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REI CEO Responds To Former Employee's Complaints In Reddit AMA

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REI CEO Jerry Stritzke responded this week to complaints from a former employee that the company's emphasis on selling customer memberships punished workers who didn't sell enough.

In a reddit "Ask Me Anything" on Tuesday, Stritzke made himself available for questions following REI's recent announcement that its workers will have the day off on Black Friday. The company tweeted an invitation to commenters to participate in the conversation on reddit.


Ready, set, ask! We just stared the @reddit_AMA with CEO Jerry Stritzke & invite you to join https://t.co/0U3UDARnYh pic.twitter.com/c77PFWa01N

— REI (@REI) November 10, 2015


But the AMA took a turn after reddit user "annonemp," who claimed to be a former REI employee, criticized the company for focusing too heavily on whether its workers sold enough memberships. REI memberships cost $20 and give customers special benefits and discounts.

The commenter claimed REI slashed his or her hours for not selling enough memberships and didn't honor its offer to place the employee at a store in a different city:

I had my hours cut from 30 hours a week to less than 10 because I did not sell enough memberships. Additionally, I was not allowed to pick up shifts from people that didn’t want to work because I did not sell enough memberships. Similar things happened to some of my most authentically qualified co-workers as well. Finally, after moving across the country with the assurance of a transfer, I was told by the store in the new city that I did not sell enough memberships and therefore they did not have any room on the payroll for me. I was not even given the courtesy of an interview with the store to assess any of my other skills, just a brief email wishing me good luck. I lost my health insurance, a source of much needed income, and any potential co-worker friends in a new city where I knew no one.

 


"I fully understand the need to hold employees to a high standard, but why is the approach so unbalanced?" the commenter asked. Read the full comment here.

Stritzke replied to "annonemp" on Wednesday, saying the company "may have lost sight of the bigger picture." 

The truth is that we should have been doing a better job sharing what makes the co-op special. We should have a "pull" model (people want to join because they believe in our mission and they love the experience), not a "push" model when it comes to the co-op. And the most important thing is that our employees in our stores know that their skill, deep outdoor knowledge and customer service are the things that matter above everything. To be clear, that is how our people should be measured. I feel like your story represents a measure of individual performance taken to an extreme and I am committed to understanding what happened. I appreciate you sharing your story and I assure you that we are looking into how we are using this measure. Good conversation.

 


Read Stritzke's full comment here.

REI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the exchange.

-- 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 13 hours ago.

U.S. Launches New Streamlined Website For Veterans

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On Wednesday, as the United States honored Veterans Day and tens of millions of former military men and women, a new government website for veteran services went live.

Vets.gov, which is still in beta, aims to give users a streamlined version of the vast digital system managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, that mammoth government agency entrusted with administering benefits for veterans and their families and operating hundreds of benefits offices, hospitals and clinics. 

VA Secretary Robert McDonald explained in a blog post that the department launched Vets.gov after receiving feedback from veterans about too many government sites with too much confusing information.

The playbook for Vets.gov outlines its challenges and goals: simplify the ways veterans experience the VA online, meet their needs on any platform on the first try, be "mobile-first" and be transparent about the way the site is being built.McDonald wrote that, within a year, veterans would be able to create one account on Vets.gov from which they'll manage all their personal information. While details on how that might work are scarce, it's possible that the VA might make use of Connect.gov, which enables federal agencies to securely identify users in digital services.

McDonald's post also promised more improvements and consolidation in the future and asked for feedback about how the site could be better. The public can see suggestions that have been submitted at at veterans.uservoice.com.

Wrote McDonald:

This beta release of Vets.gov is just a beginning. We’ve launched it with deep content in the two benefit categories you’ve told us mean the most to you: disability and education. There are many more to come. We’ll be adding new information and tools ongoing. But we wanted to get vets.gov in front of you now, as we build it, so you can tell us what’s working for you and what isn’t.

Over the next year, additional content and services from our many existing VA websites will merge with vets.gov – but not before they’ve been revamped for effective function and clarity.


The same morning this new site launched, the VA's blog went down, likely knocked offline by a spike in traffic due to an effort on social media to get veterans signed up for health insurance. The brief outage on Veterans Day was terrible timing. Though the blog is far from a mission-critical system, the issue was symbolic of the myriad computer problems that continue to prevent thousands of combat veterans from enrolling in health care through the VA system.  

Keeping blog posts online in the age of cloud computing is not rocket science. Delivering safe, secure services over the Internet and mobile devices is harder, but the nation that put men on the Moon and split the atom should be able to pull this off in 2015. 

The good news is that there are now increasing numbers of technologists in the U.S. government who not only are fiercely dedicated to better serving veterans better online but are committed to designing and building beautiful digital services in the open with them. 

Vets.gov shows, rather than tells, the commitment of the feds to do better. 

Here's hoping that by Veterans Day 2016, Vets.gov will be a shining example of how a government of the people, by the people takes care of those who have done so much to take care of us.

-- 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 13 hours ago.

Many eligible for ObamaCare subsidies not claiming them, study finds

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Most of those eligible for health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act still are failing to claim them, according to a new study. Reported by FOXNews.com 12 hours ago.

Capitalism, Socialism and Communism

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If asked, most people would likely declare that they know fairly well what the terms in the title mean. In the heat of the election year political debates, these terms are often used without much thought about their meaning. It happened to me that my opinion was perceived by different people as me advocating for all three of these political concepts. It appears that some people see all the evils in one of these three political concepts, and every time when they disagree with some political view, they label it as capitalistic, socialistic or communist - depending on their bias.

*A historic view*
Capitalism as a political system gradually has grown up in Europe since medieval times but it was about the middle of the 19th century when many people realized that, despite all of the technological progress, they could not accept the injustices of the social order associated with it. The term "capitalism" was a natural for naming a system where capital and the people enriched by it - capitalists - flourished. "The Communist Manifesto," published in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, is considered the pivotal moment in people starting to use the terms "capitalism,""socialism" and "communism" as descriptions of diverse political concepts. One should note that from the start, capitalism, as the existing political system, had a bad reputation, and socialism and communism as ideas of a better future were perceived as noble.

Later on, capitalism found its ideological defenders. On the economic side it would be the Austrian School of economic thought; on the philosophical end it would be the writings of Ayn Rand; and the followers of each. Correspondingly, in the 20th century, socialistic concepts were implemented in many countries, mostly with disappointing results. However, the original attitude that capitalism is bad and socialism is good still is lingering around, as all shortcomings of the capitalistic system are often interpreted as the evidence of its inalienable and deplorable faults, but all shortcomings of the socialistic system are interpreted as imperfections in implementations of an otherwise supreme political order.

*Communism*
Most people have only a vague understanding of the differences between communism and socialism and, incorrectly, these two terms are often used interchangeably. Marx and Engels in their critique of capitalism pointed out that ruthless competition and heartless pursuit of money are immoral as they create exploitation of the masses by the very few privileged ones. As an alternative, they envisioned a classless society, without hierarchy, without currency, without personal property, where people would work in harmony, resolve their problems in friendly discussions, produce enough goods and services, and where each would contribute according to his abilities and receive according to his needs. This community-centered form of social order is called communism.

In the classic view of communism, a communist society was the ultimate goal and destination for humankind. Followers of classic communism realized that it would be impossible to switch to communism directly from a capitalistic system they deemed immoral. They believed that society needed time for transition. During that transition, called socialism, the representatives of people should be in charge of the means of production, and guide the society toward communism. This was the essence of the very existence of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They had their Communist Party of the Soviet Union, but the longer they were in power, the less they talked about transition to communism. In China, their communist party ended up leading the transition to capitalism.

Communism as a political system never was implemented anywhere. Cuba was flirting with it within the first few years after the revolution. China tried to move in that direction during the Cultural Revolution. North Korea might make some claims, too. But, in reality, all of these countries always have been socialistic countries. Communism as a political reality existed mostly in the minds of undereducated American politicians and commentators.

It has a tricky legal consequence, as the question 83 on the United States naturalization test is: "During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?" The answer claimed as correct by the U.S. government bureaucrats is "Communism." If they understood the terms and knew history, they would know that communism never was nor should be any concern of the United States, but socialism is and was. Obviously, it creates a dilemma for citizenship applicants who are more knowledgeable than the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials.

With communism being a lofty idea, which one day might come to fruition but most likely never will - presently, capitalism and socialism are the two only practical political concepts competing for the hearts and minds of people in the U.S. and all over the world.

*Socialism versus capitalism*
Capitalism just happened. It emerged from a spontaneous technological progress and associated with it, social and political developments. Socialism is a human invention; it represents a human desire to take control of the social progress. It is no coincidence that many socialists call themselves "progressives." This approach is sometimes called a "scientific socialism" as it means that for the first time in the history of humankind, people take a systematic critical view of the existing political order and by collective action decide to change it. Socialists take a lot of pride and satisfaction from forming and implementing policies that change the world, presumably for the better. Marx said it the best: "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it." Critics see this as hubris, as playing god, because humans and societies are part of nature; hence, we have no power to change the rules of nature and we never will know them well enough to play safely with the social order.

The socialistic system as established almost 100 years ago in the Soviet Union was intended as an egalitarian society run by people's representatives in the best interests of all. It does not sound too bad, and has some connotations to the American political system. The difference is in the freedoms of individuals. In socialism, by definition, the good of the society as a whole is collectively defined, and the representatives are given powers to implement it. Those powers imply suppression of the rights and aspirations of individuals who are perceived as not going along with what is believed as the good of the society at the time. In the Soviet Union, the right to own private property was one of these rights not recognized there. The freedom of expression was another one, as it was perceived as disturbing people's minds with obsolete and immoral capitalistic ideas. In capitalism, personal freedoms - in particular, protection of private property, freedom of enterprise and freedom of expression - are essential; people should be free in pursuing their economic interests. In the capitalistic system, the government's role should be solely in guaranteeing safety and equal freedoms for everyone. The concept is that the good of the society as a whole is achieved optimally if people are free from government coercion in pursuing their personal goals, be it economic, ideological, scientific, religious, philanthropic, or any other activity. Government should not be involved in any of these activities. This concept of the free market society (this is how capitalism was labeled before the term "capitalism" came into existence) to a great extent was adopted as the base of the political system in the Unites States at the time of its inception.

Critics point out that the free market system leads to wealth disparity, and then the supposed equality of individuals becomes a fiction, as wealthy people have abundant resources to coerce others, including the government apparatus supposed to protect equality. As a result, the social divide widens, as rich become richer and poor become poorer.

One can notice that in their pure ideological concepts, capitalism and socialism are exact opposites. In socialism, people make collective decisions as to what the directions of the social and economic progress should be, and then empower their representatives to implement them. In capitalism, the sum of the actions of free individuals is considered the best for the society as a whole, and the government should accommodate these private actions and should not have any ideological agenda as to what the directions of the social and economic progress should be. The previously mentioned Marx quote that "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it" is interpreted by socialists as the moral imperative for the organized society to identify the desired direction of progress and forcefully implement adequate policies to achieve this goal. Supporters of capitalism believe that philosophers should not go beyond interpreting the world, and that the organized society should not establish any policies shaping the future, that the progress should be whatever happens as a sum of the uncoerced actions of individuals.

*Mixing capitalism with socialism *
I observed this first in Poland when it was a part of the Soviet Bloc. As the economy was disintegrating, the Polish government tried to implement here and there a little bit of the free market. It did not work because, as someone observed it then, it was as if the government were allowing some cars under certain conditions to follow the right-hand traffic rule, when all other cars were following the left-hand traffic rule. Capitalism and socialism are not compatible. It does not mean that people do not try tirelessly to prove it otherwise.

It started with Otto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of the united Germany, a conservative strongly opposing socialism but pragmatically acknowledging that "... those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state." Using his influence, he introduced health insurance for workers, disability insurance, and retirement and disability benefits as well. At the same time, by the end of the 19th century, the U.S. was reaching its pinnacle as the industrial power; the wealth was seen everywhere so the extreme poverty. Many among intellectual and political leaders saw this as a crisis and looked favorably on German-style government intervention. The wealth that capitalism created was taken as a given; the disproportions in the wealth distribution were perceived as unacceptable. Capitalism looked obsolete; the idea that society by organized collective actions can better itself sounded progressive and morally right.

The problem was that, at that time, the U.S. government, funded mostly by tariffs, did not have money for social programs. This was fixed by the 16th Amendment, introducing a federal income tax in 1913. Ideas of public health insurance or retirement plans did not get enough support then, but Americans agreed that alcoholism was a plague destroying the lives of many American families and therefore was detrimental to the well-being of the nation as a whole. Prohibition was voted in, with the eventual outcome known. It is less-known that at the same time, following the same line of thinking, Americans reached a consensus that unregulated immigration was not good for the nation mostly because it was bringing too many immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe (Jews in particular) who were perceived as being of inferior stock. Consequently, the Immigration Act of 1924 created an elaborate immigration policy - in its essence, still in force today. Very few Americans recognize that our purely socialistic immigration law never will work because it is as that earlier mentioned left-hand traffic introduced to govern a section of the labor market in a country where the economy follows the right-hand traffic rules. Also, very few American political commentators see the unintended irony when some conservative politicians in the same breath declare support for the free market and our purely socialistic immigration policy.

Today, very few socialists advocate for nationalization of the means of production, as was done in the Soviet Union and many other countries. The mainstream thought is that privately run businesses are more efficient. However, the invisible hand of the free market is not trusted. People tend to believe that without government policies, the merciless chase of profit would bring back the ruthless exploitation of the weak and unprivileged. Proponents of the free market argue that the ever-growing net of regulations cramps businesses to the point that free enterprise is a fiction, as formally private businesses are becoming an extension of the government bureaucracy. In response, proponents of socialism point to the example of the Scandinavian countries, which have a very high standard of living and generous social programs, thanks to the very intrusive government regulations and high taxes imposed on the rich. This argument ignores that Scandinavian countries are small and homogeneous, with traditions of community rule. What works there does not apply in large, diversified societies. Also, one needs to notice that their socialized version of capitalism can prosper only because they tap into the innovation engine of the worldwide free market. It is meaningful that the most successful Swedish entrepreneur, Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, left Sweden for 40 years to build his business. The history of IKEA tells, as well, that the art of avoiding regulations and taxes is now equally important in building the business as providing goods and services that the public wants to pay for. This is part of the experience of many American businesses today as they are moving their operations or legal headquarters to countries with more favorable tax laws. Of course, the question arises: Will we have in the future new businesses such as IKEA, Apple or Google if there will be nowhere to escape taxes and regulations, if there will be Sweden everywhere?

-- 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 12 hours ago.

Health Insurance Mega-Mergers Attract Powerful Enemy

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WASHINGTON -- The nation's leading physician organizations sent a letter on Wednesday to federal antitrust enforcers asking them to block mergers between giant health insurance companies.

The American Medical Association recommends the Department of Justice forbid two pending deals that would combine Anthem and Cigna into one company and Aetna and Humana into another, which critics say would reduce competition in the health insurance sector.

"The AMA has concluded that these mergers are likely to impair access, affordability and innovation in the sell-side market for health insurance, and, on the buy side, will deprive physicians of the ability to negotiate competitive health insurer contract terms in markets around the country. The result would be detrimental to consumers," AMA CEO James Madara wrote in a 17-page letter to William Baer, the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

These proposed mergers are subject to antitrust reviews by the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and state regulators. Congress has held hearings on the deals, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has expressed skepticism. Previous research indicates premium increases typically follow mergers between health insurance companies. The American Hospital Association also opposes these deals.

The health insurance companies counter that these mergers are critical to their financial futures, and that consumers will benefit as economies of scale enable the combined firms to cut expenses, and as these mega-insurers are able to more widely implement programs designed to reduce costs and improve health care quality. 
The health care industry at large has been consolidating in recent years as companies seek to constrain costs at a time when government programs have become less generous, and to maximize market power. Mergers and acquisition activity in the hospital sector also has been brisk. 

Notwithstanding the AMA's and the AHA's warnings about the potential negative effects of health insurance mergers on consumers, such moves also would serve to diminish the ability of doctors and other medical providers to charge higher fees.

Spokespeople for Aetna, Anthem, Cigna and Humana didn't immediately respond to emails requesting comment on the AMA's letter.

*Also on HuffPost:*

-- 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 12 hours ago.

Companies continue chipping away at health insurance benefits

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Companies’ health care costs in 2015 rose at the lowest rate in at least 20 years, new report shows, but workers' share of costs continue to skyrocket.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by Delawareonline 5 hours ago.

Medical Insurance Advocate, Adria Gross, Authors Book on Pitfalls of Multi-Payer Health Insurance

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President of MedWise Insurance Advocacy Details the Woes of American Medical Insurance and Ways to Counter These Issues; "Solved! Curing Your Medical Insurance Problems" is Available on Amazon.com for US and Canada Markets

Monroe, N.Y. (PRWEB) November 12, 2015

Consumers concerned about the rising cost of health care need to be armed with the knowledge and tools that will empower and educate them. To that end, Adria Gross, FIPC, founder and president of MedWise Insurance Advocacy, has written a book titled “Solved! Curing Your Medical Insurance Problems.” It was co-authored with Douglas Winslow Cooper, Ph.D., published by Outskirts Press, and was recently released on Amazon.

The book, which has been praised by consumer advocate Ralph Nader, details the challenges surrounding hard-to-decipher medical bills, unexpected medical expenses and the difficulties patients have in navigating the convoluted American health insurance system. Gross has 25 years of experience in the insurance field and holds the Federation of Insurance Professionals Certification; she has helped clients recoup millions of dollars in unreimbursed medical expenses or reduced clients’ medical bills since starting her company in 2011. Cooper, a retired physicist and environmental engineer, has personal experience fighting insurers and winning millions of dollars of continuing medical insurance coverage for his invalid wife.

“Solved! Curing Your Medical Insurance Problems” offers helpful insights into how patients can spot overcharges by medical providers and underpayments or incorrect denials by their health insurers. It is filled with tips on how to reduce the odds that a health insurance claim will be rejected, how to handle a rejection, and how to successfully manage an erroneous billing situation or appeal an unfavorable insurance reimbursement decision.

”Unexpected medical bills can lead to bankruptcy and destroy lives,” said Gross. “My mission is to help people avoid being cheated by medical practitioners and facilities, and short-changed by their insurance plans, especially at a time when they are especially vulnerable after medical treatments or hospital stays.”

Among the many issues Gross and Cooper take on in their book are:· Reasonable and customary charges – understanding them and why it’s important to do so.
· Understanding exactly what is covered by your plan, and what’s not.
· How to prepare to reduce your medical bills before a hospitalization.
· Common causes of medical billing errors and what to do about them.
· Getting coverage for an out-of-state emergency surgery or overseas medical procedure.
· Deciphering a medical bill’s procedure codes to determine if correct.
· Medicare rules for inpatient and outpatient status – the difference between these could cost patients thousands of dollars in unanticipated medical expenses.
· How to prevent overcharging on hospital bills.

“The goal is to give patients the confidence and understanding to advocate for themselves as much as possible—and win,” said Gross.

“Solved! Curing Your Medical Insurance Problems” is available on Amazon.com in paperback at http://amzn.to/1FGChwG. For more information about Adria Gross’s insurance advocacy services for individuals and attorneys, visit medicalinsuranceadvocacy.com.

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About MedWise Insurance Advocacy
As a nationwide medical insurance advocate, MedWise Insurance Advocacy in Monroe, New York, supports individuals and their families, and elder law and personal injury attorneys on medical claim matters, from resolving medical bills and denied health insurance claims to handling medical lien claims and medical letters of appeal. Founded by Adria Gross, a New York State-licensed insurance broker and consultant, and certified medical billing, coding, and claims consultant, MedWise Insurance Advocacy is a division of MedWise Billing, Inc., a medical billing and credentialing practice. As part of her practice, Gross uses her expertise to uncover discrepancies in diagnostic or procedure coding, or discover the loopholes through which insurance companies are attempting to deny a claim. Ms. Gross’s clients are primarily in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, but she can take cases anywhere in the United States. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

New Tip Sheet from Austin Sports Medicine Team Offers Advice on Saving Money by Utilizing Health Insurance Benefits

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Medicine in Motion reminds patients to take full advantage of health insurance benefits before end of year

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) November 12, 2015

The Austin sports medicine team at Medicine in Motion is reminding patients that as the New Year approaches, it’s time to pull out the healthcare plan paperwork to review coverage and assess how many unused insurance benefits remains. Whether it was a self-purchased plan or sponsored by an employer, most people can benefit by taking a few minutes for an insurance plan evaluation.

“With the holidays upon us, it’s easy to forget to take advantage of your annual benefits, but patients can save hundreds of dollars by using their health insurance benefits before the end of the year,” said Dr. Martha Pyron, owner of Medicine in Motion. “Most insurance plans run on a calendar year, so now is the time to use-them or lose-them. You’ve worked hard for your health care benefits – make sure you take advantage of it.”

Here is a look at eight points to remember for saving money in conjunction with health insurance:

1.    Annual Benefits – Any benefits with a calendar limit should be taken advantage of before the end of the year. These may include certain types of checkups and preventative health services.
2.    Disappearing Benefits – Carefully read through the insurance information provided by the employer and/or insurance company after enrolling to see if any benefits are changing with the New Year. If some are being reduced or outright eliminated, get the most of the current coverage before treatment costs go up.
3.    Health Savings Accounts (HSA) – An HSA is a medical savings account available to those who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. Funds contributed to an HSA aren’t subject to income tax at the time of deposit. A contributor can maximize tax savings by fulling funding their HSA account. Unused HSA funds will rollover and continue to grow each year.
4.    Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – This is an account established through employers for employees to place some of their pre-tax dollars into. Unlike HSA funds, unspent FSA money will NOT rollover, so it’s important to utilize those contributions before they’re gone. FSA dollars can be used for annual physicals, as co-payments for doctor visits, prescription refills, eyes exams and much more.
5.    Deductibles - The deductible is the amount of money that a patient must pay their health provider out of pocket before the insurance company will pay for any services. This fee varies from one plan to another and could be higher if a patient chooses an out-of-network doctor. Deductibles also reset when plans roll over with a new year, so those who have met their deductibles for the current year should attempt to continue or finish treatment before the fees return.
6.    Premiums - If a patient is paying his or her health insurance premiums every month, they should be using their benefits. Even if there are no signs of problems, patients should always have their annual checkups and exams as a measure of prevention and to detect any early signs of health issues that cannot be detected without a professional healthcare provider.
7.    Health Problems Can Worsen - By delaying treatment or even a checkup, patients are risking more extensive and expensive treatment in the future. What may be a simple ailment now could turn into a much bigger and costlier health issue later.
8.    Long Term Care – Insured individuals may want to confer with their employer or health insurance company to see if they offer any wellness incentives or gym membership discounts. Taking advantage of these type of health initiatives can save cash in the short term, but they can also save money in the long term by improving physical fitness and, therefore, keeping medical and insurance costs down.

Medicine in Motion (MIM) specializes in providing top quality sports medicine in Austin, Texas, for athletic individuals of all ages and levels. The staff at MIM believes active bodies are healthy bodies, therefore it is the office's goal to keep patients energetic and fit. To that end, MIM provides treatment of injuries and illnesses, including the use of physical rehabilitation; promotes healthy living with personal training and nutrition coaching; and offers comprehensive sports medicine evaluations to optimize health, activity level and sports performance. For more information or for questions regarding sports medicine in Austin, contact Medicine in Motion at 512-257-2500 or visit the website at http://www.medinmotion.com. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

The IHC Group Announces Strategic Alliance between Aspira A Más and Premier Insurance Services Serving Hispanic Communities in California

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Delivering on its goal of providing much needed insurance options in more Hispanic communities, The IHC Group announced today that Aspira A Más, its Hispanic sales and marketing division, and Premier Insurance Services have established an innovative distribution alliance that will help provide full portfolio of insurance products including auto, home and now health solutions in California.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) November 12, 2015

Turn-key Solution for Property & Casualty Agency, Full Line of Insurance Solutions Offering One-Stop Shopping Experience

Delivering on its goal of providing much needed insurance options in more Hispanic communities, The IHC Group announced today that Aspira A Más, its Hispanic sales and marketing division, and Premier Insurance Services have established an innovative distribution alliance that will help provide full portfolio of insurance products including auto, home and now health solutions in California.

With 30 offices throughout California, Premier Insurance Services has been a leading property and casualty agency for auto, home and business insurance for 12 years. Through the new alliance with Aspira A Más, the company can now offer affordable health insurance solutions to their thousands of consumers to meet their individual or family needs for:·     ACA plans, also known as Obamacare
·     Metal Gap, a supplemental insurance that bridges the gap in coverage with ACA plans
·     Short Term Medical
·     Critical Illness
·     Dental
·     Telemedicine

“It’s a win-win situation. Aspira A Más’ positive industry reputation, financial stability, agent training platform, simple enrollment technology and on-point advertising programs made this a very easy decision for us,” said Paul Areida, CEO at Premier Insurance Services. “We are very excited to offer additional health insurance products to our loyal customers for a true one-stop experience with knowledgeable insurance advisors.”

Aspira A Más (“Aspire for More”) launched in June of this year as the Hispanic sales and marketing division of IHC Specialty Benefits, a member of The IHC Group (NYSE:IHC). It is dedicated to serving and creating professional career opportunities for Hispanics along with essential major medical and ancillary health insurance products.

"Our new alliance with Premier Insurance brings Aspira A Más one step closer to achieving the mission of serving Hispanics in America, widely recognized as one of the most under-insured demographic groups even after Obamacare," remarked Javier Tejeda-Vera, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Aspira A Más. “We are positive that our combined efforts will contribute to protecting the most valuable assets for the Hispanic community, as well as health coverage for their loved ones.”

For more information on Aspira A Más, please contact Javier Tejeda-Vera at Javier.Tejeda-Vera(at)ihcgroup.com, visit us at http://www.AspiraAMas.com/press-room and follow on @AspiraAMas on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for latest updates. Information on Premier Insurance Services is available at (818)482-6917.

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About Independence Holding Company
Independence Holding Company is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business, and the acquisition of blocks of policies, through its insurance company subsidiaries (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company) and its marketing and administrative affiliates. Standard Security Life furnishes medical stop-loss, group major and limited medical, short-term medical, group long-term and short-term disability and life, group and individual dental, vision and various supplemental products. Madison National Life sells group life and disability, group major and limited medical, group and individual dental, individual life insurance and various supplemental products. Independence American offers pet insurance, non-subscriber occupational accident, short-term medical, medical stop-loss, group and individual dental and various supplemental products. IHC owns certain subsidiaries through its majority ownership of American Independence Corp. (NASDAQ: AMIC), which is a holding company principally engaged in the insurance and reinsurance business.

About IHC Specialty Benefits
IHC Specialty Benefits is a full-service marketing and distribution company that focuses on small employer, individual and consumer products. Products are marketed through general agents online, telebrokerage, career advisors, private label and directly to consumers.

About Aspira A Más:
Aspira A Más is a sales and marketing division of Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC) that is dedicated to serving the Hispanic community. Aspira A Más is a part of The IHC Group, whose carriers are rated A- (Excellent) by the AM Best Company, Inc. and which provide insurance products to more than 1 million customers. Aspira A Más offers qualified producer candidates with performance-based enthusiasm and commitment the professional support they need to be in business for themselves. Learn more about the Aspira A Más opportunity by visiting http://www.AspiraAMas.com, and come join us!

About Premier Insurance Services:
Premier Insurance Services specializes in providing a wide range of insurance products and services specifically tailored to the cultural needs and preferences of the Hispanic market. Premier was founded in 2004 with a single office in Bakersfield, CA. After acquisition by Protector Holdings in 2013, Premier has grown to over 30 locations across the state and is the fastest growing broker in California serving the Latino market. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

United States: NYT: Many Low-Income Workers Say ‘No' To Health Insurance - Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

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The NYT article examines the shortcomings of employer-based healthcare coverage for low wage hourly workers. Reported by Mondaq 23 hours ago.

November Financial To-Do List: Get Ready for Black Friday

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*November Financial To-Do List: Get Ready for Black Friday*

Black Friday and the holidays are fast approaching, so it's a good time to think about how you'll keep your spending in control, and how you can get your finances in shape before the end of the year. To build on the progress you made in October, here's a checklist to help you stay on track and reach your financial goals.

*1. Shop Clearance Sales*

Some of the items on your holiday list might be at their deepest discounts this month. Discounted products include baby products, bikes, gas grills, toys, and TVs.

Don't forget to check out the holiday sales at outlets. Price slashing generally takes place on holidays and during traditional retail sales periods, including Black Friday. To avoid wasting time and missing bargains, log on to your local outlet center's website and download a map and coupons before shopping. The typical outlet mall today covers more than 400,000 square feet and has 100 or more stores.

No matter how much (or little) a price tag has been slashed, there's no reason you can't haggle for a better deal – even when you're shopping at outlets or online. Our tried and true haggling tips will help.*2. Research Charities*

If you plan to cut your taxes by making end-of-year charity donations, now is the time to research worthy recipients. Some nonprofits with great-sounding names don’t put enough of their money toward their mission. To be sure your generosity counts, do some homework before you give. Look for reports or commentary at the three major charity watchdogs: the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch. Read the reviews and comments from donors and charity professionals, such as the ones you'll find at Charity Navigator and GuideStar.

Also, check a charity’s website for information about the group’s mission and achievements, and read the donor privacy policy.

*3. Send Holiday Gifts Early*

The Postal Service expects to deliver approximately 600 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, an increase of 10.5 percent over last year's volume. FedEx predicts that package volume will be up 12.4 percent between Black Friday and Christmas Eve this year. Mail holiday gifts as soon as possible to take advantage of lower shipping rates and shorter post office lines.

Of course, you can avoid delivery hassles by dealing with online merchants. Many offer free shipping promotions throughout December to avoid the last minute shopping rush. And more than 200 merchants will participate in "Free Shipping Day" this year, which takes place on December 18. Merchants listed on the Free Shipping Day site pledge to suspend shipping charges on all orders placed online that day, and deliver the goods by Christmas Eve.*4. Review Your Health Care Coverage*

November is Benefits Awareness Month. Review your health coverage during your company's open enrollment period if you have a plan through work.

The open enrollment period for 2016 plans bought through the health insurance marketplace is November 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016. (You may qualify for special enrollment periods if you have certain life events, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other coverage.)

*5. Turbocharge Your Retirement Plan*

If you're over 50 and saving for retirement in a 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, or the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan, see if you can increase your contributions by as much as $6,000 before the end of the year to take advantage of catch-up contribution rules.

If you contribute to a regular IRA, the additional catch-up contribution limit is $1,000 this year.

*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.*

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    Reported by Consumer Reports 15 hours ago.

Goodbye Public Housing?

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AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Part of the Brewster-Douglass housing project site is shown in Detroit, Friday, March 18, 2011. 

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program—a far-reaching effort to preserve the government’s affordable units by transferring them into the private sector. Rather than have Congress directly fund local housing authorities to support the program, RAD allows private companies to rehab and manage public housing units in exchange for tax credits and subsidies. The contracts, which are set to continually renew every 15-20 years, require developers to keep units affordable for low-income tenants.

While Congress initially authorized just 65,000 units to be transferred—roughly five percent of the nation’s 1.2 million public housing stock—it later upped the RAD cap to 185,000 units, under pressure from the Obama administration and a coalition of public housing authorities, real estate developers, and other stakeholders. In August 2014, I took a deep look at the RAD program, and explored the concerns that tenants and housing advocates shared about its risks.

Last week I spoke with Alex Schwartz, a professor of urban policy at The New School, who has been researching some preliminary RAD data. He presented his unpublished findings at the International Sociological Association RC43 Conference this past September.

One key assumption behind RAD is that public housing was never that politically popular to begin with, and that it’s unlikely it’ll become more popular in the near future. Due to its low level of political support, (despite residents who live there being relatively satisfied), Congress has financially starved the program for decades; HUD estimates that nearly $30 billion would be required to repair and rehab the units at this point. And the longer it takes to make such repairs, the more unsafe and uninhabitable the units will become. Each year, roughly 10,000 units are permanently removed from the public housing program, through demolition or dispositions.

Through RAD, public housing units are “converted” into Project-Based Section 8 rentals, thereby becoming eligible for debt financing, tax credits, and other private funding sources that can be used to help cover rehab and maintenance costs.

While Congress has decreased federal funding for public housing over the past two decades, it has increased funding for project-based rental assistance during this time. Between fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2015, appropriations for project-based rental assistance increased by 82 percent, and appropriations for public housing’s Capital Fund decreased by 27 percent.

In other words, by transferring the affordable units out of the public housing program into one that has received more political and financial support, RAD proponents feel they will be better able to preserve the physical units over the long haul, even if they become less “public” as a result.

In his paper, Schwartz explains that:

Historically, because project-based rental assistance is largely used to support low-income properties with subsidy contracts involving private owners, Congress has been reluctant to undermine these contracts by failing to appropriate adequate sums for the program. If appropriations for project-based rental assistance falls short of the need required by the subsidy contracts, the properties would be at risk of foreclosure. At times Congress has delayed its appropriations for this program, and sometimes it has provided funding for less than a full year, but it has seldom cut back support for project-based rental assistance by a substantial amount.

The biggest takeaway, for me, is that there’s a great possibility that public housing will ultimately end in the United States. While RAD is often framed as a way to “save public housing”—that’s not quite accurate. RAD is designed to help fund much-needed capital repairs, and provide financing options to keep the units habitable and affordable in the future. But the only way it works is by transferring the properties out of the public housing program, and into the Project-Based Section 8 world.

Schwartz thinks there are some units that are in such bad shape, located mostly in high-poverty neighborhoods, that not even tax credits, mortgage financing, and other RAD funding streams will be sufficient to attract private developers to fix them up. In light of this, the Obama administration requested that Congress appropriate $10 million to the RAD program, to help repair those units with particularly challenging needs. But Congress was adamant that RAD remain a “revenue-neutral” program, and refused to do so.

What this means is that if RAD expands, which it likely will, then we’ll see most affordable units transferred out of the public housing program, and those that remain will be the ones in the most abysmal shape.

“If people had a bad image of public housing before, it’ll just get even worse,” said Schwartz in an interview. “It’s analogous to the health insurance pool—where all the healthy people leave, and then you’re just left with just those who have the most expensive health needs.” Ultimately Schwartz thinks that whatever properties remain in the program will be left to decay until they are eventually demolished once and for all. Reported by The American Prospect 20 hours ago.

New eBook Aims to Prepare Small Businesses for Historic Open Enrollment

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As Small Businesses use the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) to reassess the health benefits question, it is important for them to understand all of their options, in order to optimize the balance between accessibility and affordability. A new eBook distributed by Zane Benefits aims to help small businesses successfully navigate the new health insurance landscape.

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) November 12, 2015

Thanks to ongoing legislation, pending tax penalties, and massive increases in plan premiums, this year’s health insurance Open Enrollment Period should be nothing short of historic for the nation’s 28.4 million small businesses. Many employers at these companies are facing pressure from three different sources:

1) The federal mandate that sets insurance coverage minimums and imposes tax penalties for failure to meet these minimums
2) Employees who are now required by law to be covered by health insurance, and are looking to their employers for help
3) Carriers who, out of necessity, are increasing premiums at historic rates in order to shoulder the cost burden of covering a new clientele of previously uninsured individuals

As Small Businesses use the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) to reassess the health benefits question, it is important for them to understand all of their options, in order to optimize the balance between accessibility and affordability.

Zane Benefits has been leading the effort to level the health insurance playing field for small businesses since 2006, and recently published an eBook titled Small Business Guide to Open Enrollment 2016. This solution-focused guide helps small business owners explore the option of using a health reimbursement plan (HRP) to supplement individual health insurance for their employees—as an alternative to traditional group insurance.

In addition to providing an arguably better alternative for small businesses already offering health benefits to their employees, the guide provides a valuable resource to the millions of small businesses who do not currently provide health benefits of any kind.

According to Zane Benefits CEO, Rick Lindquist, “Most small businesses face a dilemma – they want to offer health benefits to recruit and retain key employees, but traditional group health insurance is out of reach. The Zane Benefits HRP levels the playing field for companies facing this dilemma.”

Readers of the eBook will find practical help with navigating the 2016 open enrollment period and useful tips for using individual health insurance to offer healthier employee health benefits.

The 17-page eBook is available for free download and covers the following topics:
• Key facts and deadlines for this year's health insurance sign-up period (OEP)· Four (4) advantages of modern individual health insurance
· How to enroll in coverage and select the right health plan
· How to use individual health insurance to offer better, more affordable health benefits

About Zane Benefits, Inc.
Zane Benefits' software helps small businesses reimburse employees for individual health insurance plans for annual savings of 20 to 60 percent compared with traditional employer-provided health insurance. Zane Benefits' software has been featured on the front-page of The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and The New York Times. Learn more at http://www.ZaneBenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.

Coalition Urges Policymakers, Insurance Commissioners and Others to Keep Health Care Competition

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With large insurance mergers Anthem/Cigna and Aetna/Humana threatening consumers' access to health care as well as health insurance affordability, a group of consumer advocates, employers and unions today launched the... Reported by PR Newswire 19 hours ago.

How to Save 110 Nigerian Mothers Every Day

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(UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)

I am writing today in honour of Omowumi Shonuga, a woman who joins Folake Oduyoye who I wrote about in this column, just under a year ago. These two women died in horrific circumstances following birth as a result of systemic failures within Nigeria's healthcare system, a lack of effective health education, and poor health communications. Until Nigeria's health system is fully accountable to its people, there will be more names, more stories, and more preventable maternal deaths.

Omowumi Shonuga's death and the death of her newborn baby was primarily caused by fatal delays and fatal miscommunications, starting from when she was initially turned away at the locked doors of the hospital where she attended her antenatal appointments, to the inability to find the keys for the ambulance to transfer her to a larger hospital that actually had a doctor on call, to the negligence that led to her newborn dying in a room alone, and to the final injustice - the hospital refusing to offer a blood transfusion unless her husband was willing to pay before use. On the very same day that she gave birth, both she and her newborn were buried.

Nigeria made some extraordinary gains in terms of infrastructure, technology, economics, and human rights. However, the rights of Nigerian mothers lags far behind, with maternal health in dire need of improvement. 110 Nigerian women die every day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, the second largest contributor to maternal mortality rates in the world. Nigeria is not alone in this -- India has made outstanding economic and technological progress in the last 10 years, but is the highest contributor to maternal mortality rates, accounting for 50,000 maternal deaths each year.

These deaths can be so easily prevented with simple measures that we know can work. Nigeria's healthcare infrastructure needs extensive investment to ensure quality care is accessible to patients whenever they need it. Nigeria needs an accountability mechanism that incorporates patient data in Personal Health Records as well as consistent birth/death registration. Nigeria's healthcare workers need clear guidelines for offering Respectful Maternity Care. Nigeria's patients need affordable health insurance that does not require them to pay before use or to buy the essential health equipment they need such as gloves, sutures, and candles. Nigeria's soon-to-be parents need an antenatal education that can help them navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and the fragile first five years of their child's life. Nigeria needs to address the social determinants of health that prevent citizens from accessing the care they need. Nigeria needs to adopt a Midwifery Services Framework, as recommended by the International Confederation of Midwives that can ensure midwives are trained and retained within the profession.

Today, we mourn the loss of Omowumi Shonuga and the 110 Nigerian mothers who have died in a single day. Tomorrow, we begin action. We cannot rest until a mother in Lagos has the same rights and chance of survival as a mother in Los Angeles or London. In September, the global community committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, known as the Global Goals, by 2030. Nigeria cannot expect to meet these goals unless we commit to the road to dignity for our mothers. By putting in place the measures that we need to build the resilience of Nigeria's healthcare system, we can achieve substantial progress on reproductive, maternal, newborn, children and adolescent health (RMNCAH). This resilience will ensure that we have a system that works, continues to work even under pressure -- including within fragile contexts as seen in the plight of pregnant IDPs in northern Nigeria -- and saves the lives of women like Omowumi Shonuga and Folake Oduyeye, rather than contributes to their deaths.

-- 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 18 hours ago.

Health Net Reminds Consumers: It’s Time to Choose or Renew Covered California Coverage

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Health Net Reminds Consumers: It’s Time to Choose or Renew Covered California Coverage LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Health Net, Inc. reminds California consumers that they have until January 31, 2016, to enroll in new Covered California health insurance coverage, or renew or change their existing coverage. Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, allows most enrollment, renewals and changes each year during its open enrollment period, which began on November 1 this year. “Health Net wants to help spread the word that this is the time of year to get Covered Cali Reported by Business Wire 17 hours ago.

Consumer Groups: Block Health Insurer Mergers

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Two U.S. consumer groups and New York labor unions urge antitrust regulators to oppose big health insurance mergers. Reported by msnbc.com 16 hours ago.

Thousands Of Rhode Islanders Lose Abortion Coverage

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Insurers and health insurance officials have promised to notify customers of the change. Reported by IBTimes 16 hours ago.

Abortion Coverage Ends For Thousands Of Rhode Islanders

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Insurers and health insurance officials have promised to notify customers of the change. Reported by IBTimes 15 hours ago.

Mike Middleton Picked As University Of Missouri's Interim President: Reports

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The University of Missouri's Board of Curators will name Mike Middleton as the system's interim president Thursday, the Missourian and Columbia Daily Tribune reported.

The law professor and civil rights attorney will replace Tim Wolfe, who resigned Monday after students protested his handling of racist incidents on campus, as well as his administration's decision to cancel graduate students' health insurance subsidies and university contracts with Planned Parenthood. According to the Tribune, Middleton will be the second black president of the University of Missouri system.

Middleton is currently Mizzou's deputy chancellor emeritus and a professor emeritus of law, and previously served as vice provost for minority affairs and faculty development. According to the Missourian, he helped to found the Legion of Black Collegians while a student at Mizzou, and pushed for scholarships for black students during his time as an administrator.

The curators said they planned to formally announce a new interim president at a news conference Thursday afternoon. The student activists who pushed for Wolfe's resignation praised the selection of Middleton.


We are excited for the new leadership under Interim President Middleton!

— ConcernedStudent1950 (@CS_1950) November 12, 2015


Middleton previously served an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. He currently sits on the 40-member Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court. 

-- 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 16 hours ago.
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