Flexible Spending Account Management Services Procurement Category Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld

January 18, 2015, 1:02 am

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Price has slowly grown over the past three years due to the initial effects of the 2010 Affordable Care Act and increases in economic prosperity, which have led to higher health expenditures; price growth will accelerate over the next three years due to higher demand resulting from the long-term effects of the Affordable Care Act and the aging US population. For these reasons and to help procurement professionals make better buying decisions faster, business intelligence firm IBISWorld has added a report on the procurement of Flexible Spending Account Management Services to its growing collection of procurement category market research reports.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2015

The flexible spending account (FSA) management services market has a buyer power score of 4.0 out of 5, representing a high level of buyer power in negotiations. According to IBISWorld analyst Dale Schmidt, the market is structured to enhance competition among vendors, which boosts buyer power, but prices have risen anyway due to surging demand.

The market for FSA services is highly competitive. The low level of specialization of the service diminishes differentiation. As a result, vendors are forced to compete on price to secure business, which benefits buyers because competing price bids are easily comparable. The inability to significantly differentiate competing products also prevents any vendors from accumulating large market shares, and the resulting fragmented market yields more competition still, continues Schmidt. Finally, health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts compete to cover the same expense as FSAs, increasing competition further.

However, fast-growing demand has led to price increases anyway. Health spending has grown over the past three years as a result of the recovering economy, leading to increased demand for FSAs to help manage this spending. Also, the 2010 Affordable Care Act expanded health insurance coverage, further boosting health spending, and introduced limited annual rollover options to FSA plans for the first time. The effects of this bill have led to growing demand for FSAs that will continue over the next three years. Due to the expected price increases, buyers are encouraged to purchase now and secure lower rates. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Flexible Spending Account Management Services procurement category market research report page.

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IBISWorld Procurement Report Key Topics

This report is intended to assist buyers of flexible spending account management services. A flexible spending account is a fund set aside on a pretax basis for an employee to use toward qualifying healthcare or dependent care expenses. Flexible spending account management services oversee the development and administration of an employer's flexible spending account program.

Executive Summary
Pricing Environment
Price Fundamentals
Benchmark Price
Pricing Model
Price Drivers
Recent Price Trend
Price Forecast
Product Characteristics
Product Life Cycle
Total Cost of Ownership
Product Specialization
Substitute Goods
Regulation
Quality Control
Supply Chain & Vendors
Supply Chain Dynamics
Supply Chain Risk
Imports
Competitive Environment
Market Share Concentration
Market Profitability
Switching Costs
Purchasing Process
Buying Basics
Buying Lead Time
Selection Process
Key RFP Elements
Negotiation Questions
Buyer Power Factors
Key Statistics

About IBISWorld Inc.
IBISWorld is one of the world's leading publishers of business intelligence, specializing in Industry research and Procurement research. Since 1971, IBISWorld has provided thoroughly researched, accurate and current business information. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, IBISWorld’s procurement research reports equip clients with the insight necessary to make better purchasing decisions, faster. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld Procurement serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

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Insurers Bullish On Obamacare, Despite Supreme Court Uncertainty

January 18, 2015, 8:31 am

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As enrollment grows from the second year Americans can sign up for private coverage under the Affordable, health insurance companies are hinting at a 2015 that will also be lucrative to their bottom lines. Just last week, Anthem (ANTM) surprised some by once again raising its financial guidance for 2014 just [...] Reported by Forbes.com 37 minutes ago.

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The Next Victim Of Crashing Oil Prices: Housing

January 18, 2015, 12:55 pm

≫ Next: For the first time, Obamacare recipients must deal with the IRS

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The Next Victim Of Crashing Oil Prices: Housing

While a record amount of ink has been spilled praising the benefits of plunging crude price on the US consumer, so far this has manifested merely in soaring consumer confidence, if not in an actual boost to retail sales.

In fact, as the Census Bureau reported last week, December retail sales were the biggest disappointment and suffered the steepest monthly drop since the polar vortex. It appears that instead of doing what so many economists thought, and immediately using their “savings” to boost discretionary income, households are either i) saving the lower gas price windfall (and considering the unprecedented savings rate revision gimmick used by the US Department of Commerce to boost Q3 GDP to 5.0% this is completely understandable), or ii) as we explained some time ago, instead of spending on discretionary purchases, households are forced to spend more on far less pleasant, if just as GDP-boosting staples, such as soaring health insurance premiums courtesy of Obamacare (those who benefit from Obamacare most likely don’t have any work commute-related expenditures in the first place).

Less has been written about the adverse side-effects of plunging oil, even though by now even the most “undisputed” permabulls have been forced to admit that the imminent collapse in capital spending is truly “unprecedented”, a phrase Goldman uses in the chart below.

So what does plunging CapEx actually mean for the economy, aside from a substantial haircut to 2015 GDP, and what other areas of the economy will be affected by the Saudi Arabian scorched earth war on the US shale industry?

First, we look at the impact of plunging crude on non-residential construction and specifically physical structures, which is where roughly 90% of energy capex is — namely outlays for exploration and wells. Spending there tracked an annualized rate of $140bn in the first three quarters of 2014, a sum that accounts for a whopping 30% of total non-residential private fixed investment in structures, or about a 1% of GDP.

So what about residential construction? Here are some thoughts from bank of America:

The plunge in oil prices is creating havoc in forecasting the US economy. On the upside, lower oil prices supports consumer spending by reducing the cost of gasoline. But on the downside, it hurts oil producers and will curb investment in the sector. These dynamics can directly influence the trajectory of the housing market this year as well. The regions with economic growth driven by oil production likely will see housing conditions weaken….

Let’s focus on Texas and North Dakota, which account for more than half of US oil production. Housing starts in these two states make up about 15% of the nation and have contributed 18% to the national gain from the trough. Using the early 1980s as a guide when oil prices collapsed, starts in Texas declined more than 75% over a five-year period. This is probably the worst-case for today given that starts were at much higher levels then and the regional economy was more dependent on energy production. That said, a similar decline today would translate to a loss of 133K starts between Texas and North Dakota, which translates to a decline of 25K per year over five years. This can likely be absorbed by greater building elsewhere in the country.

Home price appreciation in the oil states likely will also be negatively impacted. Slower job growth means less income creation, hurting affordability and therefore weighing on home sales. Home price appreciation in Texas has been strong especially considering that the market was resilient during the crisis. This has left homes overvalued in many parts of Texas and therefore susceptible to correction.

Given the stickiness in home prices, we would expect this to start to show up in the statistics in the second half of the year.

A chart of where the housing pain will be most acute:

Texas accounts for a significant share of US oil production. Using the early 1980s as a guide when oil prices collapsed, housing starts in Texas declined more than 75% over a five-year period. This is probably the worst-case for today given that starts were at much higher levels then and the regional economy was more dependent on energy production. Furthermore, an 80s-sized drop in starts can likely be absorbed by greater building elsewhere in the country.

Home price appreciation in the oil states likely will be negatively impacted by the decline in oil prices. Slower job growth means less income creation, hurting affordability and therefore weighing on home sales. Home price appreciation in Texas has been strong especially considering that the market was resilient during the crisis. This has left homes overvalued in many parts of Texas and therefore susceptible to correction.

All of this is followed by the obligatory spin: “*While the housing market in oil-producing states will weaken from the drop in energy prices, we think this will be offset by positive developments otherwise*. The decline in oil prices has been accompanied by a drop in mortgage rates, boosting affordability. There was also an unexpected present from Washington – premiums on FHA loans were lowered by 50bp, reducing the cost of borrowing for lower-income and first-time homebuyers. There are clearly winners and losers from the drop in oil prices. We cannot dismiss the pain caused from the plunge in oil prices in the regions driven by oil production. However, on a national scale, the stimulus from lower oil prices and interest rates is a powerful offset.”

Unless of course it isn’t, just as the latest retail sales report showed, which prompted a violent scramble to preserve the sanctity of the confidence-boosting "crashing oil is unambiguously good” narrative. Then again, if all else fails, it is getting cold outside... almost cold enough to crush the US economy by about $50 billion as "happened" last year. Reported by Zero Hedge 21 hours ago.

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For the first time, Obamacare recipients must deal with the IRS

January 18, 2015, 1:14 pm

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For the first time, Obamacare recipients must deal with the IRS

More than a million Californians got federally subsidized health insurance in 2014 through the nation's health care law. But now the law is about to give many of them a migraine. Reported by San Jose Mercury News 21 hours ago.

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Large Penalties Await Employers Who Reimbursed Certain Employee Health Insurance Premiums In 2014

January 18, 2015, 2:57 pm

≫ Next: Obamacare recipients, for first time, reporting to IRS

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Large Penalties Await Employers Who Reimbursed Certain Employee Health Insurance Premiums In 2014 Reported by ajc.com 19 hours ago.

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Obamacare recipients, for first time, reporting to IRS

January 18, 2015, 4:26 pm

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Obamacare recipients, for first time, reporting to IRS

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Red States Are Reinventing Medicaid to Make It More Expensive and Bureaucratic

January 18, 2015, 6:01 pm

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Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion in 2014, 23 states have refused the federal money to offer health insurance to their low-income residents, depriving almost 4 million people of coverage. Slowly, some of the holdout red states are finding a way to say yes, bu Reported by The New Republic 16 hours ago.

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Obamacare Makes Paying Taxes a Bit Trickier This Year

January 19, 2015, 3:56 am

≫ Next: Cancelling Employer Health Insurance Can Be A Kindness

≪ Previous: Red States Are Reinventing Medicaid to Make It More Expensive and Bureaucratic

The Affordable Care Act requires that Americans indicate on their federal tax forms whether they had health insurance during 2014 and whether they received tax credits to help pay for it, with those without coverage facing a possible fine. Reported by Newsmax 6 hours ago.

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Cancelling Employer Health Insurance Can Be A Kindness

January 19, 2015, 3:19 am

≫ Next: Quiet Year for Tax Changes, but Obamacare Provides a Twist

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Subsidies created by the ACA (1) plus ongoing escalation of health insurance premiums make canceling health insurance plans financially attractive for many employers. In fact this transition can be even more attractive for employees. And for some low paid moms and dads, it's a blessing. Reported by Forbes.com 7 hours ago.

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Quiet Year for Tax Changes, but Obamacare Provides a Twist

January 19, 2015, 3:07 am

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Quiet Year for Tax Changes, but Obamacare Provides a Twist

Filed under: Taxes, Personal Finance, Health Insurance, IRS, Tax Laws

*Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP*

By CAROLE FELDMAN

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's signature health care law will bring a new twist to tax-filing in 2015, a year in which much else will seem familiar when you're working on your return.

"It's been a very quiet season or tax year" in terms of congressional action, says Bob Meighan, vice president of customer advocacy at TurboTax, the tax-preparation software company.

Sure, there have been adjustments for inflation in the tax tables, standard deduction and value of each exemption. But what could have been a stunner -- the expiration of a series of popular tax breaks -- was forestalled by Congress in a last-minute move before it adjourned last month.

Unlike last year, there will be no delay to the start of the tax season, despite the late congressional passage of the tax extenders. The Internal Revenue Service said it would begin accepting electronic returns and processing paper ones as scheduled on Jan. 20.

"We have reviewed the late tax law changes and determined there was nothing preventing us from continuing our updating and testing of our systems," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a statement.

*Hurry Up and Wait*

So gather up those W-2s, 1099s, receipts and other data needed to file; you have about three months. The deadline remains April 15, although extensions are possible.

If you're due a refund, however, you might be in for a wait.

Noting that "people have gotten very used to being able to file their return and quickly getting a refund," Koskinen said at a news conference in December that "this year we may not have the resources, the people to provide refunds as quickly as we have in the past."

He blamed budget cuts, and declined to predict how long refunds would take. In previous years, it was about 21 days for those who filed electronically.
Filing electronically is the most accurate way to file a tax return and the fastest way to get a refund.

Last year, the IRS processed nearly 150 million individual tax returns, up about 1 percent from 2013. The average refund was $2,792.

Electronic filing continues to gain popularity; only about 16 percent of last year's returns were on paper.

"Filing electronically is the most accurate way to file a tax return and the fastest way to get a refund," the IRS said.

The biggest change for tax filers this year concerns the Affordable Care Act and the requirement that everybody have health insurance.

"The first year truly will be the hardest" in dealing with ACA, said Dave Duval, vice president for consumer advocacy at TaxAudit.com.

If you got insurance through an employer, from the private marketplace, or through a federal or state exchange without a subsidy, you simply check a box on line 61 of Form 1040 affirming that you had full coverage. "You don't send in documents for review," said Greg Rosica, tax partner at Ernst & Young.

*New Forms*

But there are new forms to deal with, from the exchanges confirming your coverage and from the IRS.

Form 8962 will help determine if you got the right advance payment of the premium tax credit, or if it was too large because you underestimated income or had a life change, such as a new job with a higher salary. In that case, you might have to pay back some or all the advance payment. If you lost your job, you might be entitled to more in the form of an additional tax credit.

"This year many people did not go back to update their information," said Kathy Pickering, executive director of the Tax Institute at H&R Block.

Form 8965 will help you figure out whether you qualify for an exemption to the mandatory health coverage and can avoid a penalty. Tax experts advise people who didn't have coverage to look through the list of more than 30 coverage exemptions.

*Larger Tax Bills?*

Penalties and lower subsidies could lead to a larger tax bill -- or a smaller refund.

"We are working to ensure that whatever their experience, consumers can easily access clear information, since this is the first year they will see certain changes to their tax returns" because of the health care law, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement.

Tax rates for 2014 remain the same as in 2013, ranging from 10 percent to 39.6 percent for the wealthiest taxpayers.

But the value of a personal exemption edged up slightly to $3,950 because of inflation, and the standard deduction is now worth $12,400 for married people filing jointly, $9,100 for heads of households and $6,200 for single taxpayers.

The patch on the alternative minimum tax holds, also adjusted for inflation to prevent more middle-class people from being drawn in.

*Popular Tax Breaks*

The legislation passed by Congress in December extends a series of popular tax breaks that help a broad range of taxpayers, from schoolteachers to college students and their parents, residents of states without income taxes and people who made energy-efficient improvements to their home. People who had debt forgiven on bad mortgages usually will not have to consider that as income. And required IRA distributions by seniors 70½ and older directly to a charity are tax-free.

Some affluent taxpayers could be in for sticker shock because of a surcharge on investment income, said Meighan, of TurboTax. "It's exacerbated by the market being at record levels. People who are buying and selling are likely to see very large gains," he said.

At the other end of the wealth spectrum, he said, "people who most need the money" are overlooking things like the earned income tax credit. About a quarter of those eligible are not claiming it, he said.

*Choose a Tax Preparer Wisely*

The IRS says that more than half of taxpayers hire a tax preparer to do their returns, and the agency urges caution in choosing one. Check preparers' credentials, and make sure they have an IRS preparer tax-identification number and file electronically, the agency says. "Never sign a blank return" and be wary of those who promise large refunds, it advises.

What about dealing with the IRS itself?

The agency has adopted a Taxpayer Bill of Rights covering 10 principles, from the right to get quality service from the IRS to the right to appeal IRS decisions, including penalties. The final principle covers the "right to a fair and just tax system."

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, whose agency helps taxpayers navigate dealings with the IRS, commended the agency for adopting the bill of rights.

"If taxpayers believe they are treated, or can be treated, in an arbitrary and capricious manner, they will mistrust the tax system and be less likely to comply of their own volition," she said in her semiannual report to Congress last summer. "By contrast, taxpayers will be more likely to comply if they have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the tax system."

For more information, check out IRS Publication 17, Tax Guide 2014 for Individuals.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 7 hours ago.

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Capitalize on Your Free Preventive Health Care

January 19, 2015, 3:07 am

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Capitalize on Your Free Preventive Health Care

Filed under: Health Care

*Wallenrock/Shutterstock*

By Elizabeth Renter

One of the first implemented tenets of the Affordable Care Act was to give insured Americans access to free preventive care. But more than four years after this policy began, many people are still unaware of these preventive health benefits or how to take advantage of them.

The Department of Health and Human Services estimates the act made 76 million Americans "newly eligible" for free preventive care. But a Kaiser Health Tracking Poll in March revealed that only 43 percent of the population were aware of the change, meaning many are likely to avoid such care out of cost concerns.

*What Is It?*

Section 2713 of the act mandates all individual and group health plans offer a list of preventive care benefits with no cost-sharing requirements passed onto the consumer. Technically, the services aren't free -- they're paid for by the health insurance company through the money collected in your premium -- but you cannot be charged a copay, coinsurance or deductible. In other words, you pay nothing at the time of service.

The exception to this mandate is health insurance plans that are grandfathered -- which is to say they existed before March 23, 2010. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, this includes more than one-fourth of workers covered by employer-based insurance as of 2014.

*What Services Are Included?*

The list of preventive services available with no cost sharing is lengthy. You can view them in their entirety at HealthCare.gov. For adults, there are 15 basic services, including:

· Immunizations.
· Alcohol and tobacco misuse screening and treatment options.
· Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.
· Obesity and Type 2 diabetes screenings.
· Depression screening.
· Colorectal cancer screening.

For children, the list is 26 items long and includes:

· Immunizations.
· Developmental screenings.
· Autism screening.
· Depression screening and behavioral assessments.
· Vision and oral health screenings.

Preventive services specifically for women are available on plans beginning on or after Aug. 1, 2012. These include 22 preventive services such as:

· Contraceptives.
· Well-woman visits.
· Osteoporosis and anemia screenings.
· Prenatal care.
· Mammograms and breast cancer counseling.

You can take advantage of most preventive services at a yearly physical or, in the case of women, your well-woman visit. Obviously, timetables for immunizations differ from vaccine to vaccine, and your doctor can provide guidance on how often you should be receiving shots.

*When Free Isn't Free*

As with nearly every health insurance benefit, there are exceptions, or rather words of warning that should accompany the invitation to avail yourself of them. Your doctor's office may bill a visit separately from your preventive services. If this is the case, you might have a copay. You might also have to pay if the primary reason for your appointment is something other than preventive care. You'll also likely have to pay out-of-pocket for treatments and follow-up appointments with your doctor if those screenings reveal a problem.

For instance, your child's developmental or depression screening could reveal areas of concern, but any treatment for these findings would likely be subject to the deductible and other cost-sharing aspects of your health insurance plan. So following up with a specialist or mental health counselor could cost you.

Further, health insurance companies are handling the requirements differently. In the case of free contraceptives for women, insurers are only required to offer one type of contraceptive from several different groups, and some see this as an opportunity to save money. So, if you want a vaginal ring, but the insurer offers alternative methods also considered "hormonal birth control," you could be stuck with a bill. Likewise, opting for brand name over generic could leave you sharing the cost.

Finally, if you go to a provider outside of your health insurance network, your preventive care likely won't be free. As with all medical services, you stand to save more when you seek in-network providers.

*The Best Advice: Ask*

When you schedule an appointment for any free preventive services, make it known that you're interested in getting your free preventive screenings and want to be told if any services fall outside the list of approved "free" services.

If you're visiting your doctor, don't be afraid to speak up when he or she recommends additional testing and treatment. If they aren't covered, you'll need to pursue those recommendations with the knowledge that you'll likely have some cost-sharing responsibilities.

While your doctor should have a general idea of which screenings and services fall under free preventive care, you can also call your insurance company for clarification.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 7 hours ago.

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Bamboozled: Mystery insurance plan puts mom at odds with Jersey City, state and 2 insurance firms

January 19, 2015, 4:24 am

≫ Next: Here's Who's Sitting With Michelle Obama During The State Of The Union Address

≪ Previous: Capitalize on Your Free Preventive Health Care

A former teacher fights two insurance companies, the Jersey City Board of Ed and the Treasury Department to clear up a huge health insurance mistake. Reported by NJ.com 6 hours ago.

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Here's Who's Sitting With Michelle Obama During The State Of The Union Address

January 19, 2015, 5:00 am

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A Maryland man who returned home last month after spending five years imprisoned in Cuba will have a prime viewing spot for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address: a seat near first lady Michelle Obama.

Alan Gross and his wife, Judy, are among 22 special guests the White House invited to Tuesday night's speech.

It's become tradition for presidents to invite people whose stories of tragedy or triumph highlight an issue or public policy. President Ronald Reagan was the first to do so in 1982 and acknowledge the guests, who sit with the first lady, during the speech. Every president since has continued the tradition.

The year's group includes astronaut Scott Kelly, the president and CEO of CVS Health and eight people who wrote letters to Obama, including four he spent time with last year.

Gross is a former federal subcontractor who was arrested in Cuba in 2009. His wife and others said he was there to set up Internet access for the small Jewish community on the communist island. He was released last month as part of a historic announcement by Obama that the U.S. would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after five decades.

Kelly, of Houston, is preparing to blast off in March on a yearlong space mission, longer than any other U.S. astronaut. His identical twin, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, is married to former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. She was gravely wounded four years ago during a shooting at a political event she held in Tucson. Six people were killed and 13 were injured. Scientists will compare medical data from the brothers to understand how the human body responds to longer durations in space.

CVS Health pulled cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products from its store shelves last year, a move that was applauded by Obama, a former smoker often seen chewing nicotine gum. The decision by CVS Health earned Larry Merlo, the drugstore chain's top executive, a seat in the first lady's box.

The other guests, as identified by the White House, are:

— Malik Bryant, of Chicago. The 13-year-old wrote a letter to Santa over the holidays asking for safety. Instead of forwarding the letter to the North Pole, a nonprofit organization redirected it to the White House. Obama wrote back to say that security was a priority for him, too.

— Chelsey Davis, of Knoxville, Tennessee. Davis is scheduled to graduate in May from Pellissippi State Community College with a bachelor's degree in nutritional science. She met Obama when he visited her school this month to announce a plan to make two years of community college free for students who keep their grades up.

— LeDaya Epps, of Compton, California. The mother of three completed a union apprenticeship in construction, one of only two women to do so, and is on the crew building the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line. Obama has promoted apprenticeships as a way for people to get training for skilled jobs.

— Rebekah Erler, of Minneapolis. The wife and mother of two young boys wrote to Obama about how her family suffered after her husband's construction business folded. Both are working again and recently bought their first home. Obama spent a day with Erler in Minnesota last year.

— Victor Fugate, of Kansas City. Fugate wrote to Obama to share how he went from being an unemployed new father to getting his degree and helping low-income patients obtain medical care. Fugate says he and his wife are benefiting from an Obama program that caps monthly student loan payments. Obama met Fugate in Kansas City in July.

— Retired Army Staff Sgt. Jason Gibson, of Westerville, Ohio. Gibson wrote to Obama to thank the president for visiting him as he recovered from injuries, including the loss of both legs. Gibson surfs, skis, has completed marathons on a hand cycle and earned a pilot's license. He welcomed his first child in November.

— Nicole Hernandez Hammer, of southeast Florida. Hammer is a sea-level researcher who studies how cities and other areas most vulnerable to the effects of climate change also have large Hispanic populations. She works to raise Latinos' awareness of climate change. Addressing climate change is an Obama priority.

— Anthony Mendez, of New York City. The University of Hartford freshman once had to rise at 4:30 a.m. to get to school after his family was evicted and forced to live in a homeless shelter. Mendez was among students who met Mrs. Obama last year. She spearheads an initiative encouraging students to pursue education after high school.

— Katrice Mubiru, of Woodland Heights, California. Mubiru, a career-technical education teacher in Los Angeles, encouraged Obama in a letter to support K-12 adult and career technical education. She met and introduced Obama in July when he visited Los Angeles Trade-Technical College to highlight technical skills programs.

— Astrid Muhammad, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Muhammad, a wife and mother of two, wrote to thank Obama for signing the Affordable Care Act. Last year, she obtained coverage under the law and had surgery to remove a potentially fatal brain tumor that was diagnosed in May 2013, when she had no health insurance.

— Kathy Pham, of Washington, D.C. Pham is a government computer scientist who works to improve health information technology, expand access to benefits for veterans and improve the way government provides services to families like hers. Her mother received cancer treatment under the new health care law and her brother earned a Purple Heart for service in Afghanistan.

—Capt. Phillip C. Tingirides, of Irvine, California. A husband and father of six, the veteran Los Angeles police officer heads the Community Safety Partnership program in the neighborhood of Watts, once scarred by race riots and subsequent gang violence. Under the program, begun in 2011, police engage with residents.

— Catherine Pugh, of Baltimore. Pugh is majority leader of the Maryland Senate who helped pass legislation increasing the state minimum wage to $10.10. She has also introduced legislation to provide the state's workers with earned paid sick leave. Both are issues Obama is pushing at the federal level.

— Carolyn Reed, of Denver. Reed described in a letter to Obama how she expanded her submarine sandwich shop business with a loan from the Small Business Administration. Obama dined last year with Reed and other Coloradans who wrote to him. Reed also told the president she was raising her hourly employees' wages to $10.10.

— Dr. Pranav Shetty, of Washington, D.C. Shetty is the global emergency health coordinator for International Medical Corps, a partner in the U.S.-backed effort to control the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Shetty went to Liberia in August, returned to the U.S. late last month and is going back to West Africa later this week.

— Prophet Walker, Carson, California. While serving time for robbery, Walker started a prison program to help fellow inmates complete a two-year degree. After prison, Walker became a construction engineer and has worked to improve relations among law enforcement, community activists, parents and the children of local housing projects.

—Tiairris Woodward, of Harrison, Michigan. Woodward started a second job working on Chrysler's assembly line in 2010 to help support herself and three children, including one with special needs. She eventually began working only for Chrysler and after a year saved enough money to buy a car and rent a new apartment. The company's tuition assistance program is aiding her pursuit of a bachelor's degree in business management. The White House says her story is possible due to the comeback of Detroit and the U.S. auto industry.

—Ana Zamora, of Dallas. A student at Northwood University, Zamora was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child and has benefited under Obama's program to defer deportations for eligible immigrants. Zamora wrote to Obama about her experience and says her parents will also be eligible for protection under Obama's recent executive actions on immigration. Reported by Huffington Post 5 hours ago.

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You may be vulnerable to crushing medical debt

January 19, 2015, 7:59 am

≫ Next: Corporate contributions (of beer, cash, or anything else) have no place in Pa. inauguration

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The U.S. Healthcare system is still generating an ongoing list of financial casualties. The latest figures show that 1 in 3 Americans struggle to pay medical bills and 70 percent of those people actually have health insurance.

Reported by USATODAY.com 2 hours ago.

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Corporate contributions (of beer, cash, or anything else) have no place in Pa. inauguration

January 19, 2015, 8:07 am

≫ Next: Selling Out for Big Business: Business as Usual on Capitol Hill

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Dick Yuengling is being snubbed. That's the accusation State Rep. Mike Vereb is making ahead of Gov.-elect Tom Wolf's inauguration, whose planners have received over $1 million in contributions but allegedly turned down the offer of "free beer" from Yuengling's Pottsville-based brewery.

Vereb says the Yuengling ban is politically motivated retaliation for the CEO's support for anti-union "right-to-work" legislation.

So what does Vereb think Yuengling is missing out on?

Or, more broadly: What do corporate sponsors of inaugurations - or of electioneering, for that matter - expect in return?

It seems fitting that the governor's corporate-sponsored inauguration coincides almost exactly with the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United ruling (on Jan. 21), which allows corporations, organizations or individuals to spend unlimited sums to influence elections.

Comcast gave $50,000 for the inauguration. Verizon gave $20,000. Not to be outdone by its competitor, AT&T gave $25,000. Health insurance companies together gave $125,000. Drug manufacturer AstraZeneca, $25,000.

And a slew of breweries and wineries pledged to donate products more comparable to the beer that Yuengling would apparently be only too happy to provide.

Even assuming inauguration planners are acting in good faith, with no conscious intent to favor donors, it's hard not to see those who have written $50,000 checks - or provided "free beer" - having their calls returned sooner, or their policy proposals looked at in a light more favorable than those who gave nothing.

Polls show that most Pennsylvanians think the state is off on the wrong track. Could a significant portion of this dissatisfaction come from our lawmakers' responsiveness to the interests of Big Business and other well-heeled groups that connive to rig the system against the vast majority, who are simply struggling to get by?

True, there are signs that Wolf's administration will be an improvement on the previous one, whose allegiance to deep-pocketed polluters was all-too-clear. That sets a low standard - one which Pennsylvanians who expect more from their leaders must work hard to raise.

Vereb, meanwhile, says he thinks the refusal of free beer is "un-American."

What's truly un-American is staying silent while corporations attempt to use their money - or beer - to drown out the priorities of struggling middle- and working-class Pennsylvanians.

Rick Claypool is the online director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch division. Follow him on Twitter @RickClaypool. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.

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Selling Out for Big Business: Business as Usual on Capitol Hill

January 19, 2015, 8:44 am

≪ Previous: Corporate contributions (of beer, cash, or anything else) have no place in Pa. inauguration

In coming weeks, we can expect the Republican-controlled Congress to push two Obamacare bills that would hike profits for some businesses. What we can't expect, from either Republicans or Democrats, unfortunately, is any effort to help families, even those with insurance, to stay out of bankruptcy court because of mounting medical bills.

Another inevitable attempt to repeal the whole law won't go anywhere because there are still enough Democrats in the Senate to block it. But the bills to assist businesses -- especially those that make generous campaign contributions -- just might reach the president's desk.

One of those measures would redefine a full-time worker under Obamacare's employer mandate provision from someone who works 30 hours a week to one who works 40 hours weekly. The other piece of legislation would repeal the 2.3 percent tax on medical devices that helps pay for expanding coverage to the previously uninsured.

Republicans and some Democrats contend that both bills are intended to restore jobs they claim have been lost or will be lost as a result of those Obamacare provisions.

The law currently requires employers with 50 or more workers to provide health insurance to most of their full-time employees. The mandate will go into effect this year for employers with 100 or more workers and next year for employers with 50 or more. It does not apply to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

The reason drafters of the reform law set the threshold at 30 hours a week was to bring more people into coverage. Changing it to 40 hours would mean that many folks would likely lose their health insurance.

The tradeoffs are complicated, but ultimately, people needing insurance are a loser. The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that changing the definition to 40 hours a week would reduce the number of people receiving employment-based coverage by about a million. But it would increase the number of people getting coverage through Medicaid or the health insurance exchanges by between 500,000 to 1 million. And about half a million would likely return to being uninsured.

Shifting that many people to the taxpayer-financed Medicaid program or to the exchanges, where most would be eligible for federal subsidies, would increase the budget deficit by nearly $74 billion between now and 2024, both the CBO and JCT say.

Repealing the tax on medical devices would also be a bad deal for just about everybody--except, of course the companies that make the devices. Big companies like Johnson & Johnson and GE would benefit, as would some smaller companies. And now that millions more of us have health insurance because of Obamacare, more of us can now afford the equipment these firms make. They are big Obamacare winners. But the medical device companies want to keep all that new revenue they're getting.

The industry and its friends in Congress -- which even includes liberals like Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (there are a lot of medical device makers in both of their states) -- want us to believe that the tax will cost as many as 43,000 jobs.

The Congressional Research Service says that's bogus, that the tax will result in few if any job losses. But if the tax is repealed, the government will have to find $30 billion somewhere else or scale back coverage, which would put many of us back into the ranks of the uninsured.

I can understand why Republicans want to help those businesses avoid an Obamacare tax. But you'd think that Franken and Warren and their fellow Democrats would consider introducing legislation to help their constituents avoid financial ruin if they get sick.

Obamacare appears to be helping -- the Commonwealth Fund reported last week that the number of Americans who went without the care they needed because of cost declined last year for the first time since 2003. But millions of Americans are still struggling to make ends meet because of medical bills.

The Commonwealth Fund also recently reported that the cost of health insurance is still increasing at a faster clip than wages. That means people are still having to devote an increasingly larger share of their paychecks to health insurance, despite Obamacare.

One area that's taking a hit is savings. Family budgets for most folks are so tight they can't sock much money away in a savings account. As Bankrate.com reported earlier this month, "If someone encounters a significant, unexpected expense outside his or her budget, such as an emergency room visit or a car repair, only 38 percent of respondents say they could cover it with cash they have on hand in a savings account or checking account."

Older Americans are especially vulnerable. Bankrate.com's survey found that 1 in 5 Americans 50 and older listed medical expenses as their largest expense outside of food and shelter.

The problem is that most of those folks don't -- can't -- contribute much, if anything to political campaigns. Certainly not like Johnson & Johnson and GE. So don't hold your breath waiting for Congress to do anything to give families some relief when businesses are demanding special consideration. Reported by Huffington Post 1 hour ago.

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Suggested Message for State of the Union: 'Don't Screw It Up... Again'

January 19, 2015, 9:24 am

≫ Next: New Privacy Concerns over Government's Health Care Website

≪ Previous: Selling Out for Big Business: Business as Usual on Capitol Hill

President Obama begins his seventh year in office in good position. At this point in his eight-year term, the unemployment rate is a) lower than Reagan's at the same time; b) lower than Romney/Republican targets for the end of 2016 and St. Ronnie's for his entire term; c) Medicare is now solvent at least through 2031; and, d) ~10 million more people are covered by health insurance.

Now, he faces a Republican Congress elected by one of the smallest fractions of the population in history, but nonetheless in control, and determined. Determined to rail against everything good, true and beautiful, and against "everything Obama" no matter how it is characterized.

The president has suffered, often (regrettably) in silence, the lies, the innuendo, the falsifications, the unyielding opposition, of a radical right-wing minority determined to see him fail even if that meant, as it has, delaying and diminishing the economic recovery for millions of Americans.

Now, despite their best efforts, the economy is on the upswing and they dare accuse this president of being responsible for the growing inequality as they block increasing the minimum wage, equal pay for women, and well-paying jobs that could have been created repairing and upgrading our decaying roads, bridges, electric grid, sewers, water systems, school houses and retrofitting buildings to save energy costs and pollution.

If there is one enduring message that emerges, to put Republicans on notice, it should be "don't screw it up...again", i.e, like you did in the '00s.

Without trying to be exhaustive, I urge the president to make the following points:

1. Remind everyone* where he started*. He might want to use FDR's, "the mess that was dumped into our laps" in 2009. He might also use Churchill's "years the locusts had eaten" to describe the '00s.

Forget about the beltway media (as I call them, the "yaparazzi") who have adopted the "rule" that this president cannot point out the most disastrous economic and financial collapse since the Great Depression as his starting point.

2. Now that Republicans control Congress again, the president's theme should be "Don't screw it up...again."

Indeed, the president should, among other things, stand as the champion of *conservative* (get it!) accounting techniques. Using "radical math" helped create the mess. The president will stand for *conservative accounting*.

3. *On health care*, the president is also speaking to the Supreme Court, who are assembled. He should point out that, when he took office (back to 2009 again, which is why he has to start with it), Medicare was slated to go bankrupt in 2016 -- next year.

Since the Affordable Care Act was passed, Medicare is now solvent at least through 2031. (The septu-and-octogenarians, aka, the Supreme Court, assembled in front of him might want to think about that one).

He can point out that 10 million more people are covered for health care, tens of millions more are protected against bankruptcy, and those with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied.

He should also say that no proposal that does not cover pre-existing conditions will substitute as a solution to the country's health care crisis, and should point out directly that Republicans have been very good at passing repeal, but have never proposed a substitute plan that covers pre-existing conditions.

The president needs to make it clear that Republican talk about a "substitute" for the Affordable Care Act is an attempt to make a fool out of the Chief Justice in particular (whom, we are told, switched his vote to positive when he realized that Americans might not have affordable health care for decades if this admittedly imperfect law were voided by the Court).

Immodestly, I suggest the president adopt my one-word description: "VaporCare". It says it all.

4. *The Main Street tax cut.* I suggest the president start using "main street" in place of middle class. The president should be bolder -- a 0.5 percent tax on equity transactions, and 0.01 percent per years of maturity remaining on bonds and CDOs, raises $350 billion, calling this a "Wall Street Tax" -- if,for no other reason, to have a starting point to bargain with. Exempt the first 50 transactions so the Right cannot pretend to be protecting the "small investor" in their opposition.

5. *Do NOT issue veto threats.* Instead, let them pass the Ryan budget, VoucherCare, and their other nonsense first... then, veto it. It will produce a Democratic Senate and President, and possibly House, in 2016. That would be a nice legacy too.

6. *Minimum Wage*. He should state that poll after poll favors it. Challenge them to do what the American people repeatedly say they want, rather than follow the directions of a few billionaire supporters. That would get at their very inner souls -- if they have them.

7. *Infrastructure and Environment as "National Security"*. The president should recast his proposals for infrastructure work and environment as "national security." If we cannot get troops and goods safely from one place to another, we cannot defend the country. If we are spending our time and personnel rescuing people from natural disasters, it weakens the country. If the worlds' populations suffer droughts and floods, it increases instability and spread of infections. These are all national security matters. Frame them like that.

There is much else... but the speech should be under 40 minutes. Reported by Huffington Post 39 minutes ago.

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New Privacy Concerns over Government's Health Care Website

January 20, 2015, 3:16 am

≫ Next: Third-party connections prompt more privacy concerns about ObamaCare site

≪ Previous: Suggested Message for State of the Union: 'Don't Screw It Up... Again'

A little-known side to the government's health insurance website is prompting renewed concerns about privacy, just as the White House is calling for stronger cybersecurity protections for consumers. It works like this: When you apply for coverage on HealthCare.gov, dozens... Reported by Newsmax 13 hours ago.

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Third-party connections prompt more privacy concerns about ObamaCare site

January 20, 2015, 3:11 am

≫ Next: IPA Seeks Health Insurance Sales Representatives, Announces Leadership Opportunities at Atlanta, Georgia Centers of Excellence

≪ Previous: New Privacy Concerns over Government's Health Care Website

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IPA Seeks Health Insurance Sales Representatives, Announces Leadership Opportunities at Atlanta, Georgia Centers of Excellence

January 20, 2015, 3:02 am

≫ Next: Health Dialog Extends Collaboration with Nationally Ranked Health Plan

≪ Previous: Third-party connections prompt more privacy concerns about ObamaCare site

IPA Family, LLC is currently looking to fill sales representative roles. Leadership opportunities and the ability to participate in wealth accumulation plan available to qualified candidates.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) January 20, 2015

Due to record-breaking growth, IPA Family, LLC (IPA), an American Independence Corp. company and member of The IHC Group, is pleased to announce new business opportunities in Atlanta, Georgia. The company seeks sales representatives to help fulfill increasing demand. Additionally, leadership roles are now available at IPA’s Atlanta, Georgia Center of Excellence Offices. IPA’s offices in Georgia expand across the great state, and markets include the cities of Alpharetta, Cumming, Marietta, Athens, Roswell, Macon, Savannah and surrounding areas.

Qualified candidates will possess the following attributes: an ability to make decisions and solve problems, active listening skills, critical thinking skills, sales experience, strong time-management skills and, most importantly, a proclivity to operate with the highest ethical standards. Selected candidates will be provided with a complete and comprehensive program that promotes their personal and professional success. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
➢ Compensation programs
➢ Residual income and monthly bonus
➢ Lifetime vesting schedules
➢ Wealth accumulation plan
➢ Free qualified sales leads and lead-management systems
➢ Ongoing training and business education using state-of-the art technologies
➢ Many other performance-based programs and incentives

To be considered for one of the select positions and participate in a professional and confidential interview process, you may submit direct inquiries with resume to IPA Family, LLC through their website contact page. Due to a culture of continuous growth and market expansions, IPA is currently accepting inquiries for existing and new markets. For more information about IPA Family and the companies it represents, visit http://www.ipafamily.com or call 800-772-8667 and indicate you saw our press release.

About IPA Family, LLC (IPA)
IPA Family, LLC is a national marketing organization that distributes major medical insurance plans and other health insurance plans and consumer benefit association membership programs across the nation. IPA’s trained professional sales associates, referred to as the “IPA Family,” provides information and a product portfolio that can meet the needs of most small business owners and self-employed individuals and families. Headquartered in Tampa, Fl., IPA is accredited and has an excellent reputation with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) and is a member company of The IHC Group.

About American Independence Corp.
AMIC, through Independence American Insurance Company and its other subsidiaries, offers pet insurance, non-subscriber occupational accident, international coverages, small-group major medical and short-term medical. AMIC provides to the individual and self-employed markets health insurance and related products, which are distributed through its subsidiaries IPA Family, LLC, healthinsurance.org, LLC, IPA Direct, Inc. and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. AMIC markets medical stop-loss through its marketing and administrative company IHC Risk Solutions, LLC.

About The IHC Group
The IHC Group is an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions to groups and individuals for over 30 years. Members of The IHC Group include Independence Holding Company , American Independence Corp, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company. Each insurance carrier in The IHC Group has a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company, Inc., a widely recognized rating agency that rates insurance companies on their relative financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations. (An A++ rating from A.M. Best is its highest rating.) Collectively, the companies in The IHC Group provide insurance coverage to more than one million individuals and groups. For more information about The IHC Group, visit http://www.ihcgroup.com.

We encourage you to visit us on the following social media sites:
Facebook: Simply search IPA Family
YouTube: TheIPAFamily
Twitter: Subscribe to us @IPA_Family Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.

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