Gov. John Kitzhaber is hailing a federal decision that will allow Oregonians to get federal tax credits for their health insurance, even if they had to buy coverage outside Cover Oregon due to the exchange’s now-notorious technical glitches. People can retroactively apply for federal financial assistance even if they bought insurance through the private market. “Today’s news means that many more Oregonians will be able to access better coverage at a more affordable cost,” Kitzhaber said…
Reported by bizjournals 3 hours ago.
Financial help just got a little easier for Oregon insurance buyers
↧
↧
A New Perspective on Obamacare
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently reported that 4 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance plans through the federal and state-based marketplaces. Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) closes March 31, so the government has just over a month to get an additional 2 million people to sign up to reach its goal of 6 million. Those seeking health insurance can enroll through HealthCare.gov, via the government call center, on third-party marketplace sites such as eHealth or in person with a government-certified navigator or health insurance agent. The latest detailed report of enrollment includes information about gender and age distribution for those who have enrolled, as well as the type of plan they have selected -- but it remains to be seen how things will shake out come March 31. Health insurance agents who are certified to sell Marketplace plans are very knowledgeable about the plans themselves -- not to mention the insurance shoppers they've been working with since October. Here is how enrollment looks -- from the insurance agent's perspective.
*Which types of plans are health insurance shoppers interested in?*
Enrollment numbers say Silver plans are the most popular -- 62 percent of Marketplace plans that have been selected are Silver plans. According to Jeffrey D. Peterson, a certified agent for Covered California (California's health insurance Marketplace), "Silver is the hot metal tier." The reasoning behind this is that only Silver plans have "cost-sharing reductions ...[which] lower copays and deductibles, and many people qualify for both the subsidy and the cost-sharing reduction." Find out if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions -- your savings will depend on your income.
Some agents, however, see a trend towards higher metal tiers. John W. Seltzer of J. Seltzer Associates in Pennsylvania says that all of his clients are selecting Gold or Platinum plans. He says "metal levels are meaningless since there is no basis to compare plans of each metal level between carriers or even within the same carrier." While the Obama administration touts the importance of "apple-to-apple" comparisons across plans, it's possible that some consumers can't grasp this concept -- and, therefore, that its utility is lost on many insurance shoppers.
*What problems are people encountering?*
Problems with the rollout of the ACA have not been limited to website glitches. Some people have encountered issues even after successfully purchasing a plan. Kevin Murray of The HIQS Group in Connecticut spoke of clients whose physician and facility accepted their insurance carrier--but "they would not accept the coverage due to that fact that it was specifically an Exchange product... these clients were faced with the out-of-network, out-of-pocket maximum of $36,000."
Others face the problem of a large deductible. According to Murray, many receive a "substantial premium subsidy," which makes monthly premiums affordable. In fact, HHS reports that 82% of enrollees thus far have selected a plan with financial assistance. Many of these plans, however, will still require enrollees "to fulfill a large deductible expense." This means that--besides free preventive screenings -- these policyholders will have to pay the full price for many health services until they reach their thousands-of-dollars deductible.
*What do sign-up demographics look like?*
According to HHS, 31 percent of people who have selected a plan are between the ages of 0 and 34. That puts 69 percent of enrollees over 35 years of age -- outside of the "young invincible" demographic and more prone to health problems. According to Peterson, many enrollees are coming with pre-existing conditions including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and pregnancy. Chronic conditions, which can be very costly to insurance companies, seem quite prevalent -- Peterson says, "the number fighting cancer seems much higher than we expected."
*What needs improvement?*
Everyone seems to have an opinion of the ACA and his or her own ideas about what needs to be done to change it. Insurance agent Ken Matheson hopes to see improvements in "technology, training, [and] information communication." He points to software glitches, as well as understaffing for the Marketplace.
"I can't think of another industry were people are on hold for several hours, and people are actually so desperate for help that they do hold for several hours," he said.
It is clear that many people stand to benefit from the ACA, but enrolling these people and making sure they get access to the appropriate coverage is proving to be a big challenge -- for the government, for insurance agents and for the individuals who are going through the enrollment process. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
*Which types of plans are health insurance shoppers interested in?*
Enrollment numbers say Silver plans are the most popular -- 62 percent of Marketplace plans that have been selected are Silver plans. According to Jeffrey D. Peterson, a certified agent for Covered California (California's health insurance Marketplace), "Silver is the hot metal tier." The reasoning behind this is that only Silver plans have "cost-sharing reductions ...[which] lower copays and deductibles, and many people qualify for both the subsidy and the cost-sharing reduction." Find out if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions -- your savings will depend on your income.
Some agents, however, see a trend towards higher metal tiers. John W. Seltzer of J. Seltzer Associates in Pennsylvania says that all of his clients are selecting Gold or Platinum plans. He says "metal levels are meaningless since there is no basis to compare plans of each metal level between carriers or even within the same carrier." While the Obama administration touts the importance of "apple-to-apple" comparisons across plans, it's possible that some consumers can't grasp this concept -- and, therefore, that its utility is lost on many insurance shoppers.
*What problems are people encountering?*
Problems with the rollout of the ACA have not been limited to website glitches. Some people have encountered issues even after successfully purchasing a plan. Kevin Murray of The HIQS Group in Connecticut spoke of clients whose physician and facility accepted their insurance carrier--but "they would not accept the coverage due to that fact that it was specifically an Exchange product... these clients were faced with the out-of-network, out-of-pocket maximum of $36,000."
Others face the problem of a large deductible. According to Murray, many receive a "substantial premium subsidy," which makes monthly premiums affordable. In fact, HHS reports that 82% of enrollees thus far have selected a plan with financial assistance. Many of these plans, however, will still require enrollees "to fulfill a large deductible expense." This means that--besides free preventive screenings -- these policyholders will have to pay the full price for many health services until they reach their thousands-of-dollars deductible.
*What do sign-up demographics look like?*
According to HHS, 31 percent of people who have selected a plan are between the ages of 0 and 34. That puts 69 percent of enrollees over 35 years of age -- outside of the "young invincible" demographic and more prone to health problems. According to Peterson, many enrollees are coming with pre-existing conditions including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and pregnancy. Chronic conditions, which can be very costly to insurance companies, seem quite prevalent -- Peterson says, "the number fighting cancer seems much higher than we expected."
*What needs improvement?*
Everyone seems to have an opinion of the ACA and his or her own ideas about what needs to be done to change it. Insurance agent Ken Matheson hopes to see improvements in "technology, training, [and] information communication." He points to software glitches, as well as understaffing for the Marketplace.
"I can't think of another industry were people are on hold for several hours, and people are actually so desperate for help that they do hold for several hours," he said.
It is clear that many people stand to benefit from the ACA, but enrolling these people and making sure they get access to the appropriate coverage is proving to be a big challenge -- for the government, for insurance agents and for the individuals who are going through the enrollment process. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
↧
HUFFPOST HILL - The 1980s Called. They Want Their Geopolitics Back
Michelle Obama came out against mom jeans, inviting serious backlash from the Maternal Denim Association of America. In a blatant bit of racebaiting, President Obama proclaimed March "Irish Heritage Month." And Obama left his impromptu press conference about Russian aggression in Ukraine this evening to begin a Rocky IV-style training montage in the White House barn, replete with wood-chopping and upside-down sit-ups. This is HUFFPOST HILL for Friday, February 28th, 2014:
*UKRAINE SITUATION NOT GOOD* - Reuters: "Armed men took control of two airports in the Crimea region on Friday in what the new Ukrainian leadership described as an invasion by Moscow's forces, and ousted President Viktor Yanukovich surfaced in Russia after a week on the run." [Reuters]
*PRESIDENT OBAMA JUST NOW:* "Throughout this crisis, we have been very clear about one fundamental principle: The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future. Together with our european allies, we have urged an end to the violence and encouraged ukrainians to pursue a course in which they stabilize their country, form a broad-based government and move to elections this spring. I also spoke several days ago with President Putin and my administration has been in daily communication with Russian officials. And we have made clear that they can be part of an international community's effort to support the stability and success of a united Ukraine going forward, which is not only in the interests of the people of the Ukraine and the international community but also in Russia's interests. *However, we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the russian federation inside of the Ukraine.*"
*2012 DEBATE FLASHBACK:* Obama to Romney on Russia: "The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War's been over for 20 years."
*GEORGIA JUDGE FIGHT GETS REAL* - After White House General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler went on record to HuffPost's Jen Bendery, pinning blame for a controversial judicial deal to confirm four Republican and two Democratic judges on the so-called "blue slip" rule, opposition among Senate Democrats only seems to have increased. *"If the president sends up a nominee, they ought to at least get a hearing, and we will see where we go from there," Leahy told NYT's Carl Hulse. "I am not committed one way or the other...The deal is with the president, not me."* For non-Hill readers unaccustomed to the collegial way elbows are thrown around here, that quote is basically Senate profanity being hurled at the White House. Conn. Dem Richard Blumenthal added his own spitting rage, Senate style: *"I am strongly considering whether he should be withdrawn* because I have very serious concerns about some of the really unwise and inappropriate views he has stated." Earlier, he had only said that a lefty letter had "raised legitimate and important questions" about one of the judges, Michael Boggs. [NYT]
*SENATE DEMS NOT DOING A NEW BUDGET THIS YEAR* - The last one is still fine if they just rub a dryer sheet on it. "*Democrats in the U.S. Senate won't bother with passing their own budget this year, arguing that a deal in December has already set spending levels for the 2015 fiscal year, and 'relitigating' it would create economic uncertainty*. Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray said in a statement on Friday she would prefer to focus on promoting longer-term budget priorities for the Democratic Party, including measures to boost economic growth. The move will keep Democrats' election-year fiscal message focused on President Barack Obama's own 2015 budget request, due out on Tuesday, which will lay out his plans to shift spending to education, roads and a tax credit for low-income Americans. 'While this budget year is settled and it wouldn't be productive to relitigate it so soon after our two-year deal, I plan to work with my colleagues on the Budget Committee to lay out our long-term vision for creating jobs, boosting the economy, and tackling our deficits fairly and responsibly,' Murray said." [Reuters]
*OH GOOD* - @ChadPergram: DC Del to Congress Norton says TSA tells her it issued communication to screeners that DC driver's license is valid travel ID.
*WHAT HAS MICHAEL PHELPS' BONG PHOTO LAWYER BEEN UP TO?* Reforming the criminal justice system, of course. Ryan Reilly: "U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles is testing out a novel approach to dealing with drug-related crime, one that aims to clean up the streets by looking beyond mass arrests and incarceration. Conway is the third city in South Carolina to implement a version of the plan, and federal prosecutors in other states and the Justice Department are watching closely. If the program's success continues in South Carolina, it could become a model for law enforcement across the country. 'What I want to do is to make the people's lives who are law-abiding citizens in this community better,' Nettles said on the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Conway from his office in Columbia last month. '*Incarceration is no longer the goal, but is one of many tools available to allow you to effect your goal of improving their lives*. It represents a fundamental shift, a seismic shift in terms of how you're viewing what you're doing.' '*When you declare a 'war on drugs,' the community sees the cops as the occupiers, and the cops see the people in the community as enemy combatants*,' Nettles said. "Well, that's not the way it's supposed to be.'" [HuffPost]
*HuffPost Haircuts:* Shadee Ashtari.
*NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS FROM CLINTON WHITE HOUSE* - Ken Thomas and Philip Elliott: "The National Archives released about 4,000 pages of previously confidential documents involving the former president's administration, providing a glimpse into the struggles of his health care task force, led by the first lady, and other priorities such as the U.S. economy and the North American Free Trade Agreement…. Top aides wrote an April 1993 memo saying pessimistic cost-savings projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office were 'petrifying an already scared Congress.' 'CBO has the very real potential to sink an already leaking health reform ship,' said the memo…. *The meetings also showed that Mrs. Clinton was doubtful that a health care law with a universal mandate — requiring people to carry health insurance — would be approved. 'That is politically and substantively a much harder sell than the one we've got — a much harder sell,'* she told congressional Democrats in September 1993. Caputo also proposed the *'wild idea' of having Clinton do a guest appearance on a popular sitcom of the day, 'Home Improvement*.'" [Associated Press]
Think "team of rivals" but with Al Borland, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Wilson, the advice-giving neighbor who conceals his face at all times.
@samsteinhp: In which Rahm appears to be advising Clinton to "shove it up his ass" re: Charlton Heston http://t.co/08Op3oAIN7
*WALL STREET HAS POOP PANTS OVER CAMP TAX PLAN* - Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer & Lauren French: "Wall Street is warning Washington Republicans: The money spigot is turning off. *Rep. Dave Camp’s tax proposal — which jacked up taxes on banks and threatens the bottom line of some major private equity players in New York — has infuriated donors in high finance.* Private equity and investment firms in New York are telling key Republican players in D.C. that commitments for big-dollar fundraising have been 'canceled for the foreseeable future,' according to one GOP lobbyist with knowledge of the conversations. *Lobbyists for Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan and others are meeting privately with lawmakers to explain what the bank tax would cost and how it would function.* Big banks want to turn Republicans against the bank tax. The situation puts the party at risk of seeing a reliable source of campaign cash dry up right in the middle of a critical election year." [Politico]
Wahhhhh. Don't worry, Wall Street. Dave Camp's scary tax plan won't get a vote.
*DAILY DELANEY DOWNER* - Reuters: "The U.S. government slashed its estimate for fourth-quarter growth as consumer spending and exports were less robust than initially thought, leaving the economy on a more sustainable path of modest expansion. Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.4 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday. That was down sharply from the 3.2 percent pace reported last month and the 4.1 percent logged in the third quarter." [Reuters]
Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here. Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to huffposthill@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill
*THIS WEEK IN JUST-FOR-FUN LEGISLATION* - Reuters: "The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to overhaul the U.S. consumer financial watchdog, although the politically charged legislation stands little chance of becoming law." [Reuters]
FishbowlDC Q&A with HuffPost's man in Damascus, Josh Hersh.
*CONSERVATIVE DEM JUMPS IN MISSISSIPPI SENATE RACE* - "Travis Childers, a conservative Democrat who served just over two years in Congress, says he's running for the U.S. Senate in Mississippi. The 55-year-old Childers told The Associated Press on Friday that he's qualifying for the seat that Republican Thad Cochran first won in 1978. Cochran faces a challenge from two-term state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary, Childers will face Bill Marcy, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the U.S. House as a tea party Republican. Primaries are June 3." [Associated Press]
*EPA SAYS NO TO MINE* - Kate Sheppard: "The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it is beginning a process that could block a massive proposed gold mine in Alaska from being built. The Pebble Mine is a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine that could be up to 2 miles long, a mile and a half wide, and 1,700 feet deep -- the largest of its type in North America. The proposed site for the mine is at the headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers, which feed into the Bristol Bay. It is the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, producing nearly half of the world's wild sockeye. The EPA said Friday that it is invoking Clean Water Act protections that would stop its construction, citing concerns about the threat it poses to the bay and the fish that depend on it." [HuffPost]
*THREE DAY WEEKEND ANYONE?* - @capitalweather: Enough potential for wintry mess Monday a.m. that you may want to be prepared to work from home: http://t.co/OFYELE733j
*MICHELLE OBAMA COMES OUT AGAINST MOM JEANS* - Has she not seen her husband's pants on weekends? "First lady Michelle Obama has a mom dance, but she just says no to mom jeans. The first lady showed former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager how to boogie like a mom during an interview for NBC's 'Today' show. They were talking about Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign. When Hager asked about mom jeans, the first lady said, quote, 'I'm not a mom jeans kind of mom.' *Mom jeans are an '80s style that is widely considered unflattering to women. They have a light wash, a high waist, fit loosely and are tapered at the ankle*." Nice description, Associated Press!
*HAPPY IRISH HERITAGE MONTH* - Barack Obama: "Irish Americans have defended our country through times of war, strengthened communities from coast to coast, and poured sweat and blood into building our infrastructure and raising our skyscrapers. Some endured hunger, hardship, and prejudice; many rose to be leaders of government, industry, or culture." Thanks, Irish people! [WhiteHouse.gov]
*POACH ALERT:* Roll Call Editor-in-Chief Christina Bellantoni announced today that Assistant Managing Editor Sara Bondioli is leaving to become Deputy Politics Editor at the Huffington Post.
*BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR* - Here is a piglet descending a staircase.
*CLASSIC O'REILLY* - In case you were wondering what he was up to. Catherine Taibi: "Well, we know one person who isn't listening to Kanye West's latest album: Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly told Obama's senior advisor Valerie Jarrett on Thursday night that if the White House is serious about implementing their new program to help strengthen minority communities, they need to 'attack' the source of the problem. Which, he said, is obviously Jay-Z and Kanye West, right? '*You have to attack the fundamental disease if you want to cure it,' the Fox News host said. 'You're gonna have to get people like Jay-Z, Kanye West, all these gangsta rappers to knock it off.'" [HuffPost]
*COMFORT FOOD*
- Child at Costco wows customers with his piano skills. [http://huff.to/NbI1EE]
- The company behind Twitter accounts like @historyinpics makes $1 million a month. [http://onforb.es/1kd0H4V]
- Why do we cry -- aside from the crushing nature of existence? [http://bit.ly/1fw2Iaj]
- Jean-Claude Van Damme splits once more... this time in space. [http://huff.to/1oaVurN]
- A mashup of the upcoming "Godzilla" remake and "Breaking Bad." [http://bit.ly/1lp6www]
- Boy with aspergers befriends sea lion. [http://huff.to/1mMkgzI]
*TWITTERAMA*
@lachlan: "Time for some traffic problems in Crimea." -Putin, probably
@nickconfessore: Never get involved in a land war in Eurasia.
@jamieson: Speaking of mom jeans, my mother still refers to them as 'dungarees'
*Got something to add? Send tips/quotes/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to Eliot Nelson (eliot@huffingtonpost.com), Ryan Grim (ryan@huffingtonpost.com) or Arthur Delaney (arthur@huffingtonpost.com). Follow us on Twitter @HuffPostHill (twitter.com/HuffPostHill). Sign up here: http://huff.to/an2k2e*
* Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
*UKRAINE SITUATION NOT GOOD* - Reuters: "Armed men took control of two airports in the Crimea region on Friday in what the new Ukrainian leadership described as an invasion by Moscow's forces, and ousted President Viktor Yanukovich surfaced in Russia after a week on the run." [Reuters]
*PRESIDENT OBAMA JUST NOW:* "Throughout this crisis, we have been very clear about one fundamental principle: The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future. Together with our european allies, we have urged an end to the violence and encouraged ukrainians to pursue a course in which they stabilize their country, form a broad-based government and move to elections this spring. I also spoke several days ago with President Putin and my administration has been in daily communication with Russian officials. And we have made clear that they can be part of an international community's effort to support the stability and success of a united Ukraine going forward, which is not only in the interests of the people of the Ukraine and the international community but also in Russia's interests. *However, we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the russian federation inside of the Ukraine.*"
*2012 DEBATE FLASHBACK:* Obama to Romney on Russia: "The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War's been over for 20 years."
*GEORGIA JUDGE FIGHT GETS REAL* - After White House General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler went on record to HuffPost's Jen Bendery, pinning blame for a controversial judicial deal to confirm four Republican and two Democratic judges on the so-called "blue slip" rule, opposition among Senate Democrats only seems to have increased. *"If the president sends up a nominee, they ought to at least get a hearing, and we will see where we go from there," Leahy told NYT's Carl Hulse. "I am not committed one way or the other...The deal is with the president, not me."* For non-Hill readers unaccustomed to the collegial way elbows are thrown around here, that quote is basically Senate profanity being hurled at the White House. Conn. Dem Richard Blumenthal added his own spitting rage, Senate style: *"I am strongly considering whether he should be withdrawn* because I have very serious concerns about some of the really unwise and inappropriate views he has stated." Earlier, he had only said that a lefty letter had "raised legitimate and important questions" about one of the judges, Michael Boggs. [NYT]
*SENATE DEMS NOT DOING A NEW BUDGET THIS YEAR* - The last one is still fine if they just rub a dryer sheet on it. "*Democrats in the U.S. Senate won't bother with passing their own budget this year, arguing that a deal in December has already set spending levels for the 2015 fiscal year, and 'relitigating' it would create economic uncertainty*. Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray said in a statement on Friday she would prefer to focus on promoting longer-term budget priorities for the Democratic Party, including measures to boost economic growth. The move will keep Democrats' election-year fiscal message focused on President Barack Obama's own 2015 budget request, due out on Tuesday, which will lay out his plans to shift spending to education, roads and a tax credit for low-income Americans. 'While this budget year is settled and it wouldn't be productive to relitigate it so soon after our two-year deal, I plan to work with my colleagues on the Budget Committee to lay out our long-term vision for creating jobs, boosting the economy, and tackling our deficits fairly and responsibly,' Murray said." [Reuters]
*OH GOOD* - @ChadPergram: DC Del to Congress Norton says TSA tells her it issued communication to screeners that DC driver's license is valid travel ID.
*WHAT HAS MICHAEL PHELPS' BONG PHOTO LAWYER BEEN UP TO?* Reforming the criminal justice system, of course. Ryan Reilly: "U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles is testing out a novel approach to dealing with drug-related crime, one that aims to clean up the streets by looking beyond mass arrests and incarceration. Conway is the third city in South Carolina to implement a version of the plan, and federal prosecutors in other states and the Justice Department are watching closely. If the program's success continues in South Carolina, it could become a model for law enforcement across the country. 'What I want to do is to make the people's lives who are law-abiding citizens in this community better,' Nettles said on the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Conway from his office in Columbia last month. '*Incarceration is no longer the goal, but is one of many tools available to allow you to effect your goal of improving their lives*. It represents a fundamental shift, a seismic shift in terms of how you're viewing what you're doing.' '*When you declare a 'war on drugs,' the community sees the cops as the occupiers, and the cops see the people in the community as enemy combatants*,' Nettles said. "Well, that's not the way it's supposed to be.'" [HuffPost]
*HuffPost Haircuts:* Shadee Ashtari.
*NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS FROM CLINTON WHITE HOUSE* - Ken Thomas and Philip Elliott: "The National Archives released about 4,000 pages of previously confidential documents involving the former president's administration, providing a glimpse into the struggles of his health care task force, led by the first lady, and other priorities such as the U.S. economy and the North American Free Trade Agreement…. Top aides wrote an April 1993 memo saying pessimistic cost-savings projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office were 'petrifying an already scared Congress.' 'CBO has the very real potential to sink an already leaking health reform ship,' said the memo…. *The meetings also showed that Mrs. Clinton was doubtful that a health care law with a universal mandate — requiring people to carry health insurance — would be approved. 'That is politically and substantively a much harder sell than the one we've got — a much harder sell,'* she told congressional Democrats in September 1993. Caputo also proposed the *'wild idea' of having Clinton do a guest appearance on a popular sitcom of the day, 'Home Improvement*.'" [Associated Press]
Think "team of rivals" but with Al Borland, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Wilson, the advice-giving neighbor who conceals his face at all times.
@samsteinhp: In which Rahm appears to be advising Clinton to "shove it up his ass" re: Charlton Heston http://t.co/08Op3oAIN7
*WALL STREET HAS POOP PANTS OVER CAMP TAX PLAN* - Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer & Lauren French: "Wall Street is warning Washington Republicans: The money spigot is turning off. *Rep. Dave Camp’s tax proposal — which jacked up taxes on banks and threatens the bottom line of some major private equity players in New York — has infuriated donors in high finance.* Private equity and investment firms in New York are telling key Republican players in D.C. that commitments for big-dollar fundraising have been 'canceled for the foreseeable future,' according to one GOP lobbyist with knowledge of the conversations. *Lobbyists for Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan and others are meeting privately with lawmakers to explain what the bank tax would cost and how it would function.* Big banks want to turn Republicans against the bank tax. The situation puts the party at risk of seeing a reliable source of campaign cash dry up right in the middle of a critical election year." [Politico]
Wahhhhh. Don't worry, Wall Street. Dave Camp's scary tax plan won't get a vote.
*DAILY DELANEY DOWNER* - Reuters: "The U.S. government slashed its estimate for fourth-quarter growth as consumer spending and exports were less robust than initially thought, leaving the economy on a more sustainable path of modest expansion. Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.4 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday. That was down sharply from the 3.2 percent pace reported last month and the 4.1 percent logged in the third quarter." [Reuters]
Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here. Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to huffposthill@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill
*THIS WEEK IN JUST-FOR-FUN LEGISLATION* - Reuters: "The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to overhaul the U.S. consumer financial watchdog, although the politically charged legislation stands little chance of becoming law." [Reuters]
FishbowlDC Q&A with HuffPost's man in Damascus, Josh Hersh.
*CONSERVATIVE DEM JUMPS IN MISSISSIPPI SENATE RACE* - "Travis Childers, a conservative Democrat who served just over two years in Congress, says he's running for the U.S. Senate in Mississippi. The 55-year-old Childers told The Associated Press on Friday that he's qualifying for the seat that Republican Thad Cochran first won in 1978. Cochran faces a challenge from two-term state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary, Childers will face Bill Marcy, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the U.S. House as a tea party Republican. Primaries are June 3." [Associated Press]
*EPA SAYS NO TO MINE* - Kate Sheppard: "The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it is beginning a process that could block a massive proposed gold mine in Alaska from being built. The Pebble Mine is a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine that could be up to 2 miles long, a mile and a half wide, and 1,700 feet deep -- the largest of its type in North America. The proposed site for the mine is at the headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers, which feed into the Bristol Bay. It is the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, producing nearly half of the world's wild sockeye. The EPA said Friday that it is invoking Clean Water Act protections that would stop its construction, citing concerns about the threat it poses to the bay and the fish that depend on it." [HuffPost]
*THREE DAY WEEKEND ANYONE?* - @capitalweather: Enough potential for wintry mess Monday a.m. that you may want to be prepared to work from home: http://t.co/OFYELE733j
*MICHELLE OBAMA COMES OUT AGAINST MOM JEANS* - Has she not seen her husband's pants on weekends? "First lady Michelle Obama has a mom dance, but she just says no to mom jeans. The first lady showed former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager how to boogie like a mom during an interview for NBC's 'Today' show. They were talking about Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign. When Hager asked about mom jeans, the first lady said, quote, 'I'm not a mom jeans kind of mom.' *Mom jeans are an '80s style that is widely considered unflattering to women. They have a light wash, a high waist, fit loosely and are tapered at the ankle*." Nice description, Associated Press!
*HAPPY IRISH HERITAGE MONTH* - Barack Obama: "Irish Americans have defended our country through times of war, strengthened communities from coast to coast, and poured sweat and blood into building our infrastructure and raising our skyscrapers. Some endured hunger, hardship, and prejudice; many rose to be leaders of government, industry, or culture." Thanks, Irish people! [WhiteHouse.gov]
*POACH ALERT:* Roll Call Editor-in-Chief Christina Bellantoni announced today that Assistant Managing Editor Sara Bondioli is leaving to become Deputy Politics Editor at the Huffington Post.
*BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR* - Here is a piglet descending a staircase.
*CLASSIC O'REILLY* - In case you were wondering what he was up to. Catherine Taibi: "Well, we know one person who isn't listening to Kanye West's latest album: Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly told Obama's senior advisor Valerie Jarrett on Thursday night that if the White House is serious about implementing their new program to help strengthen minority communities, they need to 'attack' the source of the problem. Which, he said, is obviously Jay-Z and Kanye West, right? '*You have to attack the fundamental disease if you want to cure it,' the Fox News host said. 'You're gonna have to get people like Jay-Z, Kanye West, all these gangsta rappers to knock it off.'" [HuffPost]
*COMFORT FOOD*
- Child at Costco wows customers with his piano skills. [http://huff.to/NbI1EE]
- The company behind Twitter accounts like @historyinpics makes $1 million a month. [http://onforb.es/1kd0H4V]
- Why do we cry -- aside from the crushing nature of existence? [http://bit.ly/1fw2Iaj]
- Jean-Claude Van Damme splits once more... this time in space. [http://huff.to/1oaVurN]
- A mashup of the upcoming "Godzilla" remake and "Breaking Bad." [http://bit.ly/1lp6www]
- Boy with aspergers befriends sea lion. [http://huff.to/1mMkgzI]
*TWITTERAMA*
@lachlan: "Time for some traffic problems in Crimea." -Putin, probably
@nickconfessore: Never get involved in a land war in Eurasia.
@jamieson: Speaking of mom jeans, my mother still refers to them as 'dungarees'
*Got something to add? Send tips/quotes/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to Eliot Nelson (eliot@huffingtonpost.com), Ryan Grim (ryan@huffingtonpost.com) or Arthur Delaney (arthur@huffingtonpost.com). Follow us on Twitter @HuffPostHill (twitter.com/HuffPostHill). Sign up here: http://huff.to/an2k2e*
* Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
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After credits, Colorado's highest health premiums found in metro area
Though Colorado's mountain resort communities have some of the highest health insurance premiums in the country, they will be lower than those in the Denver area after Affordable Care Act tax
Reported by Denver Post 2 hours ago.
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Tax Credit Available to Some State Health Exchange Users
The Obama administration said consumers having trouble enrolling in health insurance in states running their own exchange could still be eligible for tax credits to help pay for the insurance.
Reported by Wall Street Journal 43 minutes ago.
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House OKs shifting cigarette tax to roads, water
Though a legal challenge in January by a fish producer near Hagerman that threatened to shut down up to 157,000 acres of farm ground was at least temporarily resolved last week, Lynn Tominaga, a lobbyist for the groundwater group, said there are scores of potential projects his group may now be able to undertake to remedy persistent water shortages and avoid similar conflicts in the future. In early January, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announced he wanted to spend nearly $11 million no longer needed for the bond payments to offset Idaho's share of the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income, elderly and disabled people. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network floated the notion of funding long-term tobacco-cessation programs — or creating a more robust campaign to keep young people from lighting up_could pay dividends in terms of future health-related costs. During debate Friday, the bill's few naysayers argued the highway funding provisions were a radical departure from Idaho's tradition of paying for road and bridge work with fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees — not with general taxpayer money needed for education, prisons and Medicaid.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 41 minutes ago.
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Red Carpet Protesters Ask For Yearly Wages That Add Up To At Least One Oscar Gown
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Days before celebrities strut their Armani and Gucci gowns at the Oscars, protesters rallied on the red carpet Friday to shine a spotlight on one of the awards show's biggest disparities.
The security officers and others who make the star-studded event happen often earn yearly wages that are topped by the price of a single designer dress. About 50 security officers and supporters demonstrated in the lobby of the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard to protest the low pay and part-time work schedules they said leave security officers in poverty.
"When a dress becomes more valuable than the security officer who is protecting the lives of the entertainers and the folks that come to the event, that's tragic," Robert Branch, a security officer who has a full-time, union-negotiated job in downtown Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post.
The protest was coordinated by the Service Employees International Union, which represents some security officers, janitors and other service workers, including Branch.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which coordinates the Oscars every year, contracts its security officers through Security Industry Specialists, a non-union security company. According to the SEIU, SIS pays security officers about $15 an hour, but keeps most workers on part-time schedules, preventing them from qualifying for health insurance and paid sick days.
Part-time hours also prevent a viable income, the union said. If a security worker is making $15 an hour and working 20 hours a week, for example, earnings before taxes would be about $15,000 a year. Oscar gowns, by comparison, reportedly can cost upwards of $15,000.
"It's hypocritical for Hollywood, with its Screen Actors Guild and other unions, to contract out non-union security officers," Branch continued. "Why can't security officers have protection too?"
The academy declined to comment.
Tom Seltz, co-president of SIS, said fewer than half of SIS employees are part time, although he said he did not know the exact number. In December, NPR reported that more than half of SIS employees were part time and without benefits, some relying on public assistance.
SIS provides security for large companies in Silicon Valley, including Google, Apple, Twitter and EBay. The security company is growing in Los Angeles, but still only has a few clients. For the Oscars, SIS subcontracted security officers to two companies, Staff Pro and McRoberts Protective. Seltz said he's not sure what hours and wages the two subcontractors provide, and neither company responded to HuffPost's request for comment.
Seltz maintained that when SIS has enough work to justify making an employee full time, it does so. He said SIS pays hourly wages ranging from $15 to $24. He accused SEIU of harassing SIS security officers about joining the union.
SEIU said in a statement that more than 40,000 security officers in the U.S., including more than 7,000 in California, have joined the union. Security officers in Los Angeles negotiated their first union contract in 2006. Branch said that, compared when he was a non-union security officer, he has more money, more employment security and more sick and vacation time as a union member.
Earlier this month, SEIU protested with about 40 security officers and community members at the Oscars nominee luncheon, attended by more than 100 nominees, including A-list actors and directors. The group plans to protest at the red carpet again during the Oscars on Sunday. Reported by Huffington Post 1 day ago.
The security officers and others who make the star-studded event happen often earn yearly wages that are topped by the price of a single designer dress. About 50 security officers and supporters demonstrated in the lobby of the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard to protest the low pay and part-time work schedules they said leave security officers in poverty.
"When a dress becomes more valuable than the security officer who is protecting the lives of the entertainers and the folks that come to the event, that's tragic," Robert Branch, a security officer who has a full-time, union-negotiated job in downtown Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post.
The protest was coordinated by the Service Employees International Union, which represents some security officers, janitors and other service workers, including Branch.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which coordinates the Oscars every year, contracts its security officers through Security Industry Specialists, a non-union security company. According to the SEIU, SIS pays security officers about $15 an hour, but keeps most workers on part-time schedules, preventing them from qualifying for health insurance and paid sick days.
Part-time hours also prevent a viable income, the union said. If a security worker is making $15 an hour and working 20 hours a week, for example, earnings before taxes would be about $15,000 a year. Oscar gowns, by comparison, reportedly can cost upwards of $15,000.
"It's hypocritical for Hollywood, with its Screen Actors Guild and other unions, to contract out non-union security officers," Branch continued. "Why can't security officers have protection too?"
The academy declined to comment.
Tom Seltz, co-president of SIS, said fewer than half of SIS employees are part time, although he said he did not know the exact number. In December, NPR reported that more than half of SIS employees were part time and without benefits, some relying on public assistance.
SIS provides security for large companies in Silicon Valley, including Google, Apple, Twitter and EBay. The security company is growing in Los Angeles, but still only has a few clients. For the Oscars, SIS subcontracted security officers to two companies, Staff Pro and McRoberts Protective. Seltz said he's not sure what hours and wages the two subcontractors provide, and neither company responded to HuffPost's request for comment.
Seltz maintained that when SIS has enough work to justify making an employee full time, it does so. He said SIS pays hourly wages ranging from $15 to $24. He accused SEIU of harassing SIS security officers about joining the union.
SEIU said in a statement that more than 40,000 security officers in the U.S., including more than 7,000 in California, have joined the union. Security officers in Los Angeles negotiated their first union contract in 2006. Branch said that, compared when he was a non-union security officer, he has more money, more employment security and more sick and vacation time as a union member.
Earlier this month, SEIU protested with about 40 security officers and community members at the Oscars nominee luncheon, attended by more than 100 nominees, including A-list actors and directors. The group plans to protest at the red carpet again during the Oscars on Sunday. Reported by Huffington Post 1 day ago.
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ObamaCare Health Insurance Fact Sheet Offered by Reading, PA Insurance Agency
In an effort to address concerns and confusion over health insurance coverage and rules under the Affordable Care Act, an insurance agency near Reading, PA is offering a 10-point health insurance fact sheet available free of charge on their website.
Reading, PA (PRWEB) February 28, 2014
American Insuring Group, an insurance agency near Reading, PA offering car, home, business, life and health insurance, has released a 10-point health insurance fact sheet designed to help individuals and business owners understand key requirements and considerations under ObamaCare. Titled "Health Insurance & ObamaCare: 10 Facts You Should Know", the document outlines in plain language the deadlines, enrollment period, coverage requirements and options, financial assistance guidelines, and other key topics.
"We've been inundated with questions from customers regarding the details of the Affordable Care Act," said David Ross, President. "Many are concerned about missing a deadline, incurring a penalty, or are confused about their coverage options. Many of their questions and concerns are addressed in this easy-to-read fact sheet."
American Insuring Group has taken a very proactive approach in educating customers on a wide variety of topics pertaining to health insurance, life insurance, car and homeowner's insurance, and all types of business insurance. Their blog contains dozens of posts, with new entries appearing on a regular basis. "We strive to provide information that the layman can easily understand," said Ross. "Our readers appreciate our candid advice and tips on how to save on insurance while also explaining how to get the right coverage to meet their needs and budget. This new fact sheet is one more way we're trying to educate our readers."
Those interested in learning more about insurance can visit their insurance blog.
About American Insuring Group, Ltd
American Insuring Group is located near Reading, Pennsylvania, and is a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency specializing in helping customers make smart choices on health insurance, car insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, and commercial insurance. They offer coverage from over 25 competing insurance companies to provide customers with affordable rates on quality insurance coverage. Find them at http://www.aigltd.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
Reading, PA (PRWEB) February 28, 2014
American Insuring Group, an insurance agency near Reading, PA offering car, home, business, life and health insurance, has released a 10-point health insurance fact sheet designed to help individuals and business owners understand key requirements and considerations under ObamaCare. Titled "Health Insurance & ObamaCare: 10 Facts You Should Know", the document outlines in plain language the deadlines, enrollment period, coverage requirements and options, financial assistance guidelines, and other key topics.
"We've been inundated with questions from customers regarding the details of the Affordable Care Act," said David Ross, President. "Many are concerned about missing a deadline, incurring a penalty, or are confused about their coverage options. Many of their questions and concerns are addressed in this easy-to-read fact sheet."
American Insuring Group has taken a very proactive approach in educating customers on a wide variety of topics pertaining to health insurance, life insurance, car and homeowner's insurance, and all types of business insurance. Their blog contains dozens of posts, with new entries appearing on a regular basis. "We strive to provide information that the layman can easily understand," said Ross. "Our readers appreciate our candid advice and tips on how to save on insurance while also explaining how to get the right coverage to meet their needs and budget. This new fact sheet is one more way we're trying to educate our readers."
Those interested in learning more about insurance can visit their insurance blog.
About American Insuring Group, Ltd
American Insuring Group is located near Reading, Pennsylvania, and is a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency specializing in helping customers make smart choices on health insurance, car insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, and commercial insurance. They offer coverage from over 25 competing insurance companies to provide customers with affordable rates on quality insurance coverage. Find them at http://www.aigltd.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
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Cover Oregon probe wants access to Oracle staff
Independent investigators looking into the failures with the Cover Oregon health insurance exchange have not been able to talk to six Oracle employees whom they've asked to interview, a state official told lawmakers Friday.
Reported by SignonSanDiego 23 hours ago.
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Health Tax Credit Available to Some States
The Obama administration said consumers having trouble enrolling in health insurance in states running their own exchange could still be eligible for tax credits to help pay for the insurance.
Reported by Wall Street Journal 21 hours ago.
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Government expands help for buying health insurance
WASHINGTON -- With just a month left for Americans to select health plans this year through new insurance marketplaces, the Obama administration is bending some rules to prevent people from being stranded without coverage because of state-run exchanges riddled with computer problems.
Reported by TwinCities.com 21 hours ago.
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Trayvon Martin’s Parents Join Obama to Usher in 'My Brother’s Keeper' Initiative
The late Trayvon Martin’s parents joined President Obama at the White House Thursday to help usher in the President’s initiative to help men of color choose a road to productivity and success. Tracy and Sybrina’s son was killed two years ago in an altercation with security guard George Zimmerman. A jury found Zimmerman not guilty of murder, which caused nationwide protests from many who felt that the ruling was unjust.
Obama’s initiative, which will bring together foundations, businesses, churches, nonprofits, government agencies, and other entities to help young men stay on the right path, is fulfilling a veiled promise he made during his SOTU speech in January. Moreover, it is fulfilling a promise he made just days after the Trayvon Martin trial, when Obama said that, “We need to spend some time in thinking how we bolster and reinforce our African-American Boys.”
The president repeated the comment at Thursday’ gathering, saying, “In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin verdict, with all the emotions and controversy it sparked, I spoke about the need to bolster and reinforce our young men and give them the sense their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them.”
The new initiative, referred to as “My Brother’s Keeper,” was criticized for being hypocritical by columnist Charles Hurt. Hurt asserted that, “Setting aside the lunacy of divvying up mankind based on the hue of their skin, it is truly a rich irony that generous Americans must suffer through a sermon from this president on how to better be our brother’s keeper.”
Hurt contends that, aside from the fact that the President has done next to nothing for his own brother of color, George Hussein Obama, “who lives in a tin shack in a Nairobi, Kenya slum, struggling with addictions to booze and drugs,” Obama has also stuck people of color, as well as other Americans, “with massive debts, lost doctors, and rising health insurance premiums.”
Reported by Breitbart 18 hours ago.
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CFO Consulting Services Explains How the IRS Delay Is Saving Small Business Owners Money
Following an article posted by the Journal of Accountancy, Lawrence Teicher, founder of CFO Consulting Services and leading Long Island CPA, discusses how the IRS’s delay of health care penalties effects small businesses.
Bohemia, NY (PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Lawrence Teicher, founder of CFO Consulting Services and leading Long Island CPA, discusses how the IRS’s delay of health care penalties effects small businesses.
According to a February 10th article published in the Journal of Accountancy titled “IRS Announces Additional One-Year Delay in Health Coverage Penalty for Midsize Employers,” the IRS is delaying penalties for small businesses that have 50-99 employees and do not provide health care.
The article says that the penalty was originally supposed to be enforced in 2014 and was postponed to 2015 last July. The penalty now has been postponed again to 2016. This gives small businesses more time to transition to being health insurance providers. Employers with over 100 employees will be required to pay an employer shared-responsibility payment for 2015 if they do not provide "adequate and affordable" insurance for their employees.
Lawrence Teicher, founder of CFO Consulting Services and leading Long Island CPA, says that the IRS delay gives small businesses the opportunity to begin offering compliant health care packages. “This delay gives businesses more time to try to find suitable health care packages for their employees,” he says. “While providing health care for your employees can be expensive, it will help you avoid penalties from the IRS and keep your employees happier. It may seem difficult at first, but hiring a part time CFO can help you select plans and establish employee contribution levels that comply with the law.. CFO Consulting Services can help you with all aspects of your business, including matters relating to employee compensation and benefits.”
By providing part-time CFO services on an as-needed basis, CFO Consulting Services is revolutionizing the delivery of financial services. Now small and mid-sized businesses have access to the financial expertise once available to only large businesses. Founded by CPA and financial expert Lawrence Teicher, CFO Consulting Services follows four main principles: independence, objectivity, competence and confidentiality. These core values have led its clients to achieve lasting success in their business.
##### Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.
Bohemia, NY (PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Lawrence Teicher, founder of CFO Consulting Services and leading Long Island CPA, discusses how the IRS’s delay of health care penalties effects small businesses.
According to a February 10th article published in the Journal of Accountancy titled “IRS Announces Additional One-Year Delay in Health Coverage Penalty for Midsize Employers,” the IRS is delaying penalties for small businesses that have 50-99 employees and do not provide health care.
The article says that the penalty was originally supposed to be enforced in 2014 and was postponed to 2015 last July. The penalty now has been postponed again to 2016. This gives small businesses more time to transition to being health insurance providers. Employers with over 100 employees will be required to pay an employer shared-responsibility payment for 2015 if they do not provide "adequate and affordable" insurance for their employees.
Lawrence Teicher, founder of CFO Consulting Services and leading Long Island CPA, says that the IRS delay gives small businesses the opportunity to begin offering compliant health care packages. “This delay gives businesses more time to try to find suitable health care packages for their employees,” he says. “While providing health care for your employees can be expensive, it will help you avoid penalties from the IRS and keep your employees happier. It may seem difficult at first, but hiring a part time CFO can help you select plans and establish employee contribution levels that comply with the law.. CFO Consulting Services can help you with all aspects of your business, including matters relating to employee compensation and benefits.”
By providing part-time CFO services on an as-needed basis, CFO Consulting Services is revolutionizing the delivery of financial services. Now small and mid-sized businesses have access to the financial expertise once available to only large businesses. Founded by CPA and financial expert Lawrence Teicher, CFO Consulting Services follows four main principles: independence, objectivity, competence and confidentiality. These core values have led its clients to achieve lasting success in their business.
##### Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.
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Next Generation Trust Services Offers Tax Day Promotion, Waives Set-Up Fee on New Self-Directed IRAs through April 15
Taxpayers are eligible with transfer or roll over of funds from existing retirement account or with new account application. Next Generation Trust Services, an administrator of self-directed retirement accounts, encourages taxpayers to save more for their retirement throughout the year.
Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Next Generation Trust Services, an administrator of self-directed retirement accounts, encourages taxpayers to save more for their retirement throughout the year. To that end, the firm is waiving its $50 setup fee on new accounts or rollovers from March 1 through April 15, 2014.
To be eligible for the $50 savings, individuals must transfer or roll over funds from an existing retirement plan into a new self-directed account or complete a new account application. Those interested in opening an account during the promotional period are asked to contact the Next Generation office for details at (888) 857-8058 or Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.
“Given the uncertainly of Social Security and the curtailing of benefits for many, and changes in the health insurance system, we cannot stress enough the importance of bolstering your retirement account,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Services. “Those who are comfortable and knowledgeable about making investment decisions on their own should consider a self-directed retirement plan as retirement wealth-building strategy.”
With self-directed plans, individuals make all their own investment decisions, usually based on assets they already know and understand. These plans are primarily for investments in alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, hedge funds, private placements, limited partnership and much more, and may also include traditional investments (stocks, bonds and mutual funds). The bottom line is that the account holder makes all his or her own investment choices; the investments are executed and the plans are administered by a neutral third party such as Next Generation.
To open a new self-directed IRA or roll over funds from an existing account, visit the firm’s website for its Starter Kits at http://nextgenerationtrust.com/open-an-account/. Next Generation’s professionals are also available to answer any questions self-directed retirement plans at (888) 857-8058 or Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.
About Next Generation Trust Services
Next Generation Trust Services (NGTS), headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, is a professional third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans. NGTS provides education, administrative support, and account maintenance to individuals interested in self-directing their retirement portfolios with a wide variety of investments that are not typically found in an IRA, such as real estate, precious metals, notes and mortgages, private placements, accounts receivables, limited partnerships, hedge funds, and much more. Next Generation Trust Services serves clients globally via its website, http://www.NextGenerationTrust.com. For more information on self-directing a retirement plan, call 973-533-1880, 888-857-8058 (toll free), or e-mail Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.
Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Next Generation Trust Services, an administrator of self-directed retirement accounts, encourages taxpayers to save more for their retirement throughout the year. To that end, the firm is waiving its $50 setup fee on new accounts or rollovers from March 1 through April 15, 2014.
To be eligible for the $50 savings, individuals must transfer or roll over funds from an existing retirement plan into a new self-directed account or complete a new account application. Those interested in opening an account during the promotional period are asked to contact the Next Generation office for details at (888) 857-8058 or Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.
“Given the uncertainly of Social Security and the curtailing of benefits for many, and changes in the health insurance system, we cannot stress enough the importance of bolstering your retirement account,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Services. “Those who are comfortable and knowledgeable about making investment decisions on their own should consider a self-directed retirement plan as retirement wealth-building strategy.”
With self-directed plans, individuals make all their own investment decisions, usually based on assets they already know and understand. These plans are primarily for investments in alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, hedge funds, private placements, limited partnership and much more, and may also include traditional investments (stocks, bonds and mutual funds). The bottom line is that the account holder makes all his or her own investment choices; the investments are executed and the plans are administered by a neutral third party such as Next Generation.
To open a new self-directed IRA or roll over funds from an existing account, visit the firm’s website for its Starter Kits at http://nextgenerationtrust.com/open-an-account/. Next Generation’s professionals are also available to answer any questions self-directed retirement plans at (888) 857-8058 or Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.
About Next Generation Trust Services
Next Generation Trust Services (NGTS), headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, is a professional third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans. NGTS provides education, administrative support, and account maintenance to individuals interested in self-directing their retirement portfolios with a wide variety of investments that are not typically found in an IRA, such as real estate, precious metals, notes and mortgages, private placements, accounts receivables, limited partnerships, hedge funds, and much more. Next Generation Trust Services serves clients globally via its website, http://www.NextGenerationTrust.com. For more information on self-directing a retirement plan, call 973-533-1880, 888-857-8058 (toll free), or e-mail Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.
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What You Must Know Now to Avoid the Obamacare Penalty
Filed under: Taxes, Health Insurance*Shutterstock/nui7711*
For millions of Americans, time is running out to get qualifying health-insurance coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Yet even though penalties under Obamacare for not having coverage can be expensive for many families, what many don't know is that there are extensive exemptions that could prevent you from having to pay those penalties.
*Understanding the Obamacare Penalty*
One confusing aspect of the penalties under Obamacare is the complex calculations to figure out how much you owe.
To come up with your penalty for 2014, you have to look at two numbers. You calculate one of those numbers by taking $95 per adult and $47.50 per child in your family, and then taking either the total amount or the family maximum of $285, whichever is less. The second number comes from looking at your income, subtracting your appropriate tax-filing threshold of $10,000 for single filers and $20,000 for joint filers, and then multiplying the result by 1 percent. Whichever of those two numbers is greater is the amount of penalties that you'll owe if you don't have qualifying coverage or have an exemption.
In part to respond to the confusion about calculating penalties , the House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation to eliminate the Obamacare penalty for the remainder of 2014. But there's no guarantee that would become law, leaving those without an exemption on the hook for penalties.
In addition, it's important to realize that even if you have insurance, you might still owe penalties under Obamacare. To avoid penalties, your coverage has to include certain basic benefits that, such as maternity care and mental-health care.
*Many Ways to Be Exempt From Obamacare Penalties*
The list of allowable exemptions from Obamacare is surprisingly long. The first is that you're allowed not to be covered for three months of the year, which is what makes the March 31 deadline so important. Those who don't have to file tax returns due to low income don't owe a penalty, nor do members of federally recognized Native American tribes, health-care sharing ministries, religious sects with objections to insurance, incarcerated prisoners and those who don't have legal immigration status.One of the most important exemptions is the financial standard. If the lowest-cost coverage available would cost more than 8 percent of your household income, then you won't owe a penalty if you don't obtain that coverage.
In addition, you can qualify for many hardship exemptions. The hardship exemption application form from the government's Health Insurance Marketplace website lists 13 categories of exemptions as well as a 14th category for "other hardships." Some categories require no supporting evidence, such as those who are homeless or recently suffered domestic violence. Others require only basic documentation, including having received notice of eviction or foreclosure, getting a shut-off notice from a utility, having filed for bankruptcy or having suffered property damage due to a natural disaster.
Also among the exemptions are:
· The death of a close family member.
· Having medical expenses that you could pay at some point in the past two years.
· Having unexpected higher costs from caring for a family member.
· Having a child denied for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage, with another person required to provide medical support to the child.
· Denial of Medicaid because your state didn't expand its Medicaid program.
· Notice of cancellation of existing insurance, with other plans being unaffordable.
· Having gotten a favorable eligibility appeals notice.
You can follow Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger on Twitter @DanCaplinger or on Google+.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 14 hours ago.
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Only one month left to get health insurance for 2014
*Only one month left to get health insurance for 2014*
Today starts the one-month countdown to the end of the first-ever annual Open Enrollment period under the new health care law. If you don’t have insurance, you have until March 31 to sign up. If you miss that deadline, the next time you’ll be able to purchase health insurance is next fall’s Open Enrollment period, for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2015.
I’ve been getting questions about health insurance enrollment for months now that have given me a pretty clear picture of where people get confused or go astray. Here's what to do if you fall into any of these six top “no idea what to do now” categories.
1. *I don’t even know where to start.* We created our free interactive tool, HealthLawHelper.org, just for you. Answer a series of simple (and anonymous) questions and you’ll find out whether you may qualify for financial help or for a government program such as CHIP or Medicaid, and, most important, find out where to go and what to do next.
2. *I don’t understand how the health tax credit works. *This is a special type of tax credit that you can use right away, if you want, to reduce the cost of your health insurance premium. It’s based on income and household size and will be calculated automatically when you file your application for coverage. Using it can be a little confusing though, which is why we have another interactive tool, HealthTaxCreditTool.org, to help you figure it out.
3. *I’m confused about what counts as income.* Under the new system, applying for health coverage is akin to preparing your income tax return, which makes sense because tax credits and other financial help are based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income. What’s that? Our annotated Form 1040 will help you sort it out. And HealthCare.gov, the much-maligned but now functional federal marketplace site, also has helpful information.
4. *I don’t know how many people are in my household.* Financial help depends on your “household” size but can become confusing because it’s not just a matter of counting up people who live under one roof. It all has to do, again, with income tax filing status. Basically, everyone who goes in a single tax return is a household, even if, in some cases, they aren’t living together. On the other hand, your roommate or unmarried partner are separate households. Here’s a helpful primer from HealthCare.gov.
5. *I’ve been trying to get insurance through my online state Health Insurance Marketplace but my application is hopelessly messed up.* One approach is to clear your browser’s cache and start over with a new account. But if you’ve already tried that and gotten nowhere, it’s time to call in an actual human being to help. You can start with the call center listed on your marketplace website, but frustrated consumers have told me they’re frequently backlogged or not equipped to deal with thorny questions. If the call center can’t help, turn to one of the thousands of trained, noncommercial helpers who can supply personalized assistance free—and who at this point, five months into Open Enrollment, have a lot of experience with problem applications. Go to LocalHelp/Healthcare.gov, enter your location, and you’ll see a list of such helpers near you. Best to call ahead for an appointment.
6. *I have no idea which plan to choose.* This is a good problem to have, because it means you’ve successfully made your way through the hard parts of the application. There’s more to picking a good plan than just knowing the premium. Here’s our guide on what factors to consider.
Got a question for our health insurance expert? Ask it here; be sure to include the state you live in. And if you can't get enough health insurance news here, follow me on Twitter @NancyMetcalf.
*We're providing regular coverage of the new health care law. To get health insurance advice tailored to your situation, use our Health Law Helper, below.*
*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*
*Subscribe now!*
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Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 13 hours ago.
Today starts the one-month countdown to the end of the first-ever annual Open Enrollment period under the new health care law. If you don’t have insurance, you have until March 31 to sign up. If you miss that deadline, the next time you’ll be able to purchase health insurance is next fall’s Open Enrollment period, for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2015.
I’ve been getting questions about health insurance enrollment for months now that have given me a pretty clear picture of where people get confused or go astray. Here's what to do if you fall into any of these six top “no idea what to do now” categories.
1. *I don’t even know where to start.* We created our free interactive tool, HealthLawHelper.org, just for you. Answer a series of simple (and anonymous) questions and you’ll find out whether you may qualify for financial help or for a government program such as CHIP or Medicaid, and, most important, find out where to go and what to do next.
2. *I don’t understand how the health tax credit works. *This is a special type of tax credit that you can use right away, if you want, to reduce the cost of your health insurance premium. It’s based on income and household size and will be calculated automatically when you file your application for coverage. Using it can be a little confusing though, which is why we have another interactive tool, HealthTaxCreditTool.org, to help you figure it out.
3. *I’m confused about what counts as income.* Under the new system, applying for health coverage is akin to preparing your income tax return, which makes sense because tax credits and other financial help are based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income. What’s that? Our annotated Form 1040 will help you sort it out. And HealthCare.gov, the much-maligned but now functional federal marketplace site, also has helpful information.
4. *I don’t know how many people are in my household.* Financial help depends on your “household” size but can become confusing because it’s not just a matter of counting up people who live under one roof. It all has to do, again, with income tax filing status. Basically, everyone who goes in a single tax return is a household, even if, in some cases, they aren’t living together. On the other hand, your roommate or unmarried partner are separate households. Here’s a helpful primer from HealthCare.gov.
5. *I’ve been trying to get insurance through my online state Health Insurance Marketplace but my application is hopelessly messed up.* One approach is to clear your browser’s cache and start over with a new account. But if you’ve already tried that and gotten nowhere, it’s time to call in an actual human being to help. You can start with the call center listed on your marketplace website, but frustrated consumers have told me they’re frequently backlogged or not equipped to deal with thorny questions. If the call center can’t help, turn to one of the thousands of trained, noncommercial helpers who can supply personalized assistance free—and who at this point, five months into Open Enrollment, have a lot of experience with problem applications. Go to LocalHelp/Healthcare.gov, enter your location, and you’ll see a list of such helpers near you. Best to call ahead for an appointment.
6. *I have no idea which plan to choose.* This is a good problem to have, because it means you’ve successfully made your way through the hard parts of the application. There’s more to picking a good plan than just knowing the premium. Here’s our guide on what factors to consider.
Got a question for our health insurance expert? Ask it here; be sure to include the state you live in. And if you can't get enough health insurance news here, follow me on Twitter @NancyMetcalf.
*We're providing regular coverage of the new health care law. To get health insurance advice tailored to your situation, use our Health Law Helper, below.*
*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*
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Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 13 hours ago.
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Detroit Mayor Duggan urges health insurance signups by residents
Mayor Mike Duggan has declared March Affordable Care Act Enrollment Month.
Reported by Freep 13 hours ago.
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The Importance of Reviewing Health Insurance Costs!
Getmeinsurancerates.com (http://getmeinsurancerates.com/) announces a new blog, “Health Insurance Costs”
(PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Getmeinsurancerates.com has released a blog explaining the importance of reviewing health insurance costs!
People who do not have health insurance policies risk filing for bankruptcy because of the high costs of medical treatment. A part of medical expenses can be covered by individual health insurance plans. These policies provide financial security for families in case they require medical attention.
Health insurance policies are not necessarily cheap and many families cannot afford paying for individual health insurance plans. Health insurance costs need to be reviewed before purchasing plan. A family has to be aware of the fact that insurance policies will cost a lot in premiums over the years. Financial planning is essential when buying health insurance.
It is now possible to compare health insurance quotes from different agencies on a single website. this method can save clients time and money. Insurance brokerage websites offer such services free of charge. In order to get a quote, a client has to provide some basic information like age, gender, marital status, profession, lifestyle choices and answer some medical questions.
Getmeinsurancerates.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. It is unique in that this website does not simply stick to one kind of insurance carrier, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. This way, clients have offers from multiple carriers all in one place, this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
For more information, please visit http://getmeinsurancerates.com ! Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
(PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Getmeinsurancerates.com has released a blog explaining the importance of reviewing health insurance costs!
People who do not have health insurance policies risk filing for bankruptcy because of the high costs of medical treatment. A part of medical expenses can be covered by individual health insurance plans. These policies provide financial security for families in case they require medical attention.
Health insurance policies are not necessarily cheap and many families cannot afford paying for individual health insurance plans. Health insurance costs need to be reviewed before purchasing plan. A family has to be aware of the fact that insurance policies will cost a lot in premiums over the years. Financial planning is essential when buying health insurance.
It is now possible to compare health insurance quotes from different agencies on a single website. this method can save clients time and money. Insurance brokerage websites offer such services free of charge. In order to get a quote, a client has to provide some basic information like age, gender, marital status, profession, lifestyle choices and answer some medical questions.
Getmeinsurancerates.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. It is unique in that this website does not simply stick to one kind of insurance carrier, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. This way, clients have offers from multiple carriers all in one place, this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
For more information, please visit http://getmeinsurancerates.com ! Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
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Duggan urges health insurance signups by Detroit residents
Detroit — Mayor Mike Duggan has declared March Affordable Care Act Enrollment Month and is opening some Detroit firehouses and recreation centers for residents to sign up health insurance.
Reported by detnews.com 10 hours ago.
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Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on the ACA and Health Benefits Advisors
Employers look to health benefits brokers and advisors for guidance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Park City, Utah (PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on the ACA and health benefits advisors.
According to Zane Benefits’ website, employers are looking to health benefits brokers and advisors for guidance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The key ACA issues brokers and advisors should be discussing with clients are:
ACA Compliance
According to Zane Benefits’ website, employers of all sizes have new ACA regulations to comply with.
The provisions an employer needs to comply with depends on how many workers are employed and the type of health benefits offered.
ACA Play or Pay Navigation
According to Zane Benefits’ website, employers are considering whether to play, pay, or play differently with the upcoming ACA employer mandate requirement.
ACA Tax Credits
Advisors and brokers are helping employers understand the new individual health insurance tax credits and small business tax credits, to understand how they can benefit in 2014.
New ACA Small Group Health Insurance Options, such as defined contribution health plans and exchanges.
Clients, especially small groups, are researching traditional group health insurance, as well as new health insurance options such as the exchanges and defined contribution allowances.
Click here to read the full article.
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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
Park City, Utah (PRWEB) March 01, 2014
Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on the ACA and health benefits advisors.
According to Zane Benefits’ website, employers are looking to health benefits brokers and advisors for guidance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The key ACA issues brokers and advisors should be discussing with clients are:
ACA Compliance
According to Zane Benefits’ website, employers of all sizes have new ACA regulations to comply with.
The provisions an employer needs to comply with depends on how many workers are employed and the type of health benefits offered.
ACA Play or Pay Navigation
According to Zane Benefits’ website, employers are considering whether to play, pay, or play differently with the upcoming ACA employer mandate requirement.
ACA Tax Credits
Advisors and brokers are helping employers understand the new individual health insurance tax credits and small business tax credits, to understand how they can benefit in 2014.
New ACA Small Group Health Insurance Options, such as defined contribution health plans and exchanges.
Clients, especially small groups, are researching traditional group health insurance, as well as new health insurance options such as the exchanges and defined contribution allowances.
Click here to read the full article.
--
About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
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