October Special Section
Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs
Specializing in Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplement Plans
Jay Looft Owner/Agent
Serving North Atlanta Seniors for More Than 15 Years Representing Most Medicare Insurance Companies
• 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
Call today to schedule your Medicare Annual Enrollment appointment!
770.913.6464 www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com
“We
Medicare Enrollment is here...What do I do?!
The good news is you have through December 7th to figure it out, but don’t procrastinate. Have a plan!
Step 1 - Read your ANOC, your Annual Notice of Change, for your plan. Every Medicare insurance company is required to have mailed you one by now.
Remember, the Annual Enrollment Period ONLY applies to Medicare Advantage and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans . If you are on Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement, you only need to pay attention to your Prescription Drug Plan.
Medicare Supplement plans do not change in benefit. Also, annual increases on Medicare Supplements are not calendar year based either.
Step 2 - Ask yourself a few questions:
Are the changes acceptable? Do you need lower cost as you use medical services?
Is the monthly premium getting too high?
IF there is little change to your plan, or you find it acceptable, there is nothing you need to do! The plan will auto-
renew into next year and you should receive a new ID card for your 2026 plan in November. Make sure you do receive the new ID card.
Step 3 - Seek Help! Give us a call today at (770) 913-6464 or contact us at SeniorSourceMedicare.com/ contact-seniorsource
We are seeing some trends already! Now that the Annual Enrollment Period has begun, we’ve studied the plans for 2026 and have had quite a few conversations with Medicare clients. A big trend in the Medicare Advantage space is many clients remaining on their current plans for 2026.
There are a few Medicare Advantage plans offering a little more robust benefits in Georgia, and these plans might be a fit for you. However, a lot of the “household names” are hunkering down for next year and keeping plans fairly consistent with this year.
Three things to always confirm is that the Medicare Advantage Plan you are eyeing covers your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions.
These changes can be overwhelming! We have been serving clients in the North Atlanta area for over 15 years. We can help- reach out to us today!
Brought to you by – Senior Source Medicare Solutions
Vampires, Werewolves and Dermatology
October 31st might bring you children dressed as superheroes, vampires or werewolves seeking sweets or creating mischief. Although trickor-treating has been part of American tradition since the 1920s, the legends behind some of the most popular costumes are far older. Tales of vampires and werewolves appear throughout the Middle Ages and perhaps as far back as the Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 1800 BCE). What inspired these frightening figures? Surprisingly, medicine offers intriguing clues. And oddly enough, the same science that helped fuel vampire and werewolf lore is now helping dermatologists fight sun damage and skin cancer.
A group of rare diseases known as porphyrias may have shaped these legends. Porphyrias disrupt the body’s ability to make heme, the molecule that gives blood its red color and carries oxygen. Heme production is an eightstep biochemical process beginning with aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Each step requires a different enzyme. When one enzyme fails, its substrate accumulates—like chocolates piling up in the famous “I Love Lucy” assembly line scene. These buildups, called porphyrins, damage the body.
Depending on which enzyme malfunctions, porphyrins may harm the nervous system or the skin. Neurologic damage can cause pain, seizures, or psychosis. But it is porphyria’s effects on the skin, hair, and teeth that echo most loudly in folklore.
Some porphyrias cause extreme sun sensitivity: a patient’s skin may blister after just minutes in sunlight. Over time, repeated exposure can lead to scarring, thickening, and dark pigmentation. Excess hair may also develop in sun-damaged areas. Teeth can even turn reddish—a condition known as erythrodontia. And in severe cases, victims might literally cry out in pain and flee the daylight. Add paranoia or hallucinations, and you can almost hear the medieval villager whisper: “He only comes out at night… with red teeth and wild hair.”
While no single disease explains the vampire or werewolf archetype in full, the combination of symptoms across different porphyrias could easily have fueled the central features of these myths.
Other medical conditions likely played a role as well. In hypertrichosis, individuals grow hair uncontrollably across the face and body, lending a wolf-like appearance. Rabies can cause aggression and biting, resembling the transmission of vampirism through a bite. Psychiatric conditions may have added their part, too—cases of hemomania, a compulsion involving blood, have been associated with multiple mental illnesses.
Medical historians still debate the exact diseases that inspired vampire and werewolf lore, but legends often arise from a blend of real observations and poetic license including the fisherman’s tendency to exaggerate the one that got away.
Remarkably, the same biochemical pathway that gives rise to porphyria also powers one of modern dermatology’s most effective skin cancer prevention tools. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), often called blue light therapy, deliberately induces a brief, controlled version of porphyria in unhealthy cells. During PDT, a dermatologist applies aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to sundamaged skin. Abnormal cells absorb the ALA and become highly sensitive to light. When exposed to blue light, these cells are selectively damaged and destroyed—like Dracula at a beach party.
By exploiting this weakness, PDT reduces precancerous growths known as actinic keratoses and lowers the risk of future skin cancers. It is one of several non-surgical options in dermatology, alongside topical treatments like 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod, which also target precancers and some early cancers. For most patients, these therapies provide a safe and effective means of halting sun damage before it progresses.
The connection between folklore and medicine highlights how ancient fears sometimes foreshadow scientific discovery. What once seemed supernatural—avoiding daylight, growing thick hair, or exhibiting red teeth—can now be explained biochemically. And today, modern dermatology harnesses the very same pathways to save lives.
So, when a tiny vampire or werewolf comes begging for candy this October, you might smile at the candy bowl and think not only of myths, but also of medicine and of the curious ways that science and legend intertwine.
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
Alpharetta: (678) 205-9004 | 3180 North Point Pkwy | Suite 303 | Alpharetta, GA - 30005
Johns Creek: (770) 622-9002 | 3890 Johns Creek Pkwy | Suite 120 | Suwanee, GA - 30024
Continuing to Grow to Meet Your Healthcare Needs.
Welcome Shruti Patel, M.D.
Dr. Shruti Patel is a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician with a special interest in geriatric care, hypertension, and diabetes management. She is passionate about providing comprehensive, patient-centered care with a focus on chronic disease management and preventative health.
With over a decade of experience, Dr. Patel is eager to help patients achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives through evidence-based practices and compassionate guidance. Her clinical approach emphasizes building strong patient relationships, empowering individuals to take an active role in their health and addressing the unique needs of patients. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring wellness practices that integrate mind and body.
Experience complete, compassionate care at Comprehensive Internal Medicine
Brought to you by – Comprehensive Internal Medicine
At Comprehensive Internal Medicine , your health is our lifelong mission. We specialize in adult care focused on prevention, diagnosis, and management of complex medical conditions—all within a supportive, home-based environment.
Our board-certified physicians lead a coordinated team providing personalized care plans to help you stay healthy and thrive. Whether managing chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease, or offering annual wellness visits and advanced diagnostics, we’ve proudly served the Alpharetta and Johns Creek community for over 20 years.
We understand that continuity and convenience matter. That’s why our
patients enjoy same-day or next-day appointments, telemedicine options, and access to an on-call physician for peace of mind. Every member of our team is committed to building trusted relationships that empower patients to take charge of their health.
At Comprehensive, we see you as a partner—not just a patient. With compassionate staff, an integrated approach, and seamless care coordination, we make healthcare personal, effective, and accessible.
Comprehensive Internal Medicine — Excellence in Adult Care, Delivered with Heart.
�� Visit https://www.cimedicine. com or call 678-205-9004 (Alpharetta) or 770-622-9002 (Johns Creek) today to schedule your first consultation and experience truly personalized internal medicine care.
PROVIDED
Mobility Plus Alpharetta celebrates a 3rd year in the Winner’s Circle!
Brought to you by – Mobility Plus Alpharetta
Mobility Plus Alpharetta is humbled by earning a top spot in the Best of North Atlanta rankings during its’ third year in operation!
This family-owned small business, owned by Scott and Mary Block of Alpharetta offers a customer-focused experience for those needing powered or manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, stairlifts, lift recliners, walkers, portable and modular ramp systems or home health items.
Mary, a former Fulton County teacher, was led to working with seniors after caring for her father. She quickly realized how difficult it was to find informational resources, products and support services. When seeking a professional change, she wanted to address some of the deficits that she had previously encountered by offering as many products as possible under one roof, and by serving as a community educational resource.
The Blocks partner with local experts like move managers, senior living placement specialists, and occupational therapists to be as informed as possible about the variety of needs that their customers have. They host lunch and learns in their 3500 sq. ft. Space on a variety of topics once a quarter. “No one that comes in for a wheelchair, stairlift, or ramp, needs just that one item. Our customers are seniors, children supporting aging parents, or those living with chronic degenerative diseases. There are always other needs besides a product purchase” says Mary.
They look forward to serving the North Atlanta community for many years to come and are so grateful for your votes, and support!
Mobility Plus Alpharetta 4020 Nine McFarland Drive Alpharetta, GA 30004
470-545-1827
Mon-Fri. 10:00am-5:00pm Sat. 9:001:00pm www.mobilityplus.com/alpharettaGA
Managing fall skin flare-ups
Brought to you by – Dr. Lola Sode, Epiphany Dermatology
October is a transitional month—cooler mornings, drier air, and unpredictable weather patterns here in Atlanta can all impact the health of your skin. For many patients, these shifts mean more than just a change in wardrobe. They often trigger flare-ups of common skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and rosacea.
As humidity drops, your skin may produce more oil to compensate, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Similarly, people living with psoriasis or rosacea often notice that their symptoms worsen during this time of year, with increased redness, itching, or irritation. Seasonal triggers—like temperature changes, wind, and even indoor heating—can further complicate matters.
The good news is that you don’t have to face these changes alone. Visiting a board-certified dermatologist allows us to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your skin’s needs during the fall transition. Whether that means adjusting your skincare regimen, prescribing medication to control flare-ups, or recommending in-office treatments, the goal is to restore balance and comfort while preventing long-term damage.
For those also interested in improving skin’s appearance, fall is a wonderful time to explore cosmetic dermatology. Treatments such as laser therapy or professional-grade facials can target redness, refine texture, and support overall skin health before the busy holiday season.
This October, don’t let climate shifts dictate how your skin feels or looks. Partner with your dermatologist to keep your skin clear, calm, and resilient all season long.
PEXELS
Medicare Enrollment is here...What do I do?!
The good news is you have through December 7th to figure it out, but don’t procrastinate. Have a plan!
Step 1 - Read your ANOC, your Annual Notice of Change, for your plan. Every Medicare insurance company is required to have mailed you one by now.
Remember, the Annual Enrollment Period ONLY applies to Medicare Advantage and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans . If you are on Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement, you only need to pay attention to your Prescription Drug Plan.
Medicare Supplement plans do not change in benefit. Also, annual increases on Medicare Supplements are not calendar year based either.
Step 2 - Ask yourself a few questions:
Are the changes acceptable?
Do you need lower cost as you use medical services?
Is the monthly premium getting too high?
IF there is little change to your plan, or you find it acceptable, there is nothing you need to do! The plan will auto-
renew into next year and you should receive a new ID card for your 2026 plan in November. Make sure you do receive the new ID card.
Step 3 - Seek Help! Give us a call today at (770) 315-8145 or contact us at SeniorSourceMedicare.com/ contact-seniorsource
We are seeing some trends already! Now that the Annual Enrollment Period has begun, we’ve studied the plans for 2026 and have had quite a few conversations with Medicare clients. A big trend in the Medicare Advantage space is many clients remaining on their current plans for 2026.
There are a few Medicare Advantage plans offering a little more robust benefits in Georgia, and these plans might be a fit for you. However, a lot of the “household names” are hunkering down for next year and keeping plans fairly consistent with this year. Three things to always confirm is that the Medicare Advantage Plan you are eyeing covers your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions.
These changes can be overwhelming! We have been serving clients in the North Atlanta area for over 15 years. We can help- reach out to us today!
Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs
Paige Gorman Agent
North Atlanta Seniors for More Than 15
• Experienced
• Provides Personalized
• Annual Plan
• No Cost to Use
• Individual
for those under 65
