Many strategies exist for determining the "proper" time to file for the receipt of SS benefits. Each comes with pros and cons and is only as good as the situation to which it's applied. Some people are blessed with longevity and/or wealth and can afford to defer benefits while others have lousy genetics and/or poor [...]
Recently Apollo began working with a new client and in doing so gathered information about their P&L Insurance - homeowners ("HO") and auto plus special circumstances and risks like excess liability, flood, earthquake, hurricane, etc. They were understandably angry when we broached the topic as their current insurer (we'll leave the name out to protect [...]
Last week President Obama chided businesses for discriminating against the long-term unemployed. Today the Congressional Budget Office announced the results of a projection that Obamacare will reduce the number of hours worked to be the equivalent of two million full-time jobs. Just can't make this stuff up!
Uncle Sam bailed out the auto industry. Huge financial failure. The American taxpayer lost billions of dollars. Uncle Sam bailed out the banking industry. Huge financial success. The American taxpayer earned billions in profits. Next in line is the health insurance industry. Poorly drafted legislation, poor implementation and now a rewrite without legislation will once again [...]
"All the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives...choosing the shiny ones instead." "Hello, Springfield. Sorry to divert your attention from all the big noises and shiny things." Recognize the above? One of them? Both? The first is a lyric from Pearl Jam's "Thumbing My Way." The second is The Simpsons' Sideshow Bob interrupting the crowd at the air [...]
The IRS has launched a new Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions website to educate individuals and businesses on how the health care law might impact them. The home page includes sections explaining the tax benefits and responsibilities for individuals/families and employers including tax provisions currently in effect now and those that will go into effect in 2014 [...]
1962's The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance starring John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart gave us this gem: Stewart (as "Ransom Stoddard"): "You're not going to use the story, Mr. Scott?" Carleton Young (as "Maxwell Scott"): "No, sir. This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." In a surprising twist Big Government has decided to dump the myth in [...]
The frustration about regulations is often the (needless) complexity. Can't we have a CliffsNotes version? Yes we can - Kaiser Family Foundation to the rescue! This simple flow chart explains who will be required to purchase coverage or be subject to the "remember it's not a tax...oh, wait, The Supreme Court said it is" penalty. This calculator helps in understanding premium assistance / [...]
A tentative settlement reached in October of Jimmo v. Sebelius (a class action lawsuit brought against the federal government) will make Medicare a bigger player in funding LTC. Under the settlement the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will relax Medicare's requirements for enrollees seeking coverage for institutional or in-home skilled nursing and therapy services. Currently the standard [...]
Over the coming days residents and businesses alike will be assessing the damage caused by Hurricane / Nor'easter / Super-storm Sandy. Below are telephone numbers for the more common carriers for reporting claims: ACE 800-778-1629 Allstate 800-255-7828 Chubb 800-252-4670 Chartis 888-760-9195 Encompass 800-588-7400 Fireman's Fund 800-870-8857 NJM Insurance Group 800-367-6564 Progressive 888-274-4499 PURE 888-813-7873 State [...]