Only 43% of small business owners are familiar with a tax credit that could help pay their health insurance costs for employees, according to a national survey released last week by the Small Business Majority (SBM).
“I’m not surprised,” John Arensmeyer of the California chapter of the SBM said. “There has been a lot more heat than light shared on this law, so there’s been a lot of confusion.”
Arensmeyer has worked on a statewide “listening tour” for the past nine months, talking to small business owners about the creation of California’s health benefit exchange and the potential savings from the tax credit.
“People don’t really know for sure what’s in the bill,” Arensmeyer said.
Full Article…
Chrissie Holmes and Fred Sharman tied the knot with a traditional Native American wedding, with Chrissie wearing a bright blue tribal outfit along with feathers, boots and beaded jewellery.
The couple from Hampshire, whose Native names are Little Bear and Walksslow, walked down the aisle to the sounds of flutes and spent their wedding night in a tepee. The wedding outfits had taken 9 months to make by the happy couple.
Fred said: ‘It’s been a long-term hobby and interest for both of us, so it just felt right to wear this on our wedding day. Thi
Full Article…
There is need for serious reforms in the health care industry. The precedence of the health authorities need to be checked. The health care exchange needs to be understood better. The main issue of concern of the small businesses prevailing in the vicinity is the increasing prices of Health-insurance.
There is not much that could be done about it so far. The legislation that had to be passed for the aid of the small business owners has not yet made it to the final stages and the general assembly is not very enthusiastic about it as well.
If the provision had been passed, it would be much easier for the owners of the small businesses to increase their purchasing power and they would then be able to acquire more health insurances at lower rates.
The officials need to create such effective and practical measures that could really make a difference to the business owners.
Full Article…
A life settlement company and its principal allegedly created a $4.5 million Ponzi scheme that authorities say enabled him to put $21,000 toward his school loans, buy more than $5,000 in cowboy boots and pay nearly $5,000 to register for a dating service.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission obtained an emergency court order to halt an alleged $4.5 million investment scheme by the Los Angeles-based company that purported to broker life settlements.
The SEC alleges that Daniel C.S. Powell and his company Christian Stanley Inc. spent the past seven years creating the illusion that it was a legitimate company involved in the life settlement industry.
Full Article…
Insurance is extremely important and comes in many forms. There is of course house insurance, car insurance, landlord insurance, building insurance, personal belongings insurance and an array of other options.
There are, however, a few more serious options to consider and these come in the form of life insurance and Critical Illness Insurance. Full Article…
Life insurance is all about risks. Life insurance actuaries examine all the statistical data available about a potential individual to calculate the likelihood of their death. This information is then used to determine what kind and how much life insurance one should purchase. The information is also utilized to set the life insurance premiums. For example, smokers are statistically expected to die sooner than would a non-smoker. This means the insurance company would have to pay out sooner on the life insurance policy for the smoker than the non-smoker so as a result a higher life insurance premium is charged. Full Article…
Medically vulnerable individuals enrolled in high-deductible health plans are not at a greater risk for cutting back on necessary health services than non-vulnerable enrollees in high-deductible plans, according to a new study by RAND Corporation,
For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 360,000 U.S. families enrolled in high-deductible health plans through 59 large employers between 2003 and 2007. In particular, researchers examined how high-deductible plans affected families living in low-income areas and families that had a member with a serious chronic condition.
Key Findings
Some health advocates have expressed concern that high-deductible plans could spur low-income families and people with chronic illnesses to forgo necessary medical care.
Full Article…
Life Insurance Life insurance income. When we think of life insurance we tend to focus on lump sum cash payments upon the death of the insured. Are you aware that there are alternatives? Did you know that the proceeds of your policy can be distributed in income form instead of a lump sum? Yes, life insurance income payments is a viable alternative. Would you prefer to have payments to your loved ones made in the form of an income? I have seen lump sum life insurance payments to beneficiaries put to good use but I also have seen situations where this large payment upon death serves no worthwhile purpose.
Full Article…