Quantcast
Channel: Health Insurance Headlines on One News Page [United States]
Viewing all 22794 articles
Browse latest View live

The Worst People In New York All Hate Eliot Spitzer — And That's Why You Should Like Him

0
0
The Worst People In New York All Hate Eliot Spitzer — And That's Why You Should Like Him New York City's business, labor and Democratic Party establishments are teaming up to defeat Eliot Spitzer's comeback bid for Comptroller of New York City.

The New York Times reports on who's plotting to bring Spitzer down. After the excerpt (emphasis added) I'll break down why they hate him, and why that means you should like him:

Strikingly, *Democratic leaders* drew parallels between Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Weiner, trying to lump them together as two wayward men obsessed with reclaiming power and unworthy of redemption, in a direct appeal to women voters who may decide the races.

“For me the question with both Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer is what have they been doing to earn this second chance?” asked *Christine C. Quinn*, the City Council speaker and a Democratic candidate for mayor. She said she had seen little that would “redeem themselves from their selfish behavior.”

*Business leaders* leapt into the ruckus, finding common cause with organized labor as they described Mr. Spitzer as ill-suited to the job of managing the city’s multibillion-dollar pension system and policing city spending...

It appeared that the muscle for the anti-Spitzer operation might emerge from *the city’s labor unions*, which view Mr. Stringer as a reliable ally, and are wary of the less predictable Mr. Spitzer, who has not hesitated to confront them in the past.

Michael Mulgrew, president of the *United Federation of Teachers*, said all options — including tapping its own campaign funds for television ads — were under consideration. “We’re going to make sure that we do everything in our power to make sure Scott is the next comptroller,” he said.

*Unions *have* *gone to bat for Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Spitzer's opponent in the Comptroller race, and he'll owe them favors if he wins. Spitzer won't owe them anything.

And though Spitzer is a liberal, that's not the same as being captive to union interests. As Governor, he fought with the *United Federation of Teachers* over expanding charter schools and SEIU Local 1199 — the city's largest health care workers' union — over reforming Medicaid.

As Comptroller, Spitzer might advocate cost-saving reforms that cut benefits. For example, he might line up with Christine Quinn and Anthony Weiner — the two Democratic candidates for mayor who are getting no union love — and say city workers should start paying part of their health insurance premiums.

He might also start warning that the city's pension systems are unsustainably expensive and in need of reform. Unions prefer a comptroller who will send a message about the pension funds along the lines of "everything will be OK if we invest wisely"—even when that's not true.

Meanwhile,* Christine Quinn and other Democratic Party establishment figures* think Spitzer will be a huge pain in the ass if he wins. Let's be honest: This year's field of Democratic candidates for mayor sucks. Whoever wins is going to have no vision, no stature, no fiscal room to maneuver, and a long list of constituencies demanding payback.

The last thing any of these prospective mayors needs is a comptroller who's as famous as the mayor (or more famous), is independent of unions and other interest groups, and plans to use his office as a sort of shadow administration — and who will almost surely mount a primary challenge in 2017.

Quinn and all her opponents want Spitzer defeated now so they don't have to deal with him for the next four years. Stringer would be much quieter and would wait his turn to run for mayor—an ideal comptroller for an establishment that doesn't want its cheese moved.

*Wall Streeters and other businesspeople* hate Spitzer for an entirely separate set of reasons: They remember his tenure as New York Attorney General. He made his fights with Wall Street figures personal and people on Wall Street still hate him personally. They fear he will use the comptroller's office as a vehicle to engage in shareholder activism, pushing companies to pay executives less and suing ones that he sees as disserving shareholder interests.

I share business leaders' lack of enthusiasm for this use of the comptroller's office — at best, Spitzer will create public goods for investors nationally with no particular direct impact on New York City, and at worst, his moves will be counterproductive. But I also don't think it's as big a deal as they surely do, nor do I have a lingering personal distaste for Spitzer.

As for the Democrats and the unions, everything they fear from Spitzer is something that would be good for residents and taxpayers in New York City. Our city's government is bloated and inefficient, and uncontrolled costs for employee benefits are crowding out the city's ability to provide quality services and invest in infrastructure.

An aggressive comptroller with a high public profile will do a lot to expose those facts and promote positive reforms. That's bad for unions and establishment politicians, but it's good for everyone else.

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 6 hours ago.

Sebelius Defends Law and Zeal in Push to Insure Millions

0
0
With Republican detractors, Kathleen Sebelius is defending herself and her fund-raising activities as she works to deliver health insurance to more than 25 million people.

 
 
 
  Reported by NYTimes.com 6 hours ago.

“Catch Me If You Can” Health Insurance Fraudster Arrested in Mexico

0
0
“Catch Me If You Can” Health Insurance Fraudster Arrested in Mexico On June 21, 2013, 60-year-old Wanda Lee Ann Podgurski was sentenced in absentia to 20 years and four months in prison for running an insurance fraud scam. Now, the woman has been arrested in Mexico. The fraudster failed to appear in court in January, during her trial. Interestingly, she seemed pretty con... Reported by Softpedia 56 minutes ago.

Giva Launches New Standalone ITIL Cloud Change Management SaaS Software

0
0
Cloud vendor, Giva®, today announced a significant new standalone cloud product release for ITIL change management for Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance for IT service management.

Santa Clara, CA (PRWEB) July 09, 2013

Cloud vendor, Giva®, today announced a significant new standalone cloud product release for ITIL change management for Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance for IT service management.

With all of the demands imposed by SOX compliance and other industry specific compliance policies such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), there is a very high demand for IT change management software in the cloud. Giva is the only vendor that provides standalone cloud IT change management software. Many vendors provide IT change management software, but they are highly integrated with IT service desk incident and problem management modules. The problem is that many organizations already have such systems in place and only need the functionality of IT change management. Also, these integrated systems are expensive, difficult to customize and very complex to use.

"When comparing all of our IT vendors, Giva's commitment and passion in maintaining its products with new releases and providing excellent customer service is 'best in class' and clearly distinguished Giva above the rest of our vendors", said Peter Griffiths, IT Director, Westway Group, Inc. "Giva has enabled our team to reduce the amount of time spent on change control process by approximately 70%. Using Giva, we estimate an 80% decrease in IT auditing costs for next year's public accounting firm audit. This translates into a significant savings in labor and hard dollar auditing costs for the company." [Click to download the case study.]

Change management is typically composed of the raising and recording of changes, assessing the impact, cost, benefit and risk of proposed changes, developing business justification and obtaining approval, managing and coordinating change implementation, monitoring and reporting on implementation, reviewing and closing change requests.

The goal of the IT change management process is to ensure that standardized methods and procedures are used for efficient and prompt handling of all changes, in order to minimize the impact of change-related incidents upon service quality, and consequently improve the day-to-day operations of the organization. The process ensures that all changes are assessed, approved, implemented and reviewed in a controlled manner.

Change management is responsible for managing change process involving: hardware, communications equipment and software, system software, all documentation and procedures associated with the running, support and maintenance of live systems.

Any proposed change must be approved in the change management process. While change management makes the process happen, the decision authority is the change advisory board (CAB), which is made up for the most part of people from other functions within the organization. The main activities of the change management are:


·     Filtering changes
·     Managing changes and the change process
·     Chairing the CAB and the CAB/Emergency committee
·     Reviewing and closing of Requests for Change (RFCs)
·     Management reporting and providing management information

Giva eChangeManager™ is cloud based and ITIL compliant and provides policy enforcement, process management, and planning capabilities that help quickly and consistently implement IT changes. It automates and streamlines IT change management, while minimizing the risk of IT changes and delivers an intuitive, easy-to-use design that can be deployed in just days and requires only one hour of training.

Learn more by taking a tour of Giva's cloud ITIL change management application or sign-up for a 30 day trial of Giva.

About Giva:

Founded in 1999, Giva was among the first to provide a suite of help desk and customer service/call center applications architected for the cloud. Now, with hundreds of customer driven releases, the Giva Service Management™ Suite delivers an intuitive, easy-to-use design that can be deployed in just days and requires only one hour of training. Giva's robust, fast and painless reporting/analytics/KPIs quickly measure team productivity, responsiveness and customer satisfaction resulting in faster and higher quality decision-making. Customization and configuration are all point and click with no programming or consultants required to deliver a substantially lower total cost of ownership. Giva is a private company headquartered in Santa Clara, California serving delighted customers worldwide.

PR contact:
Email: pr@givainc.com
Phone: 408.260.9000

Giva is a registered trademark of Giva, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Reported by PRWeb 45 minutes ago.

U.S. Struggles to Meet Health-Law Deadline

0
0
The delay in the requirement that big employers offer health insurance to workers has raised questions about the administration's ability to implement the biggest domestic policy initiative in a generation. Reported by Wall Street Journal 10 hours ago.

Texas Abortion Bill Author Argued No Health Care For Unborn Because 'They're Not Born Yet'

0
0
WASHINGTON -- Texas State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (R), the author of the radically anti-abortion bill making its way through the Texas Legislature this week, argued for hours on Tuesday that lawmakers should support her bill because of its strong protections for a person's "pre-born life."

The bill, HB 2, responds to "the definite death to the 70,000-plus babies who have been aborted in this state," Laubenberg said during remarks on the House floor. "HB 2 focuses on both the child and the woman."

But back in 2007, she made the case against treating the unborn as people -- at least, when it comes to qualifying for health care services.

During a House debate on an appropriations bill that year, Laubenberg, a staunch conservative, put forward an amendment that would require expectant mothers to wait three months before they could begin receiving prenatal and perinatal care under the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, a program that helps cover uninsured children in low-income families.

Laubenberg's amendment drew criticism from Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia, who said the change would mean that more than 95,000 children, in utero, would be kicked out of the CHIP program. As the two sparred over whether that was true -- Anchia cited CHIP data from hospitals, Laubenberg alleged it was "misinformation" -- Anchia asked if Laubenberg recognized those in-utero babies as people.

"You do know, don't you, that these are U.S. citizens?" Anchia asked.

"But they're not born yet," Laubenberg said.

Laubenberg's response drew a look of shock from Democratic Rep. Dawnna Dukes, who could be seen standing next to Anchia during the exchange. Anchia also appeared to relish the moment as he pressed Laubenberg that she was now arguing against treating a fetus as a person. "That's the whole point, see?" Anchia said. "You have an anti-life amendment."

Laubenberg fired back that there is "no one more pro-life" in the House than her, and again said Anchia's data was wrong. Still, something he said must have rattled her because she pulled down her amendment.

"I will be back," Laubenberg said as she prepared to leave the podium. "But right now, out of consideration for the body, I will pull this amendment down." Reported by Huffington Post 11 hours ago.

14 insurers propose plans for Michigan health exchange

0
0
Fourteen companies have filed paperwork to sell plans on Michigan's health insurance exchange starting Oct. 1, and consumers can expect to be bombarded with a blitz of advertising in the run-up to opening day. Reported by detnews.com 10 hours ago.

Longwood Florida Insurance Agency Hosts Retirement Planning Workshops For Teachers

0
0
Teachers Insurance Specialists Will Guide Teachers On How To Successfully Prepare For Retirement

Longwood, Florida (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

Teachers Insurance Specialists in Longwood Florida invite all teachers to attend a Retirement Planning Workshop on July 16th and July 18th at 11AM EST. The workshops will be hosted at the Teachers Insurance Specialists office located at 2917 West State Road 434, Suite 101, Longwood, Florida 32779.

“The Florida Retirement System can be very challenging to navigate. We offer these free seminars as a way to thank the educational community for all that they do to support our youth. There are so many decisions to make when planning for retirement that it can often be overwhelming. 75% of the teachers in Florida do not understand their retirement program. This one hour workshop is designed to navigate teachers through the program so they can better plan for their retirement,” says Simone Baldwin, owner/agent of Teachers Insurance Specialists.

Baldwin adds, “We will cover the details of the Florida Investment Plan, pension plan options, the DROP program, health insurance options, what happens to a teacher’s life insurance plan when they retire and step by step what a teacher has to do within 60 days of leaving DROP. It will be very informative for just one hour of time spent at our Longwood insurance office.”

Lunch from Olive Garden will be served during this one hour retirement planning workshop for all teachers in attendance. “We hope teachers will gain a sense of control when they think about their retirement and that they have a plan and can make educated decisions regarding their retirement,” states Baldwin.

Teachers Insurance Specialists is a Horace Mann agency that specializes in offering educators and non-educators a variety of insurance products. In addition to offering the retirement workshops the insurance agents at Teachers Insurance Specialists offer a variety of other insurance products to Florida residents.

Florida drivers can purchase car insurance for themselves and all family members through Teachers Insurance Specialists. Their seasoned insurance agents will make recommendations on the state minimums for auto insurance as well as available discounts.

Teachers Insurance Specialists offers many discounts for Florida Drivers based on various criteria including a safe driving record. A car insurance agent at Teachers Insurance Specialists can guide consumers on the additional criteria to qualify for Florida car insurance discounts. “We offer a tailored to fit car insurance policy for consumers. We listen to our client’s needs then tailor an auto policy to fit those needs,” states Baldwin.

Florida residents can also purchase home insurance and property insurance through Teachers Insurance Specialists. “We offer insurance products for coastal and non-coastal residents. Now that we are into hurricane season we strongly urge residents to review their Florida insurance policy to make sure they are fully covered. It can be devastating to find out there is a gap in coverage should a homeowner need to make an insurance claim due to a storm or other natural disaster,” adds Baldwin.

For more information on the upcoming retirement seminars as hosted by Teachers Insurance Specialists in Longwood Florida consumers are encouraged to call 407-622-6634 or email simone(dot)baldwin(at)horacemann(dot)com.

For more information on auto insurance, motorhome insurance, car insurance, property insurance and homeowners insurance Florida residents should visit http://www.teachersinsurancespecialists.com Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

Physical Therapy Billing Expert Exposes Insurance Industry Faster Reimbursements

0
0
While professional administrators handling physical therapy software and documentation are supposed to have the primary impact on pricing and determining the cost of services they provide, the real party that drives the reimbursement process is the health insurance industry, according to licensed physical therapist and marketing expert Nitin Chhoda. As a public service, Chhoda recently exposed this aspect of the industry in a recent blog post.

Denville, NJ (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

Health insurance has undue sway in determining the cost of services reimbursed in physical therapy billing, according to a key observer of the business. Health-related pricing is typically calculated based on market considerations and equipment costs, along with associated overhead related to physical therapy documentation and miscellaneous expenses.

Chhoda explains this normal mindset is complicated by the middleman in the health industry, the insurance companies, who are the primary payers for health services. The payers have standing policies and rules regarding how they will pay for services and what kind of coding and documentation format must present it for them to approve the claim for reimbursement.

What complicates, or rather defeats market considerations in healthcare for physical therapist, is that the frequent inflexibility of major insurance payers, and their tendency to reject reimbursement if they unilaterally deems that the physical therapy documentation inadequate.

This may mean that the provider ends up settling for what the insurer will pay, instead of what all costs wire in terms of pricing. Stressing all the expenses incurred in delivering service may jeopardize reimbursement, as the expenses may not be documentable as far as the payer’s policy is concerned, using current physical therapy software or documents.

“Much of the reimbursement process relies upon the medical billing and coding specialist entering the correct codes, and ensuring documentation complies with the payer’s submission specifications,” says Chhoda. “Insurance companies call all the shots when it comes to reimbursements. Clinicians must be vigilant when negotiating contracts with payers to ensure they’re receiving the best return for their services.”

Chhoda also points out government payers may be the most inflexible and what they will pay for, while also insisting on the EMR transmission of information in order to make payment decisions. As long as this is the case, providers will have to adjust services to match the policies and records transmission scheme desired by the insurers.

Chhoda’s office can be reached by phone at 201-535-4475. For more information, visit the website at http://www.emrnews.com.

About Nitin Chhoda

Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and an entrepreneur. He is the author of "Physical Therapy Marketing For The New Economy" and “Marketing for Physical Therapy Clinics” and is a prolific speaker, writer and creator of products and systems to streamline medical billing and coding, electronic medical records, health care practice management and marketing to increase referrals. He has been featured in numerous industry magazines, major radio and broadcast media, and is the founder of Referral Ignition training systems and the annual Private Practice Summit. Chhoda speaks extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia. He is also the creator of the Therapy Newsletter and Clinical Contact, both web-based services to help private practices improve communication with patients, delivery better quality of care and boost patient retention. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

Experient Health to Offer Health Care Reform Seminar in Shenandoah County, VA

0
0
Experient Health, a Virginia Farm Bureau company, will address community questions on the impact of Health Care Reform on families and small businesses.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

Experient Health will host a Health Care Reform 101 community seminar for Virginia Farm Bureau Wednesday, August 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Shenandoah County at the Shenandoah Farm Bureau, located at 140 East Reservoir Road in Woodstock, Va.

New health care reform laws that go into effect in 2014 mandate that individuals carry health insurance or, in most cases, pay a fine. Consumers will have to purchase plans with comprehensive benefits that meet minimum coverage requirements.

The free seminar is meant to provide an open forum to ask questions about, among other health care reform topics, online marketplaces (formerly referred to as exchanges), tax credits, essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions and network requirements.

Planning to attend? RSVP to Evelyn Richard at 540.459.4019.

Register online here.

Can’t attend? Visit http://www.experienthealth.com to request a private consultation.

ABOUT EXPERIENT HEALTH:

For years, Experient Health, a Virginia Farm Bureau company, has helped people find the right insurance coverage and get the most for their health care dollars. The Richmond, Va.-based group is dedicated to providing high quality health insurance options to customers in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. As a result, its consultants, with an average of more than 20 years experience, are intimately familiar with the states’ provider networks, products and regulations.

Representing the top national insurance carriers, Experient Health provides customers with multiple policy options designed to meet wellness needs and financial requirements.

Experient Health grew out of Virginia Farm Bureau and is a “hometown agency” in that it operates a network of more than 100 offices. However, it boasts the resources and technology of larger firms.

Consultants are available online, via phone and through their offices.

Learn more at http://www.experienthealth.com, utilize the online health insurance quote calculator or contact a consultant directly at 855.677.6580. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

USHEALTH Advisors, L.L.C and USHEALTH Group, Inc. to Offer Consumers Even More Health Coverage Choices

0
0
Company Announces Plans to Add Essential Health Plans to Its Product Portfolio

Grapevine, TX (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

USHEALTH Advisors, L.L.C. (“USHEALTH Advisors”) and its parent company USHEALTH Group, Inc. (“USHEALTH Group”) have announced plans to add Essential Health Plans to its extensive portfolio of insurance product offerings.    These new plans will significantly enhance the USHEALTH Advisors’ agents ability to serve an even broader spectrum of customer health insurance needs.

“Health Care Reform has certainly changed the landscape for consumers and insurance providers, alike,” said USHEALTH Advisors President and CEO Troy McQuagge. “Customers want insurance protection that meets their needs on both fronts: coverage and affordability. We’ve solved both concerns for them with our innovative portfolio of products offered by USHEALTH Group insurance subsidiaries.”

Brian Clark, the Chief Marketing Officer for USHEALTH Advisors, agrees. “Our product portfolio is incredibly flexible and is designed to be tailored to the individual needs of each customer. We understand that customers want to get the most for every healthcare dollar they spend. We help them by providing innovative product solutions that can be tailored to meet their monthly budget targets, combined with coverage flexibility when the need arises.”

USHEALTH has a reputation for innovative thinking; the company pioneered fixed rate health insurance allowing insureds to “lock in” their premiums for up to four years, thereby avoiding unexpected and often significant annual rate increases. They also initiated the idea of providing customers the ability to buy additional coverage even when they are “in claim”. And, USHEALTH Advisors was recently recognized for innovation during the 2013 American Business Awards held in Chicago. Now, with the addition of Essential Health Plans to the Company’s unique product portfolio, USHEALTH Advisors agents will be able to provide customers an even broader array of insurance solutions to address the coverage and affordability puzzle.

About USHEALTH Advisors.
USHEALTH Advisors sells individual health coverage and supplementary products underwritten by Freedom Life Insurance Company of America and National Foundation Life Insurance Company, wholly-owned subsidiaries of USHEALTH Group. The company is focused on serving America’s self-employed, small business and individual insurance market through its captive Agent sales force.

About USHEALTH Group.
USHEALTH Group. is an insurance holding company based in Fort Worth, Texas focused on providing innovative health coverage for self-employed individuals and small business owners. The goal of USHEALTH Group is to combine the talents of its employees and agents to market competitive and profitable insurance products, while providing superior customer service in every aspect of the company’s operations. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

New website Over50choices plans to target the funeral planning time bomb

0
0
With funeral costs continuing to rise at an alarming rate and families having to make tough financial and emotional decisions, Over50choices.co.uk, a new independent Over 50s comparison site highlights the importance of pre-planning a funeral, suggesting ways to save money and protect the family.

(PRWEB UK) 10 July 2013

One visit to the website and it’s easy to see why Over50choices positions itself as the funeral planning expert.

With more ways to pay for funeral arrangements than any other source in the UK, information on all aspects of funeral planning, help with legal matters such as Wills and probate and a unique funeral planning calculator that shows the costs of a funeral in years to come based on a person’s age, it really is a one stop shop.

Launched in June 2013, Over50choices is the brainchild of Ashley Shepherd, ex Marketing Director of AXA Wealth; who having faced a life changing experience, decided to turn his back on his successful corporate career.

Being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2009 had a profound effect on Ashley. The situation he found himself in forced him to put plans in place to protect his wife and daughter against the worst; an experience he actually found positive, almost cathartic. In his words, it was his way of "moving forward and remaining in control. It made me realise that planning is a really sensible and reassuring thing to do. Once I got the all clear, I felt that I needed to help other people appreciate the importance of putting plans in place, regardless of their state of health, wealth or lifestyle and to ease the planning process for them."

With their combined experience spanning over 50 years in financial services, the team at Over50choices has created an independent Over 50s comparison site that gives visitors the ability to easily manage their everyday financial arrangements. A website that makes it easy to compare and read about products that offer protection and the opportunity to save money.

A fundamental part of financial planning Ashley believes is funeral planning. Having worked for a Life Insurance company for a number of years, he was well aware of the growing issues people face as a result of the death of a close relative. And with funeral costs continuing to rise by around 7% each year, way above the rate of inflation, a problem that will only get worse.

Speaking on behalf of Over50choices, Ashley Shepherd said he wanted the site to be "a positive experience for our customers. Funeral Planning in particular is not about preparing for death; it’s about protecting those around you, both financially and emotionally. Putting plans in place can be an extremely rewarding experience; especially if you get to save money and relieve your family from the pain of having to make difficult decisions."

One of their main objectives when developing the site was to give people choices. As a result, there are guides and help for people who want information and the chance to easily compare products for those who are looking to buy. Moving away from their cooperate backgrounds; they use customer friendly language, avoiding the usual industry jargon that is clear, straightforward and informative.

In addition to looking at all things connected with funeral arrangements, the site also reviews and compares Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Car and Home Insurance which includes Buildings and Contents Cover, Pet and Travel Insurance. There is a section that focuses on switching energy suppliers and one on money, which will shortly include information on Equity Release and Annuities. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

Health Insurance Exchange In Florida

0
0
A private health insurance exchange has been created in Florida by PeopleSurance. This private exchange takes the place of the federally run health insurance exchange after Florida opted out of creating a state run exchange.


PeopleSurance is pleased to announce the creation of a private health insurance exchange in the state of Florida. Florida is one of several states that will not be operating a state-run exchange. In December 2012, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida would not be pursuing efforts to implement a state-based health insurance exchange. This leaves Florida residents with only the option to purchase health insurance through traditional formats or through the federal government.

"We believe that the citizens of Florida deserve the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of an automated exchange process without having to sacrifice the tradition of service in the health insurance industry." states PeopleSurance President, Brandon Beavers. "We believe that the spirit of free competition is alive and well in the state of Florida and we are excited that we can be a part of that spirit."

PeopleSurance employs a technology platform that allows users to secure quotes on-line from most major insurance providers in the state of Florida. Customers can apply on-line and conduct their research through the website's various resources. "What makes this experience different is that their will always be a live, knowledgable person one phone call or mouse click away that can help individuals when they want it," Brandon continues, "that is what will set private enterprise apart from the federal exchange."

PeopleSurance is making the Florida Health Insurance Exchange immediately available to all Florida residents. PeopleSurance continues to operate health insurance exchanges in other states and maintains offices in the state of Florida.

Company Contact Information
PeopleSurance
Brandon Beavers
P O Box 1472
Virginia Beach, VA
23451
757-422-8880

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 8 hours ago.

Expat Health Benefits Decreasing Shows Need for Private Insurance

0
0
Pryce Warner International Group have over 40 years experience helping expats find medical cover while living overseas, and advise that figures showing a drop-off in employer health benefits means more expats need private insurance.

London, UK (PRWEB UK) 10 July 2013

According to Employeebenefits.co.uk, the amount of expats that received health benefits from their employer decreased last year.

In 2012, 70% of expats received private medical insurance, compared with 83% the year before. The health benefits offered to employee’s dependents dropped even further, from 74% to 57%.

David Retikin, Director of Operations at Pryce Warner International Group, commented: “Expat benefits have decreased significantly over the years, and the days when expats could get their home, car, children’s education and family’s healthcare paid for by their employer are long gone. These statistics show that expats are continuing to lose employer benefits in the form of healthcare, and that expats need to find a way to fill the gap themselves. The best way for expats to resolve this is to seek comprehensive private medical insurance from a third party that will cover them and their family, and if necessary allow them to travel to another country for medical treatment if the treatment in their country of residence is not adequate.”

The study by Employee Benefits surveyed 376 HR and benefits professionals in order to collect data on current expat benefits. The most common form of healthcare benefit provided by an employer was Private Medical Insurance (33%), then life assurance (28%) and then health insurance for employees’ dependents (27%). Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

White House sells health law amid flak

0
0
The White House is dramatically expanding its efforts to sell the Affordable Care Act, hiring additional staffers, formulating a public-relations strategy and reaching out to key lawmakers as the new health-insurance system prepares to launch in coming months. Reported by Journal Gazette 6 hours ago.

Federal Employees May Be Able to Get No-Cost Hearing Aids at Austin Hearing Services in Austin TX, Under the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

0
0
The 2013 version of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program covers hearing devices and related services for federal employees up to $5,000 per year for selected services.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

Patients of Austin Hearing Services, or anyone seeking hearing aids in Austin, TX who has insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield should take note that the insurance company has made changes to coverage for hearing aids and related services for federal employees.

Austin Hearing Services can help clients understand the insurance information and obtain benefits for hearing aids, hearing evaluation services, device fitting and even follow up care. Federal employees may be able to obtain their hearing devices for little to no cost through Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Federal Employee Program.

The company offers multiple styles of hearing aids – those nestled completely inside the ear canal, an in-ear style which is larger than those in the ear canal, and behind-the-ear styles. Costs of hearing aids can vary, depending on the style and technology in the hearing aid.

Digital and analog hearing aids can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,700 each, while digital technology aids can run $1,400 to $3,200 each, and many health insurance plans do not cover hearing aids. As of 2013, the Federal Employee Benefit plan administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield does cover the cost of most styles of hearing aids for federal employees.

New in 2013, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program eliminated the “benefit per ear” provision and increased coverage from $2,500 to $5,000 per calendar year for adults and children with bone-anchored hearing aids.

For other types of adult hearing aids and related services, clients can expect coverage of up to $2,500 every three calendar years. Children’s hearing services and devices are covered, in amounts up to $2,500 annually.

The hearing aid selection process at Austin Hearing Services begins with a hearing test and moves into hearing aid evaluation, where a client can choose from conventional or digital hearing aids. Once a client has chosen their device, the professionals at Austin Hearing Services will help to fit the hearing aid and can help with after care.

Austin Hearing Services provides hearing evaluation services, tinnitus evaluation and management and even hearing aids with Bluetooth capability.

The company’s website provides an explanation of hearing evaluation tests and follow up care that may be covered for federal employees - including live speech mapping, wax management and custom ear molds.

Austin Hearing Services was founded in 1999 by Dr. Margaret Hutchinson. Dr. Hutchinson received her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Science (MS) degree in Communications Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Dallas earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Development and Communications Disorders in 1996. Dr. Hutchinson has multiple publications in the field of audiology and is a frequent conference speaker. She has been cited in Notable Women of Texas and Who's Who In Science and Engineering. The American Academy of Audiology honored Margaret with the Academy's Scholar Award in 2011. She is Board Certified in Audiology and a member of the American Auditory Society, the American Academy of Audiology, the American Speech and Hearing Association, the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology and the Society for Neuroscience.

About Austin Hearing Services:
Austin Hearing Services has provided hearing aids in Austin, TX and its surrounding communities for several years. The company offers a full range of diagnostic and preventative hearing healthcare professional services, including hearing aid screening, evaluations, hearing aids sales and rehabilitative and preventative counseling. The staff is dedicated to keeping abreast of the latest improvements in technological advancements in the hearing industry and is committed to offering the most current options to patients.

Contact:
Dr. Margaret Hutchinson
http://austinhearingservices.com

Austin Hearing Services
6805 North Capital of Texas Highway #265
Austin, TX 78731
(512) 851-0871 Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.

Obamacare Explained: What You Need to Know About Health Exchanges

0
0
Obamacare Explained: What You Need to Know About Health Exchanges Filed under: Health Insurance

*Flickr/Carl Lovén*

By Mandi Woodruff

We're months away from cutting the ribbon on the new online marketplace for health insurance, but the vast majority of uninsured Americans - the very people the Affordable Care Act is meant to help - still have no idea whether they'll be in the shopping mood or not. According to a recent survey, nearly two-thirds of uninsured Americans say they haven't decided whether or not they'll buy health insurance by the Jan. 1, 2014 deadline (even though they'll have to pay a penalty if they don't).

Another 10% say they flat out won't buy in at all.

We understand the hesitation. Change is hard enough when it's simple to understand, let alone when it has to do with things like insurance, health care policy, and your own financial and personal well-being.

"People just don't understand how this is going to affect their wallet, what prices are going to be and what this could really cost them," said Laura Adams, InsuranceQuotes.com senior insurance analyst.

Here's what you need to know:

*What is this new health care exchange all about? *

The health care exchange (aka The Marketplace) is the centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act, an online marketplace where consumers can shop around for health care plans, just like auto insurance. All 50 states will have their own marketplaces, some of which will be run by the federal government and some of which will be run by individual states.

Delays notwithstanding, the marketplace opens on Oct. 1, 2013 and people will have until Jan 1, 2014 to pick up a policy if they want to escape penalties. There, you'll be able to choose from four different varieties of plans, platinum (highest benefits), gold, silver, and bronze (lowest benefits).

*Does everyone need to sign up for a health plan? *

The health care exchange is open for every U.S. resident, but only the uninsured will face penalties for skipping out. If you are enrolled in your employer's health plan or pay for your own plan already, you can keep on keepin' on, although we'd at least recommend shopping around to see if there are more affordable plans out there.

*What if you don't think you can afford it?*

Obviously, if everyone could afford to enroll in health care, chances are we wouldn't have an Obamacare plan to deal with at all. As it stands, 61% of the uninsured respondents surveyed by InsuranceQuotes cited money issues as the main reason they haven't purchased health insurance.

To help, the government has put in place tax credits that are specifically designed to help low-income households cover the cost of a health care plan.

To qualify, individuals or families can earn household incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($94,200 for a family of four in 2013). You can claim the tax credit in advance, rather than paying upfront for your health care plan and then waiting for a refund after tax season, Adams notes.

Generally, the government will apply those credits directly to your health insurer, which will reduce your premium cost.

To find out how big a tax credit you can expect, use the Kaiser Family Foundation's calculator.

*What if you just don't want to enroll?*

To make the reform easier to swallow, lawmakers have thrown consumers a couple of bones: For starters, the Jan. 1, 2014 deadline for enrollment is a soft one. You can start signing up when the exchange opens on Oct. 1 and you have until March 31 to enroll.

That gives people a three-month cushion to get their ducks a row. And on April 1, when the penalties begin, they start small and rise on a tiered scale up until 2016:

*2014:*

Families - $285 or 1% of total household income, whichever is greater.
Individual adults - $95 or 1% of total household income.

*2015:*

Families - $975 or 2% of income, whichever is greater.
Individual adults - $325 or 2% of income.

*2016:*

Families - $2,085 or 2.5% of income, whichever is greater.
Individual adults - $695 or 2.5% of income.

"It's designed to be this kind of gentle nudge that becomes not so gentle in a couple years," Adams says.

Some analysts predict young people will look at the first year penalties and shrug. If you're under 26, you can always sign up for your parents' health care plan. And paying a $95 fee may not seem all that tough a burden when you compare it to the potential higher cost of a year-round health care plan.

It's not the end of the world if that happens, but it could mean some trouble for Obamacare. A lot of the new plan's success rides on whether it can attract consumers who are both young and healthy along with the older, unhealthy sect in order to keep costs affordable for everyone. If young, healthy, uninsured people decide they'd rather pay a fee than shell out hundreds of dollars per year for a health policy they doubt they'll use, leaving mostly unhealthy, older people enrolled, it could throw things out of balance and make policies more expensive.

But given the results of this Kaiser Family Foundation poll, in which nearly 77% of 18- to 25-year-olds said health care is very important, those worries may be overblown.

*What about Medicaid? *

Families and individuals who earn less than 138% of the federal poverty level will still have access to Medicaid.

At best, Medicare coverage in states will be expanded under Obamacare. At worst, states will exercise their right to skip an expansion in favor of the status quo. So far, about 13 states have opted out of an expansion. This map shows where each states stands as of June 14.

*How much can I expect my health care costs to rise? *

We wish there were an easy way to answer this question. Because each state is in the process of submitting estimates from insurers, we can only guess at premium costs as numbers trickle in. The Wall Street Journal analyzed estimates from eight states and pretty much confirmed what experts had predicted - that the new health care plans will be more expensive for the young and the healthy.

"Healthy consumers could see insurance rates double or even triple when they look for individual coverage under the federal health law later this year, while the premiums paid by sicker people are set to become more affordable," the WSJ's Louise Radnofsky reports.

Even so, there's still a chance rates could decrease over time if insurance regulators decide to lower them in order to compete in the marketplace. And if that happens, then, well, Obamacare is officially doing its job. We've already seen that happen in Oregon, and as Politico's Jason Milliman points out, since all rates have yet to go through the state review process, anything could happen.

"The prices that many people can expect to pay, though, may remain a mystery for a few more months," he writes. "The feds, who are reviewing rates for exchange plans in more than half the states, have released limited information so far about who's even asked to sell on federal-run insurance marketplaces, let alone what they'd like to charge."

*The bottom line:* It's up to you whether or not you can afford to skip out on health care. For now, kick back and wait until the exchange opens in October until you start to worry. You can do some searching and see what rates are really out there before making your decision. Any speculation on costs before then is basically white noise as far as we're concerned.

%Gallery-160096%

Related Stories:
10 People Who are Winning their Fight with Debt
How to Pay off Student Loans when you Have No Money, No Job, and Nowhere Else to Turn
13 Reasons you Should Bike to Work

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 6 hours ago.

Online Divorce Findings Indicate 37 to be the Average Age of Divorce

0
0
Online divorce service MyDivorcePapers.com recently reviewed a number of criteria involving the divorce rate and found a sobering similarity in the average age of divorce filings between men and women. The conclusion: when it comes to filing, there appears to be a 37-year itch.

Aliso Viejo, CA. (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

Online divorce service MyDivorcePapers.com recently reviewed a number of criteria involving the divorce rate and found a sobering similarity in the average age of divorce filings between men and women. The conclusion: when it comes to filing, there appears to be a 37-year itch.

Women, who filed for divorce from their spouses, showed an average age of 37 exactly, while men came in a little younger at 36 years and 10 months. With the majority of filers being female (about 63.82%), age 37 was a safe bet for the time one would be most likely to file for divorce.

But researchers at MyDivorcePapers.com point to this so-called “37-year itch” not as a predictor of the exact age in which a divorce will occur, but as an indication of the changing tides of marriage and divorce between younger (ages 20 to 25) and older (age 50 and up) generations.

According to US Census data for the period from 1986 to 2009, the average duration of a first marriage for those whose first marriage ended in divorce was right at eight years and for second marriages that ended in divorce, about 8.5 years. But the MyDivorcePapers.com findings show 74.5% of filings from first-time divorcees. Only 18.19% were leaving their second marriage.

Combining the online divorce service’s findings with the Census data, at least one traditional view regarding the cause of divorce -- marrying too young -- comes in to question. While Huffington Post columnist Jennifer Nagy once suggested that marriage should not be allowed for anyone under the age of 25, she was mostly going from her own experiences.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-nagy/why-i-believe-marriage-sh_b_1547156.html

However, Nagy did cite one statistic that would seem to support her claim -- that according to the National Center for Health Statistics, 60% of couples who married between the ages of 20 and 25 experienced divorce. But averages are averages for a reason, and the finding of a 37-year itch would seem to indicate more divorces are happening between older couples as well, a claim supported by a recent Chicago Tribune article that revealed divorce rates among the post-50 crowd doubled over a 20-year span.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/sc-fam-0513-young-married-20100513,0,870347.story
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-27/news/ct-x-0227-divorce-after-50-20130227_1_divorce-rate-marital-estate-health-insurance

What hard conclusions can one draw from the data?

For starters, young people seem to be more aware of how vulnerable early-in-life marriage relationships can be and are starting to delay making such a big decision. The MyDivorcePapers.com findings seem to indicate a tendency to marry at around age 28 or 29.

Secondly, the Baby Boomer generation is more likely to file for divorce than their parents were, and that is probably influencing younger generations to put off the decision.

Whatever the reality is, divorce is a traumatic experience no matter what age a person is, and the easier one can make it, the better off they will be.

MyDivorcePapers.com is an acclaimed online divorce forms service that lets clients obtain court certified divorce forms for uncontested divorce quickly and simply. Serving all 50 states, the individualized divorce forms come with a 100% money-back guarantee of court approval. Customer service specialists complete all forms for the client, after which the forms are available through downloading or direct shipping.

For more information about the MyDivorcePapers.com service, visit http://www.MyDivorcePapers.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.

Catholic Hospitals Break Ranks On Contraception Mandate

0
0
(RNS) The organization representing Catholic hospitals across the country says it no longer objects to the Obama administration’s mandate that all employees receive free birth control coverage.

The decision by the Catholic Health Association puts the hospitals at odds with the Catholic hierarchy, which last week rejected the White House’s final regulations on an issue that many church conservatives view as evidence of the administration’s hostility to Catholicism and religious freedom.

Sister Carol Keehan, head of the CHA, disagreed. “If you look at the final regulations it is very clear that we do not have to contract for, or pay for, or arrange for” contraception coverage, Keehan said in an interview on Tuesday (July 9).

“It was really important that this be workable from a legal and theological perspective,” she added. “That’s what we believe we have achieved.”

Despite the difference of opinion, church sources said the CHA decision — which was outlined in a four-page memo sent late Monday (July 9) to more than 600 member hospitals and medical facilities — was not likely to create a new split between the CHA and the bishops.

The Department of Health and Human Services last year announced that as part of the health care reform law it was proposing regulations that would require nonprofit and for-profit employers to include free contraception coverage in its employee health insurance plans.

The original HHS regulations included a limited exemption for religious organizations that object to birth control on moral grounds. The policy would also cover sterilization and morning-after pills that some say act as abortifacients.

But many religious groups, led by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, denounced the exemptions as too narrow and a serious infringement on religious freedom. The administration modified the regulations at various points after negotiations with the bishops, the CHA and others affected by the mandate.

While Catholic organizations like the CHA generally saw the negotiations as productive and saw a solution within reach, the bishops — joined by a growing number of evangelical and conservative groups — were unconvinced. During last fall’s presidential campaign they cited the HHS mandate as a major reason not to re-elect President Obama. The bishops have continued to protest, most recently in the Fortnight for Freedom campaign that concluded on July 4.

But in the wake of Obama’s re-election the main focus of opposition to the mandate has shifted to the courts. More than 60 lawsuits have been filed by Catholic institutions and other primarily Christian groups and Christian-owned businesses who argue that the mandate will unfairly subject them to huge fines and could force them to close.

On June 28, HHS issued final regulations for the birth control policy. Those regulations significantly expanded the exemption for religious organizations and stated that any other faith-based nonprofit that objected to the policy would not have to include the contraception rider in its health insurance plans. Instead, the employer’s insurance company would separately arrange for the rider with the employee and would cover any costs, which were expected to be negligible.

On July 3, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB, issued a statement saying that a “first analysis” of the final regulations indicated that none of the bishops’ objections had been addressed. He said the exemption for religious employers was still too narrow and the accommodation that allows religious employers to avoid contracting or paying for birth control coverage was not adequate. He added that Catholic-owned businesses that object to contraception should also be exempt — a demand the HHS has rejected.

By contrast, the CHA said the first two problems Dolan cited had been resolved. News of the memo was first reported by the National Catholic Reporter.

Keehan said that the third concern, regarding private business owners paying for birth control coverage, did not fall under her jurisdiction:

“We have said from the start that our issue was much narrower than the issues the bishops were working on,” Keehan said. “Our contribution to solving the problem was to deal with religious organizations.”

As the largest private health care provider in the nation — about 1 in 6 patients in the U.S. are treated by Catholic hospitals — the CHA is a critical player in health care issues.

While the CHA and the USCCB clearly diverged on their interpretation of the final regulations, the measured tones of the respective statements indicated that neither side wants to repeat the falling out that occurred over the 2009 passage of the health care reform law, which the CHA supported and the hierarchy vigorously opposed.

In issuing its final rules last month, the administration extended the “safe harbor” for those objecting to the contraception mandate until January 2014. Observers say the lawsuits against the mandate are likely to have been adjudicated by the U.S. Supreme Court by then. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

Frontrunning: July 10

0
0
· MSM discovers that soaring dollar hurts corporate profits: P&G to Apple Hurt by Strong Dollar Keep S&P 500 Profits in Check (BBG)
· China Posts Surprise Drop in Exports (WSJ) - lol: "surprise"
· Plan Reins In Biggest Banks (WSJ)
· European Commission Seeks Authority to Wind Down Banks (WSJ) - and Germany just says 9
· U.S. Banks Seen Freezing Payouts as Harsher Leverage Rules Loom (BBG)
· Brussels sets up clash with Berlin over banks (FT)
· EU to Toughen Creditor-Loss Rules at Failing Banks From August (BBG) - or September, or October, but definitely November... 2023
· China's crude, iron ore imports falter as demand cools (Reuters)
· Obama pushes economic case for immigration as House eyes next steps (Reuters)
· Egypt Appoints New Premier Amid Rifts Over Mursi Removal (BBG)
· BOJ Easing Forecasts Cut as Japan Gains on Kuroda Salvo (BBG)
· Two Koreas Meet to Seal Deal on Joint Factory Park Revival (BBG)

 

*Overnight Media Digest*

WSJ

* U.S. regulators proposed raising a key metric for the top eight U.S. banks deemed to pose a risk to the global economy that could force banks to raise billions in additional capital.

* The delay in the requirement that big employers offer health insurance to workers has raised questions about the administration's ability to implement the biggest domestic policy initiative in a generation.

* Investor fears that the end of easy money is at hand are ricocheting around the globe. In the latest fallout, the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday trimmed its global-growth forecast, reducing its projections for emerging markets such as China and Russia.

* The European Commission will propose itself as the single authority for winding down banks in the euro zone, a step that will set the European Union's executive on a collision course with the bloc's most powerful member, Germany.

* The London interbank offered rate won't be owned by London much longer. Libor, the scandal-tarred benchmark, is being sold to NYSE Euronext, the company that runs the New York Stock Exchange.

* Lawyers for Fabrice Tourre, a former Goldman Sachs vice president, asked a judge to exclude several colorful emails that securities regulators say are pivotal to their case when his civil trial kicks off next week. The SEC alleges that Tourre misled investors about a synthetic collateralized debt obligation.

* The deal to buy Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc, a small upscale chain with 212 stores, plays into Kroger's high-low strategy to fend off Wal-Mart Stores and other discounters by lowering prices on staples like bread and milk even as it attracts more affluent shoppers with items like dry-aged beef and exotic cheese.

* Research In Motion officially changed its name to BlackBerry at its annual shareholders meeting but continued to face some of the same tough questions that have dogged management for years, particularly about its poor showing in the U.S. smartphone market.

* Five workers attempting to seal a well on an oil-and-gas platform 75 miles off the Louisiana coast were evacuated after the Talos Energy well began releasing natural gas and gas liquids.

* The FDA delayed approval of the blockbuster blood thinner Eliquis last year after learning that some patients in a clinical study got the wrong drug, and what FDA records said was fraud in a clinical study of the drug, which it ultimately approved in December. This is the second recent case of alleged scientific misconduct involving corporate employees in China.

* Shell said Ben van Beurden, the current director of its refining and marketing operations, will succeed retiring CEO Peter Voser on Jan.1. The move came as a surprise to some observers of the energy company, who had expected the board to appoint CFO Simon Henry, or a top executive from its high-earning exploration and production division.

* Abbott Laboratories will cut prices of its main infant formula products in China by as much as 12 percent, the fourth foreign company to do so in a week after the government began a probe into possible price-fixing.

 

FT

Exchange operator NYSE Euronext has won the right to take over the running of the scandal-hit Libor interbank rate, the global benchmark interest rate which serves as the reference point for more than $350 trillion in contracts worldwide.

A senior civil figure is set to be appointed to improve financial management across Whitehall as part of an overhaul of the government's traditional federal structure.

The International Monetary Fund took a more bullish stance on the British economy, raising its prediction for growth this year to 0.9 percent from 0.7 percent in April.

American International Group and GE Capital have been designated "systemically important" by the U.S. government as a result of which the two companies will be subject to stricter regulatory oversight.

British lawmakers have summoned Rupert Murdoch to reappear before the culture, media and sport select committee following remarks he made related to the police investigations into press abuses.

Lloyds Banking Group has put off its bid to take control of one of the UK's largest residential property portfolios, just weeks after telling courts it had run out of patience over a 230 million pound ($341.1 million) debt owed to it by property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz.

Royal Dutch Shell has picked Ben van Beurden, its refining head, as the company's new chief executive.

Mehmet Karamehmet has won a legal battle against Russia's Alfa Group over control of Turkey's leading mobile group Turkcell.

 

NYT

* Barnes & Noble Inc, United States's only major bookstore chain, has no clear path forward, reviving fears among publishers, authors and agents about its future. Barnes & Noble executives have acknowledged one fact: the digital business that was to be the centerpiece of its growth strategy must be retooled.

* Kroger Co bought supermarket chain Harris Teeter , citing potential for growth. The acquisition of the rival grocer will help Kroger expand in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic region.

* The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, along with the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, proposed stricter banking rules that aim for simplicity.

* NYSE Euronext said it won a contract to administer and improve the embattled London interbank offered rate, or Libor, long run by the British Bankers' Association.

* European Union officials are expected on Wednesday to unveil a detailed plan for dealing with failing banks, which will include centralized decision making and an emergency fund.

* British Parliament called on Rupert Murdoch "to give evidence to discuss his comments" about the culture of paying off police that he made on March 6 to nearly two dozen journalists and newspaper executives from the Sun.

* Thorsten Heins, the president and chief executive of BlackBerry , acknowledged on Tuesday that the company's new line of phones, which he originally promoted as something that would revive its flagging brand, had a flawed release in the United States.

* Federal regulators are cracking down on questionable debt collection practices by some of United States's biggest lenders. The push comes after revelations that some of the same practices that have haunted the foreclosures of homes - like robo-signing and faulty documentation - have cropped up in efforts to recoup delinquent credit card debt.

* Lawyers for Michael Steinberg, a former portfolio manager at the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors, raised a question in court filing on whether Steinberg should get a free trial or not on Tuesday. They argued that the news media frenzy surrounding the government's investigation of SAC and its owner, Steven Cohen, could unfairly influence the jury pool.

 

Canada

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

* As Toronto residents began mopping up after record rainfalls that stranded commuters, flooded basements and, at its worst, left 500,000 households in the dark, the city braced for more bad weather and took stock of a storm that early estimates say inflicted damages of more than C$600 million ($570 million).

* As many as 60 people may have been killed at a landmark bar in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, police say, making last Saturday's train crash one of the worst railway disasters in recent Canadian history.

* Prime Minister Stephen Harper will choose from his majority of federal members of Parliament in determining the composition of the next Conservative cabinet, but selecting the right mix of ministers is no easy task.

* The police investigation into accusations of a couple plotting a terror attack on Canada Day may have involved the assistance of U.S. authorities and the controversial Mr. Big technique, the couple's lawyer said on Tuesday.

Reports in the business section:

* BlackBerry Chief Executive Thorsten Heins delivered a hopeful but realistic state-of-the-union-style speech during the company's annual general meeting in Waterloo, Ontario, as the company he heads formally changed its name from Research In Motion Ltd.

* The Competition Bureau is accusing two of Canada's largest discount furniture chains, Leon's Furniture Ltd and The Brick Ltd, of deceptive marketing with their well-known "buy now, pay later" promotions.

* China warned on Wednesday of a "grim" outlook for trade after a surprise fall in June exports, raising fresh concerns about the extent of the slowdown in the world's second largest economy and increasing the pressure on the government to act.

* Federal and Alberta regulators have conditionally approved Royal Dutch Shell Plc's multibillion-dollar Jackpine oil-sands mine expansion despite their findings that it would have a number of adverse environmental impacts.

* Eight meat and livestock groups from the United States and Canada have asked a U.S. court to strike down stricter meat labeling rules that they say have hurt U.S. processors and Canadian farmers, arguing that they violate the country's constitution.

NATIONAL POST

* Surete du Quebec Inspector Michel Forget said the police force has launched an "unprecedented criminal investigation" into the derailment in Lac-Megantic and has uncovered evidence supporting a criminal probe.

* More than 24 hours after a powerful rain storm ripped through the Toronto area, close to 20,000 customers in Etobicoke were without power on Tuesday night. Toronto Hydro said Wednesday morning is the earliest residents could expect the lights to return.

* Israeli officials encouraged Canada not to cut its foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation to the Palestinians seeking upgraded status at the United Nations last year, new documents show.

FINANCIAL POST

* The Competition Bureau has accused Leon's Furniture Ltd and The Brick Ltd of "deceptive marketing practices".

* Efforts to reform the battered Libor rate moved forward on Tuesday as the company that owns the New York Stock Exchange took over responsibility for what may be one of the world's most important benchmarks, affecting pricing on some $350 trillion of loans, mortgages and derivatives.

 

China

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

- Although China's fiscal income growth fell rapidly, there is no need to adjust the structure of fiscal expenditure in the short run as the overall economy remains stable, the finance ministry said in a research report.

SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS

- The China Securities Regulatory Commission should make the process of its policy decisions more transparent to the public to better protect the interests of investors, Chairman Xiao Gang said on Tuesday.

21st CENTURY BUSINESS HERALD

- Tianjin has submitted a proposal to set up a free trade zone project to the State Council, China's cabinet, the newspaper reported.

CHINA DAILY

- Some 5.6 million computers in China were controlled or affected by more than 13,000 threats originating from internet provider addresses and servers in foreign countries and regions between January and May, said an official at the National Computer Emergency Response Team and Coordination Center of China.

PEOPLE'S DAILY

- China's current inflation rate is compatible with its economic growth, making it beneficial to carry out future price reforms and structural adjustments, the newspaper said in an editorial comment

 

*Fly On The Wall 7:00 AM Market Snapshot*

*ANALYST RESEARCH*

Upgrades

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital
Deutsche Bank (DB) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse
Digital Realty (DLR) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital
Fortinet (FTNT) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) upgraded to Buy from Sell at Citigroup
Ramco-Gershenson (RPT) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank
Sealed Air (SEE) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan
Walter Energy (WLT) upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Raymond James

Downgrades

Alon USA Energy (ALJ) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Macquarie
Bemis (BMS) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan
Famous Dave's (DAVE) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at B. Riley
Meredith (MDP) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup
Norfolk Southern (NSC) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank
Parker-Hannifin (PH) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at RW Baird
True Religion (TRLG) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Brean Capital
Wolverine World Wide (WWW) downgraded to Hold from Buy at KeyBanc
tw telecom (TWTC) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup
tw telecom (TWTC) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital

Initiations

AOL (AOL) initiated with a Buy at Citigroup
Amazon.com (AMZN) initiated with a Buy at Citigroup
Barnes Group (B) initiated with a Buy at Drexel Hamilton
Baxter (BAX) initiated with an Outperform at Credit Suisse
CAI International (CAP) initiated with a Buy at BB&T
Coach (COH) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Delek US (DK) initiated with a Neutral at Goldman
Facebook (FB) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup
Gap (GPS) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen
Google (GOOG) initiated with a Buy at Citigroup
Laredo Petroleum (LPI) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord
LinkedIn (LNKD) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup
Michael Kors (KORS) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Netflix (NFLX) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup
OpenTable (OPEN) initiated with a Sell at Citigroup
ViroPharma (VPHM) coverage assumed with a Buy at Brean Capital
Yahoo (YHOO) initiated with a Buy at Citigroup
Yelp (YELP) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup
Zillow (Z) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup
eBay (EBAY) initiated with a Buy at Citigroup

*HOT STOCKS*

Fairholme to sue Fannie (FNMA), Freddie (FMCC), CNBC reports
Said to hold a $500M stake in preferred shares in both
Petitioned court to protect Fannie, Freddie preferred shareholder rights
Sprint (S) to exit certain leases, cut staff following Clearwire (CLWR) closing
Financial Stability Oversight Council designated GE Capital (GE) and AIG (AIG) as systemically important
ING (ING) to sell investment management business in South Korea to Macquarie (MOBKY)
Patterson Companies (PDCO) acquired NVS from Dechra for about $135M cash

*EARNINGS*

Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
ADTRAN (ADTN), Franklin Covey (FC), Helen of Troy (HELE)

Companies that matched consensus earnings expectations include:
Synergy Resources (SYRG)

*NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES*

· The European Commission will propose itself as the single authority for winding down banks in the euro zone, a step that will set the EU's executive on a collision course with the bloc's most powerful member, Germany, the Wall Street Journal reports
· Investors pulled $13.5B from mutual funds that invest in municipal bonds in June, according to Lipper FMI, a retreat that is making it harder for several cities, states and towns to raise money, the Wall Street Journal reports
· Glencore Xstrata (GLNCY) is looking to sell its Dakota Growers Pasta Co. business as it continues to divest assets acquired from its $6B purchase of Canadian grain handler Viterra last year, sources say, Reuters reports
· Pinnacle Foods (PF) and Fresh Del Monte (FDP) are among the companies considering offers for Del Monte Foods' canned foods business, a deal that could be worth more than $1.5B, sources say, Reuters reports
· Moody’s Investors Service raised its outlook of the U.K. banking system to stable from negative, citing improving profitability and lower impairments after lenders stepped up efforts to clean up balance sheets and raise capital ratios, Bloomberg reports
· News Corp. (NWSA) Chairman Murdoch agreed to testify before the U.K. Parliament a second time as London police seek a tape of him discussing probes of bribery and phone-hacking at company newspapers, Bloomberg reports

*SYNDICATE *

Fly Leasing (FLY) files to sell $160M ADSs
Berry Plastics (BERY) files to sell 15M shares of common stock for holders
Kayne Anderson (KYN) files to sell 5.75M shares of common stock
NGL Energy Partners (NGL) 9M share Secondary priced at $29.00
Restoration Hardware (RH) announces follow-on offering of 12M shares for holders
Selectica (SLTC) files to sell 1.24M shares of common stock for holders
WhiteWave Foods (WWAV) files to sell common stock for holder Dean Foods Reported by Zero Hedge 3 hours ago.
Viewing all 22794 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images