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Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Rock Hill or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
Service Areas
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Rock Hill
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Rock Hill is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Rock Hill, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in Rock Hill. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
Latest News in Rock Hill, SC
These new York County restaurants move on to the round of 16. Vote for your favorite.
John Markshttps://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article273362325.html
You cut the field of 32 new or coming restaurants and drink spots in half, as 16 sites remain in the Going Out Bracket.The Herald asked readers to vote for their favorite places that either just opened, or have been announced as coming attractions. The field offered restaurants of all types, plus bar and brewery options. It was Rock Hill and Fort Mill heavy, but also brought in York, Clover and Lake Wylie flavors.Now it’s time for the round of 16. Voting is live now. Just click on the image below to get started. Vote as o...
You cut the field of 32 new or coming restaurants and drink spots in half, as 16 sites remain in the Going Out Bracket.
The Herald asked readers to vote for their favorite places that either just opened, or have been announced as coming attractions. The field offered restaurants of all types, plus bar and brewery options. It was Rock Hill and Fort Mill heavy, but also brought in York, Clover and Lake Wylie flavors.
Now it’s time for the round of 16. Voting is live now. Just click on the image below to get started. Vote as often as you like, and feel free to share. This round of voting ends at noon on Thursday.
As a reminder, we’ll profile the winning place with a feature story.
We got to our list of 16 with wins by:
? The Flower Bar over VooDoo Wing Co.
? Longbottom Meats over Naf Naf
? Fortes Mill Eatery over Big Time Boba
? Poppyseed Kitchen over Humble Cup Coffee Co.
? Blend over Ninety’s Dessert Bar
? The Local Scoop over Another Broken Egg Cafe
? Javesca over Epic Prime
? Middle James Brewing Company over 1042 Cafe
? Bossy Beulah’s over Gordo & Chuli Taqueria
? Clover Harvest over Raille St. Restaurant
? Whitaker’s over Naroodle Chibi
? Flip Out Burger over Rock Taco
? Ms. Lillian’s Kitchen over Slim Chickens
? Farm Haus over Hoppin’
? Zo.ra Food & Wine over Clutch Coffee Bar
? Pet Piv over Chilango Tacos Y Mas
Here’s a look at the 16 remaining food and drink spots:
The Flower Bar opened its downtown Fort Mill site in February. There’s another location in Rock Hill. The Main Street spot in Fort Mill brought a kitchen to the bar, floral arrangement, gift, workshop and even hosting concept.
More info: theflowerbarrockhill.com
LongBottom Meats is part of The Perch in Rock Hill, near Winthrop University. The butcher shop opened in February with a variety of fresh meat, seafood, poultry and sausage options.
More info: longbottommeats.com
Fortes Mill Eatery, or FM Eatery, opened in February on Main Street in Fort Mill. It’s the same Flipside Restaurant Group ownership team behind area staples Flipside Cafe and Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen.
More info: theflipsiderestaurant.com
Poppyseed Kitchen opened in late 2022 in Fort Mill. The Steele Creek Station restaurant offers a breakfast and lunch menu with baked goods, sandwiches, salads and plates along with a range of beverage choices.
More info: poppyseedkitchen.com
Blend opened in Riverwalk last fall. The Rock Hill spot brings sandwiches, wraps and healthier food options from a family with long ties to the area food scene.
More info: blendriverwalk.com
The Local Scoop has two Charlotte and one other North Carolina locations ahead of the addition at the Power House in Rock Hill. Shops use local ingredients and make desserts in store daily. Local Scoop uses several North Carolina farms for its ingredients.
More info: thelocalscoopcharlotte.com
Javesca at The Power House in Rock Hill will have freshly roasted coffee and seasonal drinks, baked goods, sandwiches, wraps and Vegan options. The company roasts coffee in Charlotte and lots of coffee options planned for Rock Hill.
More info: javesca.com
Middle James Brewing Company is another Power House anchor. The brewer comes across the state line from where it began in Pineville, North Carolina to grow an already robust beverage brewing industry in York County.
More info: middlejamesbrewing.com
Bossy Beulah’s brings a Charlotte chicken shack concept to the former Coleman’s auto garage in downtown Fort Mill. Sandwiches and wings are the specialty. The company also does catering.
More info: bossybeulahs.com
Clover Harvest is a farm-to-table restaurant that should open next month on Old North Main Street in Clover. The restaurant will partner with growers for a locally sourced menu.
More info: Clover Harvest
Whitaker’s will go into the Spratt Building on Main Street in Fort Mill. The neighborhood bar concept is based out of Savannah, Georgia and will offer a kitchen and dining room along with mezzanine area.
More info: whitakersbar.com
Flip Out Burger joins the Flipside Restaurant Group stable of area eateries. The new burger concept will come to The Power House in downtown Rock Hill, in the Knowledge Park area.
More info: theflipsiderestaurant.com
Another Power House project, Ms. Lillian’s Kitchen brings fried chicken, catfish and Southern comfort food to downtown Rock Hill. It’s one of several new restaurants and businesses planned in the old power plant building, along with apartments.
More info: powerhouserockhill.com
The Power House now lists a popular Indian Land eatery among its coming attractions in Rock Hill. Farm Hause Butcher & Beer Garden is a restaurant and butcher shop with house made sausages and burgers, along with beverages.
More info: farmhaus-sc.com
Zo.ra Food & Wine just put sign up for a new restaurant at Village Harbor Drive in Lake Wylie. The restaurant’s website states a planned spring opening with dine in and special event hosting, and that hiring is underway.
More info: zorafoodwine.com
Pet Piv in Baxter Village will have beer and wine, with pizza and other menu items. The Fish Market Bar & Grill ownership team is behind the plan.
More info: Pet Piv
This story was originally published March 20, 2023, 2:01 PM.
Here’s the latest on several new restaurants that are planned across York County.
John Markshttps://www.heraldonline.com/living/food-drink/article273127330.html
Several new restaurants are set to join the York County food scene.Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce president Susan Bromfield said she recently learned about a restaurant planned beside Starbucks and Caromont Urgent Care in Village Harbor. Bromfield said it will have small plates, wine and beer.“A social, gathering spot is what I hear,” Bromfield said.A sign is up now for Zo.ra Food & Wine at 1201 Village Harbor Dr. The Zo.ra website sh...
Several new restaurants are set to join the York County food scene.
Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce president Susan Bromfield said she recently learned about a restaurant planned beside Starbucks and Caromont Urgent Care in Village Harbor. Bromfield said it will have small plates, wine and beer.
“A social, gathering spot is what I hear,” Bromfield said.
A sign is up now for Zo.ra Food & Wine at 1201 Village Harbor Dr. The Zo.ra website shows an anticipated spring opening and current hiring effort for Chef Roshan Singh with more than two decades in fine dining.
Bromfield also noted a farm-to-table concept coming to Clover. Town administrator Allison Harvey said there’s a farm-to-table and also a coffee and sandwich shop concept in the works in her town.
Alicia Griffith is co-owner of Carolina Chocolate Factory in downtown Clover and last fall started as Main Street director there. Griffith said the farm-to-table will be called Clover Harvest. It’ll open in April at 1007 Old North Main St.
“They’re doing everything fresh,” Griffith said. “They want to utilize the community.”
At 204 S. Main St., a new place called 1042 Cafe will open in the next month or so. It will have sandwiches, coffee, sodas and the like. Griffith said there’s a third Clover restaurant likely to open by summer on North Main Street but the name hasn’t been announced. Other happenings include an ownership change at the Water Tank with an outdoor seating area.
As a business owner in the area, Griffith said activity is exciting in Clover.
”We’re wanting all of it,” Griffith said.
In Rock Hill, a new development set to bring several new dining options now shows a longer list. The Power House previously announced plans for upscale steakhouse Epic Prime, Middle James Brewing Company, Ms. Lillian’s Kitchen, Flip Out Burger, Gordo & Chuli Taqueria, Naroodle Chibi, The Local Scoop and Javesca Coffee Roasters.
Now the Power House website shows Chilango Tacos Y Mas and Farm Haus Butcher & Beer Garden. Chilango, according to the site, is from the same family that brought Charanda and Cantina to Rock Hill. It will offer Mexican style street food. Farm Haus has an Indian Land location not far from Fort Mill. Farm Haus is a butcher shop and restaurant with sausages, burgers and other house-made items.
Check back for more.
This story was originally published March 14, 2023, 12:53 PM.
After 117 years, Great Falls gets its water back. New whitewater rapids to boost SC town
Tracy Kimballhttps://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/community/article273254925.html
South Carolina Sen. Mike Fanning rolled the legs of his suit pants above his knees and stepped barefoot into the cold Catawba River.Waving a handkerchief, he shouted to a dozen kayakers: “Ladies and gentlemen, the first launch in the history of the brand new whitewater here in Great Falls, S.C., make some noise!”The kayakers and attendees at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony cheered. He counted down from five.There were swoosh sounds as colorful kayaks launched in the dark waterway lined with trees. A...
South Carolina Sen. Mike Fanning rolled the legs of his suit pants above his knees and stepped barefoot into the cold Catawba River.
Waving a handkerchief, he shouted to a dozen kayakers: “Ladies and gentlemen, the first launch in the history of the brand new whitewater here in Great Falls, S.C., make some noise!”
The kayakers and attendees at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony cheered. He counted down from five.
There were swoosh sounds as colorful kayaks launched in the dark waterway lined with trees. After a short paddle, the kayakers — barely visible from a bridge — moved into a vast lake.
In the distance, the rapids formed.
More than a hundred people gathered in this small Chester County, S.C., town to celebrate the opening of a new access area on the river for whitewater rafting, paddling and other recreation. The opening is just one part of a large-scale project that has a unique history.
The channel on the river had not seen water in 117 years. Dams were built to divert water to power multiple mills and the community.
Duke Energy will officially open one of two bypass channels on Saturday for public use. The bypass is designed for leisurely kayaking and canoeing and is appropriate for families and individuals.
A short bypass, which is described as challenging, will open in August. The short bypass is for professional kayakers and experienced enthusiasts.
The river access areas and bypass channels are part of the Great Falls-Dearborn project — a large-scale design that has many components, including hiking trails, a state park, an historic visitor’s center, a pedestrian bridge, canoe and kayak launch sites, parking and restrooms. This all spans across nearly three miles along the scenic river.
The state park will be on Dearborn Island.
Duke Energy finalized a lease with the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism in early February to help the state develop a park on the 600-acre island. There will be trails and a campground. Duke is providing $1.5 million for the park, which may take several years to build, said Christy Churchill, the project’s recreation planner.
But Wednesday’s focus was the water.
Kevin Colburn is national stewardship director for American Whitewater, a river conservation organization. He described the bypasses as “otherworldly.”
“It’s sort of prehistoric,” he said. “You see these reptiles, these giant birds, fish the size of your leg — it’s not normal. It’s a very cool, unique, beautiful place.”
Colburn said the river is going to “roar back to life.”
“I mean, it’s really hard to build good whitewater, like shockingly hard,” he said. “It’s a whole lot of science and a whole lot of art. And they nailed it.”
The long bypass is a 2.25 mile stretch for leisure kayaking and canoeing and has Class II and III rapids.
The short bypass will have faster water flowing over three-quarters of a mile that will have Class III and IV rapids. Duke Energy controls how much water it releases into the channels. The flows are 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Water enters the long bypass through two flows. The larger flow provides water for paddlers downstream and for aquatic habitat enhancement, according to Ben Williamson, a spokes person for Duke Energy. Paddlers should enter the long bypass through the safe-boater bypass, he said.
Signs at the Nitrolee Access Area, where paddlers will enter the long bypass, show paddlers how to access the channel and gives details about appropriate watercraft and equipment, said Ellen Morton, Duke Energy spokesperson.
Churchill said opening the short bypass and trails has been delayed due to supply chain and construction hurdles.
“You can only get to the island to build those trails by barge,” she said. “And so sometimes, we’ve had days where we just couldn’t get there with all of our equipment.”
Tim Huffman, senior project manager for the project, said in 2014, his boss asked his opinion about the project.
“I told him that aside from the fact that the project was in two places, a crows flight, mile apart — one at the bottom of a river cliff, the other merely totally inaccessible, that there was no access to power, that the entire effort would be in the middle of a choke point in a river prone to flooding, and that we had zero idea of what we were actually supposed to do, that I saw no problems,” Huffman said jokingly.
Huffman described the short bypass as a “high tech piece,” and said they used marine fleet tugboats and a tower crane to “reach the unreachable.”
Huffman named nearly 85 people who worked on the project.
Fanning described the project as a “game changer.”
“We’re anticipating larger numbers of people coming down here regularly to get an experience that they can get nowhere else,” he said.
Great Falls Mayor Joshua Brantley said the access areas are going to bring opportunity to the town.
“There’s a ton on our plate, with what we’re going to have to do to try to manage and maintain the abundance of the tourists that will be here,” Brantley said.
Potential investors in the town have contacted him about bringing in jobs, retail, housing and mixed-use development, he said.
“It’s a matter of us really digging deep down into a master plan and really determining what is the best fit for Great Falls,” Brantley said.
Glinda Coleman, executive director of the Great Falls Home Town Association — a community and economic development non-profit— said developers have approached the town with ideas about using some of the abandoned mills, bringing in coffee shops, restaurants and places to stay.
Coleman did not elaborate on specific details, but said they are in negotiations.
The town association’s mission has been to bring nature-based tourism to the area, she said.
The association has plans for other trails, kayaking opportunities aside from whitewater, bird-watching, camping, cycling and plans for a “vibrant” Main Street in the “very near future.”
“Because of where Great Falls is, the river being here, it’s going to really be a great opportunity for growth in our area,” Coleman said. “And the whitewater is just the beginning.”
The access area and bypass channels don’t have have official names.
Duke Energy started construction on the project in 2020. As part of a new license for the Catawba-Wateree Project in 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires Duke to provide recreation, enhancement to water quality and quantity, wildlife and land conservation along the river.
The main focus of this project is to bring water back to the two channels, which once made up the 50-foot Great Falls of the Catawba, the town’s namesake.
Great Falls is between Charlotte and Columbia, and both cities are connected by Interstate 77. Charlotte is roughly an hour north of Great Falls (about 55 miles from Uptown). Columbia is 45 minutes from Great Falls (46 miles away). The drive from Rock Hill, S.C. is about 35 minutes.
Traveling south from Charlotte, a driver would take Exit 55. Traveling north from Columbia, take Exit 48.
This story was originally published March 17, 2023, 11:02 AM.
'A tremendous blessing' | Support pours in for Rock Hill family coping with father's ALS diagnosis
wcnc.comhttps://www.wcnc.com/article/features/rock-hill-family-coping-father-als-diagnosis-receiving-community-support/275-82a1054e-bb3b-428f-a5b7-1d335107fb2d
ROCK HILL, S.C. — A Rock Hill family is getting hope, thanks to the community, after a devastating diagnosis: Derek Ingram, a young father of three, is battling ALS.The Ingrams say they were stunned at the outpouring of community support- after their story was initially detailed on WCNC Charlotte, but that was back in December. It's unbelievabl...
ROCK HILL, S.C. — A Rock Hill family is getting hope, thanks to the community, after a devastating diagnosis: Derek Ingram, a young father of three, is battling ALS.
The Ingrams say they were stunned at the outpouring of community support- after their story was initially detailed on WCNC Charlotte, but that was back in December. It's unbelievable how much Derek has lost just in the last few months.
It is the little things that seem so big now.
PREVIOUSLY: Charlotte father of three hoping for a second miracle this Christmas following ALS diagnosis
"Kate loves to eat snacks with him, she gives herself a cracker and then her daddy a cracker and she loves that," Derek's wife, Amber, told WCNC Charlotte.
2 1/2-year-old Kate and Elle, who just turned one, are so young they don’t really understand what’s happened to their dad in the last year.
"It's like a flash you were able to do something two weeks ago that now is a challenge," Amber said.
Young father of 3 diagnosed with ALS
1 / 6
WCNC
But 7-year-old Beau knows exactly the toll ALS has taken on his dad. Just a year ago Derek was coaching Beau's little league team. Now he can only watch as his wife Amber subs in.
"It's hard for him, baseball season is gearing up and this time last year Derek was coaching," Amber explained.
You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku and Amazon Fire TV, just download the free app.
Derek has lost so much just in the last few months.
"Still feels like I’m in a bad dream that I can’t wake up from," Derek said.
He can barely talk now. The couple is trying to record his voice while he still has one.
"So he can record himself saying things like 'I love you.' Simple things he won’t be able to communicate if his voice continues to decline," Amber said.
"It's like being a prisoner stuck in my own body," Derek said. "My mind is still sharp."
When we first met the couple last November, Derek could get around on his own using his motorized wheelchair. Now he needs someone to put his hand on the joystick.
"It's not even day-by-day a lot of times, it's minute-by-minute," Amber said. "We have really good moments and some really defeating and all the things in between."
MORE NEWS: North Carolina 8-year-old to leave the hospital after January shooting
Derek says the hardest part is not being able to be the hands-on dad he was before. His 7-year-old quietly stepped in.
"In some ways [they] have reverse roles, he's picked up a lot of the things Derek would do, helping me get the girl's shoes on," Amber said."We're just hanging on to every little thing and refusing to give up."
Still, she says, they are hopeful the disease will slow its wrecking ball path. That’s in part because they know so many people are joining their fight. After our initial story aired, donations poured in to their GoFundMe.
"The encouragement we’ve received, people who have walked the same journey who get it who have reached out for encouragement, prayers, financial contributions, it’s just been a tremendous blessing for our family- we’re able to now afford a caregiver Monday-Friday," Amber said.
Local non-profit All Things Possible helped raise money and gifted them a wheelchair accessible van.
Big change possible for SC high school basketball playoffs. Here’s what we know
Lou Bezjakhttps://www.heraldonline.com/sports/high-school/article273274310.html
The South Carolina High School League will explore the possibility of holding its state basketball semifinals and championship games all at one venue.SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton brought the topic up Friday during an executive committee appeals meeting related to Dorman basketball.The idea for the postseason change was brought up during this week’s S.C. Athletic Administrators Association annual conference in Charleston. The state’s five classifications were each asked to discuss the possibility of holding th...
The South Carolina High School League will explore the possibility of holding its state basketball semifinals and championship games all at one venue.
SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton brought the topic up Friday during an executive committee appeals meeting related to Dorman basketball.
The idea for the postseason change was brought up during this week’s S.C. Athletic Administrators Association annual conference in Charleston. The state’s five classifications were each asked to discuss the possibility of holding the Upper State and Lower State championships — or semifinal games — and the state championships at one single venue over an eight-day period. The earliest times that games would begin on a given day would be 2 p.m., Singleton said.
Four of the five classifications would be in favor of making that change, it was revealed during Friday’s meeting, with Class 4A being against the idea. The biggest concern: Making sure the venue is centrally located, which might drop such cities as Greenville, Charleston and Rock Hill out of consideration for the games.
Singleton said he will begin the process of talking to possible arenas and bring more information on the topic before the executive committee meeting in April.
“Very few places that could meet requirements that we could do it. Appears the interest is there, excluding 4A, but it needs to be Florence Center or Columbia being the most centrally located for all schools,” Singleton said.
The Florence Center has a capacity of 7,686 for basketball and has hosted the Lower State championships for more than a decade. Colonial Life Arena in Columbia has a capacity of 18,000 and could easily accommodate the crowds for championships. The CLA had been the host for the championships for decades, but the rental cost was one of the factors that made the SCHSL move away from it.
Westwood High boys coach John Combs, the executive director of the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association, said there’s been talk among the coaches of wanting the games to come back to Columbia. He thinks it provides players and schools with the best overall experience.
“Colonial Life Arena is one of the best arenas out there, but if you can’t make it work financially then you can’t do it,” Combs said. “But I, as a basketball coach, would be perfectly fine with us playing in a state championship or lower, upper state championship (if it) meant we got to play in Colonial Life Arena and not make enough money — if I had a better experience as far as the arena to play in and have more fans there.
“I applaud the High School League for looking at this and being willing to try something different. I like that they are exploring and looking at it for next year right now.”
In previous years, the semifinals were held at different venues, with the state championship at another venue a few days later. The previous two years, the Upper State championships were held at Bob Jones University, the Lower State at Florence Center and state championships at USC Aiken (3,500-4,100 capacity).
The league was poised to host this year’s championships at Winthrop (6,100-seat capacity), but a conflict prevented it.
The issue with Bob Jones (4,000 seats) and USC Aiken has been capacity, at least with bigger classifications and having ticket allotment capped per school — and sometimes none being able to be released for sale to the general public.
Camden athletic director Brian Rimpf said the school would have been able to sell several hundred more tickets above the 500 allotted the past two years. The Bulldogs girls basketball team has made it to the Class 3A state championship game the past two seasons, winning it all this year against Wren.
Combs also said Westwood probably could have sold more tickets this year. The Redhawks made it to the 4A girls basketball championship for the first time.
“We are running into venues that have capped the number of tickets being sold, and there are people who want to be in that couldn’t be in,” Singleton said. “... I wouldn’t pursue one that would cost more than you can make. It is an economic impact in the area we go to.”
The SCHSL executive committee voted 9-2 to allow the Dorman basketball team to play in the inaugural Throne Hoops tournament at Morehouse College in Georgia on March 29-April 1.
Dorman will have to give up summer practice days for the amount of games played in the event. The Cavaliers won their fifth Class 5A championship in the past seven seasons earlier this month.
The tournament is being sponsored by the NBA Players Association and features some of the country’s top high school basketball teams. The SCHSL had denied Dorman’s request because the event was not sanctioned by the National Federation of High Schools.
This was the second time Dorman has been selected to play in a national postseason event. The Cavs were picked to play in GEICO Nationals in 2020, and the SCHSL executive committee granted their appeal to play in the event. The event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic.
This story was originally published March 17, 2023, 2:53 PM.
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