From KHN Daily News; Kaiser Health News ~ Oct 07, 2013
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Obama administration acknowledged Sunday that it needs to make design, as well as capacity, fixes to the website set up to help consumers shop for health coverage. Other news outlets examined the capacity challenges faced both by the federal and state exchanges and the adjustments made over the weekend.
By Matthew Heimer; MarketWatch ~ Oct 07, 2013
The federal government shutdown hasn’t affected Social Security benefits. But it’ll be a different story if the government doesn’t raise the debt ceiling, according to the Social Security Administration. The Wall Street Journal’s Damian Paletta reports today that the administration has begun warning consumers who call in to ask about the effects of the shutdown that if Congress and the White House don’t reach an agreement
By Rodney Brooks; USA Today ~ Oct 07, 2013
Joanne Jacobsen says she did everything right when she was planning for retirement.
“I’ve been planning my retirement since I was in my 30s,” says the 63-year-old Venice, Fla., resident. “I’m pretty good at doing a budget. I knew what I would get from my company, and I knew what I would get from Social Security.”
What she did not plan on was her former employer ending health insurance benefits for retirees. “An extra $6,000 to $10,000 a year was not factored in,” she says.
By Stephanie Mlot; PC ~ Oct 07, 2013
In an effort to help parents keep track of their children in a safe and subtle way, AT&T has signed on as the exclusive U.S. network provider of the Filip wearable wrist device.
The kid-friendly, parent-approved bracelet keeps the lines of communication open at all times with location tracking, voice calling, and direct messaging.
From KHN Daily News; Kaiser Health News ~ Oct 04, 2013
Insurers report that a small number of people are enrolling in coverage through the federal insurance exchange, but the government has declined to release any numbers. Meanwhile, the federal government scrambles to make fixes as experts debate whether the glitches are a result of the high level of consumer interest or if other issues are at work.
By Mitch Tuchman; Forbes ~ Oct 04, 2013
There are two fundamental struggles for retirement investors: Saving enough, and investing well. How to invest your money should be a fairly easy decision, but many investors get stuck.
Why? Because it always feels like the wrong time.
By Pete Kasperowicz; The Hill ~ Oct 03, 2013
Regulations issued by the Obama administration this week would require members of Congress to buy one of the top-tier insurance plans from the ObamaCare exchanges.
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the House sent guidance to members of Congress this week, based on a directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), that says they must choose plans from the “gold” level of insurance coverage, not “bronze” or “silver” plans. “Platinum” is the only higher level of coverage under the exchanges.
By Russ Britt; MarketWatch ~ Oct 03, 2013
The Obamacare exchanges are halfway there.
Our third check — and last for a while due to time constraints — of the 16 health exchanges taking applications under President Obama’s health-care overhaul shows that you can get through on eight web sites — or get to the point where they know you’re faking it. The biggest of them all, the HealthCare.gov site that will process applications for 36 states continues to have its troubles, however, though it seems to have gained a little more traction since Wednesday.
Seven states and the District of Columbia were up and running, well, relatively smoothly. There were the various fits and starts but ultimately these territories either got us through to the point where we would have to electronically sign on the dotted line, or questioned our identity (not a bad thing, as it turns out) with the information we gave.
By Beth Pinsker; Reuters ~ Oct 02, 2013
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Long Island publicist Brian Erni works for a company that would extend health insurance to his wife if he would pay for it. The problem: It costs $900 per month to add her to his plan.
Families across the United States are facing similar situations as many companies plan to trim, eliminate or charge extra for benefits for employees’ spouses in 2014, when key parts of healthcare reform take effect.
Previously, a family might have bundled its health insurance under one adult’s plan to save money. That is because individual insurance rates on the open market tend to be high and paying the single rate at two different companies may add up to more than the family rate offered by most employers.
By Casey B. Mulligan; The Wall Street Journal ~ Oct 02, 2013
A new wave of redistribution will arrive in America on Jan. 1, primarily thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The president’s health-insurance plan forces those who hire, work and produce to pay full price for health care, while creating generous discounts for practically everyone else.
This second redistributionist wave of the Obama era will follow a first wave of tax hikes, additional unemployment benefits, food-stamp expansions, waived work requirements for welfare benefits, etc. These measures were supposed to be temporary, intended to help people cope with the recession. The recession officially ended in mid-2009, but many of the administration’s measures continue.