Federal COBRA Benefits A Challenge For Downsized Workers
January 26, 2010 by Hanna08 · 9 Comments
BEWARE! Insurance companies are using unscrupulous practices to get policyholders off its rolls!
While I understand that these companies need to make a buck to keep afloat, there must be some better way to make more money than to void a policy for just 2 cents!
Take Stan Rosen of Miramar, Miami. He lost his job, his wife was six months’ pregnant and he faced an operation and he had COBRA benefits to help make ends meet.
Then, by mistake he underpaid his November bill by two cents (!!), and his benefits administrator said his policy was being canceled. Rosen and his wife, saw “making ends meet” slip through their fingers.
He quickly paid the two cents (!!), and it got reinstated. But ONLY after he and his dad called about 100 times and got The Miami Herald involved that the company relented and continued coverage.
The Rosens’ case is an extreme example an incident that’s becoming more widespread: Laid-off workers are struggling through a bureaucratic labyrinth to keep health insurance while insurers and former employers have little to no interest in aiding them beyond what is required by federal and state laws.
What is COBRA?
COBRA (or Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) is a law signed into effect by President Ronald Reagan that mandates an insurance program that helps employees continue health, disability insurance and postal services even in the event they are out of a job.
Federal COBRA coverage mandates companies with more than 20 employees to offer their laid-off workers as much as 18 months of health insurance, as long as the worker pays the entire cost of the premium.
Current COBRA coverage can easily cost $1,200 a month for a family, and that may be too expensive for most. The Obama administration last year began the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to subsidize 65 percent of COBRA costs for up to nine months, but many still can’t afford it.
What About COBRA for Companies With Less Than 20 Employees?
On the flip side, companies with fewer than 20 employees are covered by a state law, but people who have had to use it, like Robert Dollar of Miami, say it’s even more convoluted than the federal law.
“My COBRA has turned into a hysterical joke,” says Dollar, who pays $712.34 a month just to cover his wife.
Federal law requires large companies to give departing employees a thick COBRA packet stuffed with explanations. But state law makes an exception to small companies, like the one Dollar worked for.
Scores of phone calls and sent faxes later, Dollar’s efforts to contact his former company’s insurer, Neighborhood Health, to get the continuation coverage, was wasted when his former company switched to Aetna. The dismayed Dollar had to go through the whole process again. “It’s a maze of stuff,” he said.
Insurers Say COBRA Is A Liability To Them
According to Gran LeCompte, an executive with MDW Insurance in Coral Gables, Fla., says that for employers and insurers, COBRA is “a major pain in the butt. … There’s a ton of liability.”
A major key problem for insurers is that young and healthy employees who are confident of finding work tend to reject COBRA, while older and sicker and less confident workers will grab it. “Typically those who take COBRA coverage cost two to five times ((more) in benefits than a normal employee costs,” LeCompte says.
Furthermore, Federal law seek to keep insurers and employers in line by penalizing them for infractions. LeCompte says that means most big companies outsource the details to a company specializing in COBRA coverage and administration.
Rosen’s COBRA insurer is Ceridian, who spotted that Rosen had paid $334.97 for his November bill, rather than the proper amount of $334.99.
Federal law allows a month’s grace period to pay the full bill, but Rosen did not learn about the two-cent problem until he received his next bill, at the end of November, past the grace period that expired Dec. 3, which terminated the Rosens’ coverage.
Joe Brown, spokesman for Ceridian Benefits Services, told The Miami Herald the company was required to follow the letter of the law “or the company would be held liable.” Its legal responsibility was to administer Rosen’s insurance for his former employer, a Miami Beach hotel.
But Jay Rosen kept working at it.. He called the offices of a senator and representative. He called the former employer, and he kept hounding Ceridian reps. “The normal person would have given up long before I did,” he says.
Eventually, the insurer decided to forgive the two cents, and the Rosen policy was reinstated.
COBRA Benefits Eligibility Cut-Off Extended to March 01, 2010
The federal subsidy of 65 percent was slated to end Dec. 31, 2009, but just before the Christmas recess, Congress decided to extend its benefits: Workers laid off before March 1 can qualify for help, and all can get up to 15 months of subsidy.
In the reform packages now before Congress, the House version has a provision that people with COBRA could retain their coverage until the insurance exchanges start.
Those would allow everyone without employer-based coverage to sign up for a plan, regardless of preexisting conditions, with subsidies based on income levels. Such exchanges are not scheduled to start before 2013.
Beyond COBRA – So Why Not Cover Yourself Even More Thoroughly?
You know what? Insurance is Personal. Even if people are laid-off and tight with money, I believe that insurance is even more vital to keep going even for just minimal coverage.
So here’s a thought. Why not buy a term life insurance policy? Why not get more health insurance even if you lack cash? You can definitely buy very cheap health insurance even if you’re tight.
Would you believe you can get a good health insurance policy at ONLY $49 online? You betcha.
How to do it? You need to get as many quotes as you can. Shop around. Make sure you have all health insurance quotes in one place, then decide.
You don’t have to go to every insurance site too. You save a lot of time by using providers that give health insurance quotes for free at no charge. No money down and they only want your attention to refer to their large list of insurance companies who will be more than willing to underprice each other to sell you a policy.
That’s why online insurance policies are cheap and just as good if not better than meeting with an agent face to face. He just has more competition online.
Make them bleed for it then.
More Power To Us,
Life Insurance Quotes For Consumers
“Insurance is Personal.”
Rapid Pointers To Choosing Baking Pan
January 3, 2010 by Hanna08 · 3 Comments
You will find a particular item of kitchenware that each individual chef need in their collection of bakeware selection and that is an adequate cooking pan. How important can it be to locating one of the most effective roasting pot for you because you might solely use it a couple of occasions a year? Roasting a turkey at Thanksgiving as well as Christmas will require a sizeable as well as durable one. Listed here are a few ideas the way to pick a good choice for you.
Size and Depth
A roasting pot requires to be large enough so things won’t come in contact with the sides as it is cooking. Your pot should give adequate space for the air to circulate plus brown the whole turkey.
The regularly overlooked factor is could your cooking pan perform with your oven? What total catastrophe you can possibly possess struggling with forcing any turkey into your oven just to discover it’ll not fit!
To ensure that your pot can be able to fit into the oven, you will have to determine the interior proportions of your oven in between the narrowest width – this means not from the side of the oven to the other side of the oven. You must study the lip on each side wall in the oven at which the rack slides within and out. You will want to assess from the edge of this lip to the opposite side lip to acquire your available measurement.
Bear in mind you could potentially also need a bit more room for the handles of the pot plus those oven mitts on your hands when inserting or taking out any pot.
How deep should the pot be? Your sides of the pan ought to be sufficient to accommodate the juices from your meat without overflowing into your oven. Sides which are three – 4 ins high ought to be alright. The taller height should allow you to fit veggies for being positioned alongside the meat.
Currently furnished with this material, you are currently ready to buy the proper dimensions to accomodate cooking pot for your oven. Take into account, it can be possible to also have many pans of different proportions to accomodate different sized meats for example fish, roast in addition to turkey.
Grips plus Durability
People could decide among 2 various variations of holders connected on to the pot. Holders could be fastened so they project out horizontally from any side of the pan. This is likely to make raising your pan from your oven much less demanding yet at the same time your grips decrease the cooking region inside the oven. Handles which you’ll find installed vertically may preserve room within the oven nonetheless might make it more difficult to shift the cooking pan from your oven.
Irrespective of which fashion of grips that agrees with anyone, it is usually important that the grips are riveted into the steel of the pan. Riveted holders will be in all likelihood the most safe and sound and also the strongest. One should possess 100% control while controlling an immensely sizzling pan as well as sizzling oil and also juices inside it.
As far as sturdiness of the pan works, you most likely want a weighty roasting pot for more huge plus bigger meats and dishes. You should be able to the support mass in addition to stop dreadful harm. Calphalon Unison Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware makes a first-rate nonstick pan which is durable ample for weighty meals. Leaner pans might probably twist along with curve with hefty foods in it maybe creating a very damaging injury with scorching oils.
Most consumers prefer owning a few cooking pots. From a thin one possibly not having handles to the heavier, much more sturdy kind to support bulkier meals.
At any time when buying any roasting pot, you must ponder these few qualities to make your prospective dinner planning exceptional, easier and also less hazardous.
Shopping on the internet
December 27, 2009 by Hanna08 · 8 Comments
In this modern world, you no longer have to leave the privacy of your home to go shopping. This is definitely not a new concept by any means. Those who’ve made use of the home shopping network know exactly what I mean. This form of shopping used to be restricted to you television set and phone line. Well, not any more. The home shopping network is now available online. No matter what you may be looking for, this online super-store will surely cater to your every whim.
We live in a world where shopping in malls and outlet stores is becoming obsolete. Whereas this certainly may not seem the case, despite the heavy crowds around shopping centers, many of us are staying at home and getting all that we need. We can even purchase groceries on line now days. The home shopping network is a highly accessible place to find linens, cosmetics, dishes, and jewelry for comparable prices. Anything can be delivered to your home. This is especially convenient for those who have trouble getting around. If you have online access or a phone, you’re set.
With the abundance of online stores ravaging cyberspace these days, the home shopping network is merely a player in the game. While they may have been one of the first, a number of online companies are vying for that top spot. An advantage we all appreciate of online shopping is the prices. This is the only place we can really compare and sort through hundreds of price options. There are always more and more companies competing with that lower price. Without that burden of mall rent, many businesses are really able to sell for less.
A major competitor for the home shopping network must be QVC. Come on, I hear these three letters on a regular basis when conversing with my mother. Whether you choose to pick up a few home items or Christmas gifts on QVC or the home shopping network, you can rest assured that you are finding a better deal than you would encounter in a mall or retail store. Shipping is not even an issue. While it may cost you something to have your purchase delivered, the 40% savings will surely make up for it. Many sites even offer free shipping. If you’re a big shopper, check out some of these money-saving sites like the home shopping network. Your wallet will appreciate it.
Searching for a marine present online? Visit http://go-marine.info for a great selection including marine posters and marine gifts. You’re sure to find something to please.
Winning at the Game of Farmville
December 26, 2009 by Hanna08 · 2 Comments
FarmVille, one of the top applications on Facebook, has gained a lot of popularity over the years because of the endless changes in the game that keep it exciting. As the name suggests, this application is mainly concerned with the maintenance of a virtual farm. In this game, you get to choose which crops you want to have in your farm. In the process, you can earn money to buy more crops, animals, trees, decorations and other farmville tools that could make your farm life easier. This game is also interactive because you could add your Facebook friends who use the same application as neighbors. Because of this, you could interact with your Facebook friends fascinated with the same application by making use of the sign posts. In this game, you will be given a small farm and as soon as you earn enough money and get neighbors, you get to expand to a bigger farm.
FarmVille does not get old to most people because there are always add-ons fit for every special occasion. Seeing that it is already Christmas time, the developers made sure to fill the market with the Christmas spirit by adding new decorations that inspire players to work harder on their farm. The problem is, a lot of them are just starting and it would take months before they earn the money needed to buy those limited edition decorations. Seeing that these items are limited editions, they would end up with no Christmas decors to brag about for this season.
Thankfully, they can use one guide that would teach them ways to earn money a lot faster. They can use FarmVille Secrets to learn of legal ways to get ahead of most players. Using FarmVille Secrets would enable both new and old players to have their FarmVille account overflowing with coins, cash and hundreds of neighbor requests. To get a copy of FarmVille Secrets, a little cash would be taken out from your wallet but you would soon see that the benefits that you would get from this guide will be more than worth your few dollars.
Forex Income Engine 2.0 Course to be available again soon!
November 24, 2009 by Hanna08 · 3 Comments
Last Fall, during a late-night Forex trading research session, one of the Forex industry’s most respected trading educators, Bill Poulos, made a revolutionarydiscovery around day trading Forex that he shared with a select group of traders. He then released this as a full multimedia course the Forex Income Engine 2.0 which was completely sold out within just 5 days.
The Forex Income Engine 2.0 is now about to be released again in very limited numbers. Only another 500 copies of the highly acclaimed day trading forex course will be available on a strictly “first come, first served” basis and are sure to be snapped up quickly again.
This is your chance to learn forex trading from an educator with 34 years of hands on currency trading experience: Bill Poulos. This is not just another forex system, it’s a complete forex trading education. This is also NOT another forex robot with the often heard promises of instant wealth and huge profits.
If you’re genuinelyinterested in learning Forex, or have been a little “spooked” by what’s been going on in the financial markets over the last year, then this may be just what you are looking for. Why? Because it finally brings flexibility and customization to Forex trading so that ANYONE can have an advantage, whether you only have 20 minutes to trade, or if you have the whole day. Your choice…
Read independent reviews on Forex Income Engine 2.0 at Profits from Forex where you can also download over 100 trading related eBooks free of charge!
This is your last chance to get a total forex trading course in 2009. Register today to receive notice of availability by email.
Bill Poulos usually gives away at least two copies of his courses at Christmas. If you would like to try and win a copy of the Forex Income Engine 2.0, go to the Forex Income Engine contest guide!
Where to buy or find a Buddy The Elf Costume this year
October 15, 2009 by Hanna08 · 2 Comments
Buddy the Elf costume like Will Ferrell is fun and funny!
If you’ve seen the movie you know Buddy the Elf is a great character and not everyone is going to be dressed as one for their costume. Funny as it seems being an elf for Halloween is a good idea as you can go to a Christmas party as Buddy the Elf also.
The only thing now is deciding what type of Buddy the Elf costume you want, super deluxe or the reasonable standard one. Let me explain the difference between the two a little.
The deluxe Buddy the Elf costume comes with the top made of green velvet with a satin lining and would be real comfy to wear for the whole evening. The pants are polyester, yellow of course and come with a belt. You also get shoe covers and a wig but no feather for the cap, not hard to find your own feather. A real nice costume can be seen below.
Buddy the Elf Deluxe Costume can be real fun for Halloween or the Christmas party for many reasons. Dress the kids up as Elves along with the wife and have grandpa and grandma dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Take a North Pole sign along and you’ve got the perfect costumes for both holidays.
Either way you go you have to watch the movie The Elf for the antics of Will Ferrell so you can get into character for the party. Have fun and enjoy!
Improving Gazebos to Impress Your Guests
April 24, 2009 by Hanna08 · 2 Comments
Some people consider gardens incomplete without the presence of gazebos. This is an excellent place for precious moments, especially during the summer months. It is an ideal place for parties, picnics, or even a romantic outdoor wedding ceremony. If you have one in your garden then you should make sure that it is as delightful as possible for your guests. Can you find good gazebo plans? Moreover, in order to be an effective host, it is necessary that you give it a new look and feel to change things up every now and again. Here are a few tips on how to redecorate your personal home pavilion.
Back to Nature
More often than not outdoor gazebos are situated in gardens and it would be nice if you could match it with the theme of your garden. Adding plants and placing them strategically is a great way of doing so. There are a countless number of available plants and flowers in the market but you must make sure that the ones you choose fits the overall look of your porch. Hang them on the pillars and add some potted plants in and around the porch to make sure that there is a “back to nature” feel to your pavilion. Don’t forget to consider the color as some combinations may not be too pleasing for the eyes. Vines on the posts are always a good idea.
Add Some Fixtures
Adding furniture to your pavilion is necessary to make it better, but you must make sure that it stays coordinated with the theme. Add some chairs, benches and tables to make sure that the place is not merely decorative, but functional as well. Depending on the size of your outdoor gazebo porch, the furniture you put in should be big enough to comfortably seat the capacity of your porch, but also not too big that it makes the pavilion look small. Water fixtures are also a good idea.
Adding a pond near your pavilion will make it look more elegant, but again you must consider its size and make sure that it remains proportional. Add some plants, like lily pads, and even some fish to your pond to make it look even better. You may even want to go all out by adding a small fountain either to your pond or on a separate location. The sound of flowing water will be very soothing for your guests.
Lights and Sounds
If you use your pavilion at night then lighting is a very important factor you must consider. You can never fail with classic lanterns but you may want to play around with more adventurous-looking light ornaments. Again, make sure that it remains in theme. Strap on some Christmas lights on your posts to add a burst of color. For a more relaxing atmosphere, consider adding wind chimes to your gazebos to give it a more peaceful and serene feel.
Find a Hotel in Banff
If you are planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies you will find there is a large selection of hotels in Banff Albera. In the Canadian Rockies there are several rustic back country lodges where one can get in touch with nature, being that many of these lodges don’t have running water or electricity. Young travelers will find plenty of hostels to choose from in Banff that are fine if you don’t mind shared bathroom facilities.
You will also find the standard roadside motels that are quite common along long stretches of highway in the US. Small bed and breakfasts can be found in the city as well as in the surrounding area. One can also find larger Banff Hotels that offer luxurious resort hotels with lots of first class conveniences. The historic mountain resorts will give visitors a taste of old Canada prior to modernization.
For travelers whose focus is on outdoor activities many of the larger resort hotels offer horseback riding lessons, tennis courts, swimming pools, hot tubs, golf courses, boat rentals, business centers, fine dining and guided hike tours within the national park. Most other resorts and hotels offer few amenities and prefer to remain without the modern conveniences in the hotel rooms.
It’s hardest to find a hotel in Banff AB between the months of June to September so make your hotel reservations well in advance. Banff is also a popular travel destination over the Christmas and New Years holiday season. During the winter ski season many hotels pack out with visitors who are eager to ski on the many slopes the surrounding mountain areas have to offer.
Getaway to Milwaukee
February 4, 2009 by Hanna08 · 6 Comments
Its January – that time of year when we all feel a little low – not too mention cold and a broke after the busy Christmas period.
So what better way to cheer yourselves up than plan a short break and one great option could be to plan a break at one of the great Milwaukee Indoor Water Park Hotels. there are lots to choose from including the Hilton Paradise Landing, this venue boast thousands of square feet of excitement including a lagoon water slides, kiddie pool and a hydra therapy spa.
Also amongst the choice of indoor water park hotels in Milwaukee is the Puddle Jumper Lagoon Park housed at the Holiday Inn Express . this property is a member of the WISCO hotel group and has lots to offer visitors including new for 2008 a deluxe whirlpool especially for the mums and dads who can relax while the children play in the water park area.
There is also the Timber Lodge Resort and the Coutry Springs hotel which are also home to some great indoor water parks. The great thing abut these water parks is that the weather never interferes with your fun -it can rain snow what ever out side and the whole family can still enjoy themselves.
Most of the Milwaukee indoor water park hotels offer great package deals that include entrance to the water parks and different meal packages - you can contact the venues directly to discuss the package option that suits you and your family. So beat the January 2009 blues and start planning your short break to Milwaukee. Remember there is more to Milwaukee than indoor water park hotels there are a host of other attractions to keep you and your family entertained as well.
What about your shopping habits?
January 11, 2009 by Hanna08 · 6 Comments
To Shop
These are difficult times economically and many people are making hasty choices. I avoid crowds because I am a short person and do not like to see only one beer belly ahead of me.The guy at Walmart was NOT short Nor Small. Rock concerts and bullfights are known for trampling crowds too.
It is without a doubt a safer choice to shop from home. Most of my Christmas shopping this year will be from this tiny birding guides store and not only for safety reasons. Besides what is most important for me today is a feeling of trust and safety. This birding guides place helps me feel that way and I shall do my Christmas shopping there.
To Learn
Libraries and bookstores are my great places to browse. And I spend a lot of time reading and researching online now it is much faster and safer So I am talking to people and doing online research about home based businesses. So my attention has turned to seeking good quality home based business review sites and I am really glad to find at least one I feel I can trust.
Exploring is contagious
I love to explore outdoors. When I cannot get outdoors to explore, I rely on reading about other adventures in books and online.
It is refreshing to explore nature with my bird binoculars even for a short while. Simple everyday people were responsble for many observations about birds and wildlife which helped scientists learn about the state of the environment. it softened the egg shells of birds and they did not survive. Silent Spring was a catalyst for major environmental movements in America in the 1970′s.