can be challenging. In fact, according to a 2017 UnitedHealthcare survey, nearly 40 percent of Medicare beneficiaries find the program confusing. Learning the basics can help you cut through the confusion and make an informed decision about which coverage option may be the right fit for you.

Here's a quick guide to five important Medicare terms to help prepare for the upcoming open enrollment period. What is open enrollment, you ask? Well, read on.

1. Open Enrollment Period

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed the week of October 15-21 as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Colorado. This is an excellent time for all individuals, families, businesses, schools, and media outlets to review their winter storm preparedness plans. It is especially important for all new arrivals to the state to become familiar with the National Weather Service watch and warning definitions, as well as winter safety procedures.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo, Colorado is looking for citizens who would like to volunteer to join its SKYWARN Weather Spotter Network. During the winter season, these citizen volunteers are primarily asked to report snow depth, and occurrences of ice, wind, and fog. During the warm season, spotters are asked to report severe weather conditions, such as large hail, damaging winds, tornados, etc.

HEAD STRONG

“Fools are head strong and do what they like; wise people take advice.” The Message 12:15

In Colorado 150 years ago wildlife faced a dire future. 

To provide food for miners and settlers streaming west during the gold rush and land rush of the mid- and late-1800s, market hunters slaughtered deer, elk, bear, buffalo, bighorns, pronghorn and any type of bird that could provide meat. Fish fared no better as nets and even dynamite were set in rivers and streams. Polluted water flowing from mining operations also devastated hundreds of miles of rivers and streams. 

15 Years Ago

October 11 2002

Birthdays

October 16

• Ronda Hadley
• Betsy Barnett
• Brett Legg
• Alexandria Marie Kent
• Drew Bradley Howe
• Ryan Shade
• Janet Frederick
• William Proctor
• Savannah Stum
• Clara Janes

October 17

• Becky Rittgers
• Terry Voss
• Branden Dunlap
• Mason Garrett
• Chloe Elarton
• Blaine Winder
• Ashley Bryant
• Hallie Barlow
• Whitlee Specht

October 18

The food’s awfully good down at the Gates of Heaven Chinese Restaurant. The valley’s other Delbert, Delbert Chin, has been putting on a decent feed there since he came to this country many years ago.

We like that lunch buffet. All you can eat, of course, and he makes this pink sauce that’s out of this world. You can put it on everything. And you want to.

He asked me once why I used so much of it, and I told him if I had enough of that sauce, I could live on cardboard boxes and bedding straw.