Sign ups for the Affordable Care Act start in a week, and the program is leading to changes in the way employers handle health coverage.

Steve Julian: Business analyst Mark Lacter, what's the most noticeable adjustment?

Mark Lacter: Steve, once you get beyond the squabbling over efforts to defund the new law, what's happening is quite remarkable: businesses are finding new ways to administer and pay for coverage - and some would say it's long overdue.  One interesting example: the grocery chain Trader Joe's, which is based in Monrovia, employs over 20,000 people, and shells out millions of dollars a year in helping provide its people with health insurance.  Well, Trader Joe's has decided to end coverage for part-timers working fewer than 30 hours a week - under the new law businesses are not obligated to provide benefits to employees who work less than that amount.  However, the company is giving those people $500 to go towards the purchase of premiums at the new public exchanges.  And that, along with the tax credits available, could make the new arrangement cost about the same or even cheaper than the current health care package.

Julian: How did TJ's explain this to its employees?

Lacter: The company cited the example of an employee with one child who makes $18 an hour and works 25 hours a week.  Under the old system, she pays $166 a month for coverage; under the new system, she can get a nearly identical plan for $70 a month.  Now, there are cases in which workers will end up paying more - usually it involves having a family member who makes more money, but who doesn't have access to coverage (good example would be an independent contractor or freelancer).  By the way, other companies - including the drug store chain Walgreen's - are also moving part-timers to the public market, and offering some sort of a subsidy.

Julian: I imagine not all companies are being as conscientious...

Lacter: No.  We've seen a number of corporations cut worker hours and not offer a supplemental payment.  Steve, it's worth remembering that administering health insurance is something that businesses fell into quite by accident 60 years or so ago - premiums cost next to nothing at the time, and it was seen as way of attracting workers without having to jack up wages.  The arrangement became more attractive over the years because of certain tax benefits.  But, it's far from ideal - workers move from job to job more often than they used to, and not all businesses are capable of handling the extra costs, especially small businesses.

Julian: Doesn't L.A. have a higher percentage of uninsured than elsewhere?

Lacter: Considerably higher - the Census Bureau show that 21 percent did not have coverage in 2012, which is higher than the overall national number.  Now, there are a bunch of reasons for this: L.A. has a large percentage of households that simply can't afford health insurance or don't have access to government programs, among them undocumented immigrants.  You also have big numbers of people who are self-employed and don't get covered - we're talking about freelancers or consultants of some sort.

Julian: …Or, they work for small businesses whose owners either can't afford, or don't want to provide coverage…

Lacter: That's right - the new law only requires businesses with more than 50 full-time workers to offer health insurance, and a lot of small businesses don't meet that threshold.  The Census Bureau says that in the L.A. area, one in four people with jobs do not have health insurance - and, by the way, there's been a drop-off both in the percentage of businesses in California that offer coverage.

Julian: Sounds dire.  Who picks up the cost?

Lacter: Well, we all do in one way or another - and that, of course, is the problem.  What the Affordable Care Act offers is a start in getting some of the uninsured onto the rolls.  Clearly, it's an imperfect solution that will require all sorts of adjustments, and even though everyone and their uncle seems to have formed a definitive opinion about the new law, it's going to be years before there's any real sense of how it's going.  And, let's remember, signing up for these programs is not some political act.  It's just a way for people to get health insurance for themselves and their families.

Mark Lacter writes for Los Angeles Magazine and pens the business blog at LA Observed.com.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

In the coming months, we're set to witness the largest investment in America's digital infrastructure in history: $42.5 billion that should be a true lifeline for millions of Americans struggling with slow, unreliable, or nonexistent internet connections. But as with any massive government spending program, the devil is in the details - and Republican lawmakers, led by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, are doing their best to ensure those details work against their own constituents.

GSK will keep its existing portfolios while entering areas like oncology, said company officials at its centenary celebrations

GSK will keep its existing portfolios while entering areas like oncology, said company officials at its centenary celebrations

Has your smartphone been able to meet your expectations -- be it music, selfies or multi-tasking? If not, here's a device that is strong enough to break the monotony with its best-in-class features at an affordable price.

Pacific Holidays Inc. has recently announced their latest Flash Deal, which can help anyone take their dream Japan vacation.

Call-On-Doc launches a new compounded weight loss prescription service, offering affordable alternatives starting at $190/month, making weight loss medication more accessible.

Inventionland® Education has introduced Bright Ideaz™ light panels to enhance classroom environments quickly, affordably, and creatively. These LED dry-erase panels, often integrated into Inventionland's Innovation Labs®, are designed to make classrooms visually stimulating and foster an inspiring atmosphere for students and teachers.

Everyone says that starting a business is expensive and risky, but it doesn't have to be. One approach, which some consider safer, is owning a franchise. It has a proven business model, a brand built in and corporate support. And not every franchise will cost you millions. In fact, you can start some franchises for less than five figures -- and not just random, bargain-bin franchises, but companies that made our 2017 Franchise 500 List.

complete article

Hundreds of Government owned sites are set to be released to provide affordable housing for first-time buyers.

John Prescott has today announced nine organisations that have taken up the challenge to build 'affordable housing' for GBP 60,000.

Kebaya - Self coloured embroidery on kasar robia / speckled voile.

Kebaya - Colourful floral embroidery on kasar robia / speckled voile.

Kebaya - Beautiful pieces in plain voile, kasar robia / speckled voile, patterned cotton and cotton mix.

Phoenix-based ebike maker Lectric reckons that last year's XPedition model went on to become the best-selling cargo ebike in the US. Now the company has launched its second generation – sporting "premium features typically found in $3,000+ models" but at a fraction of that kind of price tag.

Continue Reading

Category: Bicycles, Transport

Tags: cargo bike, ebikes, Pedal-assisted

Chennai’s thriving mess culture is dominated by families that have made it their mission to serve good quality food at pocket-friendly rates for students and working professionals

Convenient, affordable and prepared in home kitchens, gravy carts or kulambu kadais in Chennai offer a variety of dishes, with the option of customisations and even customisation is possible. These vendors serve authentic Tamil Nadu flavours and generally functions in busy localities for limited hours. As the rates are pocket-friend, they have a good patronage in the neighbourhoods they operate.

Data gathered from several consulting firms by HT Digital indicated that Bengaluru has maintained its position as the top option for non-resident Indians wishing to invest in India’s residential real estate market, particularly those seeking affordable and mid-segment homes.  The … Continue reading →

MP Chris Bloore wants increased fan representation on club boards to protect the game.

House that has been empty for 12 years will be community-owned and rented out to local family.

North Yorkshire councillors say £1m from the second homes tax premium will fund community-led plans.

A review of the Ruger LC Charger in 5.7x28. An accurate, reliable little PDW, that comes at a great discount compared to the P90.

KUALA LUMPUR: As the takaful industry contends with escalating medical inflation and the rising costs of healthcare, the Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) has called for increased government and private sector collaboration to ensure affordable, accessible protection options for all Malaysians.

MTA CEO Mohd Radzuan Mohamed envisions takaful becoming a leading option for Malaysians seeking protection.

With only 60% of the population currently insured or covered by takaful, he sees untapped potential among the remaining 40%, primarily in underserved and unserved communities.

“Our goal is to make takaful an accessible option, particularly for groups like the BM40 (top 20% of B40 and bottom 40% M40), who often do not receive enough attention from traditional agents,” he told SunBiz at the recent launch of Hijrah27.

Radzuan said the takaful sector has struggled to expand its market share, currently at about 20% after four decades.

In response, he said, they are considering how digital transformation, distribution enhancements and technology can address these challenges.

“Malaysia’s transformation plan and recent initiatives, like the financial sector blueprint, outline steps to close this gap by focusing on underserved communities, leveraging financial literacy campaigns, and engaging technology to make takaful accessible,” he added.

Additionally, he said co-payments, a shared cost model between the insurer and the insured, is seen as a potential solution to rising premiums fuelled by medical inflation.

“Collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Bank Negara Malaysia, takaful providers aim to develop cost-sharing models that help balance affordability and coverage. With co-payments, premiums could become more manageable, helping to mitigate the effects of medical inflation and making Takaful accessible for more people.”
While the adoption of co-payments is currently optional, Radzuan said, making it mandatory could have far-reaching implications on the takaful industry. “A balanced co-payment structure can be beneficial, but affordability must remain a priority to avoid defeating the purpose of protection,” he emphasised.

Looking forward, Radzuan said the association is exploring new technology-driven initiatives, such as the Hijrah27 framework, to improve customer service and operational efficiency. “Collaborations with fintech firms and the rise of AI-based solutions also show promise in elevating the industry’s standards and expanding reach,” he added.

Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, by money expert Clark Howard. How Can I Find an Affordable and Legit Online School? Tim from Georgia asks: “I’ve heard you a few times in the past few months say to consider skills and knowledge that may be outside of a career job position. […]

The post Where Do I Look for Affordable and Legitimate Online Schools? appeared first on Clark Howard.

A new ranking by HomeToGo highlights affordable skiing slopes in New England.

The post New England has 3 of the country’s most affordable ski resorts appeared first on Boston.com.

The BlackStar Companies, LLC announced the launch of a new business division called BlackStar SIPs. BlackStar SIPs is the company’s latest entry into sustainable, cost-efficient and high-performance construction solutions for residential, commercial and government clients.

This week on Basic Black: In the wake of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, a look at Massachusetts' "stand your ground" proposal and recent efforts to pass or block the legislation. Also, the pending Supreme Court decision on the Obama administration's health care reform legislation: however they decide, what are the political ramifications for President Obama's re-election campaign and the impact on communities of color.

Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host and executive editor, The Callie Crossley Show
- Kim McLarin, author and assistant professor of writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, WGBH Radio



(Image source via Creative Commons: xtopalopaquetl)

Hearing loss is a significant public health concern, and efforts should be made to provide adults with easier access to and more affordable options for hearing health care, especially for those in underserved and vulnerable populations, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Consumer access to effective and affordable medicines is an imperative for public health, social equity, and economic development, but this need is not being served adequately by the biopharmaceutical sector, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

High-quality early care and education (ECE) is critical to positive child development and has the potential to generate economic returns, but the current financing structure of ECE leaves many children without access to high-quality services and does little to strengthen the ECE workforce, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Consumers crave budget-friendly treats.

Product purchase and consumption patterns in America point toward a desire for affordable simplicity in our foods. This has catalyzed ongoing product development efforts to meet increasing consumer demand for natural and organic snacks. And efforts to bring cleaner snacking options to more Americans find increased success when retailers can offer such simplified products at affordable price points.

The long and tortuous path to enacting and implementing President Obama’s signature achievement, the Affordable Care Act, has taken yet another twist.

Patient and health advocacy groups representing millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions are applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments in the case of Texas v. United States this term. The case is the latest court challenge to the health care law known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The groups filed an amicus brief urging the Court’s swift action and citing the detrimental impacts and uncertainty patients would face were the case left at the lower court level.

$50,000 Grant Offered by CAHEC's Open Doors Homeownership Initiative

MIPS cycling helmets are expensive, high-end, and out of reach, but no longer! While all the brands sell MIPS cycling helmets for very expensive prices, we are, nearly recklessly, doing the complete opposite.

The Oklahoma-based Lifeline & ACP provider will test the in-store distribution of FreeCast.

SmartBuyGlasses helps people see their best with an incredible deal on quality prescription lenses

Correct vision and lenses are essential for optimal eye health. With support from online opticians, SmartBuyGlasses makes prescription eyewear accessible to everyone

At SmartBuyGlasses, customers can customize their prescription glasses and sunglasses with an affordable selection of prescription lenses and coatings.

Enhancing Smiles, Enriching Lives: Discover Magic Fox Orthodontics' Comprehensive and Cost-Effective Solutions for Every Smile in Huntington Beach

Helping parents give their kids the best chance for school success

As prescription drug prices continue to rise in the United States, SaveRxCanada.to offers a reliable and affordable alternative for Americans seeking cost-effective medication options.

The cost of prescription drugs in the United States continues to rise, making it difficult for many Americans to afford the medications they need to stay healthy.

By Offering Safe and Reliable Access to Low-Cost Medications from Canadian Pharmacies, SaveRxCanada.to Provides Critical Support for Seniors Struggling with High Prescription Costs in the U.S.

For Two Decades, SaveRxCanada.to Has Helped Millions of Americans Access Safe and Affordable Prescription Drugs from Licensed Canadian Pharmacies, Reducing Healthcare Costs and Enhancing Lives

SIVOO, Inc., pioneered a digital streaming network of on-demand multicultural entertainment over the Internet

Employer Shared Responsibility Solutions (ESRS) was launched in March 2013 to assist the HR operations of small to mid-sized businesses in meeting the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Live everyday carefree with an extra layer of protection for Apple Watch's display!