At every conference or trade show I attend, there is one question that's always asked: is apparel manufacturing returning to America? While there may not be one simple answer, from everything I've observed, I lean toward a pretty emphatic 'no.' Economically, reshoring can't work at any significant scale.In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of media attention focused on companies said to be bringing production back to the U.S. Walmart, known for its vast global sourcing chain, made a major media splash when it pledged to sell more U.S.-made goods in order to boost domestic manufacturers, while Everlane, a small venture-backed e-tailer known for its radical transparency, has attracted attention for its practice of highlighting each of its factory partners on its website -- and many of them are based in America.While these examples clearly stoke the fires of hopeful return, a resurgence of manufacturing in America seems highly unlikely. Of course, American apparel manufacturing does exist. In fact, I am wearing an American-made pair of twill pants from Adriano Goldschmied right now. And Adriano Goldschmied is not alone in manufacturing in the U.S. American Apparel, J Brand, Save Khaki, Karen Kane, New Balance and many others all have domestic supply chains in place. But to assess the real potential of a return to domestic production, we have to be honest about the facts.*What We're Bringing In*In the past two decades, apparel imports to the U.S. have surged 160 percent, from $35 billion to $91 billion , and now comprise an estimated 95 to 97 percent of all apparel sold at retail In 2013, measured in dollar value, apparel imports grew 4 percent over 2012, faster than the overall apparel market. What's more, companies have been consistently shifting production away from China, where labor costs continue to rise, to even cheaper countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh. In 2013, apparel imports from Vietnam, for example, grew by 14 percent (compared to 2.5 percent for those from China).Niche premium brands can still create healthy, profitable businesses producing domestically and selling to socially-conscious, patriotic or otherwise discerning consumers. But only a small fraction of American consumers are willing to pay premium prices for U.S.-made apparel. The majority of consumers think of fast fashion, discount retailers, dollar stores and coupons when it comes to purchasing clothing; country of origin is simply not top of mind.I have met with many apparel retailers who are concerned about lowering the cost of their goods. The solution, more often than not, is exploring alternative sourcing from countries in Asia. In the context of cutting cost, no company of any size has ever asked me how to bring production back to the United States.*Where, and at What Cost, It's Being Made*My stance on American apparel manufacturing is very simple: it won't work at scale because of basic economics. U.S. cut-and-sew wages have increased by more than 13 percent in the past seven years (inflation adjusted) to an average of $14.79 an hour. Assuming an average workday is eight hours, that comes to $118.32 per day, a figure that stands in marked contrast to wage rates in low-cost countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.In the past year, Bangladesh's government has finally agreed to a new salary structure for its workers, which took effect in December 2013. It brings the nation's new monthly minimum wage to 5,300 taka ($68), a 77 percent increase from the previous minimum wage of 3,000 taka ($39) -- yet still the lowest worldwide wage rate in the apparel industry. Meanwhile, workers in Vietnam saw a monthly minimum wage increase to between VND 1.9 million and VND 2.7 million ($90 to $128) depending on the region, a raise of 15 to 17 percent over the previous year. In India, depending on the region, monthly wages range from $130 to $150.This means that, despite the increases, in one day an American worker will earn what a Bangladeshi worker earns in two months, or an Indian worker earns in roughly one month. And while working conditions in low-wage nations have been under scrutiny since the terrible Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh last year -- and things are said to be improving -- the reality is that no matter how much costs increase to accommodate better Asian working conditions, labor costs in America will always be higher.Of course, U.S. employers have to follow building codes and pay social security taxes, workers' compensation, health insurance and overtime. What's more, underperforming workers often have to be documented by human resources departments and given multiple warnings before they can be replaced. And if a factory in America fails to follow the rules, there are serious legal consequences, not to mention the likelihood of negative national media coverage. By contrast, let's just say, if a factory in Cambodia needs its workers to push out extra units to make a delivery and save the factory from forking out dollars to send their goods by air, the factory owner won't need to do much coaxing to get these workers to stay and work those extra hours. For apparel companies weighing their sourcing options, all of this makes doing business domestically cost prohibitive and complex.Clearly, the labor conditions that exist in the Third World, or the "developing world," as it's euphemistically called, are often subpar -- but this is our reality. And if retailers are currently responding to rising costs in China by taking their business to Bangladesh, how is it even conceivable that they will decide to switch gears and produce in the U.S.?Putting aside wages for the moment, clothing manufacturing has always attracted unskilled workers. From New York's garment district to Japan, Korea, China, India and now Bangladesh, production has always migrated from one low-cost country to the next, based on who could offer the most competitive price.Why would America want to reshore an industry that is having a hard time paying its workers $100 a month in the Third World? Instead, shouldn't we be training and developing the future American workforce for higher skilled manufacturing -- where the superior education and training many workers receive in the U.S. could offer us a competitive advantage?*What Are We Better At?*Over the past decade, U.S. textile and apparel employment has plunged by nearly 50 percent, to a record low of 363,000 jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are only 110,000 cut-and-sew apparel workers in this country, (for both highlighted above) a number that has been declining each month. Those apparel factories that have remained here in the U.S. are facing a labor shortage - more than a touch ironic, as one of the major reasons many give for supporting domestic apparel manufacturing is job creation.In looking at the prospect of bringing apparel manufacturing back to the U.S., I see the world not through a domestic lens, but a global one. If America is indeed to see a surge in domestic apparel manufacturing, it will be because its engineers and scientists develop new machinery and new software that can automate, speed up and lower the costs of production, thereby enabling the country to compete with the likes of low-cost Bangladesh. There is opportunity here. But are we allocating our energies and resources to the right battle?
Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.
Made in the U.S.A.? Not Anytime Soon
↧
↧
Softheon to Provide Health Insurance Exchange Integration Solution for WINhealth
STONY BROOK, N.Y., Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Softheon, Inc., a proven leader in health insurance marketplace integration and business operation, announced today that WINhealth has chosen the Marketplace Connector Cloud (MC2) as their software platform that will integrate its...
Reported by PR Newswire 17 hours ago.
↧
Helping Children in Hidden Rural Poverty
When many people hear child poverty in America, the first stereotype is an inner-city child and discussions about solutions to poverty often focus on concentrated poverty in urban areas. But in a nation where over 16 million children, more than one in five, are poor, the plain truth is that child poverty is pervasive and affects children everywhere although we know it affects urban, suburban, and rural children in some ways differently. The Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio)’s new report “Health Disparities Are Leaving Ohio’s Rural Children Behind” shares findings often true for poor rural American children. As they say about Ohio’s 190,000 poor rural children: “These children go to bed hungry. Many of them live miles from the closest pediatrician, children’s hospital, and other services. They need help — and it is a different kind of help than what may be needed for children in Ohio’s cities.”
CDF-Ohio’s report notes that a few years ago, NBC News reported on pervasive hunger in Appalachian Ohio“and the impact on families ‘who’ve had it all vanish — jobs, homes, and dreams — [and have to] choose between paying [their] bills and feeding [their] kids.’^In an area defined by valuing self-sufficiency, families are trying everything before turning to emergency food banks. Anita Hayes, mother of a 14-year-old daughter, Lydia, and 9-year-old son, Lyle, describes this struggle, saying, ‘The first few times I had to swallow my pride. But I wasn’t doing it for myself. I have to feed my children. They come first.’ Anita, her husband, and her two children live in a camper without running water and borrow a neighboring trailer’s electricity. She describes feeling guilty that she can’t meet her children’s needs and that sometimes a bowl of cereal is ‘dinner in a household where the children are growing up fast.’ Too many children are growing up too fast, without adequate nutrition, in rural and Appalachian counties hard-hit by the recession where, despite being surrounded by farmland, food is often in scarce supply.”
Many rural children live in “food deserts” without close access to grocery stores selling affordable, nutritious food. Ohio areas like Vinton County have no full-service grocery store at all; a local school administrator said in a 2012 news story:
“You know that it’s an issue when a little kid is going through the lunch line, and they’re already asking what’s going to be for breakfast the next morning, because they’re concentrating on the fact that perhaps this might be their last meal before they come back to school the next morning.”
Food in rural communities often costs more because supermarkets are so limited and there’s less price competition. In part due to food insecurity, children in rural Ohio are at greater risk of obesity. Other factors including reliance on driving and a lack of community resources like public parks, playgrounds, and exercise facilities probably play a role too in putting children at greater risk for obesity-related physical, emotional, and psychological health problems that may diminish their quality of life from youth into adulthood.
Poor access to health care is a second piece of the rural health disparities puzzle. Put simply, poor children in rural Ohio have more trouble than children in other parts of the state finding doctors to care for them. CDF-Ohio found this is part of a national trend: Regions with a low supply of pediatricians are disproportionately rural and tend to be poorer than high-supply regions. Nearly 1 million rural children live in areas with no local pediatrician. This shortage of general pediatricians and family doctors serving children in rural areas is compounded by a lack of access to pediatric subspecialists. In the United States, there are approximately 28,000 pediatric medical subspecialists and surgical specialists to care for over 80 million children. Most practice in academic settings, often a long drive from rural areas. About one in three children must travel 40 miles or more to receive care from a pediatrician certified in adolescent medicine, developmental behavior pediatrics, neurodevelopment disabilities, pulmonology, emergency medicine, nephrology, rheumatology, or sports medicine and there is a shortage of available critical care for children in rural emergency rooms. Finding a dentist is a huge challenge too.
CDF-Ohio offers solutions to some of the health risks poor children face including teaching families how to grow healthy food and community-based fitness and wellness programs. New ways of providing health care for rural children including community center- and school-based or linked health services, mobile dental vans, and new uses of technology like videoconferencing consultations are helping. Some key state policy changes could make a difference like tax incentives for buying nutritious food, encouraging more grocery stores in rural areas, increased public transit, and more incentives like loan forgiveness programs for graduates of the state’s medical schools to practice in rural areas.
The new Ohio report sums it up: “While there are great barriers to health care for rural and Appalachian children, there are also great opportunities to act and ensure a healthy future for all children across Ohio. Now is the time to act.” Another report just released this week by First Focus reaffirms the importance of ensuring health care for rural children across the country. It also makes clear that children in rural communities are more likely than their urban peers to get health care through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, and reinforces the importance of extending CHIP funding now for four more years. We must keep CHIP for these children as we seek other improvements on their behalf as well. I hope not only Ohio but every state will do more for the too often hidden rural poor children in our midst. Reported by Huffington Post 16 hours ago.
CDF-Ohio’s report notes that a few years ago, NBC News reported on pervasive hunger in Appalachian Ohio“and the impact on families ‘who’ve had it all vanish — jobs, homes, and dreams — [and have to] choose between paying [their] bills and feeding [their] kids.’^In an area defined by valuing self-sufficiency, families are trying everything before turning to emergency food banks. Anita Hayes, mother of a 14-year-old daughter, Lydia, and 9-year-old son, Lyle, describes this struggle, saying, ‘The first few times I had to swallow my pride. But I wasn’t doing it for myself. I have to feed my children. They come first.’ Anita, her husband, and her two children live in a camper without running water and borrow a neighboring trailer’s electricity. She describes feeling guilty that she can’t meet her children’s needs and that sometimes a bowl of cereal is ‘dinner in a household where the children are growing up fast.’ Too many children are growing up too fast, without adequate nutrition, in rural and Appalachian counties hard-hit by the recession where, despite being surrounded by farmland, food is often in scarce supply.”
Many rural children live in “food deserts” without close access to grocery stores selling affordable, nutritious food. Ohio areas like Vinton County have no full-service grocery store at all; a local school administrator said in a 2012 news story:
“You know that it’s an issue when a little kid is going through the lunch line, and they’re already asking what’s going to be for breakfast the next morning, because they’re concentrating on the fact that perhaps this might be their last meal before they come back to school the next morning.”
Food in rural communities often costs more because supermarkets are so limited and there’s less price competition. In part due to food insecurity, children in rural Ohio are at greater risk of obesity. Other factors including reliance on driving and a lack of community resources like public parks, playgrounds, and exercise facilities probably play a role too in putting children at greater risk for obesity-related physical, emotional, and psychological health problems that may diminish their quality of life from youth into adulthood.
Poor access to health care is a second piece of the rural health disparities puzzle. Put simply, poor children in rural Ohio have more trouble than children in other parts of the state finding doctors to care for them. CDF-Ohio found this is part of a national trend: Regions with a low supply of pediatricians are disproportionately rural and tend to be poorer than high-supply regions. Nearly 1 million rural children live in areas with no local pediatrician. This shortage of general pediatricians and family doctors serving children in rural areas is compounded by a lack of access to pediatric subspecialists. In the United States, there are approximately 28,000 pediatric medical subspecialists and surgical specialists to care for over 80 million children. Most practice in academic settings, often a long drive from rural areas. About one in three children must travel 40 miles or more to receive care from a pediatrician certified in adolescent medicine, developmental behavior pediatrics, neurodevelopment disabilities, pulmonology, emergency medicine, nephrology, rheumatology, or sports medicine and there is a shortage of available critical care for children in rural emergency rooms. Finding a dentist is a huge challenge too.
CDF-Ohio offers solutions to some of the health risks poor children face including teaching families how to grow healthy food and community-based fitness and wellness programs. New ways of providing health care for rural children including community center- and school-based or linked health services, mobile dental vans, and new uses of technology like videoconferencing consultations are helping. Some key state policy changes could make a difference like tax incentives for buying nutritious food, encouraging more grocery stores in rural areas, increased public transit, and more incentives like loan forgiveness programs for graduates of the state’s medical schools to practice in rural areas.
The new Ohio report sums it up: “While there are great barriers to health care for rural and Appalachian children, there are also great opportunities to act and ensure a healthy future for all children across Ohio. Now is the time to act.” Another report just released this week by First Focus reaffirms the importance of ensuring health care for rural children across the country. It also makes clear that children in rural communities are more likely than their urban peers to get health care through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, and reinforces the importance of extending CHIP funding now for four more years. We must keep CHIP for these children as we seek other improvements on their behalf as well. I hope not only Ohio but every state will do more for the too often hidden rural poor children in our midst. Reported by Huffington Post 16 hours ago.
↧
Tesla Q&A: Tesla's Nevada 'gigafactory' FAQs
(AP) — Now that Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed into law a package of incentives for Tesla Motors worth up to $1.3 billion, the electric-car maker is moving ahead with plans to build a $5 billion lithium battery factory expected to open in 2017 and employ 6,500 workers to make cheaper batteries so it can afford to mass market a new line of more affordable vehicles. The factory itself is expected to cover up to 10 million square feet, an area equal to 174 football fields. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said it will be the largest lithium battery factory in the world, producing more batteries annually than all the existing plants in the world did in 2013. Half of the 6,500 factory jobs and half the 3,000 construction jobs must be offered to Nevadans who have worked 30 hours a week the past year in a Nevada job covered by health insurance. The total package over 20 years is estimated to be worth up to $1.3 billion — up to $1.1 billion of that in the form of tax abatements that will see Tesla pay no property or payroll taxes for 10 years and no local sales or use taxes for 20 years. According to Good Jobs First, it is the 13th largest giveaway in U.S. history, rivaling the biggest ever offered to the auto industry — Chrysler's $1.3 billion from Michigan in 2010.
Reported by SFGate 13 hours ago.
↧
Workers take hit in pocket
It's not your imagination. If you have employer health insurance, you're probably paying more out of your own pocket.
Reported by Journal Gazette 8 hours ago.
↧
↧
Obamacare Face Hurdles Ahead Of Its Second Enrollment Season
WASHINGTON (AP) — Potential complications await consumers as President Barack Obama's health care law approaches its second open enrollment season, just two months away.
Don't expect a repeat of last year's website meltdown, but the new sign-up period could expose underlying problems with the law itself that are less easily fixed than a computer system.
Getting those who signed up this year enrolled again for 2015 won't be as easy as it might seem. And the law's interaction between insurance and taxes looks like a sure-fire formula for confusion.
For example:
— For the roughly 8 million people who signed up this year, the administration has set up automatic renewal. But consumers who go that route may regret it. They risk sticker shock by missing out on lower-premium options. And they could get stuck with an outdated and possibly incorrect government subsidy. Automatic renewal should be a last resort, consumer advocates say.
—An additional 5 million people or so will be signing up for the first time on HealthCare.gov and state exchange websites. But the Nov. 15-Feb. 15 open enrollment season will be half as long the 2013-2014 sign-up period, and it overlaps with the holiday season.
— Of those enrolled this year, the overwhelming majority received tax credits to help pay their premiums. Because those subsidies are tied to income, those 6.7 million consumers will have to file new forms with their 2014 tax returns to prove they got the right amount. Too much subsidy and their tax refunds will be reduced. Too little, and the government owes them.
—Tens of millions of people who remained uninsured this year face tax penalties for the first time, unless they can secure an exemption.
"It's the second open enrollment, but the first renewal and the first tax season where the requirements of the Affordable Care Act are in place," said Judy Solomon, vice president for health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income people, and supports the law.
"The fact that it is all going to be occurring within an overlapping and relatively short time frame ... means that there will be many issues," she added.
At Foundation Communities, an Austin, Texas, nonprofit serving low-income people, Elizabeth Colvin says more volunteers will be needed this year to help new customers as well as those re-enrolling. Last time, her organization's health insurance campaign lined up 100 volunteers. She figures she will need a minimum of 50 more.
"We have less than half the time than last year, and it's over the holidays," she said. "We have a concern about trying to get more people through the system without shortchanging education, so that consumers know how to use the insurance they're enrolling in,"
Some congressional supporters of the law are worried about more political fallout, particularly because of the law's convoluted connections with the tax system.
"It seems to me there ought to be some way to better educate folks on what they may face in this process," Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., told Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen at a hearing last week.
Thompson wasn't impressed when Koskinen said the IRS has put information on its website and is using social media to get out the word.
Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., said in an interview that he disagrees with making people pay back part of their premium subsidy. That would happen if someone made more money during the year and failed to report it to HealthCare.gov.
"Why should individuals be punished if they got a bump in salary?" said Pascrell. "To me, this was not the ACA I voted on."
Last year the federal website that serves most states crashed the day it went live, and it took the better part of two months to get things working reasonably well. This year, the Obama administration is promising a better consumer experience, but officials have released few details. It's unclear how well system tests are going.
"This coming year will be one of visible and continued improvement, but not perfection," said Andy Slavitt, a tech executive brought in by the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the operation.
Insurers say they continue to worry about connections not fully straightened out between their computer systems and the government's.
They also are concerned about retaining customers. One quirk troubling the industry is that policyholders who want to update their subsidies and stay in the same plan will have to type in a 14-character plan identifier when they re-enroll online. That's longer than a phone number or a Social Security number, and customers may not know where to find it.
Administration spokesman Aaron Albright says consumers will have several ways to do that. The number will be mailed to them by their insurer as part of their renewal notice, they can get it from a HealthCare.gov call center or they can select the same plan while browsing other options online.
Alex Stevens, a dishwasher at an Austin pizzeria, got covered this year and said he's planning to re-enroll. A skateboarding enthusiast in his late 20s, Stevens broke a leg skating with friends this summer. It was a bad break and he had major surgery the next day. But his insurance paid most of the $55,000 bill, and he only owed $750.
"My mom said she was glad that I have insurance," said Stevens.
As the share of Americans remaining uninsured declines, it's clear the health care law has filled a need for millions of people like Stevens, who work but don't have coverage on the job.
That demand was strong enough to overcome a dysfunctional website the first year of the coverage expansion. The second year will show whether the full program is workable for the people it was intended to serve, or if major retooling will be needed. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
Don't expect a repeat of last year's website meltdown, but the new sign-up period could expose underlying problems with the law itself that are less easily fixed than a computer system.
Getting those who signed up this year enrolled again for 2015 won't be as easy as it might seem. And the law's interaction between insurance and taxes looks like a sure-fire formula for confusion.
For example:
— For the roughly 8 million people who signed up this year, the administration has set up automatic renewal. But consumers who go that route may regret it. They risk sticker shock by missing out on lower-premium options. And they could get stuck with an outdated and possibly incorrect government subsidy. Automatic renewal should be a last resort, consumer advocates say.
—An additional 5 million people or so will be signing up for the first time on HealthCare.gov and state exchange websites. But the Nov. 15-Feb. 15 open enrollment season will be half as long the 2013-2014 sign-up period, and it overlaps with the holiday season.
— Of those enrolled this year, the overwhelming majority received tax credits to help pay their premiums. Because those subsidies are tied to income, those 6.7 million consumers will have to file new forms with their 2014 tax returns to prove they got the right amount. Too much subsidy and their tax refunds will be reduced. Too little, and the government owes them.
—Tens of millions of people who remained uninsured this year face tax penalties for the first time, unless they can secure an exemption.
"It's the second open enrollment, but the first renewal and the first tax season where the requirements of the Affordable Care Act are in place," said Judy Solomon, vice president for health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income people, and supports the law.
"The fact that it is all going to be occurring within an overlapping and relatively short time frame ... means that there will be many issues," she added.
At Foundation Communities, an Austin, Texas, nonprofit serving low-income people, Elizabeth Colvin says more volunteers will be needed this year to help new customers as well as those re-enrolling. Last time, her organization's health insurance campaign lined up 100 volunteers. She figures she will need a minimum of 50 more.
"We have less than half the time than last year, and it's over the holidays," she said. "We have a concern about trying to get more people through the system without shortchanging education, so that consumers know how to use the insurance they're enrolling in,"
Some congressional supporters of the law are worried about more political fallout, particularly because of the law's convoluted connections with the tax system.
"It seems to me there ought to be some way to better educate folks on what they may face in this process," Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., told Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen at a hearing last week.
Thompson wasn't impressed when Koskinen said the IRS has put information on its website and is using social media to get out the word.
Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., said in an interview that he disagrees with making people pay back part of their premium subsidy. That would happen if someone made more money during the year and failed to report it to HealthCare.gov.
"Why should individuals be punished if they got a bump in salary?" said Pascrell. "To me, this was not the ACA I voted on."
Last year the federal website that serves most states crashed the day it went live, and it took the better part of two months to get things working reasonably well. This year, the Obama administration is promising a better consumer experience, but officials have released few details. It's unclear how well system tests are going.
"This coming year will be one of visible and continued improvement, but not perfection," said Andy Slavitt, a tech executive brought in by the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the operation.
Insurers say they continue to worry about connections not fully straightened out between their computer systems and the government's.
They also are concerned about retaining customers. One quirk troubling the industry is that policyholders who want to update their subsidies and stay in the same plan will have to type in a 14-character plan identifier when they re-enroll online. That's longer than a phone number or a Social Security number, and customers may not know where to find it.
Administration spokesman Aaron Albright says consumers will have several ways to do that. The number will be mailed to them by their insurer as part of their renewal notice, they can get it from a HealthCare.gov call center or they can select the same plan while browsing other options online.
Alex Stevens, a dishwasher at an Austin pizzeria, got covered this year and said he's planning to re-enroll. A skateboarding enthusiast in his late 20s, Stevens broke a leg skating with friends this summer. It was a bad break and he had major surgery the next day. But his insurance paid most of the $55,000 bill, and he only owed $750.
"My mom said she was glad that I have insurance," said Stevens.
As the share of Americans remaining uninsured declines, it's clear the health care law has filled a need for millions of people like Stevens, who work but don't have coverage on the job.
That demand was strong enough to overcome a dysfunctional website the first year of the coverage expansion. The second year will show whether the full program is workable for the people it was intended to serve, or if major retooling will be needed. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
↧
Insurers Fight Hospital Mergers As Obamacare Pushes Value-Based Care
A wave of hospital mergers and acquisitions spreading across the U.S. has the health insurance industry attempting to stand in the way with legalese, Congressional lobbying and in the court of public opinion.
Reported by Forbes.com 20 hours ago.
↧
State Minimum Insurance Now Searchable by Zip Code Using Modified Consumer Insurance Portal Website
State minimum insurance can now be reviewed in price by zip code through the Quotes Pros portal at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) September 14, 2014
Searching for automobile insurance is now simpler at the state level using the Quotes Pros website tools this year. A modified state minimum insurance search tool is included for public use at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html to provide price details to owners of vehicles online.
The minimum policy pricing that can be reviewed while accessing the modified tool this year is offered through companies that exist in most U.S. states. Because the liability policies are sortable based on car owner locations, some companies will be restricted in certain areas and pricing will be unavailable.
"The auto insurance pricing that consumers will find using our website is accurate and based on current policy prices that insurers are supplying," said one Quotes Pros rep.
The zip code searches that are available can help a person to explore providers in several locations at the same time. State companies often underwrite policies in most counties and someone seeking liability coverage can now review all rates packages available. The liability plans available to review will help drivers with independent research.
"Looking through our database can help a car owner find collector, full coverage, high risk and standard insurer protection plans from U.S. agents," said the rep.
The Quotes Pros company has included its finder system on its homepage for this year to help motorists connect with national companies in the insurance industry. Aside from the car insurer prices, data for life and health insurance plans can be reviewed or compared visiting http://quotespros.com/life-insurance.html.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company is one automated resource that is helping the public to find, compare and to review policies for insurance in the U.S. The Internet tools this company supplies makes it effortless to find insurer policies nationwide. The QuotesPros.com company promotes an easy set of tools that can help any adult find rates by using a zip code when connecting with insurers offering rates quotations. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) September 14, 2014
Searching for automobile insurance is now simpler at the state level using the Quotes Pros website tools this year. A modified state minimum insurance search tool is included for public use at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html to provide price details to owners of vehicles online.
The minimum policy pricing that can be reviewed while accessing the modified tool this year is offered through companies that exist in most U.S. states. Because the liability policies are sortable based on car owner locations, some companies will be restricted in certain areas and pricing will be unavailable.
"The auto insurance pricing that consumers will find using our website is accurate and based on current policy prices that insurers are supplying," said one Quotes Pros rep.
The zip code searches that are available can help a person to explore providers in several locations at the same time. State companies often underwrite policies in most counties and someone seeking liability coverage can now review all rates packages available. The liability plans available to review will help drivers with independent research.
"Looking through our database can help a car owner find collector, full coverage, high risk and standard insurer protection plans from U.S. agents," said the rep.
The Quotes Pros company has included its finder system on its homepage for this year to help motorists connect with national companies in the insurance industry. Aside from the car insurer prices, data for life and health insurance plans can be reviewed or compared visiting http://quotespros.com/life-insurance.html.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company is one automated resource that is helping the public to find, compare and to review policies for insurance in the U.S. The Internet tools this company supplies makes it effortless to find insurer policies nationwide. The QuotesPros.com company promotes an easy set of tools that can help any adult find rates by using a zip code when connecting with insurers offering rates quotations. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.
↧
Quotes for Life Insurance Now Offered at New Consumer Portal Online
Online quotes for life insurance are now supplied to the public using the portal at the Quotes Pros website at http://quotespros.com/life-insurance.html.
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) September 14, 2014
Adults who are planning protection for unexpected life events can now use the Quotes Pros website to find quotes for life insurance online. The new consumer portal that was constructed this year at http://quotespros.com/life-insurance.html is now delivering the price information for adults.
The insurance company partners that are preparing the rates information for adults through the open portal this year are located in most U.S. states. As a way to simplify the search process, the current portal allows research by zip code instead of requiring input of medical or family information.
"The quotations that our tool helps to prepare for consumers are accurate and are instantly supplied by state or national agencies specializing in term, whole or guaranteed policies," said one Quotes Pros rep.
The consumer accessible portal that is now open at the QuotesPros.com website is also helping adults to review pricing attached to other coverage plans offered. Instead of only life insurance policy pricing, it is now simpler this year to obtain automotive or health insurance rates using the open portal.
"The short or long-term plans that are quoted through partners inside of our database each include full pricing that is prepared in part by zip codes," the rep included.
The Quotes Pros website is now supplying different information offered by insurers through its easy to search through portal this year. The price system will continue to operate and new insurers will be featured throughout the system for review for consumers in most U.S. states.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company is growing national resource helping the public to conduct private research for insurance agencies in North America on the Internet. The company data supplied is calculated by agencies underwriting the coverage plans for consumers. The QuotesPros.com website can be accessed from any smartphone or computer system connected to the Internet and quotations are prepared in real time for the public. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) September 14, 2014
Adults who are planning protection for unexpected life events can now use the Quotes Pros website to find quotes for life insurance online. The new consumer portal that was constructed this year at http://quotespros.com/life-insurance.html is now delivering the price information for adults.
The insurance company partners that are preparing the rates information for adults through the open portal this year are located in most U.S. states. As a way to simplify the search process, the current portal allows research by zip code instead of requiring input of medical or family information.
"The quotations that our tool helps to prepare for consumers are accurate and are instantly supplied by state or national agencies specializing in term, whole or guaranteed policies," said one Quotes Pros rep.
The consumer accessible portal that is now open at the QuotesPros.com website is also helping adults to review pricing attached to other coverage plans offered. Instead of only life insurance policy pricing, it is now simpler this year to obtain automotive or health insurance rates using the open portal.
"The short or long-term plans that are quoted through partners inside of our database each include full pricing that is prepared in part by zip codes," the rep included.
The Quotes Pros website is now supplying different information offered by insurers through its easy to search through portal this year. The price system will continue to operate and new insurers will be featured throughout the system for review for consumers in most U.S. states.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company is growing national resource helping the public to conduct private research for insurance agencies in North America on the Internet. The company data supplied is calculated by agencies underwriting the coverage plans for consumers. The QuotesPros.com website can be accessed from any smartphone or computer system connected to the Internet and quotations are prepared in real time for the public. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.
↧
↧
Insurers, government urge renewal caution
WASHINGTON -- Millions of consumers soon will receive notices from health insurance companies stating that their coverage is being automatically renewed for 2015, along with the financial assistance they received this year from the federal government.
Reported by TwinCities.com 12 hours ago.
↧
Health coverage for retirees outside U.S. will vary greatly
Q: What advice on health insurance can you give to people planning to retire in India? Can we purchase an international health insurance policy for medical services there?
Reported by detnews.com 12 hours ago.
↧
Affordable Care Act Poses Challenge for Hospital Recruiters, with Nationwide Physician Shortage Looming in the Near Future
PracticeLink to host physician job fair in Chapel Hill to connect recruiters with providers.
Chapel Hill, NC (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
More than 30 million additional Americans have access to health insurance due to the Affordable Care Act. This fact begs the question “are there enough physicians to see them all?” As health care reform and an aging population create a demand for doctors that far exceeds the supply, health care organizations are trying to stay on top of the anticipated physician shortage.
Physician openings take an average of 204 days to fill, according to the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters. And because physicians are the primary revenue drivers for health care organizations, each physician vacancy represents hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue. For this reason, hospitals and other medical groups often have in-house physician recruiting departments dedicated to anticipating provider needs and filling positions as quickly as possible.
“In-house physician recruiters play a critical role in health care. Without recruiters, organizations can’t get the providers they need, and without providers, patients can’t be seen,” said Ken Allman, CEO of PracticeLink.com, the most widely used online physician job bank.
Health care recruiters from across the country will be gathering in Chapel Hill September 23, 2014 with PracticeLink to connect with the providers they need during a physician career workshop and job fair from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Job-seeking physicians and advanced practitioners in training or practice are invited to attend the PracticeLink Job Fair.
Ken Allman and other PracticeLink staff will be available for interviews upon request, to speak about the physician shortage, the challenges facing physician recruiters and the health care industry as a whole.
About PracticeLink
PracticeLink.com is the most widely used online physician job bank. More than 20,000 physicians and advanced practitioners register with PracticeLink.com each year in their search for a new job, and thousands more search the job bank confidentially when looking for a new practice. More than 1,000 recruiters representing more than 5,000 health care facilities nationwide use PracticeLink to recruit physicians and other health care providers.
PracticeLink is headquartered in Hinton, W.Va., and also has offices in St. Louis and Louisville, Ky. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
Chapel Hill, NC (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
More than 30 million additional Americans have access to health insurance due to the Affordable Care Act. This fact begs the question “are there enough physicians to see them all?” As health care reform and an aging population create a demand for doctors that far exceeds the supply, health care organizations are trying to stay on top of the anticipated physician shortage.
Physician openings take an average of 204 days to fill, according to the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters. And because physicians are the primary revenue drivers for health care organizations, each physician vacancy represents hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue. For this reason, hospitals and other medical groups often have in-house physician recruiting departments dedicated to anticipating provider needs and filling positions as quickly as possible.
“In-house physician recruiters play a critical role in health care. Without recruiters, organizations can’t get the providers they need, and without providers, patients can’t be seen,” said Ken Allman, CEO of PracticeLink.com, the most widely used online physician job bank.
Health care recruiters from across the country will be gathering in Chapel Hill September 23, 2014 with PracticeLink to connect with the providers they need during a physician career workshop and job fair from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Job-seeking physicians and advanced practitioners in training or practice are invited to attend the PracticeLink Job Fair.
Ken Allman and other PracticeLink staff will be available for interviews upon request, to speak about the physician shortage, the challenges facing physician recruiters and the health care industry as a whole.
About PracticeLink
PracticeLink.com is the most widely used online physician job bank. More than 20,000 physicians and advanced practitioners register with PracticeLink.com each year in their search for a new job, and thousands more search the job bank confidentially when looking for a new practice. More than 1,000 recruiters representing more than 5,000 health care facilities nationwide use PracticeLink to recruit physicians and other health care providers.
PracticeLink is headquartered in Hinton, W.Va., and also has offices in St. Louis and Louisville, Ky. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
↧
Top 4 Stocks In The Accident & Health Insurance Industry With The Highest Revenue
Top 4 Stocks In The Accident & Health Insurance Industry With The Highest Revenue
Reported by ajc.com 7 hours ago.
↧
↧
Investing In Health Insurance Companies
Investing In Health Insurance Companies
Reported by ajc.com 5 hours ago.
↧
Meridian council to vote on health insurance plan
Meridian city officials could choose a different carrier for employees' health insurance when the city council meets on Tuesday.
Reported by Miami Herald 5 hours ago.
↧
In-House ObamaCare Litigation Support For Hospitals & ASC’s from ERISAclaim.com
For ObamaCare Reimbursement Compliance, New In-House PPACA & ERISA Litigation Support Programs Announced from ERISAclaim.com, in conjunction with In-House ERISA Appeals Department, Four Years after PPACA Adopted ERISA in Its Entirety for All Health Plans.
Hanover Park, IL (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
ERISAclaim.com announces today new in-house PPACA & ERISA Litigation Department Support Programs for Reimbursement in ObamaCare Compliance, after 4-year-old PPACA adopted 40-year-old ERISA in its entirety as reimbursement laws for all health care plans and individual policies. PPACA compliance training program is designed to assist hospitals and ASC’s in developing in-house ERISA litigation and ERISA appeals Department simultaneously in 3 to 6 months to avoid epidemic financial losses as a result of ERISA & PPACA compliance failures.
“The financial losses from most hospitals or ASC’s nationwide totally due to the lack of ERISA appeals and judicial reviews in federal court may have been much greater than the money that could have built many ERISA law schools,” says Dr. Jin Zhou, president of ERISAclaim.com, a national expert in ERISA and PPACA appeals and compliance. “It makes practical and economic sense to bring both PPACA and ERISA appeals and litigation in house for reimbursement compliance under ObamaCare.”
This unique in-house PPACA and ERISA reimbursement compliance program is a direct result of four-year-old ObamaCare mandate for ERISA appeals for all health plans and individual policies, and more than 10 years of success in helping healthcare providers establishing in-house ERISA appeal specialist training and appeals Department, states Dr. Zhou.
“Our unique compliance solutions to modern healthcare reimbursement crisis are to train highly qualified ERISA Claim Appeal Specialists and to employ ERISA attorneys in-house, to complete ERISA appeals in about 60 to 90 days, and to seek for judicial reviews in federal court in about 90 days after the initial claim denials for most qualified cases,” explains Dr. Zhou. “This total compliant approach will dramatically cut down the administrative costs and speed up positive results, as intended by Congress in enacting ERISA and PPACA.”
As the first of its kind for one-stop shopping for reimbursement compliance, ERISAclaim.com offers hospitals and ASC’s as well as healthcare providers with unique triple compliance in developing in-house ObamaCare (PPACA) & ERISA Claim Specialist Programs, in-house ERISA & PPACA Litigation Support, and Corporate Compliance - Fraud and Abuse Prevention and Reimbursement, including but not limited to the followings:
1. Training PPACA & ERISA Claim Specialists, to be specialized on the claims denials & appeals for all delayed and denied PPACA & ERISA claims, alleged overpayment recoupment and offset denials;
2. Training PPACA Patient Rights Advocate Specialists, to advocate for patient PPACA rights, freedom of choice for in-network or out-of-network network providers;
3. Training PPACA & ERISA Corporate Compliance Specialists, Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Prevention, to advocate for optimum reimbursement through proactive compliance in anti-fraud claim denials;
4. Training PPACA & ERISA Reimbursement under HSA, a special program for patients and healthcare providers to be reimbursed under a 10-year-old HSA (Health Savings Account) with $25 billion savings today, but little-known to healthcare providers, especially for increasingly popular high deductible health plans.
5. Providing in-house PPACA & ERISA Litigation Support, a unique patient advocacy and compliance program to assist in-house ERISA attorneys employed by, rather than hired by healthcare providers and in timely exhausting administrative remedies and speedy litigation strategies, in order to advocate for patient PPACA and ERISA rights and enforcement;
6. Thanks to ObamaCare, hospitals or ASC’s as well as healthcare providers with more than million-dollars in claim denials don’t have to contract out for claims recoveries with 20% to 50% commissions and unexpected delays. For the first time in US healthcare history, healthcare providers have options to be masters in protecting their reimbursement rights, with only a fragment of recoverable claim denials, and understanding of ObamaCare mandate for ERISA compliance for all healthcare plans and individual policies, the entire training program are expected to complete in 3 to 6 months.
7. ERISA 40th birthday on September 2, 2014, and 4-year-old PPACA with total ERISA mandate inspired ERISAclaim.com’s new comprehensive ERISA and PPACA compliance in the solution programs. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform/
ObamaCare adopted ERISA claim regulation in its entirety as minimum ObamaCare claims regulations:
“(i) Minimum internal claims and appeals standards. A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage must comply with all the requirements applicable to group health plans under 29 CFR 2560.503–1 …. with respect to health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan, the group health insurance issuer is subject to the requirements in 29 CFR 2560.503–1 to the same extent as the group health plan.” according to PPACA regulations for Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review. http://webapps.dol.gov/FederalRegister/PdfDisplay.aspx?DocId=24056
To find out more about PPACA Claims and Appeals and Litigation Compliance Services from ERISAclaim.com: http://www.erisaclaim.com/products.htm
Located in a Chicago suburb in Illinois, for over 15 years, ERISAclaim.com is the only ERISA & PPACA consulting, publishing and website resource for healthcare providers in the country. ERISAclaim.com offers free webinars, basic and advanced educational seminars and on-site claims specialist certification programs for doctors, hospitals and commercial companies, as well as numerous pending national ERISA class action litigation support. Dr. Jin Zhou is regarded as the industry “Godfather of ERISA claims” for healthcare providers, and served as a consultant for the most recent provider ERISA class-actions in overpayment lawsuits with favorable decisions and permanent injunctions against health plans.
For any questions, please contact Dr. Jin Zhou, president of ERISAclaim.com, at 630-808-7237. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
Hanover Park, IL (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
ERISAclaim.com announces today new in-house PPACA & ERISA Litigation Department Support Programs for Reimbursement in ObamaCare Compliance, after 4-year-old PPACA adopted 40-year-old ERISA in its entirety as reimbursement laws for all health care plans and individual policies. PPACA compliance training program is designed to assist hospitals and ASC’s in developing in-house ERISA litigation and ERISA appeals Department simultaneously in 3 to 6 months to avoid epidemic financial losses as a result of ERISA & PPACA compliance failures.
“The financial losses from most hospitals or ASC’s nationwide totally due to the lack of ERISA appeals and judicial reviews in federal court may have been much greater than the money that could have built many ERISA law schools,” says Dr. Jin Zhou, president of ERISAclaim.com, a national expert in ERISA and PPACA appeals and compliance. “It makes practical and economic sense to bring both PPACA and ERISA appeals and litigation in house for reimbursement compliance under ObamaCare.”
This unique in-house PPACA and ERISA reimbursement compliance program is a direct result of four-year-old ObamaCare mandate for ERISA appeals for all health plans and individual policies, and more than 10 years of success in helping healthcare providers establishing in-house ERISA appeal specialist training and appeals Department, states Dr. Zhou.
“Our unique compliance solutions to modern healthcare reimbursement crisis are to train highly qualified ERISA Claim Appeal Specialists and to employ ERISA attorneys in-house, to complete ERISA appeals in about 60 to 90 days, and to seek for judicial reviews in federal court in about 90 days after the initial claim denials for most qualified cases,” explains Dr. Zhou. “This total compliant approach will dramatically cut down the administrative costs and speed up positive results, as intended by Congress in enacting ERISA and PPACA.”
As the first of its kind for one-stop shopping for reimbursement compliance, ERISAclaim.com offers hospitals and ASC’s as well as healthcare providers with unique triple compliance in developing in-house ObamaCare (PPACA) & ERISA Claim Specialist Programs, in-house ERISA & PPACA Litigation Support, and Corporate Compliance - Fraud and Abuse Prevention and Reimbursement, including but not limited to the followings:
1. Training PPACA & ERISA Claim Specialists, to be specialized on the claims denials & appeals for all delayed and denied PPACA & ERISA claims, alleged overpayment recoupment and offset denials;
2. Training PPACA Patient Rights Advocate Specialists, to advocate for patient PPACA rights, freedom of choice for in-network or out-of-network network providers;
3. Training PPACA & ERISA Corporate Compliance Specialists, Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Prevention, to advocate for optimum reimbursement through proactive compliance in anti-fraud claim denials;
4. Training PPACA & ERISA Reimbursement under HSA, a special program for patients and healthcare providers to be reimbursed under a 10-year-old HSA (Health Savings Account) with $25 billion savings today, but little-known to healthcare providers, especially for increasingly popular high deductible health plans.
5. Providing in-house PPACA & ERISA Litigation Support, a unique patient advocacy and compliance program to assist in-house ERISA attorneys employed by, rather than hired by healthcare providers and in timely exhausting administrative remedies and speedy litigation strategies, in order to advocate for patient PPACA and ERISA rights and enforcement;
6. Thanks to ObamaCare, hospitals or ASC’s as well as healthcare providers with more than million-dollars in claim denials don’t have to contract out for claims recoveries with 20% to 50% commissions and unexpected delays. For the first time in US healthcare history, healthcare providers have options to be masters in protecting their reimbursement rights, with only a fragment of recoverable claim denials, and understanding of ObamaCare mandate for ERISA compliance for all healthcare plans and individual policies, the entire training program are expected to complete in 3 to 6 months.
7. ERISA 40th birthday on September 2, 2014, and 4-year-old PPACA with total ERISA mandate inspired ERISAclaim.com’s new comprehensive ERISA and PPACA compliance in the solution programs. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform/
ObamaCare adopted ERISA claim regulation in its entirety as minimum ObamaCare claims regulations:
“(i) Minimum internal claims and appeals standards. A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage must comply with all the requirements applicable to group health plans under 29 CFR 2560.503–1 …. with respect to health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan, the group health insurance issuer is subject to the requirements in 29 CFR 2560.503–1 to the same extent as the group health plan.” according to PPACA regulations for Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review. http://webapps.dol.gov/FederalRegister/PdfDisplay.aspx?DocId=24056
To find out more about PPACA Claims and Appeals and Litigation Compliance Services from ERISAclaim.com: http://www.erisaclaim.com/products.htm
Located in a Chicago suburb in Illinois, for over 15 years, ERISAclaim.com is the only ERISA & PPACA consulting, publishing and website resource for healthcare providers in the country. ERISAclaim.com offers free webinars, basic and advanced educational seminars and on-site claims specialist certification programs for doctors, hospitals and commercial companies, as well as numerous pending national ERISA class action litigation support. Dr. Jin Zhou is regarded as the industry “Godfather of ERISA claims” for healthcare providers, and served as a consultant for the most recent provider ERISA class-actions in overpayment lawsuits with favorable decisions and permanent injunctions against health plans.
For any questions, please contact Dr. Jin Zhou, president of ERISAclaim.com, at 630-808-7237. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
↧
Obamacare 2.0: New Hurdles Await Fall Enrollment Season
Filed under: Technology, Health Care, Internet, Barack Obama, Health Insurance*Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP*Applicants line up outside the SEIU-UHW office during a health care enrollment event in Commerce, Calif., last March.
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
WASHINGTON -- Potential complications await consumers as President Barack Obama's health care law approaches its second open enrollment season, just two months away.
Don't expect a repeat of last year's website meltdown, but the new sign-up period could expose underlying problems with the law itself that are less easily fixed than a computer system.
Getting those who signed up this year enrolled again for 2015 won't be as easy as it might seem. And the law's interaction between insurance and taxes looks like a sure-fire formula for confusion.
For example:
· For the roughly 8 million people who signed up this year, the administration has set up automatic renewal. But consumers who go that route may regret it. They risk sticker shock by missing out on lower-premium options. And they could get stuck with an outdated and possibly incorrect government subsidy. Automatic renewal should be a last resort, consumer advocates say.
· An additional 5 million people or so will be signing up for the first time on HealthCare.gov and state exchange websites. But the Nov. 15-Feb. 15 open enrollment season will be half as long the 2013-2014 sign-up period, and it overlaps with the holiday season.
· Of those enrolled this year, the overwhelming majority received tax credits to help pay their premiums. Because those subsidies are tied to income, those 6.7 million consumers will have to file new forms with their 2014 tax returns to prove they got the right amount. Too much subsidy and their tax refunds will be reduced. Too little, and the government owes them.
· Tens of millions of people who remained uninsured this year face tax penalties for the first time, unless they can secure an exemption.
"It's the second open enrollment, but the first renewal and the first tax season where the requirements of the Affordable Care Act are in place," said Judy Solomon, vice president for health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income people, and supports the law.
"The fact that it is all going to be occurring within an overlapping and relatively short time frame ... means that there will be many issues," she added.
At Foundation Communities, an Austin, Texas, nonprofit serving low-income people, Elizabeth Colvin says more volunteers will be needed this year to help new customers as well as those re-enrolling. Last time, her organization's health insurance campaign lined up 100 volunteers. She figures she will need a minimum of 50 more.
"We have less than half the time than last year, and it's over the holidays," she said. "We have a concern about trying to get more people through the system without shortchanging education, so that consumers know how to use the insurance they're enrolling in,"
*Political Fallout*
Some congressional supporters of the law are worried about more political fallout, particularly because of the law's convoluted connections with the tax system.
"It seems to me there ought to be some way to better educate folks on what they may face in this process," Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., told Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen at a hearing last week.Thompson wasn't impressed when Koskinen said the IRS has put information on its website and is using social media to get out the word.
Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., said in an interview that he disagrees with making people pay back part of their premium subsidy. That would happen if someone made more money during the year and failed to report it to HealthCare.gov.
"Why should individuals be punished if they got a bump in salary?" said Pascrell. "To me, this was not the ACA I voted on."
Last year the federal website that serves most states crashed the day it went live, and it took the better part of two months to get things working reasonably well. This year, the Obama administration is promising a better consumer experience, but officials have released few details. It's unclear how well system tests are going.
"This coming year will be one of visible and continued improvement, but not perfection," said Andy Slavitt, a tech executive brought in by the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the operation.
*Continued Concerns*
Insurers say they continue to worry about connections not fully straightened out between their computer systems and the government's.
They also are concerned about retaining customers. One quirk troubling the industry is that policyholders who want to update their subsidies and stay in the same plan will have to type in a 14-character plan identifier when they re-enroll online. That's longer than a phone number or a Social Security number, and customers may not know where to find it.
Administration spokesman Aaron Albright says consumers will have several ways to do that. The number will be mailed to them by their insurer as part of their renewal notice, they can get it from a HealthCare.gov call center or they can select the same plan while browsing other options online.
Alex Stevens, a dishwasher at an Austin pizzeria, got covered this year and said he's planning to re-enroll. A skateboarding enthusiast in his late 20s, Stevens broke a leg skating with friends this summer. It was a bad break and he had major surgery the next day. But his insurance paid most of the $55,000 bill, and he only owed $750.
"My mom said she was glad that I have insurance," Stevens said.
As the share of Americans remaining uninsured declines, it's clear the health care law has filled a need for millions of people like Stevens, who work but don't have coverage on the job.
That demand was strong enough to overcome a dysfunctional website the first year of the coverage expansion. The second year will show whether the full program is workable for the people it was intended to serve, or if major retooling will be needed.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 5 hours ago.
↧
↧
Rudest Drivers are from Idaho, Washington, D.C., and New York, Says Insure.com Survey
A new survey reveals contempt among states for others’ driving habits.
Foster City, Calif. (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
Drivers from Idaho, Washington, D.C. and New York have been judged to be the rudest drivers, according to a survey by Insure.com, an independent consumer insurance information website.
Also judged to be quite rude are drivers from Wyoming, Massachusetts, Vermont and Delaware.
Here’s how the top 10 rudest drivers rank, based on a survey of 2,000 licensed drivers nationwide:
1. Idaho
2. Washington, D.C.
3. New York
4. Wyoming
5. Massachusetts
6. Delaware (tie)
6. Vermont (tie)
8. New Jersey
9. Nevada
10. Utah
See the rankings for all states at http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/rudest-drivers-by-state.html.
“Casting aspersions toward other drivers is a long-standing tradition,” said Amy Danise, editorial director for Insure.com. “We wanted to know not only where the rude drivers come from, but also who thinks they’re rude.”
Insure.com analyzed the results to determine who dislikes whom the most. California drivers are the biggest haters: They are the No. 1 haters of drivers from surrounding states and even from states across the country. Californians hate New York drivers more than New Jersey drivers do.
Here are the states where residents are the biggest haters of drivers from three or more other states:
Hater No. 1: California. Drivers from the Golden State have dark thoughts about drivers from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah and even Vermont.
Hater No. 2: Texas. It looks like drivers from California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Dakota have messed with Texas.
Haters No. 3, 4 and 5 (tie):
Georgia: There will be no peaches for drivers from Alabama, Delaware and Florida.
Illinois: Someone isn’t getting along with its neighbors. Illinois drivers point to people in Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin as being the rudest on the road.
Pennsylvania: Although one of Pennsylvania’s nicknames is the Quaker State, people there show little forgiveness toward drivers from Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia.
“There’s also no love lost between North and South Carolina – they point to each other as having the rudest drivers,” observed Danise. “But North and South Dakota seem to be getting along. Neither one points to the other as having the rudest drivers.”
When asked what makes them most mad about other drivers, people said:· Talking on a cellphone while driving – 47%
· Tailgating – 37%
· Not signaling turns – 35%
· Weaving in and out of lanes – 28%
· Driving too fast, like every road is a highway – 26%
(Respondents could choose more than one answer from 18 choices.)
Half of people (49 percent) believe that about a quarter of other drivers should not be on the road. Twenty-one percent think half of other drivers should not be on the road.
See the full state rankings, and the drivers who hate them, at http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/rudest-drivers-by-state.html.
Methodology
Insure.com commissioned a survey of 2,000 licensed drivers, half women and half men, with respondents representing all areas of the country according to Census population data. The state rankings were calculated using a ratio of the nationwide votes for drivers of the state divided by the number of respondents from the state. The survey was fielded in July 2014.
About Insure.com
Insure.com provides a comprehensive array of information on auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. The site offers an extensive library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source, including its extensive car insurance discounts tool. Insure.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that best meet their needs. The company is a leader in visitor-friendly marketing practices. For more information, please visit QuinStreet.com.
Twitter: @InsureCom
###
Press contact:
Amy Danise
860-386-6446
adanise (at) insure.com Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
Foster City, Calif. (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
Drivers from Idaho, Washington, D.C. and New York have been judged to be the rudest drivers, according to a survey by Insure.com, an independent consumer insurance information website.
Also judged to be quite rude are drivers from Wyoming, Massachusetts, Vermont and Delaware.
Here’s how the top 10 rudest drivers rank, based on a survey of 2,000 licensed drivers nationwide:
1. Idaho
2. Washington, D.C.
3. New York
4. Wyoming
5. Massachusetts
6. Delaware (tie)
6. Vermont (tie)
8. New Jersey
9. Nevada
10. Utah
See the rankings for all states at http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/rudest-drivers-by-state.html.
“Casting aspersions toward other drivers is a long-standing tradition,” said Amy Danise, editorial director for Insure.com. “We wanted to know not only where the rude drivers come from, but also who thinks they’re rude.”
Insure.com analyzed the results to determine who dislikes whom the most. California drivers are the biggest haters: They are the No. 1 haters of drivers from surrounding states and even from states across the country. Californians hate New York drivers more than New Jersey drivers do.
Here are the states where residents are the biggest haters of drivers from three or more other states:
Hater No. 1: California. Drivers from the Golden State have dark thoughts about drivers from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah and even Vermont.
Hater No. 2: Texas. It looks like drivers from California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Dakota have messed with Texas.
Haters No. 3, 4 and 5 (tie):
Georgia: There will be no peaches for drivers from Alabama, Delaware and Florida.
Illinois: Someone isn’t getting along with its neighbors. Illinois drivers point to people in Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin as being the rudest on the road.
Pennsylvania: Although one of Pennsylvania’s nicknames is the Quaker State, people there show little forgiveness toward drivers from Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia.
“There’s also no love lost between North and South Carolina – they point to each other as having the rudest drivers,” observed Danise. “But North and South Dakota seem to be getting along. Neither one points to the other as having the rudest drivers.”
When asked what makes them most mad about other drivers, people said:· Talking on a cellphone while driving – 47%
· Tailgating – 37%
· Not signaling turns – 35%
· Weaving in and out of lanes – 28%
· Driving too fast, like every road is a highway – 26%
(Respondents could choose more than one answer from 18 choices.)
Half of people (49 percent) believe that about a quarter of other drivers should not be on the road. Twenty-one percent think half of other drivers should not be on the road.
See the full state rankings, and the drivers who hate them, at http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/rudest-drivers-by-state.html.
Methodology
Insure.com commissioned a survey of 2,000 licensed drivers, half women and half men, with respondents representing all areas of the country according to Census population data. The state rankings were calculated using a ratio of the nationwide votes for drivers of the state divided by the number of respondents from the state. The survey was fielded in July 2014.
About Insure.com
Insure.com provides a comprehensive array of information on auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. The site offers an extensive library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source, including its extensive car insurance discounts tool. Insure.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that best meet their needs. The company is a leader in visitor-friendly marketing practices. For more information, please visit QuinStreet.com.
Twitter: @InsureCom
###
Press contact:
Amy Danise
860-386-6446
adanise (at) insure.com Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
↧
Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association to Close NASDAQ Stock Market
Advocacy group convenes in New York to promote Texas oil and gas industry
Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
In an ongoing effort to showcase the many economic contributions and growth of the Texas oil and gas industry, the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) and member executives will close the NASDAQ Stock Market in New York City on Monday, September 15, 2014.
“As the leading state advocacy organization representing independent oil and gas producers and royalty owners in Texas, TIPRO remains focused on promoting the unprecedented economic impact of the E&P sector. Opportunities such as the NASDAQ Closing Bell ceremony allow us to share our message on a national platform,” said Raymond James Welder, chairman of TIPRO. “We can’t overstate the importance of smart energy policies on local, state and federal levels, which will create jobs, establish America as a global energy leader and help keep us secure for generations to come.”
Advancements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have made it possible to produce increased levels of oil and natural gas from unconventional shale formations, with domestic crude oil production approaching historic levels not seen since the 1970s. Independent oil and gas producers, who collectively drill up to 95 percent of the oil and natural gas wells in America, continue to lead the industry in this growth and the many related benefits for the country.
“Thanks to continued improvements and innovation in exploration and production methods, the United States is now officially the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the world, with Texas leading the way,” added Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO. “The industry provides billions of dollars in critical funding annually that support all levels of our economy, including public education, Medicaid, children's health insurance programs, infrastructure investment, child protective services, and water conservation, to name a few. What’s occurring today is nothing but remarkable, and we are proud to play a role in that success each and every day, along with the millions of Americans and companies that are driving this industry, our economy, and country forward.”
According to TIPRO, the U.S. oil and gas industry directly employed over 1 million workers in 2013, up 3 percent from the year prior. Collectively, the oil and gas industry is responsible for direct and in-direct employment of more than 9 million workers in the U.S. Last year, the oil and gas industry paid a national annualized wage of $103,400, which is approximately 108 percent more than the average private sector wage of $49,700, and higher than average wages for construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, information, professional services, health care, financial services and education services. Payroll in the U.S. oil and gas industry was $103 billion in 2013.
In the state of Texas, the oil and gas industry employed 411,600 in 2013, adding over 23,000 new jobs from the previous year, for a growth rate of 6 percent. More than 40 percent of all direct jobs in the industry are located in the Lone Star State. The oil and gas industry in Texas paid an annual average wage of $118,900 in 2013, compared to an annual average private sector wage of $52,100. Texas continues to lead the country in total oil and natural gas production, with more than 809 million barrels of oil produced and 7.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over the past 12 months. Texas currently produces 3 million barrels of crude oil per day of the 8.5 million produced daily in the U.S. An estimated 12.5 million mineral owners in our country also directly benefit from the surge in domestic production, 2.5 million of which are located in the state of Texas.
The TIPRO NASDAQ closing bell ceremony can be viewed live starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday, September 15. To watch online, visit: https://new.livestream.com/nasdaq/live.
# # #
About TIPRO
The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) is a trade association representing the interests of over 2,800 independent oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners throughout Texas. As one of the nation’s largest statewide associations representing both independent producers and royalty owners, members include small businesses, the largest, publicly-traded independent producers, and mineral owners, estates, and trusts. Members of TIPRO are responsible for producing more than 85 percent of the natural gas and 70 percent of the oil within Texas, and own mineral interests in millions of acres across the state. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
In an ongoing effort to showcase the many economic contributions and growth of the Texas oil and gas industry, the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) and member executives will close the NASDAQ Stock Market in New York City on Monday, September 15, 2014.
“As the leading state advocacy organization representing independent oil and gas producers and royalty owners in Texas, TIPRO remains focused on promoting the unprecedented economic impact of the E&P sector. Opportunities such as the NASDAQ Closing Bell ceremony allow us to share our message on a national platform,” said Raymond James Welder, chairman of TIPRO. “We can’t overstate the importance of smart energy policies on local, state and federal levels, which will create jobs, establish America as a global energy leader and help keep us secure for generations to come.”
Advancements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have made it possible to produce increased levels of oil and natural gas from unconventional shale formations, with domestic crude oil production approaching historic levels not seen since the 1970s. Independent oil and gas producers, who collectively drill up to 95 percent of the oil and natural gas wells in America, continue to lead the industry in this growth and the many related benefits for the country.
“Thanks to continued improvements and innovation in exploration and production methods, the United States is now officially the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the world, with Texas leading the way,” added Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO. “The industry provides billions of dollars in critical funding annually that support all levels of our economy, including public education, Medicaid, children's health insurance programs, infrastructure investment, child protective services, and water conservation, to name a few. What’s occurring today is nothing but remarkable, and we are proud to play a role in that success each and every day, along with the millions of Americans and companies that are driving this industry, our economy, and country forward.”
According to TIPRO, the U.S. oil and gas industry directly employed over 1 million workers in 2013, up 3 percent from the year prior. Collectively, the oil and gas industry is responsible for direct and in-direct employment of more than 9 million workers in the U.S. Last year, the oil and gas industry paid a national annualized wage of $103,400, which is approximately 108 percent more than the average private sector wage of $49,700, and higher than average wages for construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, information, professional services, health care, financial services and education services. Payroll in the U.S. oil and gas industry was $103 billion in 2013.
In the state of Texas, the oil and gas industry employed 411,600 in 2013, adding over 23,000 new jobs from the previous year, for a growth rate of 6 percent. More than 40 percent of all direct jobs in the industry are located in the Lone Star State. The oil and gas industry in Texas paid an annual average wage of $118,900 in 2013, compared to an annual average private sector wage of $52,100. Texas continues to lead the country in total oil and natural gas production, with more than 809 million barrels of oil produced and 7.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over the past 12 months. Texas currently produces 3 million barrels of crude oil per day of the 8.5 million produced daily in the U.S. An estimated 12.5 million mineral owners in our country also directly benefit from the surge in domestic production, 2.5 million of which are located in the state of Texas.
The TIPRO NASDAQ closing bell ceremony can be viewed live starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday, September 15. To watch online, visit: https://new.livestream.com/nasdaq/live.
# # #
About TIPRO
The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) is a trade association representing the interests of over 2,800 independent oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners throughout Texas. As one of the nation’s largest statewide associations representing both independent producers and royalty owners, members include small businesses, the largest, publicly-traded independent producers, and mineral owners, estates, and trusts. Members of TIPRO are responsible for producing more than 85 percent of the natural gas and 70 percent of the oil within Texas, and own mineral interests in millions of acres across the state. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.
↧
Business Travelers Should Prepare for Risks This Fall, Chubb Advises
Business travelers need to take steps to protect themselves against various travel risks, including infectious disease outbreaks, terrorist activities and other potentially life-threatening situations around the globe.
WARREN, NJ (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
As businesses gear up for fall meetings and conferences, experts stress that business travelers need to take steps now to protect themselves from infectious disease outbreaks, terrorist activities and other potentially life-threatening situations around the globe.
“The Ebola virus in Africa and the chikungunya virus in the Caribbean, as well as terrorist activities in the Middle East, demonstrate the need for employers and their employees to think about personal safety while traveling outside the United States,” said Jim Villa, senior vice president of Chubb Accident & Health. “Employers have a duty of care to their employees who travel. Some prudent companies have relocated business meetings and events to alternative destinations.”
Villa advised all travelers to check the list of travel alerts and warnings from the U.S. Department of State – which now includes Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Egypt and Mexico – and from the Centers for Disease Control before they book their trips and pack their bags.
“Whether you are traveling on business or for pleasure, you should be prepared for uprisings flaring up at virtually any moment – even in the safest places,” he said. “You should also know how to get help if you become ill, injured in an accident or are a crime victim.”
Villa also suggests that travelers:
Raise conflict awareness. Inquire about possible political strife in the planned destination. Avoid political demonstrations and other rowdy situations.
Do research. Study the culture of the country and be knowledgeable about native customs to avoid standing out as a tourist or being viewed as disrespectful.
Check health insurance policies. Some policies do not provide money to the insured up front, which could be a problem because many foreign hospitals require large payments before admitting a foreign patient.
Don’t try to be the hero. Don’t attempt to defuse a dispute single-handedly. Contact local authorities for help.
Make sure to secure travel insurance. If you are traveling on business, your employer may provide you with insurance coverage including medical evacuation and other assistance in the event of an emergency. Similar coverage is available for purchase for personal travel.
Chubb’s BTA 360oSM business travel accident policy for commercial customers and Signature PassportSM for personal customers provide insurance coverage for excess medical, emergency medical evacuation, lost or delayed baggage and other expenses. BTA 360 and Signature Passport customers also can obtain emergency assistance from a global network of crisis response centers staffed by multilingual representatives 24 hours a day. They also have access to a mobile-optimized travel risk management website, which includes up-to-date country and city risk ratings, real-time security alerts, local health, safety and security reports, travel risk mitigation tips and transportation information.
About Chubb
Since 1882, members of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies have provided property and casualty insurance products to customers around the globe. These products are offered through a worldwide network of independent agents and brokers. The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is known for financial strength, underwriting and loss-control expertise, tailoring products for the needs of high-net-worth individuals and commercial customers in niche markets and select industry segments, and outstanding claim service.
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is the marketing term used to describe several separately incorporated insurance companies under the common ownership of The Chubb Corporation. The Chubb Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and, together with its subsidiaries, employs approximately 10,000 people throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. For more information regarding The Chubb Corporation, including a listing of the insurers in the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, visit http://www.chubb.com.
### Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
WARREN, NJ (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
As businesses gear up for fall meetings and conferences, experts stress that business travelers need to take steps now to protect themselves from infectious disease outbreaks, terrorist activities and other potentially life-threatening situations around the globe.
“The Ebola virus in Africa and the chikungunya virus in the Caribbean, as well as terrorist activities in the Middle East, demonstrate the need for employers and their employees to think about personal safety while traveling outside the United States,” said Jim Villa, senior vice president of Chubb Accident & Health. “Employers have a duty of care to their employees who travel. Some prudent companies have relocated business meetings and events to alternative destinations.”
Villa advised all travelers to check the list of travel alerts and warnings from the U.S. Department of State – which now includes Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Egypt and Mexico – and from the Centers for Disease Control before they book their trips and pack their bags.
“Whether you are traveling on business or for pleasure, you should be prepared for uprisings flaring up at virtually any moment – even in the safest places,” he said. “You should also know how to get help if you become ill, injured in an accident or are a crime victim.”
Villa also suggests that travelers:
Raise conflict awareness. Inquire about possible political strife in the planned destination. Avoid political demonstrations and other rowdy situations.
Do research. Study the culture of the country and be knowledgeable about native customs to avoid standing out as a tourist or being viewed as disrespectful.
Check health insurance policies. Some policies do not provide money to the insured up front, which could be a problem because many foreign hospitals require large payments before admitting a foreign patient.
Don’t try to be the hero. Don’t attempt to defuse a dispute single-handedly. Contact local authorities for help.
Make sure to secure travel insurance. If you are traveling on business, your employer may provide you with insurance coverage including medical evacuation and other assistance in the event of an emergency. Similar coverage is available for purchase for personal travel.
Chubb’s BTA 360oSM business travel accident policy for commercial customers and Signature PassportSM for personal customers provide insurance coverage for excess medical, emergency medical evacuation, lost or delayed baggage and other expenses. BTA 360 and Signature Passport customers also can obtain emergency assistance from a global network of crisis response centers staffed by multilingual representatives 24 hours a day. They also have access to a mobile-optimized travel risk management website, which includes up-to-date country and city risk ratings, real-time security alerts, local health, safety and security reports, travel risk mitigation tips and transportation information.
About Chubb
Since 1882, members of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies have provided property and casualty insurance products to customers around the globe. These products are offered through a worldwide network of independent agents and brokers. The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is known for financial strength, underwriting and loss-control expertise, tailoring products for the needs of high-net-worth individuals and commercial customers in niche markets and select industry segments, and outstanding claim service.
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is the marketing term used to describe several separately incorporated insurance companies under the common ownership of The Chubb Corporation. The Chubb Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and, together with its subsidiaries, employs approximately 10,000 people throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. For more information regarding The Chubb Corporation, including a listing of the insurers in the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, visit http://www.chubb.com.
### Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
