Regardless of what Conservative Republicans are spewing about ObamaCare, the truth is that this allows all individuals in our country to have health insurance, which is absolutely the way it should be. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will expand access to insurance for all individuals, small groups, and young adults who do not presently have health insurance; including those with pre-existing conditions. It will create a market for those who are unable to get insurance through their job.
Most likely, individuals who already have coverage or receive coverage from a large employer will probably not see any changes. And if you are happy with your insurance, you do not have to do anything-you keep it just the way it is.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE: NJ LAW NOW ALLOWS QUALIFIED DEPENDENTS OF INSURED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE COVERAGE UNTIL AGE 31-IT USED TO BE AGE 26.
The law defines an eligible dependent as a child of a subscriber who is:
unmarried or not in a civil union
has no dependents
is 30 years old or younger
is either a NJ resident, or enrolled as a full time student at an accredited school
People can shop for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) starting 10/1.
You can see side by side comparisons of various plans and decide what's best for you.
Once you purchase your plan, you can start using the health insurance on 1/1/2014.
The Affordable Health Care Act broadens member benefits. The new plans you purchase MUST cover 10 categories of services:
Hospitalization, Outpatient services, Emergency service, Maternity and newborn care,
Prescription drugs, Lab services, Pediatric service (oral and vision included), Mental health/substance abuse, Rehabilitative services and devices, AND most important, Preventative and wellness services(blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol screenings, mammograms, colonoscopies, flu and pneumonia shots, osteoporosis screenings.
What everyone should realize is that:1) Obamacare created penalties to hospitals that had high rates of patient readmission and also, high rates of infection. And guess what? This year Medicare has stated that patient readmission fell. 2) Obamacare created Accountable Care Organizations where " Doctors get paid based on their patients medical outcome, instead of how many tests/procedures they perform."
3) Electronic records and new technology now being utilized by Doctors and hospitals has created more efiicient and cost saving practices.
Health-care inflation is at its lowest level since 2011. Six hundred BILLION has already been cut from the anticipated 10 year spending total for Medicare&Medicaid.
Premiums are significantly lower than forecasted.
You are now asking who pays for insurance for people who are too sick or too poor to purchase insurance on their own? Well, the money will come from a)
higher taxes on the rich b)the savings I mentioned above from Medicare and c) having young, healthy people (who previously did not have coverage) to enroll in the new system. These 25 million new customers to the insurance industry will ultimately keep costs down. And, lo and behold, "evidence so far suggests that Obamacare's cost reforms are a staggering success."
As Jonathan Chait states in New York Magazine, "permanent health-care reform would define Obama as a Reaganesque transformative figure, rather than the failure conservatives still hope him to be remembered as."
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Can You Feel It In The Air?
Here we are again-the warm days of September are here with a hint of crispness in the air. There is no better season, and no more beautiful time of the year in the Northeast. With the weather change, comes the new fashions for fall. Spending lots on clothes is not my thing, but I love fashion and a good find. After paging through tons of catalogues, these are my recommendations.
Bang for the Buck
SHOES
Forget Jimmy Choo, Christian Loubitin, Manolo, Ferragamo, and Giuseppe Zanotti!
Head for Lord and Taylor and check out: Sam Edelman's Della Pump in black and
camel for $139.95. Ivanka Trump's entire shoe line is priced well and looks fabulous,
Check out her Caria Flat for $99.95. DV by Dolce Vita "Joust" bootie in black or
brown suede is $99.00 and simple and cool.
At Nordstrom's Vince Camuto's Bocca buckled over the knee boot for $228.95
Finally, Check out all of Tory Burch's boots-they are all great with a skinny jean.
Available at Tory Burch Stores.
PURSES
Who needs Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Miu Miu or Philip Lim?
Visit Nordstrom and check out Rebecca Minkoff's Cross body Dexter bucket bag in
Port for $295. I love Coach's new soft legacy pebbled leather shoulder bag in
Midnight for $358-available at Saks.
PANTS&TOPS
Lord and Taylor's private brand: crepe dolman and medallion brocade pant in
evergreen. ($60 and $70). Amazing color-great for the holidays!
Nicole Richie's line for QVC has two great items: a leather and canvas jacket for
under $90 bucks and a brocade ankle pant in black or red for under $70.00. She has
a great sense of style and these are cool.
brocade pant
JEWELRY
Pomellato's small band silver ring at Saks for $310. Buy two and wear as ring guards
with your diamond band. The large band is $350 and great on its own.
COATS
Saks has a gorgeous DKNYC colorblock wool coat with faux fur. Navy/Charcoal/
black for $299.
Gotta Have It-Willing to Splurge (and it's not even that bad!)
PURSES
Saks again: Michael Kors Miranda tote in Royal/Black for $1495.
PANTS
9/15 ponte leggings also at Saks for $110. One pair of black ponte pants are great
for every season. Worth the price. Wear with boots, stilletos or ballet flat-super look.
JEWELRY
Meira T necklace in blue chalcedony and diamonds at Bloomies for $1595. also
comes in a variety of stones. Simple, Elegant, Everyday or black tie.
COATS
This is my favorite: Dawn Levy Coat. Very streamlined with black ponyhair. Ok-it
may not be pc with the antifur crowd, but they don't kill the horse-they just give
it a trim. At Saks (where else?) for $1095.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND MUST HAVES:
Coolest dress: Cynthia Steffe's rose print jacquard fit and flare dress in black and
gold. Great for dinner or black tie-really pretty and reasonably priced for $248.
Get it at Lord and Taylor
If you only buy one item on trend this season make it a "haircalf" purse, belt, or shoe.
Bargain: Betsey Johnson's studded haircalf belt for $48; or Sam Edelman's strappy
okala pump for $120. Both items at Lord and Taylor.
If you want to transform your dull skirt or dress, jazz it up with an embellished tight.
Go look at DKNY'S embellished black seam tight, or geometric patterns by Pretty
Polly, Wolford, or Spanx. All at Nordstrom. Spend $20-$60 and you have a rockin'
look that's hip and pretty.
Coolest new running show is Nike's free fly knit in pink/white for $160(Nordstrom)
And finally, a splurge that might make you feel regretful next fall, but happy this season is Valentino's Rockstud Sling pump in Nude or blue patent. $945 at Saks.
Bang for the Buck
SHOES
Forget Jimmy Choo, Christian Loubitin, Manolo, Ferragamo, and Giuseppe Zanotti!
Head for Lord and Taylor and check out: Sam Edelman's Della Pump in black and
camel for $139.95. Ivanka Trump's entire shoe line is priced well and looks fabulous,
Check out her Caria Flat for $99.95. DV by Dolce Vita "Joust" bootie in black or
brown suede is $99.00 and simple and cool.
At Nordstrom's Vince Camuto's Bocca buckled over the knee boot for $228.95
Finally, Check out all of Tory Burch's boots-they are all great with a skinny jean.
Available at Tory Burch Stores.
PURSES
Who needs Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Miu Miu or Philip Lim?
Visit Nordstrom and check out Rebecca Minkoff's Cross body Dexter bucket bag in
Port for $295. I love Coach's new soft legacy pebbled leather shoulder bag in
Midnight for $358-available at Saks.
PANTS&TOPS
Lord and Taylor's private brand: crepe dolman and medallion brocade pant in
evergreen. ($60 and $70). Amazing color-great for the holidays!
Nicole Richie's line for QVC has two great items: a leather and canvas jacket for
under $90 bucks and a brocade ankle pant in black or red for under $70.00. She has
a great sense of style and these are cool.
brocade pant
JEWELRY
Pomellato's small band silver ring at Saks for $310. Buy two and wear as ring guards
with your diamond band. The large band is $350 and great on its own.
COATS
Saks has a gorgeous DKNYC colorblock wool coat with faux fur. Navy/Charcoal/
black for $299.
Gotta Have It-Willing to Splurge (and it's not even that bad!)
PURSES
Saks again: Michael Kors Miranda tote in Royal/Black for $1495.
PANTS
9/15 ponte leggings also at Saks for $110. One pair of black ponte pants are great
for every season. Worth the price. Wear with boots, stilletos or ballet flat-super look.
JEWELRY
Meira T necklace in blue chalcedony and diamonds at Bloomies for $1595. also
comes in a variety of stones. Simple, Elegant, Everyday or black tie.
COATS
This is my favorite: Dawn Levy Coat. Very streamlined with black ponyhair. Ok-it
may not be pc with the antifur crowd, but they don't kill the horse-they just give
it a trim. At Saks (where else?) for $1095.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND MUST HAVES:
Coolest dress: Cynthia Steffe's rose print jacquard fit and flare dress in black and
gold. Great for dinner or black tie-really pretty and reasonably priced for $248.
Get it at Lord and Taylor
If you only buy one item on trend this season make it a "haircalf" purse, belt, or shoe.
Bargain: Betsey Johnson's studded haircalf belt for $48; or Sam Edelman's strappy
okala pump for $120. Both items at Lord and Taylor.
If you want to transform your dull skirt or dress, jazz it up with an embellished tight.
Go look at DKNY'S embellished black seam tight, or geometric patterns by Pretty
Polly, Wolford, or Spanx. All at Nordstrom. Spend $20-$60 and you have a rockin'
look that's hip and pretty.
Coolest new running show is Nike's free fly knit in pink/white for $160(Nordstrom)
And finally, a splurge that might make you feel regretful next fall, but happy this season is Valentino's Rockstud Sling pump in Nude or blue patent. $945 at Saks.
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