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Will Obamacare boost the economy in 2014?

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With more people carrying government health insurance, higher spending on medical services could boost GDP growth Reported by CBS News 7 hours ago.

Spring Release 2014: A New Wearable Offers Real-Time Health Checks - The iewei Wellness Wristband

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iewei Ltd. solution starts at the base, raising awareness by making the invisible pollution visible — that is what iewei, the wellness wristband is all about. It is an “alert system” capable of measuring the wearer’s exposure to harmful radiation, in addition to monitoring heart rate and body temperature.

(PRWEB) March 07, 2014

For the network operators 'Greed is good' was a phrase immortalized by Michael Douglas' in his Oscar-winning turn as the unscrupulous corporate raider Gordon Gekko in 'Wall Street', the 1987 film that defined that era's 'more is better' culture of excess. But these days as far as iewei is concerned 'Green is good.'

The last two decades have been littered with doomsday criers foretelling the imminent repercussions of the insatiable urge for carbon based fuel, the destruction of oxygen producing forests and the indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste into the ocean. The 90's were awash with horror stories of holes in the ozone layer, acid rain, melting icecaps and the greenhouse effect. But as evidenced by the recent craziness over the sold out ' I am not a plastic bag' canvas tote designed for Whole Foods, the growing popularity of hybrid vehicles and concerns about reducing carbon footprint (total amount of CO2 produced by an object or service) suddenly environmentalism is sexy, hip and center stage. And the image makers in Hollywood have stood up and taken notice.

And here, iewei joins the ring. Speaking out loud a critical situation caused by the invisible pollution also known as EMF. Electromagnetic radiation is the emerging health problem of the 21st century, an invisible source of radiation everywhere, that it slowly destroys the planet,

It was time to start digging into that sensitive problem. Says Mr. Xin Wei, Operating Manager and co-founder of iewei Ltd. "The public is misled by the so-called scientific information published. 89% of those reports are paid, conducted and approved by the telecommunication industries! When one independent team of scientists dare to publish the truth about the effects of the radiation, instantly, some powerful lobbies of the "industry" discredit them. One thing is crystal clear,”add Mr Xin Wei, “the operators claim that there is no prove of any health risks by hiding the long-term health effects by chronic exposure to wireless devices. So: we became Lab rats!”

Governments seem concerned enough to take actions:
In more than a dozen countries the use of mobile phones by children is restricted and the government advises precautions. The latest nation to join in this precautionary principle is Belgium. As of March 1, 2014 sale and advertising of cell phones especially designed for children under the age of 7 years old are banned, as is advertising for cell phones during children's programs on TV, radio and the internet, but the children are still not safe. It remains alarming that the mobile network operators show no initiative to actively inform the consumers at the selling point how to use their cell phones more safely. Especially when it comes to people that are highly vulnerable such as kids, pregnant women and the elderly.

Rona Nadine Bacas, Head of Marketing says: “Right after iewei Ltd. went public, the positive response from people who welcome the wristband was huge and companies started to partner-up. iewei is the first in the field of wearable EMF detectors. Today people are facing majors health issues. Hypersensitivity to electromagnetic pollution can lead from symptoms like rashes and chronic fatigue up to brain cancer. But then, how to cover the medical costs? The Brain Tumor Foundation estimates the cost of treating a glioblastoma, the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, at more than $450,000 and says costs of treating a brain tumor can reach $700,000 in a lifetime. iewei Ltd. raise funds to support and help those that can’t afford to pay for the necessary treatments."

Mr. Xin Wei, Operating Manager and co-founder of iewei Ltd. Says: ‘Electromagnetic radiation is an emerging health problem in today’s society; a problem that must be monitored. The danger lies not only in our inability to differentiate between what is real and what is not but also in the very real possibility of becoming so tolerant to fake scientific reports that when something real does happen we miss it. The question remains: Is make a phone call dangerous? Yes when using a cellphone! With the development costs of implementing 4G, the licensing and marketing it will take a while for operators to generate any significant profit. That is assuming telecommunication's goal is to just make money. It could simply be another check mark in a laundry list of ingenious strategies as the world's leading spies with a top secret master plan to carry everything one could possibly need in a pocket. But watch out when the operators will have to start selling health insurance to cover the cost of brain tumors. So if the telecommunication companies just take a moment to calm down they will realize that things are as dire as they seem."

The world can truly benefit from the advance of science but it is vitally important to take effective action to make all the various sources of EMF compatible with life on earth. It’s not a step backwards, but a step forwards. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

How your company can bypass the health insurance companies

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When it comes to providing health benefits to your employees, sometimes it pays to call the doctor instead of an insurance company. That was the case for small-business owner Terry Tumulillo, who couldn’t afford to buy health insurance coverage for the six contract court reporters who work for her communications company, VoicePrint. Instead, she contracted directly with R-Health, a Philadelphia-based startup health care provider that offers primary care services to individuals and businesses. Tumulillo… Reported by bizjournals 6 hours ago.

Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on Small Business Health Insurance Advice

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Small Businesses Confused by Health Reform and Health Insurance Options

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) March 07, 2014

Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on small business health insurance advice.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, small business owners hear a lot of advice about small business health insurance. In the midst of the the well-founded advice, small businesses are flooded with advice that is out-dated or wrong.

For example, according to Zane Benefits’ website, many small businesses are told (or believe) they are too small to offer health benefits. This advice used to be rooted in truth. Before new small business health insurance options such as "pure" defined contribution health plans, if a small business could not offer a traditional small group health insurance plan (because of cost or minimum participation requirements), then there weren't a lot of options.

Many small businesses are also told that under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), they will pay a penalty for not offering group health insurance. For employers with fewer than 50 full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees, this advice is false.

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 6 hours ago.

CNN Poll: Most Americans Support Abortion Restrictions, Majority Oppose Taxpayer Funding of Abortions

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CNN Poll: Most Americans Support Abortion Restrictions, Majority Oppose Taxpayer Funding of Abortions A new CNN poll has found that more than half of Americans believe abortion should be restricted, and a majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortions.

According to CNN, 27 percent of those surveyed said abortion should be legal in all circumstances, while 13 percent said the practice should be legal in most circumstances. However, 38 percent of those polled said abortion should be legal in few circumstances and 20 percent said it should always be illegal, leaving a total of 58 percent who said abortion should be restricted to few situations or always illegal.

Most Americans have never supported taxpayer funding of abortion and, according to this survey, 56 percent remain opposed and only 39 percent favor taxpayer funding of the practice of abortion.

However, the poll also found that 49 percent of Americans say women who receive government subsidies for health insurance should be able to obtain a health insurance plan that covers the practice of abortion, while 49 percent disagreed.

The eugenicist nature of the practice of abortion has been in the news recently, as a New York City report demonstrated that more black babies were aborted than born in 2012 in that city.

In addition, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that 71.67 percent of babies aborted in Mississippi are black, while 26.6 percent are white. In addition, 53.6 percent of babies aborted in Georgia are black.

ORC International conducted the telephone poll for CNN, with 1,010 adults participating. The poll’s overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

 
 
 
  Reported by Breitbart 4 hours ago.

Push on as Obamacare deadline approaches

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Workers who help people find health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are making the final push as the March 31 deadline for signing up approaches. Reported by Chicago S-T 1 day ago.

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The Affordable Care Act has two new options for health insurance. It expanded who qualifies for Medicaid and it created what’s known as an online marketplace at HealthCare.gov for Illinois residents, where they can search for what are supposed to be more affordable and more comprehensive insurance options. People who shop on the marketplace are supposed to receive tax credits on a sliding scale if they have income between 133 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Why should I enroll if I’m currently uninsured? Besides having coverage for a health problem that might arise, the Affordable Care … Reported by Chicago S-T 1 day ago.

Hobart Financial Group Affirms Health Care and Financial Worries Cause Delay in Retirement For Many Americans

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Following an article published by USA Today, Hobart Financial Group, a Charlotte retirement planning firm, discusses why many Americans are delaying retirement.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) March 08, 2014

Hobart Financial Group, a firm specializing in Charlotte retirement planning, discusses why many Americans are delaying retirement until later in life.

According to a February 27th article posted by USA Today titled “Many delay retiring: Need more money enjoy their jobs,” Americans are still facing a retirement crisis and many are bumping retirement to the bottom of their priority list. Though numbers are down from the years following the recession, more than half of workers are delaying retirement.

While financial worries are the most common reason for delaying retirement, the article says health insurance comes into play. The article says that a national survey conducted by CareerBuilder and Harris Poll found that 79 percent of those polled said they could not afford to retire, and 61 say they need health insurance and benefits their employers provide.

Though most Americans fear financial problems after entering retirement, a large number of them also enjoy working. The article says almost half of those polls genuinely enjoy their jobs and like where they work.

Chris Hobart, CEO of Hobart Financial Group, a leading Charlotte retirement planning firm, urges Americans contemplating delaying retirement to also consider making some positive investments. “Delaying retirement is not a bad decision, especially if Americans have not adequately prepared for their future,” he says. “If you plan on delaying retirement, you should look into making some retirement investments that could generate income for you over time. It’s important that Americans realize they can make proactive choices before they retire, so that they can retire with a healthy nest egg of cash. Delaying retirement can help give them extra time to plan. It can also help them increase their Social Security benefits by waiting to claim funds. If health care plans are your main concern when contemplating retirement, having investments for emergency health crises can help lessen the financial worry.”

Hobart Financial Group is an independent financial advisory firm dedicated to personalizing service with uncompromising integrity. Its focus on comprehensive, tax-advantaged plans help to provide sound preservation of capital, growing income and increased returns with reduced risk. Chris Hobart, founder of Hobart Financial Group, understands that true wealth means being able to share your life with the people you love, free from financial anxiety. Hobart Financial helps Carolinas’ retirees preserve and protect their wealth with comprehensive financial retirement planning and wealth management.

### Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.

5 things to know for March 31 health exchange deadline

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Five things to know before the March 31 deadline to buy health insurance Reported by USATODAY.com 15 hours ago.

Health Insurance Deadline is Getting Nearer

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Health Insurance Deadline is Getting Nearer The Affordable Care Act and Obamacare are showing the world that the USA is all set to be a health-conscious and medically advanced country. The deadline set for signing up for health privileges is... Reported by I4U News 19 hours ago.

Obamacare Supporters Beat the Bushes for Final Sign-Ups

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The final deadline to enroll in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is less than three weeks away, and the White House and its allies are pulling out the stops to get more people signed up after one of the most disastrous debuts ever of a government program.
 
 
 
  Reported by msnbc.com 17 hours ago.

Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on the ACA Extension for Non-Compliant Health Plans

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Under new rule, individuals and small businesses could have old plans until 2017.

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) March 08, 2014

Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on the ACA extension for non-compliant health plans.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Obama administration will allow consumers to renew health insurance plans that fail to comply with the new Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules for two years, if their state allows it.

The most recent extension allows existing policy renewals as late as October 1, 2016, so individuals and small businesses could have non-compliant coverage into 2017.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the additional time comes after the administration already announced one-year extension of canceled health plans in November 2013.

The number of people with non-compliant coverage is unknown. Insurers sent out an estimated 4.5 million cancellation notices last fall, but some of the policyholders have bought new coverage that complies with the law.

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 16 hours ago.

Reaching The Young And Uninsured On A Texas Campus

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Many young people feel they can't afford health insurance. A professor in Houston is trying to educate students about subsidies that could help — and the penalties if they don't sign up now. Reported by NPR 16 hours ago.

Health insurance deadline looms: Why Obama pitches Latinos

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Health insurance deadline: President Obama's push to boost health insurance enrollment among Latinos comes as the end-of-March deadline to enroll is approaching. Reported by Christian Science Monitor 14 hours ago.

Pressure On GOP Governors To Expand Medicaid Under ObamaCare

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As millions of newly eligble Americans sign up for Medicaid health insurance for the poor under the Affordable Care Act, pressure builds on states and their Republican governors that have balked at going along with the health law's expansion of the program. Reported by Forbes.com 14 hours ago.

Pressure On GOP Governors To Expand Medicaid Under ObamaCare

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As millions of newly eligble Americans sign up for Medicaid health insurance for the poor under the Affordable Care Act, pressure builds on states and their Republican governors that have balked at going along with the health law's expansion of the program. Reported by Forbes.com 14 hours ago.

Six Reasons to Cheer for Unions This International Women's Day

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Women's History Month is a perfect time to celebrate the capacity for upward mobility women have gained in the workforce -- especially when it comes to labor unions.

Today, women constitute the greatest portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home. In another couple of years, the same will likely be said of women in unions. In 2013, women made up roughly 46 percent of union members -- but by 2023, we will be the majority of the unionized workforce.

In spite of these strides, millions of female workers are getting the squeeze in today's economy. Even as women break the glass ceiling in business and politics, they still earn on average, 77 cents to every dollar earned by men -- and unions are a big part of the solution.

*Women have a great deal to gain from joining a union*, with union victories working to pave the way for workers to bargain for affordable family health care, fair wages, improved working conditions and a better life for their families.

Did you know that...

*1. Unions have been a powerful force for women's equality. *
Collective bargaining cuts down on employer favoritism, which helps women -- and importantly, women of color -- get a fair chance at work. Unionized women of color, for example, earn almost 35 percent more than non-union women of color.

*2. Unionization results in significantly higher wages for women of all education levels. *
Being in a union raises a woman's pay as much as a full year of college does. Being a member of a union raises women's wages by 12.9 percent -- or $2.50 per hour -- compared to their non-union peers.

Among women workers in the 15 lowest-paying occupations, the benefits are even greater, with female union members earning 14 percent more than those workers who were not in unions.

*3. Unions protect workers' rights regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender.*
In a country where it's still legal for an employer to fire someone for being gay in 29 states, and for being transgender in 34, having a union can make all the difference.

*4. Unionization raises the probability of a woman having a pension.*
The union advantage is most impressive when looking at employer-provided retirement plans. Women represented by unions are a whopping 53.4 percent more likely to have pension coverage than their non-union counterparts.

*5. Being in a union is good for a woman's health. *
The union impact on a woman's likelihood of having health insurance is even larger than the impact on wages. At every education level, female union members are 36.8 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance plans.

*6. Unions help close the wage gap. *
Despite the fact that the gender wage gap overall hasn't made any progress in the last five years, it's been shrinking among workers who belong to a union, declining 2.6 cents between 2013 and 2012. The gender gap between what unionized male workers make and what unionized female workers make is just 9.4 cents, which, according to a report by the National Women's Law Center, means that unionized working women make more than 90 percent of what men do.

Among non-union workers, on the other hand, the wage gap is 18.7 cents, about double the gap between union workers. And while all workers typically make higher wages when they're unionized, a women's boost of $222 a week is even bigger than her male counterpart.
-Gender inequality: There's still much work to be done-

Yet even as we celebrate International Women's Equality Day -- with this year's theme being "Equality for women is progress for all" -- we cannot lose sight of the work yet to be done to achieve full equality.

The remaining wage gap in this country is an affront to the millions of hardworking women who deserve the same compensation as their male counterparts. It will take 75 years for there to be equal number of women and men in top-level management positions at the rate we're going, and female CEOs currently reign over only 5 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

Considering the great boost to equality, pay and benefits that unions bring, *it's important that anyone who cares about the well-being of women workers also care about unions*. Reported by Huffington Post 10 hours ago.

Slew of changes to health-care law creates more confusion for consumers

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As the deadline approaches for most Americans to obtain health insurance, a flurry of changes by the Obama administration has led to a frenzied effort among employers, insurance companies, politicians and consumers to try and understand what they might mean. Reported by Washington Post 2 hours ago.

Republicans Want to Replace Obamacare With...Obamacare-Lite?

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Ever since Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010, the Republicans in Congress have tried to repeal it. This week's vote was their 50th attempt.

And yet, despite their unyielding opposition, their earnestness rings hollow to most Americans for the simple reason that they have not offered an alternative path to health care reform. Even the party's own strategists have chastised it for its negative approach, for failing to offer a plan of their own, for obstructing rather than leading.

Finally, their pleas have been answered -- in the form of the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment Act or "PCEREA," sponsored by Republican Senators Orrin Hatch, Tom Coburn and Richard Burr.

At long last, we can answer the simple question that Democrats have been asking Republicans since March 23, 2010: You got a better idea?

Unfortunately, the answer is a disappointing "no."

The ACA, better known as "Obamacare," has four major provisions: (1) a ban on price discrimination against sick people, (2) an "individual mandate" requiring everyone to purchase health insurance or pay a fine to the IRS, (3) tax credits for Americans who cannot afford to purchase insurance and (4) a Medicaid expansion for the poorest Americans who don't pay enough taxes to qualify for the tax credits.

The PCEREA does away with the first provision right off the bat. The most popular feature of Obamacare, the one that appeals to our basic sense of fairness, is the rule prohibiting insurers from charging different prices to different consumers based on health status. The Republicans would erase this rule, once again making insurance least affordable for the people who need it the most.

With the first provision gone, there isn't much need for the second one. This is what most people have trouble grasping about the individual mandate: As unpopular as it is, it's necessary in order to sustain the most popular part of the law. Without an individual mandate, a ban on price discrimination will simply result in insurers charging high rates to everyone, driving all but the sickest consumers out of the market. Insurers can only afford to charge reasonable rates across the board if healthy people are required to buy in.

The PCEREA replaces these two provisions with two new provisions called "continuous coverage" and "auto-enrollment."

Under "continuous coverage," Americans would be given a one-time opportunity to buy insurance at prices that aren't based on health status. So long as they keep this insurance plan for the rest of their lives, they'll never be discriminated against. If they miss this opportunity -- say, by being born after the window passes -- they can be discriminated against. If they lose their plan -- say, because they change jobs -- they can be discriminated against. Basically, "continuous coverage" is a con, a "first come, first serve" lottery that doles out the right to fairness like it's a privilege, a prize in some twisted game and then snatches it out from your hands if you fall on hard times or dare to exercise your freedom of choice.

Under "auto-enrollment," states can sign you up for insurance without your consent, but you can opt out. Basically, the Republicans are assuming that the problem with the insurance market is that Americans are so stupid that they aren't signing up for insurance that they need and can afford.

Astonishingly, the Republicans have simply taken the provisions of Obamacare and made them temporary -- and called it "reform"! We'll give you fair prices, but only for a little while. We'll require you to sign up for insurance, but only until you back out.

The third provision confirms this ploy. Just like the ACA, the PCEREA offers tax credits to Americans who purchase insurance on the individual market. The only difference is that the Republicans' tax credits are far less generous, helping far fewer people.

Finally, the PCEREA addresses Medicaid by restricting its availability to only certain types of Americans, apparently the ones whom the Republicans deem worthy: pregnant women, children, the disabled -- but not, for example, working parents. It would also change Medicaid into a block grant program, where it would get a chunk of money every year regardless of how much it needs, leaving most states with tremendous shortfalls during recessions and leaving patients out in the cold when they need help the most.

This last provision is just cruel, but the Republicans can slip it into the bill because the rest of the proposal looks so thoughtful and measured that they're hoping you won't notice that it will do almost nothing to address the serious problems ailing our health care system. It is little better than the status quo that existed before Obamacare -- and in that sense, they haven't really offered an alternative after all.

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An abbreviated version of this op-ed was published in Friday's South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.

Mom cannot get breast pump despite Obamacare mandate

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When Jessica Steinhart gave birth to her son Lyle in January, she thought the breast pump she needed would be covered by her husband's health insurance. Instead, her health insurance plan is grandfathered Reported by NY Daily News 4 hours ago.
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