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McNicholas Insurance Agency Initiates Charity Campaign To Collaborate With Share The Voice, An Organization On A Mission To Enhance The Lives Of Disabled Children

April 28, 2015, 5:05 am
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After the great success of the agency’s mission with the local Ronald McDonald House, McNicholas Insurance Agency debuts a new charity campaign in New Hyde Park, NY to support Share The Voice, an organization devoted to providing adaptive tricycles to children with physical and/or cognitive disabilities as means of therapeutic recreation.

New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) April 28, 2015

With a new charity program in the New Hyde Park, NY area, McNicholas Insurance Agency has teamed up with Share The Voice to support its program benefitting children with disabilities and announced that they will be raising funds to help support this local organization. Share The Voice’s mission is to raise awareness of the cognitive, physical, and psychosocial benefits these therapeutic tricycles provide to the overall wellbeing of children with special needs. Unfortunately these tricycles are not covered by health insurance and can be quite expensive according to the child’s unique needs. To support this wonderful organization, donations can be made at http://www.mcnicholasagency.com/Help-Jason-Ride-To-A-Better-Future-_12_community_cause

Utilizing its own resources and seeking the help of its own network of customers and business partners, McNicholas Insurance Agency marches on to ensure customers, friends, family and neighbors are always in good hands. The agency’s first community strengthening initiative with the local Ronald McDonald House proved extremely successful, allowing the agency to raise $1000 in donations to provide food for the organizations current residents.

The agency will promote the current campaign over the course of the next 30-60 days, through its social media channels, email communications, and monthly electronic and print magazines, delivered to thousands of households in New Hyde Park, NY. Our Hometown magazine reserves a full page to feature the campaign and details of the cause. The electronic Flipbook version of the current issue can be accessed here http://www.mcnicholasagency.com/Our-Hometown-Magazine_39.

To join the McNicholas Insurance Agency in supporting Share The Voice, donors are encouraged to visit http://www.mcnicholasagency.com/Help-Jason-Ride-To-A-Better-Future-_12_community_cause and share the page with their friends and family. Contributors may be acknowledged for their donations through the agency’s monthly magazine.

Once the current campaign is over, McNicholas Insurance Agency will continue to work closely with Share The Voice and other nonprofit organizations in the area, to make sure resources are directed to capable hands that can help better the local community, one family or person at a time. Information regarding past and current campaigns supported by the Agency can be found at http://www.mcnicholasagency.com/community-cause. More information about McNicholas Insurance Agency and Share The Voice are available at http://www.mcnicholasagency.com and http://www.sharethevoice.org.

About McNicholas Insurance Agency

Serving from their office in New Hyde Park, NY, McNicholas Insurance Agency is committed to bringing local communities an insurance agency that understands their needs. Taking pride in its team of professionals, the McNicholas Insurance Agency works with carriers to assemble a variety of products and services for its customers. From all of the products a typical consumer needs (home, auto, boat, ATV, etc.,) to all financial services products and tools (retirement, savings, long term care, disability, etc.,) and business insurance (liability, building, auto) to workplace and individual benefits (accident, critical illness, cancer, disability, life), McNicholas Insurance Agency covers all the bases for insurance needs in New Hyde Park, NY. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.
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hCentive Forges Strategic Relationships With National & Regional Insurance Carriers to Participate In WebInsure™ Benefits Marketplace

April 28, 2015, 5:28 am
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RESTON, Va., April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- hCentive, the leader in health insurance exchange solutions, announced today that the company has added leading national and regional insurance carriers to its WebInsure™ Benefits marketplace. WebInsure™ Benefits is a... Reported by PR Newswire 7 hours ago.
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Edge Hosting Completes HIPAA HITECH Audit

April 28, 2015, 6:00 am
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Managed HIPAA Cloud Hosting continues to be secure with Edge Hosting.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) April 28, 2015

Edge Hosting, the nation’s leader in secure, scalable and transparent managed hosting services, today announced the culmination of annual auditing against the Security Rule of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The third party auditor concluded “that the applicable trust services criteria and Administrative, Technical and Physical Safeguards associated with the Security Rule of HIPAA were met and operated effectively” throughout the annual testing period.

Edge Hosting is a trusted Business Associate and managed hosting provider to Covered Entities who manage electronic Protected Health Information (e-PHI) or provide services to companies that manage e-PHI. The opinion of the third party auditors substantiates that Edge Hosting maintains the trust of Covered Entities by ensuring that the Administrative, Technical and Physical Safeguards associated with the HIPAA rule are securely designed and effective in their operation.

“Electronic Protected Health Information is some of the most personal and private information that any organization can retain on an individual. For Edge Hosting, the sense of duty to securely maintain e-PHI goes far beyond an audit. However, the audit is clear and documented validation to Covered Entities and individual persons that the trust they have placed upon Edge Hosting is more than just words, but action and effort.” said Mark Houpt, Chief Information Security Officer at Edge Hosting.

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP conducted the audit following the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) audit protocol. The OCR HIPAA protocol analyzes processes, controls, and policies pursuant to the HITECH Act. The audit covered Edge’s administrative safeguards, physical safeguards and technical safeguards. In addition, the OCR HIPAA audit included the testing of organizational requirements and policies, procedures and documentation requirements.

Edge Hosting’s philosophy is to provide the most secure, scalable and transparent managed hosting experience to customers. This approach is the main reason why so many businesses migrate to Edge Hosting for their cloud and dedicated managed hosting needs. For more information about making the switch to Edge Hosting visit http://www.edgehosting.com.

About Edge Hosting, LLC
Edge Hosting is a national provider of secure managed hosting offering secure, scalable and transparent solutions for cloud, hybrid, dedicated, cluster and colocation. Businesses of all kinds entrust their data with Edge Hosting because they deliver 100% uptime, provide a dedicated U.S. based tech-support team with 24/7/365 monitoring and line-by-line pricing. Edge Hosting also offers secure compliance hosting which include PCI, SSAE 16, SAS 70, HIPAA and FedRAMP. For more information about making the switch to Edge Hosting, please visit http://www.edgehosting.com Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
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Royce Williams Announces Promotion of Emma Williams to Sales Agent

April 28, 2015, 6:31 am
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Nashville Allstate Insurance agency expands sales team for future growth.

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) April 28, 2015

Royce Williams, a Nashville-based Allstate insurance agency, has announced the promotion of Emma Williams to Sales Agent. In her new role, Williams will assist clients in selecting an insurance policy that best meets their needs.

“Customer service has always been our number one priority. I look forward to serving our customers each and every day,” said Williams.

Previously, Williams worked as a Marketing Specialist for the Nashville insurance agency, where she helped promote the company’s expansive selection of affordable insurance policies. William’s time with Royce Williams Agency motivated her to become licensed in property insurance, casualty insurance, and life and health insurance.

Williams formerly held an internship with Kidnetics, a pediatric therapy provider, and worked as a personal trainer at her university. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Furman University, where Williams was a cheerleader for the Furman Paladins, member of Tri Delta Sorority and part of the Health Science Majors Club.

In her free time, Williams enjoys running with her dog, watching a good movie and being surrounded with family and friends. She also serves on the Chairman's committee of Eve of Janus, Monroe Carell Jr.’s longest running fundraiser event.

You can reach Emma Williams by calling Royce Williams Agency at (615) 292-8642 or by visiting http://www.insuringnashville.com.

ABOUT ROYCE WILLIAMS AGENCY

Royce Williams Agency is an Allstate Insurance agency located in Nashville, TN. Since 1989, the company has provided quality and affordable insurance products, including:

Auto insurance
Home insurance
Renters insurance
Life and umbrella insurance
Motorcycle, ATV, utility vehicle and golf cart insurance

At Royce Williams, clients receive personalized assistance in reaching their financial goals, while protecting them, their loved ones and their belongings from life's unexpected surprises. Visit http://www.insuringnashville.com to learn more. Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.
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How Getting Married Affects Health Insurance Tax Credits

April 28, 2015, 7:15 am
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If marriage is on the horizon, it might be wise to set aside some money for the taxman. An increase in family income after the vows can trigger repayment of a health insurance credit. Reported by NPR 5 hours ago.
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Cigna Target of Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination

April 28, 2015, 7:24 am
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Cigna Target of Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Filed under: Health Care, Healthcare Industry, Insurance Industry, Scandals and Lawsuits, Health Insurance

*Ron Antonelli/Bloomberg via Getty Images*

By KELLI KENNEDY

MIAMI -- A consumer advocacy group has filed a class-action lawsuit against Cigna saying a new policy discriminates against people with HIV and AIDS and violates the federal health law by requiring them to get their medications from its mail-order pharmacy.

Consumer Watchdog filed the lawsuit Monday in South Florida federal court. It says sending the drugs through the mail puts privacy at risk because packages could end up at the wrong address or be seen by others. It also says the mail is not a reliable way to ensure people get their medications on time and prevents them from interacting in person with a pharmacist. Patients who do not obtain their medications by mail must pay full price.The group alleges that the policy also violates the Affordable Care Act because it discourages people with HIV and AIDS from choosing that company's insurance plan by making it difficult to obtain medications.

Cigna (CI) hadn't responded to an email seeking comment by Tuesday morning.

The plaintiff is a Fort Lauderdale man referred to as John Doe in court documents. If he opts out under the policy, he would face exorbitant costs because his local pharmacy would be considered out of network, Consumer Watchdog attorney Jerry Flanagan said.

"What's the good of an insurance policy if you can't get the medications you need to stay alive when you need them or are forced to risk your health and privacy to use it," Flanagan said.

The group filed a similar lawsuit against Aetna (AET) in California late last year. Consumer Watchdog said HIV and AIDS patients had the right to opt out of mail-order programs under two similar suits it settled with United Healthcare (UNH) and Anthem Blue Cross (WLP).

One of the cornerstones of President Barack Obama's signature health law forbids insurance companies from turning away people with pre-existing conditions such as HIV or cancer. Yet hundreds of patient advocacy groups say insurance companies have found a way to discriminate against these people, who are more expensive to cover because they require lifelong treatments.

Two health organizations filed a complaint with federal health officials last summer alleging that some Florida insurance companies were putting all the HIV and AIDS medications in a special category where the patient is required to pay a percentage of the cost of the drug, rather than a flat co-pay. Some are as high as 50 percent, leaving people on the hook for thousands of dollars. That compares with the average $10 to $40 per medication co-pay that most pay.

The insurance companies have since agreed to change their prescription drug policies.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 5 hours ago.
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GOP 'Can't Accept Reality': Harry Reid Slams Republicans For Denial Of Obamacare Success

April 28, 2015, 8:26 am
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GOP 'Can't Accept Reality': Harry Reid Slams Republicans For Denial Of Obamacare Success GOP 'Can't Accept Reality': Harry Reid Slams Republicans For Denial Of Obamacare Success
GOP 'Can't Accept Reality': Harry Reid Slams Republicans For Denial Of Obamacare Success
Politics
harry reid, democrat, gop, obamacare, affordable care act, remarks
Has Been Optimized

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid remarked from the Senate floor on Monday that Republicans are attempting to “escape the reality that ObamaCare is a smashing success.”

In his speech, Reid called on Senate Republicans to accept the facts and truth about Obamacare and its success rate amongst the negativity that has surrounded it.

“It's a hard thing to admit you're wrong. It's never pleasing to look back and say to yourself, ‘Wow - I was way off.’ But as public servants, we have to accept reality, regardless of where we may have stood or what we may have said in the past. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress are trying their utmost to escape the reality that Obamacare is a smashing success,” Reid said.

"I understand that many Senate Republicans have worked hard to make their opposition to Obamacare their legacy.” In his remarks, Reid detailed aspects of the Affordable Care Act that have proven successful, pointing out that “the number of Americans without health insurance has fallen by around 15 million, and would have fallen substantially more if so many Republican-controlled states weren't blocking the expansion of Medicaid.”

Reid’s speech came after the Supreme Court struck down a ruling relating to the government’s birth control mandate under the Affordable Care Act.

“Simply put, Republicans were wrong on Obamacare. In this body, it's understandable for a Senator to be dead wrong on some piece of policy from time to time. It happens. What isn't understandable and what isn't acceptable is for the entire Republican party to double down on its opposition after they've already been proved wrong,” Reid said. “It says a lot about their inability to govern, and quite frankly, their grasp upon reality, that Republicans refuse to acknowledge the facts."

Sources: The Hill, Insurance News Net

Photo Credit: thehill.com

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Cleaning Up The ObamaCare Mess

April 28, 2015, 9:24 am
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VideoRepublicans are being ridiculed by the right and the left for weighing ideas that would rescue ObamaCare health insurance policies for people in 37 states if the petitioners prevail in King v Burwell. “Republicans Are Now Trying To Pass Obamacare Extension To Save Their Own Asses,” writes Allen Clifton in Forward [...] Reported by Forbes.com 3 hours ago.
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Man Boobs: Gynecomastia in Teens and Young Men -- An Embarrassing Condition

April 28, 2015, 10:01 am
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Gynecomastia is the enlargement of a male's breasts secondary to various factors. It occurs in adolescence because of temporary hormonal imbalance of testosterone (male hormone) and estrogen (female hormone). It affects 30 percent - 60 percent of all males reaching puberty, and subsides by age 18 in 80 percent of the cases. Medically, usually a benign temporary condition, psychologically, a whole different story!

Teenagers and young men with gynecomastia often endure significant teasing and embarrassment. Due to the emasculating nature of this condition, many of those afflicted find it difficult to discuss. Unrelenting criticism and taunting by peers may cause development of serious body-image issues such as avoidance of exposing the body (especially at the beach or locker room), withdrawal from peers and depression. A complete understanding of the condition will assist in dealing with the issue.

Gynecomastia is characterized by some or all of the following:

• Excess localized fat
• Excess glandular tissue development
• A combination of both excess fat and glandular tissue
• Sometimes excess breast skin
• Presence unilaterally (one breast) or bilaterally (both breasts)

True gynecomastia means that the enlarged breasts are all breast tissue and pseudogynecomastia means that the enlarged breasts are mostly fatty tissue. Most cases of adolescent gynecomastia are mixed, a combination of enlarged breast tissue and increased fatty tissue.

Causes

Other than hormonal changes during puberty, gynecomastia can be caused by certain types of adrenal, pituitary or testicular tumors. Drugs or medications such as anabolic steroids, valium, antidepressants, some antibiotics, ulcer medications like Tagamet, amphetamines, heroin and alcohol can also cause gynecomastia.

Treatment

Gynecomastia in adolescents should be conservatively observed, because the majority of boys with gynecomastia in their teens will normalize by the time they turn 18. Consultation with an endocrinologist may be considered if the patient's pediatrician deems it necessary to rule out any unusual hormonal imbalance. The individual should be counseled and educated about the condition, and made to understand that it is a fairly common entity and much reassurance should be offered. The cancer drug Tamoxifen has been used to treat this condition, with mixed results. If psychological issues arise, they should be referred to a mental health expert.

Layered clothing is a useful ploy to camouflage the body when applicable in cooler weather. Those afflicted should be encouraged to try diet and exercise, including weight lifting to increase girth of the pectoral (chest) muscles. If psychological issues become overwhelming, plastic surgical consultation may be considered before age 18.

Surgical Intervention

Plastic surgical intervention should be considered in patients whose condition does not improve by their 18th birthday (if it bothers them), or less commonly at age 16 or 17, if peer taunting or psychological issues escalate. Young men with this condition (18 and older) may consider surgical intervention at any time, as long as they are healthy, nonsmokers and have reasonable expectations. A vigorous diet and exercise program should be encouraged first to possibly obviate the need for surgery.

Plastic surgical options include liposuction, with or without direct excision of firmer breast tissue. Sometimes it is necessary to trim excessive skin, but plastic surgeons strive to place scars in locations easily hidden by lines and folds of the body. Recovery is usually quick, and patients are encouraged to temporarily wear an elastic garment or snug elastic athletic T shirts to help decrease swelling and speed recovery. Health insurance may or may not cover the procedure, as policies differ greatly.

Increased awareness of gynecomastia within our communities will empower afflicted men and boys to seek out treatment. Years of personal experience with this operation have demonstrated a very high satisfaction rate, especially in teenagers. I have seen literal transformations with regard to confidence and exuberance. If surgery is considered, be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
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Aultman Hospital Transitions Electronic Medical Record for Wound Center with Wound Care Advantage

April 28, 2015, 10:48 am
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Hospitals across the country are taking a fresh approach to wound center management.

Sierra Madre, CA (PRWEB) April 28, 2015

Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio recently partnered with Wound Care Advantage (WCA) to transition its outpatient wound center electronic medical record management. The partnership strengthens the hospital’s commitment to the specialty of wound care by joining a network of wound centers across the country currently working with Wound Care Advantage.

Aultman Wound Care Services offers advanced wound care treatments and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help heal wounds, including diabetic wounds of the lower extremities, pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, ischemic ulcers, traumatic ulcers, radiation wounds, atypical wounds and post-surgical wounds.

Poor circulation, infection, diabetes, obesity and injuries can cause advanced wounds that are difficult to heal without specialty care. The relative five-year mortality rate for diabetics after limb amputation is 68 percent. Wound healing increases patient quality of life and works toward limb preservation in patients with and without diabetes.

“Chronic wounds affect approximately eight million Americans each year,” said Melissa Bailey VP of Education at Wound Care Advantage. “Our team helps hospitals to dictate the best healing treatments while WCA navigates and supports.”

Aultman Wound Care Services is staffed with health care professionals trained in the specialty of wound healing.

“Wound Care Advantage provides wound centers with the tools needed to run an efficient business so the clinical team can focus energy on the number one priority: patient care,” said Bailey. “When you put patient care first, patients heal faster and the wound center meets its maximum potential. We are proud that the talented team at Aultman Wound Care Services will also be taking part in our new Luvo University.”

Luvo University is an online hub for wound care education and training. Customized learning paths allow for clinicians, physicians, hyperbaric technicians and non-clinical staff to get the wound care education they need, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
WCA is an innovative service-based wound care company, providing the necessary tools for a well-equipped wound care program. Transitioning wound care management providers can be a complex undertaking. WCA provides transition specialists to guide hospital executives through the entire process, making it as smooth as possible.

To learn more about Aultman Wound Care Services visit http://www.aultman.org/ourservices/Additional-Aultman-Programs-and-Services/additionalprogramsandservices/woundcareservices.aspx. To learn more about Wound Care Advantage, call 888-484-3922 or email info@thewca.com.

About Wound Care Advantage
Founded in 2002, Wound Care Advantage’s mission is to heal patients quickly by building strong partnerships with wound centers across the country. Wound Care Advantage provides a variety of services to assist wound centers in developing clinically and financially successful programs. Using a service-based, consulting and traditional management approach, Wound Care Advantage focuses over a decade of experience on the core belief that hospitals should control their own destiny. Wound Care Advantage is a privately held company headquartered in Sierra Madre, California. Visit http://www.thewca.com.

About Aultman
Aultman Health Foundation is a not-for-profit health care organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The vertically integrated institution includes Aultman Hospital, Aultman Orrville Hospital, the locally managed health-insurance provider AultCare and the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences. With 808 beds, 535 active physicians and a staff of nearly 5,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County’s largest hospital and employer. For more information, visit http://www.aultman.org. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
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For the Effects of Voting, Look to Policy, Not Elections

April 28, 2015, 12:11 pm
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President Obama's recent comments on universal voting have spurred a debate about how such a policy would influence elections. On the Monkey Cage blog, John Sides examines the partisan consequences and argues that turnout would generally benefit Democrats, but that the effect would be modest. His own research, with Jack Citrin and Eric Schickler concludes, "Although Democrats fare better in each scenario, few outcomes would have changed." He does note that both the 2000 and 2004 elections would have been different with universal turnout.

While these questions are indeed interesting, I'm more interested in the policy consequences of universal turnout. After all, the most important political change in the last three decades hasn't occurred between parties, but rather within parties: the Tea Party pulling the Republicans right and a more wealthy and elite Democratic party abandoning union-type policies.

So what do we know about the policy consequences?

· William Franko, Nathan Kelly and Christopher Witko find that states with higher turnout inequality (more rich people voting than poor people) have higher income inequality. They find that the class bias in turnout affects the economic liberalism of the state legislature. Specifically, when class bias is low, the liberal opinions of the public translate into liberal policy. But when class bias is high, liberal public opinion has no effect on policy.

· A similar study was recently performed by James Avery, who also finds, "states with greater income bias in turnout have higher levels of income inequality." He reports that even after controlling for various factors (Gross State Product, the strength of labor, government ideology) his findings are "unambiguous."

· William Franko finds that states with lower turnout inequality have higher minimum wages, more generous State Child Health Insurance Program Benefits and more restrictive anti-predatory lending laws.^1

· Kim Hill and Jan Leighley find in two studies that states with a more pronounced turnout bias, social welfare spending is lower.

· Timothy Besley and Anne Case find that, "Less costly voter registration-- through motor-voter rules, or through day-of-polling registration--is generally associated with higher taxes, higher spending, and larger family assistance and workers' compensation payments."

In a previous Demos blog post, I briefly explored some international evidence supporting this argument. Here, I'd like to briefly explore some historical precedents.

· John Lott and Lawrence Kenny find that extending the franchise to women increased the state government expenditures.

· Kenny Whitby and Franklin Gilliam Jr. find that Southern Democrats shifted their voting patterns on civil rights because of the mobilization of the southern black electorate.

· Thomas Husted and Lawrence Kenny find that the elimination of poll taxes and literacy requirements lead to a "sharp" rise in welfare spending.

In none of these cases did one party permanently declare victory. Rather, the electoral calculus of one or both parties shifted. The reason we should have universal turnout is not to give one party permanent hegemony. In fact, Timothy Besley, Torsten Persson and Daniel Sturm find that party competition boosts growth, "political competition has quantitatively important effects on state income growth, state policies and quality of governors." They estimate that the Voting Rights Act boosted long-term per capita income by 20 percent in states that were affected.

Universal voting would make democracy better by increasing the representativeness of politicians to the needs of those who currently don't vote.

Note: Franko also replicated his study using validated data in the wake of Ansolabehere and Hersh.

This article originally appeared on Policyshop.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 29 minutes ago.
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Texas looks to ban abortion coverage from health insurance plans

April 28, 2015, 1:16 pm
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Latest in a series of restrictions on abortion access in Texas would prohibit private and state health plans from providing coverage for abortions

Continue reading... Reported by guardian.co.uk 1 day ago.
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Milwaukee-based Assurant Health to be sold or closed, parent company says

April 28, 2015, 2:50 pm
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With Milwaukee-based Assurant Health continuing to bleed red ink, its parent company announced in a Tuesday news release it will either sell the health insurer or exit the health insurance business. Assurant Health’s product lines include Time Insurance and John Alden. The company has more than 1,000 employees at its downtown Milwaukee offices, 501 W. Michigan St. The impact on those employees will depend on whether the company is sold and the business strategy of a buyer. "It's premature for… Reported by bizjournals 22 hours ago.
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It's Official: Being Poor Makes People Unhappy

April 28, 2015, 4:31 pm
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It's Official: Being Poor Makes People Unhappy Not long ago we noted that contrary to the old adage, money can indeed buy happiness. Given this, it stands to reason that the converse is likely true as well. That is, no money probably contributes to unhappiness.

Sure enough, a study from Brookings finds that “poverty equals pain, worry, sadness, stress, and anger,” all things one might fairly equate with acute unhappiness. Here’s more:

*  *  *

*The Cost of American Poverty*

Reported stress levels are higher on average in the U.S. than in Latin America. Importantly, the gap between the levels of the rich and poor is also much greater, with *the U.S. poor reporting the highest levels of stress of all cohorts. *Of course ‘stress’ is a complex phenomenon, however: “Good” stress is associated with the pursuit of goals, while “bad” stress is associated with struggling to cope. *Bad stress, which is associated with an inability to plan ahead, lower life satisfaction levels, and worse health outcomes, is more common at the bottom of the distribution.*

*Pain, worry, sadness, and anger (reported as experienced the day before or not) are also all significantly higher among low income cohorts than among wealthy ones, while reported satisfaction with life as a whole is significantly lower, according to our analysis of Gallup data:*

The cost and pain of poverty in the U.S. less about basic goods like water and electricity than nonmaterial factors: *insecurity, stress, lack of opportunity and discrimination.* Many of our policies, such as decent quality education, health insurance or savings incentives can help individuals to move out of poverty; they can also help to reduce the costs of being poor.

*  *  *

As a reminder, here is the proof that money buys happiness:

This of course is bad news for America, where, as the St. Louis Fed has recently shown, the Middle Class is disappearing as Fed policy inflates the assets most likely to be concentrated in the hands of the wealthy and as wage growth remains elusive for 80% of the country's workers even as the nation's "supervisors" enjoy higher pay. Reported by Zero Hedge 20 hours ago.
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Kansas City-based Assurant Employee Benefits is up for sale

April 28, 2015, 4:42 pm
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Assurant Inc. announced a realignment of its operations, including its intention to sell its Kansas City-based Assurant Employee Benefits unit. Assurant said Tuesday that it will focus on niche housing and lifestyle insurance products and explore alternatives for its employee benefits and Milwaukee-based Assurant Health businesses. Even if it can’t sell those businesses, the company said in a release, it plans to “substantially complete its exit from the health insurance market in 2016.” Assurant… Reported by bizjournals 20 hours ago.
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Colorado health insurance exchange eyes potential fee increases

April 28, 2015, 5:14 pm
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Connect for Health Colorado board members are considering hiking fees the exchange charges on individual health plans to raise more revenue in 2016. Reported by Denver Post 20 hours ago.
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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 29

April 28, 2015, 9:16 pm
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WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau: SOCIAL INSURANCE Profile America — Wednesday, April 29th. Health insurance and its affordability has been a topic of political contention mostly in... Reported by PR Newswire 16 hours ago.
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4 Ways to Deal With Medical Debt

April 29, 2015, 2:17 am
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4 Ways to Deal With Medical Debt Filed under: Bankruptcy, Health Care, Debt, Healthcare Industry, Health Insurance

*Getty Images*

Medical debt can be crushing: 43 million Americans have overdue medical debt on their credit reports. If you have health insurance, the deductibles can be high: For families with a bronze health plan, the average deductible is $10,545. Given that 62 percent of Americans do not have enough money saved to handle a $500 emergency, medical debt can quickly become a big problem.

The problem is even worse for the 12.9 percent of people who do not have health insurance. If you enter an emergency room without insurance, you are going to be charged obscenely high rates. It is not uncommon for people to leave the hospital with $100,000 or more in medical bills. If you find yourself in a medical emergency, here are four things to consider to help manage the situation.

*1. Try to Reduce the Bill When It First Arrives*

If a big hospital bill arrives that you cannot afford, you should immediately try to negotiate the rate down. Nonprofit hospitals are required to offer financial assistance programs. But even for-profit hospitals are often willing to agree to a payment plan. But you need to talk to the hospital right away to take advantage of any program that it offers.

Professional, for-profit companies will negotiate your medical bill on your behalf. They will often charge by taking a percentage of your savings. You may want to shop around and hire someone to help you negotiate, if you don't feel comfortable yourself.

*2. Negotiate a Full and Final Settlement With a Collection Agency*

If you do not pay your bill, the hospital or doctor often turn over that debt to a collection agency. The agency will put a negative record on your credit report and begin calling you. The negative item can have a big impact on your score.

Once a medical debt is placed on your credit report, the damage is done. Whether you pay off the debt or not, the impact to your credit score will be the same. In other words, there is no benefit to your score to pay the bill. This will be changing with FICO 9, but for now paying off the debt will not improve your score.

The debt collection agency can sue you and garnish your wages. Paying your debt will not improve your credit score, but it may help you avoid being sued.

If you plan on paying the debt collection agency, you should negotiate hard and agree to a full and final settlement. Most collection agencies want to get you to sign up to a monthly payment that will last forever. But your goal should be to agree a full and final payment that ends all future collection activity. And make sure you get any deal in writing, before you pay.

If you can't afford a lump-sum payment, try to negotiate a reduced sum and monthly payments. And get that in writing -- including the end date of the settlement -- before you start paying.

*3. If You Need Financing, Look for the Lowest Interest Rate*

Doctors usually offer financing, but usually at very high interest rates. There are two options to get the lowest interest rate.

· *Consider opening a credit card with a 0 percent purchase offer.* One of the best deals around is from Citi, which offers 0 percent for 21 months on purchases with Citi Simplicity. If you apply and make the payment with that card, you will have 21 months to pay off the medical debt with no interest. However, you need excellent credit to qualify.
· *You can also consider a personal loan.* Interest rates can be as low as 4.25 percent. With most lenders, you can check your rate without hurting your credit score. You can have the cash deposited into your checking account and then pay the hospital directly. You can find a list of personal loan companies at MagnifyMoney, my website.

Don't rush into a high-interest loan to pay a medical bill. Once you get into payday or title loan traps, they can be incredibly difficult to escape. It is much better to buy yourself time by negotiating with the hospital. In parallel, you should look for lower cost ways to finance the emergency.

*4. Remember That Bankruptcy Is an Option*

Medical debt can usually be extinguished with bankruptcy. For some people, this may be the best option if the hospitals refuse to reduce its pricing. For example, a Reddit user described a situation where he made $40,000 annually and had over $200,000 of medical debt. He had paid $30,000 of the debt using his emergency savings. And the hospitals refused to reduce the total bill.

If your medical debt is more than 50 percent of your annual gross income, you should consider bankruptcy. And if your debt is more than 100 percent of your salary, it may be your only viable option.

But, before filing for bankruptcy, you should let the hospital know that you are going to file bankruptcy. At that point, the hospital may negotiate for something then, rather than getting nothing later.

Bankruptcy should not be taken lightly. Your credit score will be destroyed for years. And the law will make it nearly impossible if you can actually afford to pay the medical debt. Bankruptcy is best positioned for people who will never be able to pay off their medical debt.

*And Buy Health Insurance*

If you don't have health insurance, you are taking a very big risk. You can no longer be rejected for pre-existing conditions. Although the monthly insurance premiums may be high, the cost of a big medical emergency can be catastrophic. Even a high-deductible plan is a better way to protect against a big, unexpected risk than having no insurance at all.

Nick Clements is the co-founder of MagnifyMoney, a price comparison and financial education website. You can follow him on Twitter @npclements.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 11 hours ago.
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IPA Family, LLC Seeks to Fill Area and Regional Leadership Roles

April 29, 2015, 3:05 am
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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) April 29, 2015

IPA Family, LLC (IPA), an American Independence Corp. company and member of The IHC Group, is pleased to announce new business opportunities in Florida The company seeks sales representatives to help fulfill increasing demand. Additionally, leadership roles are now available at IPA’s Miami Center of Excellence Offices serving locations in Dade County, and surrounding areas. IPA’s offices in Florida expand across the great state, and markets include the cities of Homestead, Kendall, Coral Gables, Hialeah 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 coverage’s, 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. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.
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Zane Benefits Supports Small Businesses

April 29, 2015, 5:04 am
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Zane Benefits is a strong advocate for small businesses via resources such as healthcare reimbursement software, eBooks and webinars, and monitoring legislation that will increase access to affordable healthcare.

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) April 29, 2015

Salt Lake City, Utah (April 28, 2015) - Zane Benefits, the leader in individual health insurance reimbursement for small businesses announces ongoing support to small businesses across the nation. As the #1 online health benefits solution, Zane Benefits assists small businesses with successfully transitioning to a health plan that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up time for meaningful work.

Zane Benefits’ resources consist of healthcare reimbursement software called ZaneHealth. It’s designed to allow employees to choose and customize their health plan that best fits their needs and the needs of their families. The software also controls costs. Employers are able to fix their costs by utilizing a defined contribution approach. This time saving approach to employee benefits takes less than 5 minutes per month to administer online. It’s easy for employees to use and understand through the online portal.

In a continued effort to support small business agendas, Zane Benefits monitors legislation that will provide small businesses with increased access to affordable healthcare solutions.

For more information visit: http://www.zanebenefits.com/product?utm_campaign=prweb-zane-benefits-#1-online -health-benefits-solution-&utm_source=prweb [ZaneBenefits.com __title__ ].

EDITORS NOTE: Rick Lindquist is available for questions from the media through Zane Benefits. Contact Jessica Welker at 435-275-4507 or media(at)zanebenefits(dot)com.

###

About Zane Benefits:

Zane Benefits is the leader in individual health insurance reimbursement for small businesses. Since 2006, Zane Benefits has been on a mission to bring the benefits of individual health insurance to business owners and their employees.

Zane Benefits' software helps businesses reimburse employees for individual health insurance plans for annual savings of 20 to 60 percent compared with traditional employer-provided health insurance. Today, over 20,000 customers use Zane Benefits' software, services, and support to reimburse individual health insurance plans purchased independent of employment. For more information visit ZaneBenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.
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