Insurance coverage purchased under Obamacare will take effect as early as Jan. 1.
Reported by IBTimes 4 hours ago.
How To Apply For The Obamacare Health Insurance Exchange
↧
↧
How To Apply For Obamacare: Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Health Insurance Exchange Application Process Is Straightforward
How To Apply For Obamacare: Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Health Insurance Exchange Application Process Is Straightforward
Reported by ajc.com 4 hours ago.
↧
Embrace Pet Insurance Wants to Make Animal Organizations' Holiday Dreams Come True
Secret Santa Project will give $10,000 in prizes to select nonprofits and shelters.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
The Embrace Pet Insurance Secret Santa Project is on the hunt for organizations doing great work for dogs and cats.
Every week from Nov. 11 to Dec. 23, they'll be accepting nominations and selecting winners for a total of $10,000 in prizes – money, items on their wish lists, and more. The Embrace Pet Insurance Secret Santa Project team will select one group to receive donations worth $1,000, and announce the winners every Tuesday Nov. 18 to Dec. 16.
Then on Dec. 23, "America's Veterinarian," Dr. Marty Becker, will select one organization to receive a contribution worth $5,000.
Eligible organizations include shelter and rescue groups, funds to pay veterinary expenses, charities that provide for military or police dogs, search and rescue dog organizations, pet health research foundations, and more. Winning organizations must be a municipal animal shelter or a 501c3 non-profit providing services or advocating on behalf of cats or dogs in the U.S.
Animal lovers can learn more and access the Secret Santa nomination post located on Embrace Pet Insurance’s Facebook page at http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/secret-santa-project/.
About Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance is an Ohio-based pet health insurance provider, offering comprehensive, personalized insurance products for dogs and cats across the US. Embrace is consistently ranked as one of the highest-rated US pet insurance companies and is a proud member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Embrace is the only company to offer a diminishing deductible feature, the Healthy Pet DeductibleTM, and continues to innovate and improve the pet insurance experience for pet parents across the country.
About the North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Embrace is a member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), featuring Laura Bennett as the Chairman of the Board. Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association is committed to educating and promoting the values and benefits of quality pet health insurance to North American pet owners, the general public, and the veterinary community. As an association, it is committed to high standards and transparency in all of our actions and products To learn more, visit http://www.naphia.org.
About Dr. Marty Becker
Dr. Marty Becker has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. He was the resident veterinary contributor on "Good Morning America" for 17 years, and is a founding member of Core Team Oz for "The Dr. Oz Show." He has written 22 books that have sold more than 7 million copies, including three New York Times best-sellers — one of which is the fastest-selling pet book of all time, “Chicken Soup for the Pet-Lovers Soul.”
-###- Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
The Embrace Pet Insurance Secret Santa Project is on the hunt for organizations doing great work for dogs and cats.
Every week from Nov. 11 to Dec. 23, they'll be accepting nominations and selecting winners for a total of $10,000 in prizes – money, items on their wish lists, and more. The Embrace Pet Insurance Secret Santa Project team will select one group to receive donations worth $1,000, and announce the winners every Tuesday Nov. 18 to Dec. 16.
Then on Dec. 23, "America's Veterinarian," Dr. Marty Becker, will select one organization to receive a contribution worth $5,000.
Eligible organizations include shelter and rescue groups, funds to pay veterinary expenses, charities that provide for military or police dogs, search and rescue dog organizations, pet health research foundations, and more. Winning organizations must be a municipal animal shelter or a 501c3 non-profit providing services or advocating on behalf of cats or dogs in the U.S.
Animal lovers can learn more and access the Secret Santa nomination post located on Embrace Pet Insurance’s Facebook page at http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/secret-santa-project/.
About Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance is an Ohio-based pet health insurance provider, offering comprehensive, personalized insurance products for dogs and cats across the US. Embrace is consistently ranked as one of the highest-rated US pet insurance companies and is a proud member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Embrace is the only company to offer a diminishing deductible feature, the Healthy Pet DeductibleTM, and continues to innovate and improve the pet insurance experience for pet parents across the country.
About the North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Embrace is a member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), featuring Laura Bennett as the Chairman of the Board. Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association is committed to educating and promoting the values and benefits of quality pet health insurance to North American pet owners, the general public, and the veterinary community. As an association, it is committed to high standards and transparency in all of our actions and products To learn more, visit http://www.naphia.org.
About Dr. Marty Becker
Dr. Marty Becker has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. He was the resident veterinary contributor on "Good Morning America" for 17 years, and is a founding member of Core Team Oz for "The Dr. Oz Show." He has written 22 books that have sold more than 7 million copies, including three New York Times best-sellers — one of which is the fastest-selling pet book of all time, “Chicken Soup for the Pet-Lovers Soul.”
-###- Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.
↧
Divided Government Doesn't Have to Mean Gridlock -- Pelosi and Reid Proved That From 2006-2008
You don't have to go back to ancient history to find out that divided government doesn't have to mean government gridlock.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid proved that from 2006 to 2008. During those two years -- not long ago -- Democrats controlled both houses of Congress while Republican George Bush occupied the White House.
Then, like now, there was an enormous gulf between the parties. There were deep divisions over the Iraq War, the nation's economy, tax policy and the level of federal spending. Yet despite the massive ideological chasm that stood between Democrats and Republicans, the Congress came together with the president to pass a number of important pieces of legislation that benefited ordinary Americans.
The difference between then and now: leadership from the Speaker of the House. Nancy Pelosi got things done; John Boehner abdicated his leadership role to the tea party and Senator Ted Cruz. Instead of working with Senator Reid and President Obama to pass legislation that reflected the will of Congress and the American people, Boehner actively obstructed legislation that was supported by the majority of voters and the majority of his congressional colleagues.
Return for a moment to 2006. After Democrats took control of the House for the first time since 1995, Pelosi worked with Senate Majority Leader Reid to pass:
• The groundbreaking President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) that experts say has saved the lives of several million people through the treatment and prevention of AIDS. That President was George W. Bush.
• An extension of SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program that continued coverage for some 6 million children.
• An economic stimulus package that included refundable tax credits (rebates) to low-income people who don't earn enough to pay taxes.
• A first in a decade increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour.
• The passage of the landmark expansion of consumer protection, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, making children's toys and durable products such as cribs much safer.
• Largest investment in veterans' health care in the 77 year history of the VA, and a new GI education bill.
• Largest expansion of college aid in six decades.
All of these initiatives were passed by both Democratic-controlled houses of Congress and signed by Republican President Bush.
After the stimulus package was passed, then-Minority Leader John Boehner said:
"You know, many Americans believe that Washington is broken, but I think this agreement will show the American people that we can fix it and will serve to move along other bipartisan agreements that we can have in the future."
Contrast Pelosi's effectiveness -- and Boehner's statement -- with Boehner's own record as House Speaker.
Since 2010 when Republicans took control of the House, Boehner has:
• Refused to bring a bipartisan immigration reform bill to the House floor, even though the bill passed the Senate with a whopping 67 votes, polls showed it is was overwhelmingly supported by the voters -- and it would have passed the House had it been called for a vote.
• Refused to call a bill increasing the minimum wage -- even though it also was overwhelmingly supported by the voters and would have passed the House had it been called for a vote.
• Refused to call a Senate passed bill that would renew long-term unemployment compensation benefits, even though it was supported by a majority of voters and the bill had enough support to pass in the House.
• Refused to consider any economic stimulus legislation that would invest in infrastructure or materially improve the performance of the economy -- a move that many economists believe have costs the economy hundreds of thousands of jobs.
• Refused to consider legislation allowing student loans to be refinanced at lower rates that would cut monthly student loan payments.
• Held 54 separate votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act -- an action that would strip every American of a catalogue of consumer protections, allow insurance companies to once again charge exorbitant prices to people with pre-existing conditions, and would take health care coverage away entirely for over 10 million Americans.
• Insisted on cutting funding for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- even though they are the tip of the spear in the world-wide battle against Ebola and other infectious diseases. And for good measure irresponsibly did his best to spread fear over the non-existent "Ebola epidemic" in the United States.
Speaker Pelosi was able to pass meaningful legislation despite an ideologically diverse cause (think Blue Dogs), because she made sure that her members understood that even though they might disagree on many things, their job was ultimately to negotiate a compromise and take action to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.
But the fact is that Boehner personally created the new environment of gridlock with own his decision to abdicate his leadership to the tea party.
He too could have passed meaningful legislation to reform immigration, increase the minimum wage, stimulate the economy, cut student loan payments, and extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed. All he needed to do was allow these measures to come to the floor of the House for a vote. Boehner could have accomplished something too -- had he exercised leadership.
Boehner wanted stalemate. He wanted government to fail, because he thought it that failure benefited Republicans politically.
Nancy Pelosi could have behaved exactly the same way between 2006 and 2007. After the Democrats took back the House in 2006, she could have done the same thing to George Bush that Boehner did to President Obama. She could have elevated her perceived partisan interest over the interests of ordinary Americans -- but she did not. She chose instead to exercise leadership in the interest of ordinary Americans.
In the end, of course, Democrats won the presidency in 2008 and held on to the House and Senate. That in turn allowed the most productive period in modern congressional history -- between 2009 and 2010. During those two years the Democratic-led 111th Congress worked with President Obama to:
• Rescue the economy from the economic free fall they inherited from President Bush -- avoiding another Great Depression.
• Create millions of new jobs through a major stimulus program.
• Pass landmark health care reform that had eluded Presidents for almost a century.
• Enact a fundamental overhaul of the apparatus set up to regulate the Wall Street speculators who caused the Great Recession.
• Put in place a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Set the stage for reducing the deficit from 9.8 percent of GDP when Bush left office to 2.8 percent of GDP today.
• End "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
As Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman argues, these accomplishments -- and many others -- make President Obama one of the most consequential presidents of modern times. And his partner was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In fact, President Obama's signature legislative accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act, would never have seen the light of day, had it not been for the iron will and legislative prowess of Nancy Pelosi.
Now, as Republicans take control of both Houses of Congress, we will all see whether House Speaker John Boehner and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will follow the example of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid when they were in the minority, or whether they will continue down Boehner's current path of abdicating leadership to Ted Cruz and the tea party. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid proved that from 2006 to 2008. During those two years -- not long ago -- Democrats controlled both houses of Congress while Republican George Bush occupied the White House.
Then, like now, there was an enormous gulf between the parties. There were deep divisions over the Iraq War, the nation's economy, tax policy and the level of federal spending. Yet despite the massive ideological chasm that stood between Democrats and Republicans, the Congress came together with the president to pass a number of important pieces of legislation that benefited ordinary Americans.
The difference between then and now: leadership from the Speaker of the House. Nancy Pelosi got things done; John Boehner abdicated his leadership role to the tea party and Senator Ted Cruz. Instead of working with Senator Reid and President Obama to pass legislation that reflected the will of Congress and the American people, Boehner actively obstructed legislation that was supported by the majority of voters and the majority of his congressional colleagues.
Return for a moment to 2006. After Democrats took control of the House for the first time since 1995, Pelosi worked with Senate Majority Leader Reid to pass:
• The groundbreaking President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) that experts say has saved the lives of several million people through the treatment and prevention of AIDS. That President was George W. Bush.
• An extension of SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program that continued coverage for some 6 million children.
• An economic stimulus package that included refundable tax credits (rebates) to low-income people who don't earn enough to pay taxes.
• A first in a decade increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour.
• The passage of the landmark expansion of consumer protection, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, making children's toys and durable products such as cribs much safer.
• Largest investment in veterans' health care in the 77 year history of the VA, and a new GI education bill.
• Largest expansion of college aid in six decades.
All of these initiatives were passed by both Democratic-controlled houses of Congress and signed by Republican President Bush.
After the stimulus package was passed, then-Minority Leader John Boehner said:
"You know, many Americans believe that Washington is broken, but I think this agreement will show the American people that we can fix it and will serve to move along other bipartisan agreements that we can have in the future."
Contrast Pelosi's effectiveness -- and Boehner's statement -- with Boehner's own record as House Speaker.
Since 2010 when Republicans took control of the House, Boehner has:
• Refused to bring a bipartisan immigration reform bill to the House floor, even though the bill passed the Senate with a whopping 67 votes, polls showed it is was overwhelmingly supported by the voters -- and it would have passed the House had it been called for a vote.
• Refused to call a bill increasing the minimum wage -- even though it also was overwhelmingly supported by the voters and would have passed the House had it been called for a vote.
• Refused to call a Senate passed bill that would renew long-term unemployment compensation benefits, even though it was supported by a majority of voters and the bill had enough support to pass in the House.
• Refused to consider any economic stimulus legislation that would invest in infrastructure or materially improve the performance of the economy -- a move that many economists believe have costs the economy hundreds of thousands of jobs.
• Refused to consider legislation allowing student loans to be refinanced at lower rates that would cut monthly student loan payments.
• Held 54 separate votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act -- an action that would strip every American of a catalogue of consumer protections, allow insurance companies to once again charge exorbitant prices to people with pre-existing conditions, and would take health care coverage away entirely for over 10 million Americans.
• Insisted on cutting funding for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- even though they are the tip of the spear in the world-wide battle against Ebola and other infectious diseases. And for good measure irresponsibly did his best to spread fear over the non-existent "Ebola epidemic" in the United States.
Speaker Pelosi was able to pass meaningful legislation despite an ideologically diverse cause (think Blue Dogs), because she made sure that her members understood that even though they might disagree on many things, their job was ultimately to negotiate a compromise and take action to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.
But the fact is that Boehner personally created the new environment of gridlock with own his decision to abdicate his leadership to the tea party.
He too could have passed meaningful legislation to reform immigration, increase the minimum wage, stimulate the economy, cut student loan payments, and extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed. All he needed to do was allow these measures to come to the floor of the House for a vote. Boehner could have accomplished something too -- had he exercised leadership.
Boehner wanted stalemate. He wanted government to fail, because he thought it that failure benefited Republicans politically.
Nancy Pelosi could have behaved exactly the same way between 2006 and 2007. After the Democrats took back the House in 2006, she could have done the same thing to George Bush that Boehner did to President Obama. She could have elevated her perceived partisan interest over the interests of ordinary Americans -- but she did not. She chose instead to exercise leadership in the interest of ordinary Americans.
In the end, of course, Democrats won the presidency in 2008 and held on to the House and Senate. That in turn allowed the most productive period in modern congressional history -- between 2009 and 2010. During those two years the Democratic-led 111th Congress worked with President Obama to:
• Rescue the economy from the economic free fall they inherited from President Bush -- avoiding another Great Depression.
• Create millions of new jobs through a major stimulus program.
• Pass landmark health care reform that had eluded Presidents for almost a century.
• Enact a fundamental overhaul of the apparatus set up to regulate the Wall Street speculators who caused the Great Recession.
• Put in place a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Set the stage for reducing the deficit from 9.8 percent of GDP when Bush left office to 2.8 percent of GDP today.
• End "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
As Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman argues, these accomplishments -- and many others -- make President Obama one of the most consequential presidents of modern times. And his partner was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In fact, President Obama's signature legislative accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act, would never have seen the light of day, had it not been for the iron will and legislative prowess of Nancy Pelosi.
Now, as Republicans take control of both Houses of Congress, we will all see whether House Speaker John Boehner and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will follow the example of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid when they were in the minority, or whether they will continue down Boehner's current path of abdicating leadership to Ted Cruz and the tea party. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
↧
Gallup Poll: 70 Percent Happy With Obamacare Plans
A significant majority of Americans who secured their health insurance through Obamacare this year report being satisfied with their care and coverage, according to a new Gallup poll.
Reported by Newsmax 17 minutes ago.
↧
↧
Gallup Poll: 70 Percent With Obamacare Plans
A significant majority of Americans who secured their health insurance through Obamacare this year report being satisfied with their care and coverage, according to a new Gallup poll.
Reported by Newsmax 53 minutes ago.
↧
Affordable Care Act 2.0: What you need to know
Starting Nov. 15, consumers who currently have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's federal or state online marketplaces can re-enroll or sign up for the first time. Take a look at what you need to know about the Affordable Care Act.
Reported by Click Orlando 1 hour ago.
↧
SafeAuto Teams Up With Augeo Benefits to Offer Customers Healthcare Options
Safe Auto Insurance Company announced today a partnership with Augeo Benefits, an Augeo-owned company, through which it will offer customers access to healthcare plans during open enrollment.
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
Safe Auto Insurance Company, a leading provider of state-minimum auto insurance, announced today that it will team up with Augeo and its insurance marketplace for the upcoming open enrollment period to help customers navigate the changes to healthcare law.
From November 15 through February 15, SafeAuto representatives will be able to connect consumers with healthcare counselors, who can help them understand the changes to healthcare law, meet new requirements, and find out if they qualify for new savings or subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. SafeAuto will also invite its customers to contact healthcare counselors through Augeo directly to get more information about healthcare or purchase health insurance plans for 2015. Visitors to SafeAuto’s website will also be able to get a free health insurance quote through a co-branded web-based quoting platform.
“This partnership gives us the opportunity to serve emerging needs in our market in the wake of healthcare reform,” said Ron Davies, chief executive officer of SafeAuto. “The Affordable Care Act has brought a great deal of change to consumers in our market segment, and many need help understanding what healthcare reform means for them. Our goal is to provide the same level of service for health insurance to our customers that they have come to expect of us for their car insurance.”
As part of the partnership, consumers can request a free evaluation with a marketplace healthcare counselor by calling 1-800-SAFEAUTO, visiting SafeAuto.com, or from SafeAuto’s mobile app. During open enrollment from November 15 to February 15, SafeAuto will be able to connect callers to healthcare counselors Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m. ET. Visitors to SafeAuto.com can get a free health insurance quote online at any time.
About SafeAuto
Safe Auto Insurance Company is a privately held property and casualty insurance carrier based in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1993, SafeAuto provides the right insurance for the right price in 17 states, online or over the phone, with 24/7 sales and customer service. For more information, visit safeauto.com or call 1-800-SAFEAUTO.
About Augeo
Augeo is a nationally recognized leader in engagement, loyalty and incentive solutions. Augeo is a licensed insurance provider in all 50 states with access to major nationwide carriers. For more information, visit augeomarketing.com. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
Safe Auto Insurance Company, a leading provider of state-minimum auto insurance, announced today that it will team up with Augeo and its insurance marketplace for the upcoming open enrollment period to help customers navigate the changes to healthcare law.
From November 15 through February 15, SafeAuto representatives will be able to connect consumers with healthcare counselors, who can help them understand the changes to healthcare law, meet new requirements, and find out if they qualify for new savings or subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. SafeAuto will also invite its customers to contact healthcare counselors through Augeo directly to get more information about healthcare or purchase health insurance plans for 2015. Visitors to SafeAuto’s website will also be able to get a free health insurance quote through a co-branded web-based quoting platform.
“This partnership gives us the opportunity to serve emerging needs in our market in the wake of healthcare reform,” said Ron Davies, chief executive officer of SafeAuto. “The Affordable Care Act has brought a great deal of change to consumers in our market segment, and many need help understanding what healthcare reform means for them. Our goal is to provide the same level of service for health insurance to our customers that they have come to expect of us for their car insurance.”
As part of the partnership, consumers can request a free evaluation with a marketplace healthcare counselor by calling 1-800-SAFEAUTO, visiting SafeAuto.com, or from SafeAuto’s mobile app. During open enrollment from November 15 to February 15, SafeAuto will be able to connect callers to healthcare counselors Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m. ET. Visitors to SafeAuto.com can get a free health insurance quote online at any time.
About SafeAuto
Safe Auto Insurance Company is a privately held property and casualty insurance carrier based in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1993, SafeAuto provides the right insurance for the right price in 17 states, online or over the phone, with 24/7 sales and customer service. For more information, visit safeauto.com or call 1-800-SAFEAUTO.
About Augeo
Augeo is a nationally recognized leader in engagement, loyalty and incentive solutions. Augeo is a licensed insurance provider in all 50 states with access to major nationwide carriers. For more information, visit augeomarketing.com. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
↧
The Reason Small Businesses Are Disappearing, As Explained By A Small Business Owner
Confused why despite endless daily propaganda that the US economy is getting better - after all "just look at the record high S&P 500" - fewer and fewer Americans believe the narrative, as the Democrats and Obama found out the very hard way in last week's midterm elections? Then the following explanation written by the owner of a small business - the segment of the US economy that has historically led every single recovery but this time was left behind - should help answer some questions.*The reason small businesses are disappearing written by a small business owner.*
I want to start out by saying that i am a 27 year old male with a small business in Sacramento CA. I started this business a few years ago with savings of 15k. With a lot of hard work and determination i have succeeded, but it sure as hell was not easy. I am a long time lurker and have never seen anyone go in depth about what its like to own a small business *and the reason why they are disappearing*. Without going into to much detail, i own a furniture store so obviously things are different then other businesses but a lot of the things are the same. I wanted to begin with the things that are killing small businesses. Also only my opinion.
1. *Small Business Loans *- Although they are not killing small business they sure as hell don't help anyone. Unless you are opening a unique small business you are not going to get any funding. By unique i mean something along the lines of creating solar panels. According to a recent investigation by the SBA Inspector General (ill post the article if you would like), over 75% of SBA loans went to large businesses. So basically if you want to open a normal business you need a ton of collateral and a miracle to get a loan.
2. *Permits and Licensing *- In opening my specific business the first year totaled about $2000.00.
3. *Advertising *- Many small business's cant afford to take out pages or flyers in the news paper or TV ads so they only have a few choices such as Yelp or the Penny-saver. (Don't get me started in Yelp).
4. *Street Advertising *- While this used to be a good portion of how you get business it is now off limits. Code enforcement will not allow you to put anything outside. No balloons, signs, anything with your store name, window paint more than 50%, or any mattresses. Also delivery vehicles can not be closer than 50 feet from the curb. In my case that means behind the building.
5. *Board of Equalization *- Cant go into to much detail here but they sure as hell aren't here to help.
6. *Health Insurance *- Now obviously with the people that have a large work force working full time they will be hit hard by obamacare, but i wanted to give you a perspective on a single person. The cheapest rate for myself and me only, and believe me i have looked around, is $250.00/month. Some might say oh that's not bad, but let me explain what that covers, NOTHING lol. Basically if something happens to me i have to shell out 6K before insurance gets involved. Also 100 dollar co pay every time i go.
7. *The economy *- While many know that when the President comes on TV and says the economy is doing great, we all know it is not, some people don't. Every month more people drop out of the Labor Force and the number of families on food stamps is sky rocketing. So for those of you who don't know the economy is terrible because of all the top stories of Kim Kardashian and whoever else, lots of people in america are struggling.
8. *Merchant Fees *- This is for credit card processing machines. The machine itself costs 600.00 plus the percentages on sales and cards. Companies such as BofA charge once a year on top of the regular fees $150.00 to protect you from fraud (which they can't even stop) and yes its mandatory. Paypal or Square seem to be the best options these days.
9. *Fire Department *- Yes even the Fire Department wants a piece. Starting last year you must do your own visual inspection and send them a check for 150! Basically if you don't they will come to your store and give you a million violations for wasting there time.
Something to watch out for is people who check fire extinguishers in business's. This is a huge scam where they come in without permission to inspect your extinguisher, get you a new one and bill you like 200 the following month. They have no right or permission to enter your business and jump all over you. You can simply tell them politely to get out. They dress like they are fire fighters but they are not.
* * *
The thread with the author's Q&A continues on Reddit. Reported by Zero Hedge 1 hour ago.
↧
↧
Obamacare Ushers In Pile Of New 2014 Tax Forms
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2012 has taken several years to implement and phase in. Now that the Obamacare 2014 individual health insurance mandate is in effect, many taxpayers will face confusion over tax penalties, exemptions, premium tax credits, claw backs [...]
Reported by Forbes.com 14 minutes ago.
↧
Over 3/4 of Brokers Saw Employer Clients Exit Their Group Health Plans in 2014, as Rate Hikes Exceed 10% for Coming Year
Benefitter's recent broker survey suggests that an unprecedented number of employers are dropping group benefits
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
An unprecedented number of employers stopped offering group health benefits this year, according to a recent survey of over 1,000 insurance brokers conducted by Benefitter. In 2014 alone, more than 3 out of 4 brokers had employer clients who dropped health coverage and instructed their employees to purchase their own insurance on the public exchange. Early signs indicate this trend may only accelerate in 2015, as 17% of brokers expect at least 25% of their clients to drop coverage in the coming year.
"As we enter open enrollment for the public market, it's becoming more apparent that individual rates are often much more affordable than group rates. It’s no surprise that many business owners are responding to continued group rate increases with their feet," says Benefitter CEO, Brian Poger.
Most employers received their premium increases for 2015 group plans in the last few weeks. For brokers, delivering these rate increases often meant being the bearer of bad news. In some cases, premium costs more the doubled for employers, and more than 1/3 of brokers observed at least one rate increases that surpassed 60%.
In years past, increases of this magnitude were unheard of, but in today’s turbulent market, they seem to have become commonplace. Nearly three-quarters of brokers saw premium increases for small and mid-sized businesses that on average were in the "double-digits", that is, more than 10% higher than 2014’s rates. These rate increases contrast sharply with individual market rates, which are seeing a nominal rise of 3-5%, according to a recent analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"Double digit rate increases will severely impact small businesses. With the economy in its current state, most of my clients are already struggling to get by," explained one broker who took the survey. Another said, "Every small employer I work with is scared to death about their healthcare costs. They are running out of options."
Poger explained that there may indeed be hope for some small businesses. "For employers fed-up with their group premiums, the individual market can be a great option. It’s a win-win for both employers and employees, since premium-tax-credits are so generous." Benefitter supports employers who wish to make a transition from group to individual health insurance by helping to quantify the financial opportunity, by creating a compensation model to help employees maintain health insurance, and by supporting a seamless employee transition and enrollment process. Reported by PRWeb 40 minutes ago.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
An unprecedented number of employers stopped offering group health benefits this year, according to a recent survey of over 1,000 insurance brokers conducted by Benefitter. In 2014 alone, more than 3 out of 4 brokers had employer clients who dropped health coverage and instructed their employees to purchase their own insurance on the public exchange. Early signs indicate this trend may only accelerate in 2015, as 17% of brokers expect at least 25% of their clients to drop coverage in the coming year.
"As we enter open enrollment for the public market, it's becoming more apparent that individual rates are often much more affordable than group rates. It’s no surprise that many business owners are responding to continued group rate increases with their feet," says Benefitter CEO, Brian Poger.
Most employers received their premium increases for 2015 group plans in the last few weeks. For brokers, delivering these rate increases often meant being the bearer of bad news. In some cases, premium costs more the doubled for employers, and more than 1/3 of brokers observed at least one rate increases that surpassed 60%.
In years past, increases of this magnitude were unheard of, but in today’s turbulent market, they seem to have become commonplace. Nearly three-quarters of brokers saw premium increases for small and mid-sized businesses that on average were in the "double-digits", that is, more than 10% higher than 2014’s rates. These rate increases contrast sharply with individual market rates, which are seeing a nominal rise of 3-5%, according to a recent analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"Double digit rate increases will severely impact small businesses. With the economy in its current state, most of my clients are already struggling to get by," explained one broker who took the survey. Another said, "Every small employer I work with is scared to death about their healthcare costs. They are running out of options."
Poger explained that there may indeed be hope for some small businesses. "For employers fed-up with their group premiums, the individual market can be a great option. It’s a win-win for both employers and employees, since premium-tax-credits are so generous." Benefitter supports employers who wish to make a transition from group to individual health insurance by helping to quantify the financial opportunity, by creating a compensation model to help employees maintain health insurance, and by supporting a seamless employee transition and enrollment process. Reported by PRWeb 40 minutes ago.
↧
Long-Term Care Insurance Prices for Seniors Now Searchable Using Insurer Finder Online
Long-term care insurance is now quoted for seniors when using the portal at the Quotes Pros website at http://quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
Senior health expenses in the U.S. are expected to rise in the next few years as changes are in place due to the revised Health Care Act of 2012. The Quotes Pros company is now helping older adults to find long-term care insurance prices on a national level through use of its finder at http://quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.
There are new health industry insurance providers that are available to review when using the database setup for adults to access at the QuotesPros.com website. The listings of providers that are displayed during an average search are now providing the rates data for long-term policies that are underwritten for adults.
"Men and women who are planning for health coverage after the age of 62 will find our system useful and new providers are added on a rotating basis," said one Quotes Pros source.
The insurer price data that is offered to users of the searchable database this year is based partly on the zip information entered when the system is accessed online. Some insurers now use location information, family histories and other non-health related data to prepare an exact quote in price for certain policies.
"The policies that a person can access through our system are underwritten nationally and can be revised by a person who requires extra levels of coverage," said the source.
The Quotes Pros company will continue providing real time access to its system on the homepage this year and plans to include additional agencies at the first of the coming year. Aside from short or long-term health plans, adults can also obtain homeowner insurance prices and policy information at http://quotespros.com/homeowners-insurance.html.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company helps Americans to explore and review insurers in real time through access to its database on the Internet. The company has opened use of its system to provide a valuable source of information to the public. The QuotesPros.com company had made significant strides over the past two years to link more men and women to agencies that quote price data in real time using a limited data set. Reported by PRWeb 18 hours ago.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) November 14, 2014
Senior health expenses in the U.S. are expected to rise in the next few years as changes are in place due to the revised Health Care Act of 2012. The Quotes Pros company is now helping older adults to find long-term care insurance prices on a national level through use of its finder at http://quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.
There are new health industry insurance providers that are available to review when using the database setup for adults to access at the QuotesPros.com website. The listings of providers that are displayed during an average search are now providing the rates data for long-term policies that are underwritten for adults.
"Men and women who are planning for health coverage after the age of 62 will find our system useful and new providers are added on a rotating basis," said one Quotes Pros source.
The insurer price data that is offered to users of the searchable database this year is based partly on the zip information entered when the system is accessed online. Some insurers now use location information, family histories and other non-health related data to prepare an exact quote in price for certain policies.
"The policies that a person can access through our system are underwritten nationally and can be revised by a person who requires extra levels of coverage," said the source.
The Quotes Pros company will continue providing real time access to its system on the homepage this year and plans to include additional agencies at the first of the coming year. Aside from short or long-term health plans, adults can also obtain homeowner insurance prices and policy information at http://quotespros.com/homeowners-insurance.html.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company helps Americans to explore and review insurers in real time through access to its database on the Internet. The company has opened use of its system to provide a valuable source of information to the public. The QuotesPros.com company had made significant strides over the past two years to link more men and women to agencies that quote price data in real time using a limited data set. Reported by PRWeb 18 hours ago.
↧
Obamacare health insurance marketplaces reopen for new enrollment
A year after their disastrous launch, health insurance marketplaces created through the Affordable Care Act will reopen to consumers Saturday in a high-stakes new test for the health law and its ambitious program for expanding coverage to millions of Americans.
Reported by L.A. Times 16 hours ago.
↧
↧
Health-care act’s big test: Will users re-enroll?
The second enrollment period for buying health insurance under the Affordable Health Care Act begins Saturday, with proponents hoping to persuade millions more Americans to sign up during the three-month window.
Reported by Seattle Times 16 hours ago.
↧
Cost of Coverage Under Affordable Care Act to Increase in 2015
Many Americans with health insurance bought under the Affordable Care Act could face substantial price increases next year — in some cases as much as 20 percent.
Reported by NYTimes.com 14 hours ago.
↧
Obama Administration's Contraception Compromise Upheld by Appeals Court
A federal appeals court Friday upheld the Obama administration’s opt-out system for religious colleges and other groups that object to providing contraceptives to employees and students covered by health insurance plans.
Reported by Wall Street Journal 15 hours ago.
↧
Cost of coverage under health care act to increase in 2015
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration on Friday unveiled data showing that many Americans with health insurance bought under the Affordable Care Act could face substantial price increases next year -- in some cases as much as 20 percent -- unless they switch plans.
Reported by TwinCities.com 14 hours ago.
↧
↧
Maher: If Obama Had Lost, US Wouldn't Have Fruit or Jobs
HBO’s “Real Time” host Bill Maher laid out the dystopia he believes would have occurred if President Obama had lost the 2008 and 2012 elections to encourage his audience to vote on Friday.Maher addressed those who refused to vote because Obama didn’t keep his promises by stating, “the choice was never between the perfect Obama in your head and the real one who came to Washington, it’s between the real one and the two guys who desperately wanted to beat him so they could stamp America in their image.”
Maher then laid out his alternative scenario where McCain and Romney won, he said “Great Depression II” would have occurred due to failure to pass the stimulus and auto bailout. And where Paula Deen and Joe the Plumber would be on the Supreme Court instead of Justices Kagan and Sotomayor “the nearest abortion clinic is in London. The Attorney General is Dick Cheney’s head.”
He continued, “[the president] has halted all work on renewable energy, but we have built a $1 trillion coal-powered, electrified fence on the border to keep out the one Mexican who still wants to get here. Oh, and Homeland Security Czar Ted Cruz has deported all 12 million illegals, so now we have no fruit.”
Maher concluded, “Now do you see voting makes a difference? How close to home do we have to get? There’s no fruit, no jobs, your girlfriend is having a baby you don’t want, you have no health insurance, and your tap water is on fire.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett Reported by Breitbart 5 hours ago.
↧
Pence warns of HIP 2.0 penalty
State officials warned Friday that Hoosiers who enroll in the federal marketplace for subsidized health insurance could be penalized later if the federal government approves a specialized program for Indiana.
Reported by Journal Gazette 10 hours ago.
↧
Buying health insurance during open enrollment?
*Buying health insurance during open enrollment?*
If you buy health insurance on your own, the second national open enrollment period begins today, Nov. 15, and runs through Feb. 15. About 8 million Americans ended up buying private health insurance through their state Health Insurance Marketplace the first time around, and this year the government projects that number will increase by a million or two.
The enrollment process itself can be tricky. Here are nine things you need to know to make things as easy as possible.
**Both new and returning customers**
- -
-*1. Understand the deadlines.*-
If you are enrolling for the first time or want to switch plans, do so by Dec. 15, so your new coverage will start on Jan. 1, 2015. If you wait until later, your coverage won’t start until February or March.
-*2. If you get stuck, call for expert help.*-
Every state Health Insurance Marketplace has access to free, trained, non-commercial assisters or Navigators who can answer your questions, solve problems, and guide you through the process. If you find yourself stuck, or aren’t sure how to fill out parts of the application, don’t hesitate to call. If you live in a state whose Marketplace is run by HealthCare.gov, the place to look is localhelp.HealthCare.gov. If you live in a state that’s running its own Marketplace, the link for in-person help should be easily visible on the home page. (Here's an interactive map to help you find your Marketplace.)**If you are a returning customer**
- -
-*3. Don’t automatically default to auto-renewal.*-
This fall, you’ll likely be getting notices from both your insurance company and your Marketplace that if you don’t take any action, your plan will automatically be renewed for 2015 at the same subsidy level.
Do not auto-renew, even if you can. According to federal officials, most people with premium subsidies in 2014 will end up paying more than they need to if they auto-renew. The plan you bought last year may no longer be the most affordable one, and if your income has changed your subsidy might not be correct.
So, go back into your Marketplace account and look for the “Enroll To-Do List.” Update your income information for 2015, get a new subsidy determination, and then look at your plan options. One good piece of news: according to the folks who run HealthCare.gov, about 90 percent of your application will be pre-populated with information you gave last year, so you’ll only have to re-enter the parts that have changed.
Once you have done this, you MUST re-select a plan.
Special information for returning customers in Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon: Your states are changing their Marketplace web platforms for 2015. You must set up a new account and reapply as if you were visiting for the first time.
**How to pick the best insurance plan for you**
The three most important questions you need to consider.
*How to apply for financial help with your premium
*
Hint: it's kind of like doing your income taxes, in advance.**If you are buying health insurance for the first time**
- -
-*4. Buy on the Marketplace.*-
You can bypass the Marketplace and buy individual insurance coverage through online or local brokers or directly from health insurance companies, and it will satisfy the requirement to have health insurance. But if, like 85 percent of the people who bought Marketplace coverage last year, your income qualifies you for tax credits to lower the cost of your premium, the only way you can get that help is by purchasing a plan through the Marketplace. (Here's information on the relevant income ranges.)
Even if you expect your 2015 income will be too high for a subsidy, it’s still prudent to buy through the Marketplace. If your income were to come in lower than you expected during the year, you can claim the subsidy when you file your taxes—but only if you bought through the Marketplace in the first place. (For more on how these tax credits work, use our free interactive tool.)-*5. Keep a record of your user name, password, and answers to security questions.*-
When creating a new account, you’ll be answering three security questions that you’ll need to reset your password in case you lose it. Write your answers down and put it somewhere you’ll be able to find it later, because you won’t necessarily remember whether you chose Fluffy or Fido for “your favorite pet” a year later.
-*6. Don’t freak out that the Marketplace knows what kind of car you took out a loan on.*-
To create your account the Marketplace needs to verify that you are who you say you are. To do this, it electronically accesses records from Experian, one of the big credit reporting agencies. You’ll be presented with a series of questions drawn from your Experian records that only the real you can answer. For instance, you might be asked to pick out an old street address, or the model of car you took out a loan to buy.
If you don’t have an Experian record (it can happen if you’re just out of school, or simply someone who has never taken out a loan or credit card), you may be asked to upload or mail in identity documents instead.
-*7. When asked if the Marketplace can electronically access your tax and income records, say yes.*-
Since subsidies are based on income, the Marketplace needs to verify the income information you supply. One way it does this is by querying the IRS and other databases that have information about your income.
If you don’t provide this information, you’ll be asked to submit it manually either by uploading it or mailing it in. This could slow down your enrollment process considerably.
-*8. When asked if you plan to file an income tax return, say yes.*-
Say yes even if you have never filed a tax return before, and even if you aren’t sure you’ll be making enough money to file. “If you don’t, you take yourself out of eligibility for tax credits,” explains JoAnn Volk, a health insurance expert at Georgetown University’s Center for Health Insurance Reform. “You have to file even if you fall below the filing threshold if you want a credit.”
-*9. When asked about your family size, put down the total number even if not everyone is applying for insurance.*-
This is one of the trickiest parts of the application. The tax credit premium subsidies are calculated based on your whole family’s income, even if not everyone is going to buy insurance on the Marketplace. This can happen, for instance, if your family includes a young adult child who has turned 26 and aged off his or her parent’s employer plan, or a married couple that includes one person on Medicare and one not.
The easiest way of figuring your family size is to think about your tax return for 2015. The number of people listed on that return is your family size. (Here's a sample Form 1040 that we labeled that shows where to look).
Note that couples who are living together but not married are considered separate families for tax and subsidy purposes. Same-sex married couples are considered part of the same family even if they now live in a state that doesn’t recognize their marriage.
—Nancy Metcalf*Submit a question to Consumer Reports' health insurance expert. Be sure to include the state you live in so we can provide a more-detailed answer.*
*More health insurance information*
To find out how to apply for, select, and use health insurance, including Medicare, visit our main health insurance page.
*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*
*Subscribe now!*
Subscribe to *ConsumerReports.org* for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products.
--------------------
Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 5 hours ago.
If you buy health insurance on your own, the second national open enrollment period begins today, Nov. 15, and runs through Feb. 15. About 8 million Americans ended up buying private health insurance through their state Health Insurance Marketplace the first time around, and this year the government projects that number will increase by a million or two.
The enrollment process itself can be tricky. Here are nine things you need to know to make things as easy as possible.
**Both new and returning customers**
- -
-*1. Understand the deadlines.*-
If you are enrolling for the first time or want to switch plans, do so by Dec. 15, so your new coverage will start on Jan. 1, 2015. If you wait until later, your coverage won’t start until February or March.
-*2. If you get stuck, call for expert help.*-
Every state Health Insurance Marketplace has access to free, trained, non-commercial assisters or Navigators who can answer your questions, solve problems, and guide you through the process. If you find yourself stuck, or aren’t sure how to fill out parts of the application, don’t hesitate to call. If you live in a state whose Marketplace is run by HealthCare.gov, the place to look is localhelp.HealthCare.gov. If you live in a state that’s running its own Marketplace, the link for in-person help should be easily visible on the home page. (Here's an interactive map to help you find your Marketplace.)**If you are a returning customer**
- -
-*3. Don’t automatically default to auto-renewal.*-
This fall, you’ll likely be getting notices from both your insurance company and your Marketplace that if you don’t take any action, your plan will automatically be renewed for 2015 at the same subsidy level.
Do not auto-renew, even if you can. According to federal officials, most people with premium subsidies in 2014 will end up paying more than they need to if they auto-renew. The plan you bought last year may no longer be the most affordable one, and if your income has changed your subsidy might not be correct.
So, go back into your Marketplace account and look for the “Enroll To-Do List.” Update your income information for 2015, get a new subsidy determination, and then look at your plan options. One good piece of news: according to the folks who run HealthCare.gov, about 90 percent of your application will be pre-populated with information you gave last year, so you’ll only have to re-enter the parts that have changed.
Once you have done this, you MUST re-select a plan.
Special information for returning customers in Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon: Your states are changing their Marketplace web platforms for 2015. You must set up a new account and reapply as if you were visiting for the first time.
**How to pick the best insurance plan for you**
The three most important questions you need to consider.
*How to apply for financial help with your premium
*
Hint: it's kind of like doing your income taxes, in advance.**If you are buying health insurance for the first time**
- -
-*4. Buy on the Marketplace.*-
You can bypass the Marketplace and buy individual insurance coverage through online or local brokers or directly from health insurance companies, and it will satisfy the requirement to have health insurance. But if, like 85 percent of the people who bought Marketplace coverage last year, your income qualifies you for tax credits to lower the cost of your premium, the only way you can get that help is by purchasing a plan through the Marketplace. (Here's information on the relevant income ranges.)
Even if you expect your 2015 income will be too high for a subsidy, it’s still prudent to buy through the Marketplace. If your income were to come in lower than you expected during the year, you can claim the subsidy when you file your taxes—but only if you bought through the Marketplace in the first place. (For more on how these tax credits work, use our free interactive tool.)-*5. Keep a record of your user name, password, and answers to security questions.*-
When creating a new account, you’ll be answering three security questions that you’ll need to reset your password in case you lose it. Write your answers down and put it somewhere you’ll be able to find it later, because you won’t necessarily remember whether you chose Fluffy or Fido for “your favorite pet” a year later.
-*6. Don’t freak out that the Marketplace knows what kind of car you took out a loan on.*-
To create your account the Marketplace needs to verify that you are who you say you are. To do this, it electronically accesses records from Experian, one of the big credit reporting agencies. You’ll be presented with a series of questions drawn from your Experian records that only the real you can answer. For instance, you might be asked to pick out an old street address, or the model of car you took out a loan to buy.
If you don’t have an Experian record (it can happen if you’re just out of school, or simply someone who has never taken out a loan or credit card), you may be asked to upload or mail in identity documents instead.
-*7. When asked if the Marketplace can electronically access your tax and income records, say yes.*-
Since subsidies are based on income, the Marketplace needs to verify the income information you supply. One way it does this is by querying the IRS and other databases that have information about your income.
If you don’t provide this information, you’ll be asked to submit it manually either by uploading it or mailing it in. This could slow down your enrollment process considerably.
-*8. When asked if you plan to file an income tax return, say yes.*-
Say yes even if you have never filed a tax return before, and even if you aren’t sure you’ll be making enough money to file. “If you don’t, you take yourself out of eligibility for tax credits,” explains JoAnn Volk, a health insurance expert at Georgetown University’s Center for Health Insurance Reform. “You have to file even if you fall below the filing threshold if you want a credit.”
-*9. When asked about your family size, put down the total number even if not everyone is applying for insurance.*-
This is one of the trickiest parts of the application. The tax credit premium subsidies are calculated based on your whole family’s income, even if not everyone is going to buy insurance on the Marketplace. This can happen, for instance, if your family includes a young adult child who has turned 26 and aged off his or her parent’s employer plan, or a married couple that includes one person on Medicare and one not.
The easiest way of figuring your family size is to think about your tax return for 2015. The number of people listed on that return is your family size. (Here's a sample Form 1040 that we labeled that shows where to look).
Note that couples who are living together but not married are considered separate families for tax and subsidy purposes. Same-sex married couples are considered part of the same family even if they now live in a state that doesn’t recognize their marriage.
—Nancy Metcalf*Submit a question to Consumer Reports' health insurance expert. Be sure to include the state you live in so we can provide a more-detailed answer.*
*More health insurance information*
To find out how to apply for, select, and use health insurance, including Medicare, visit our main health insurance page.
*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*
*Subscribe now!*
Subscribe to *ConsumerReports.org* for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products.
--------------------
Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 5 hours ago.
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
