| State lawmakers face backlash over health benefits
Cafero is a state representative in Connecticut and taxpayers subsidize his generous health insurance plan, which requires only a $10 copay for any brand-name prescription drug. "I'm standing behind either an elderly person or a working-family person and they're taking out wads, like dropping 20, 40, 60 bucks. And I've got $10 — $5 for a generic," said Cafero, R-Norwalk. "I'm embarrassed." Pressure is mounting in states hit worst by the recession to take back some of lawmakers' generous health benefits that are funded by taxpayers. A review by The Associated Press showed lawmakers in 12 states get health insurance for free, while those in 28 states share the costs with taxpayers, often getting a better deal than private sector workers. In California, where finances are so bad the state has issued IOUs, the citizen commission that sets benefits for elective officials voted in June to reduce funds for lawmaker health insurance.
Back-To-School Preparation Includes Health Insurance
With summer vacation coming to an end and Kentucky children headed back to school, it's a good time to make sure health insurance is part of your child's preparation for the new school year. Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) representatives have been visiting schools to spread the word about KCHIP, and back-to-school promotional materials, including bookmarks for students, are being distributed through Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSCs) in schools. A statewide radio campaign, in addition to other promotional efforts, reminds parents to make sure their children have health insurance. “This month is a good time for parents to think about making sure their children have the tools they need to learn and succeed in the classroom, and nothing is more important than health care," said Gov.
Saving money as easy as reviewing auto insurance coverage
If you've lost a job or your income is reduced for another reason, it's good to review insurance coverage. A guiding principle should be to answer the question “How would a change in coverage affect my family's health and well-being?" Let's focus on auto insurance. Minnesota auto owners are required by the state to carry minimum limit liability insurance, no-fault insurance and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection. Other optional coverage includes collision, comprehensive, towing and rental reimbursement. If your car is not new, one way to reduce auto insurance premiums is to increase the deductible for comprehensive and collision. If the car's value is low, consider dropping collision and assume the potential of loss yourself. Minimize your premium by checking rates from several companies, raising your deductible, and insuring all family cars with one company.
Wayne Root: 'How to Solve the Healthcare Crisis Tomorrow!'
Repeal all government laws, rules and mandates that prevent American consumers from buying any health insurance policy they want, anywhere in the country. It is government rules, regulations, laws and mandates that make healthcare expensive in the first place. Now Obama wants to solve the problem that government created by adding more government? By adding more government rules, regulations and mandates? Obama suggests that government cure the problems and high costs of government-run healthcare (Medicare, Medicaid) by forcing government to take over all healthcare? He wants to spend an additional trillion dollars to save money? The answer is to allow the American consumer to buy any policy, in any state, that best fits their family's needs, without government mandating what should be included in that policy.
Students shouldn't have to buy health insurance
Once enrolled in three credits, Brock adds $205 for private, extended health insurance. Students can only opt out when proof of alternate private coverage is provided and, even then, are discouraged from doing so. I take issue with being forced to purchase this as a cost of attending the university. This is a service I neither want nor need, and, if I wanted to cover every member of my family, it'd cost me $820 a year. In the four years I've had children, I've yet to spend a total of $200 on prescriptions for them. It was suggested by university representatives that I look into financial aid, but I have a problem with being told to incur long-term debt so I can afford private health insurance the university insists I need. Forcing students to purchase this insurance limits access -- I can't afford the additional $205, so I will have to drop a full credit, which will prolong obtaining my degree and further prolong improving my employment situation.
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