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Trump open to dropping healthcare provision in Senate tax bill: aide

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump would not insist on including repeal of an Obama-era health insurance mandate in a bill intended to enact the biggest overhaul of the tax code since the 1980s, a senior White House aide said on Sunday. Reported by Reuters 8 hours ago.

Will Cutting the Health Mandate Pay for Tax Cuts? Not Necessarily

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Americans dislike the requirement that everyone have health insurance. But eliminating it doesn’t mean that they’d stop buying coverage — or accepting subsidies. Reported by NYTimes.com 2 hours ago.

Trump open to dropping healthcare provision in Senate tax bill - aide | Reuters

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump would not insist on including repeal of an Obama-era health insurance mandate in a bill intended to enact the biggest overhaul of the tax code since the 1980s, a senior White House aide said on Sunday. Reported by Firstpost 57 minutes ago.

Eisai: Antiepileptic Drug Fycompa Regularly Available Again in Germany from December

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Following Agreement with National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds TOKYO, Nov 20, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. has announced that its German sales company Eisai GmbH (Loca... Reported by FinanzNachrichten.de 13 minutes ago.

White House open to striking health provision from tax bill

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it’s willing to strike a health-care provision from the Senate tax-cut bill if the provision becomes an impediment to passing one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities. The provision would repeal a requirement that everyone in the U.S. have health insurance or pay a fine. But it has […] Reported by Seattle Times 23 hours ago.

Missing Money: How To Find Unclaimed Money | with Elisabeth Leamy, Host of the Easy Money Podcast

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Award-winning Print and Broadcast Journalist Elisabeth Leamy Helps Listeners Find Their Share of $42 Billion in Unclaimed Money on Her Podcast “Easy Money”

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) November 20, 2017

It takes just two websites and ten minutes to find out if there is unclaimed money waiting for you. The 50 states plus the District of Columbia are holding at least $42 billion worth of this missing money for their citizens. Roughly 1 out of every 10 Americans has unclaimed money out there. The money comes from things like tax refunds that were mis-routed, stock dividends people never cashed, utility deposits that weren’t returned, and life insurance policies set up by deceased relatives. The average claim is $892, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

Spencer Hathaway of Washington, DC found accounts in three different jurisdictions: un-cashed health insurance refunds in the District of Columbia and life insurance dividends in both California and Iowa. Hathaway learned how to search for unclaimed money from Elisabeth Leamy, host of the Easy Money Podcast, which covers one unclaimed money topic each week plus offers an accompanying blog. "Part of the fun of this is that you go back and revisit parts of your life that you don't think about,” said Hathaway. “I feel like this money’s just rolling in like manna from heaven or something.” Hathaway was able to recover more than $1,800 in all.

So how does one search? It’s simple —and free. First go to MissingMoney.com, fill in first and last name, and then enter the state of residence. The site will automatically check with all 40 of its state partners. So a single search covers the majority of states.

There are ten states that don’t participate with MissingMoney: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Oregon, South Carolina and Wyoming. For those who have lived, worked, or done business with a company in any of those states, it's important to search them individually. To do that, head to another free website, Unclaimed.org. (Important note: the free website ends in “.org.” —not .com.) Click on any state to access its own unclaimed property page.

For those who find unclaimed money accounts in their name, claiming them is fairly easy. The state may ask for proof of a business relationship with the bank in question or proof of having lived at an address. One easy way to gather that proof is to pull a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Credit reports typically list old accounts and addresses. Some states also require application forms to be notarized. “I was pleasantly surprised,” said Hathaway. “It wasn’t difficult. Just had to do a little bit of paperwork and copy some documents.”

13-time Emmy-winner Elisabeth Leamy started covering unclaimed money when she was the consumer correspondent at Good Morning America. “After my first unclaimed money story, our viewers nearly crashed the ABC News server,” said Leamy. “That’s when I knew we had hit on a hot topic that people didn’t know much about.” Leamy has helped reunite people with nearly $2 million worth of unclaimed money, first at GMA and now on the Easy Money Podcast.

A third of every Easy Money podcast episode is devoted to unclaimed money —and so far there’s no shortage of topics. On her podcast and blog Leamy talks about how to find unclaimed money held by the feds —like lost savings bonds, pensions and tax refunds. She tells listeners why it’s urgent to claim the contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes as soon as possible. She looks for unclaimed money for small businesses, churches, charities and schools. And she talks about how to tap into unclaimed money held by courts, such as unpaid child support. There are even advanced strategies for finding missing money if the two free websites above don't yield anything. “This is your money, not the state’s money,” said Leamy. “People need to claim what’s rightfully theirs.”

ABOUT THE EASY MONEY PODCAST AND HOST ELISABETH LEAMY
Every week on Easy Money, 13-Time Emmy-winner Elisabeth Leamy (Washington Post, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz) uncovers clever, creative ways to make more money, save more money and find unclaimed money. Her goal is to make understanding money easy —not hard. By utilizing this story idea, outlets will be getting quality FREE content, while helping an ad-free, educational podcast. Download all story materials at: EasyMoneyShow.com/press-kit.

EASY MONEY PODCAST LINKS: (Please include these links on website in exchange for use)
Easy Money Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2tpUY6v
Easy Money Podcast Website: EasyMoneyShow.com Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.

Hard to believe: Some consumers find free health insurance

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers are getting the word that taxpayer-subsidized health plans are widely available for next year for no monthly premium or little cost, and marketing companies say they're starting to see an impact on sign-ups. "Free Obamacare Coverage in 2018," says an online pitch from insurance broker eHealth, showing a young woman with a big smile. "See if you qualify." HealthSherpa, a private website that focuses on signing people up for Affordable Care Act coverage, said nearly 1 in 5 of its customers thus far will be paying no monthly premium. That's a change from last year, when the share was about 1 in 7. More consumers also are finding plans for under $25 a month. Reported by SeattlePI.com 22 hours ago.

Mulvaney: If Individual Mandate Is Removed From Tax Bill, 'We Can Live With That'

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The Senate tax reform bill, as currently written, ends the Obamacare penalty for people who do not purchase health insurance.

-- Reported by CNSNews.com 20 hours ago.

Centene strikes deal with Sacramento that may bring up to 5,000 jobs

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The city of Sacramento has signed an agreement with health insurance company Centene Corp. that may bring up to 5,000 new jobs to the city, according to city officials. “When completed, (the agreement) will represent the single biggest private-sector job recruitment in the city’s modern history,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said. The agreement is said to be a first big step toward establishing a regional corporate headquarters for Centene (NYSE: CNC) in Sacramento. The company's main headquarters… Reported by bizjournals 19 hours ago.

Santa Clara Family Health Plan Recognized for Strategic Focus on Quality

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Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) announced today that it received the 2017 award for Greatest Improvement in Quality Strategy Focus Areas from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

CAMPBELL, Calif. (PRWEB) November 20, 2017

Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP), a local, public, not-for-profit health plan serving over 270,000 Santa Clara County residents, announced today that it received the 2017 award for Greatest Improvement in Quality Strategy Focus Areas from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The annual DHCS quality awards recognize Medi-Cal managed care plans that have excelled in improving health care quality for beneficiaries.

“Improving quality of care is no small feat. We work with more than 4,000 health care providers to deliver services to more than 270,000 members. It is truly an honor to receive this recognition from DHCS for demonstrating our commitment to quality improvement, working in partnership with our provider network,” said SCFHP CEO Christine M. Tomcala. “SCFHP is proud to have served the residents of Santa Clara County for twenty years, while continually improving the accessibility, quality, and cost-effectiveness of the healthcare coverage we provide.”

Award rankings are determined by performance in the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), a national set of measures for clinical care delivered to health plan members, developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). SCFHP was selected as the most improved Medi-Cal health plan in California for performance in four focus areas: Comprehensive Diabetes Care; Controlling High Blood Pressure; Childhood Immunizations Status; and Prenatal and Postpartum Care.

“Last year, working with our provider network, SCFHP introduced new performance measures that shifted the focus of our monitoring from quantity to quality. In the first year of this new approach, overall quality scores across the population increased by 4.5%, which is a significant achievement,” said Chief Medical Officer Jeff Robertson, MD. “And to be recognized for that work by DHCS makes us extremely grateful for the partnership we have with the providers who are part of the SCFHP network.”

About Santa Clara Family Health Plan

SCFHP is a local, public, not-for-profit health plan that provides high-quality health coverage to residents of Santa Clara County, California. Through a dedicated partnership with an expansive network of doctors and other professionals, SCFHP acts as a bridge between the health care system and those who do not have access to or cannot afford health care. SCFHP is the local plan for Medi-Cal, Cal MediConnect and Healthy Kids in Santa Clara County, California. SCFHP began offering coverage in 1997 and is now proud to provide services to over 270,000 residents of Santa Clara County. Through devotion to outstanding service and care for the community, SCFHP is committed to providing quality, affordable health insurance to the underserved in Santa Clara County’s diverse population. For more information, visit http://www.scfhp.com.

Media Contact:
Laura Watkins
Director, Marketing, Outreach & Enrollment
408-874-1824
lwatkins at scfhp . com Reported by PRWeb 18 hours ago.

Bonus! Some consumers find free health insurance through Affordable Care Act

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Consumers are getting the word that taxpayer-subsidized health plans are widely available for next year for no monthly premium or little cost, and marketing companies say they're starting to see an impact on sign-ups.

 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by USATODAY.com 16 hours ago.

Experts: Free coverage is unintended consequence of attempts to undermine ACA

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More people qualify for free or low-cost Affordable Care Act health insurance this year, a factor that could boost enrollment -More-  Reported by SmartBrief 13 hours ago.

Republicans' favorite argument for tax cuts just got demolished by a new analysis

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Republicans' favorite argument for tax cuts just got demolished by a new analysis· *A new analysis from the Tax Policy Center shows small economic gains would result from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.*
· *House Republicans passed the tax bill last Thursday, and the Senate is slated to vote on their companion bill next week.*

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The Republican tax bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would produce little growth if it becomes law, according to an analysis released by the Tax Policy Center on Monday.

One of Republicans' major selling points on the bill, which allows for $1.5 trillion in tax cuts, is that the cuts would pay for themselves in increased growth. According the TPC's analysis, the growth that would result from the plan would not be enough.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans passed last Thursday, would increase US gross domestic product (GDP) over the next 20 years, the analysis found. The report estimates an immediate GDP increase of 0.6% in 2018, which would taper to 0.2% by 2037.

The analysis also claims the TCJA would rake in $169 billion in revenue from that growth in the first decade and $136 billion in the second, well short of the amount needed to pay for itself.

However, poor projected growth is unlikely to slow the tax process. Senate Republicans are slated to vote on their version of the bill next week when lawmakers return from the Thanksgiving break. The Senate plan is different from the House bill in many ways, including a repeal of the individual health insurance mandate.

While some GOP senators have balked at supporting the plan so far, poor economic scoring could complicate matters further. Sens. Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, both Republicans, have cited concerns about the tax bill's potential additions to the federal deficit.

*SEE ALSO: John McCain just gave a big boost to the GOP tax bill*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Senator Bob Corker slams Trump and says he has 'great difficulty with the truth' Reported by Business Insider 12 hours ago.

Maryland health exchange names new executive director

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Michele S. Eberle has been named the new executive director for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, the organization that oversees the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace. Eberle has served as chief operating officer for the exchange since 2015. She will now take the top seat in the agency that facilitates enrollment in private health insurance and Medicaid plans for over 1.1 million Marylanders. The exchange's former chief, Carolyn A. Quattrocki, stepped down late last year. The executive… Reported by bizjournals 12 hours ago.

Signups for health insurance in Massachusetts soar 40 percent

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Despite federal uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act, consumers in Massachusetts are eager to sign up for coverage, with enrollment up more than 40 percent compared to the same period a year prior. Reported by bizjournals 11 hours ago.

House OKs children’s health insurance bill without argument

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is advancing legislation to reauthorize the federally subsidized Children’s Health Insurance Program after removing wording to prohibit coverage for gender or sex reassignment surgery. The House unanimously passed the bill Monday and sent it to the Senate. The Senate had inserted the Republican-penned prohibition three weeks […] Reported by Seattle Times 5 hours ago.

Massachusetts requires contraceptive coverage in all health-insurance programs (Washington Examiner)

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Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has signed legislation that requires all health-insurance policies to include coverage for contraception. The law—which allows for no exceptions—reverses the effect of a Trump administration policy allowing employees to opt out of contraceptive coverage for moral reasons. Reported by Catholic Culture 9 hours ago.

Five things you need to know today, and how early do people start drinking on Thanksgiving?

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Good morning, Boston! The Celtics made it 16 in a row in a nail-biter last night, and here are the five most important things you need to know to help start your busy business day:  Summit-backed Casa Systems files for $150M IPO  Casa Systems Inc., an Andover-based software company, aims to raise up to $150 million in an initial public offering, Kelly O’Brien reports. Signups for health insurance in Mass. soar 40 percent  Despite federal uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act, the number… Reported by bizjournals 21 hours ago.

A $88-a-month startup that wants to help straighten your teeth just raised $15 million

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A $88-a-month startup that wants to help straighten your teeth just raised $15 million· *Candid Co., a startup that wants to ship you clear aligners without you having to step foot in the orthodontist office, just raised $15 million. *
· *For $1,900 (or $88 a month), the company will straighten your teeth under the remote supervision of an orthodontist.*
· *The direct-to-consumer option is a lot cheaper than traditional braces, which can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000. *

--------------------You wouldn't be able to tell it just by glancing at him, but 28-year-old Nick Greenfield is wearing something on his teeth. 

The CEO of Candid Co. is wearing clear aligners, an alternative to braces that are used to straighten out people's smiles. Green field's startup is one of a growing number that are trying to shake up the teeth-straightening industry by bringing it outside the traditional orthodontists' office. 

On Tuesday, Candid raised $15 million in funding from Greycroft Partners, Bessemer, e.ventures, and Arena Ventures, which was an existing investor. In total, Candid's raised $17 million from its investors, which include orthodontists. 

While it typically costs anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 to get traditional braces or aligners in an orthodontist's office before factoring in insurance, Candid charges much less at $88 a month when financed over 24 months or $1900 up front. In about a third of the patients Candid's worked with since launching in September, dental health insurance plans have covered part of the cost. 

*Here's how Candid's process works*

1. For $95, you can purchase a modeling kit that will be sent to your house. Once it's there, you'll be asked to make a mold of your teeth and take a series of photos that you'll send back to Candid. 
2. An independent orthodontist working with Candid reviews the photos and the molds and maps out a treatment plan for you. If your case is too severe to be done virtually, Candid will refer you out to a network of orthodontists it's building out and refund the $95.
3. If you're eligible to keep going, you pay the $1,900 and start getting shipments of aligners, teeth whitening foam, and a case to discretely store your aligner when you take it out. Along the way, an orthodontist assigned to your case oversees your progress. 
4. At the end of your treatment, you'll receive a retainer, just as you would from a traditional orthodontist.

Candid started shipping out its kits back in September and sold out of its first batch. Greenfield said the hope is to help 1 million people by the end of the decade. 

*Growing the oral healthcare market*

Candid isn't the first to get into the direct-to-consumer clear aligners space. Smile Direct Club in particular has made a splash in the oral health industry and has faced some concerns from dentists and orthodontists. Align Technologies, the company that makes Invisalign-branded clear aligners, has a 19% stake in the startup. 

And there's likely going to be more startups entering the direct-to-consumer oral health market over the next few years. Invisalign patents started expiring in October, and as they expire, more manufacturers will make competing products. 

But there is a lot of benefit to seeing an oral health professional in-person. 

"The goal of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy 'bite' — correct alignment of teeth and jaws that make it possible for the patient to bite, chew and speak effectively," DeWayne McCamish, former president of the American Association of Orthodontists and practicing orthodontist told Business Insider in 2016. "Teeth that appear to be 'straight' could be hiding a bad bite, and can lead to damage of the teeth, gums, and supporting bone tissue. Repairing damage can be expensive, and repairs may need to be repeated periodically throughout a lifetime." 

Ideally, Greenfield said he hopes to see companies like Candid that use virtual doctors appointments act as a way to fill in gaps to supplement visits to physical dental offices. The hope is to expand beyond clear aligners to preventive measures to keep people's teeth healthy in between check-ups at a dentist's office.  

Greenfield pointed to what happened when teeth whitening technology started being available directly to consumers. The markets overall grew, and dental practices were able to capitalize on it as well as people started to think about teeth whitening services more.

"Oral healthcare can be a much much larger industry because people need healthier teeth," Greenfield said. 

John Elton, a Partner at Greycroft, said that the approach Candid's taking in working with orthodontists and having a chief dental officer (Orthodontist Lynn Hurst) was his reason for leading the funding round. 

"Approaching the market in the right way will dramatically expand the access and improve care for patients," Elton said. 

*SEE ALSO: Amazon could supercharge its biggest weapon by getting into healthcare*

*DON'T MISS: A futuristic doctor's office that doesn't take insurance and is backed by Eric Schmidt and Marc Benioff is opening in LA*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What happens to your brain and body if you use Adderall recreationally Reported by Business Insider 18 hours ago.

Survey: Dropping health insurance mandate might not save much money

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Repealing the legal requirement that most Americans buy health insurance might not generate the savings Republicans want to o -More-  Reported by SmartBrief 16 hours ago.
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