Budget lines drawn at (Iowa) Statehouse: GOP plan includes state workers paying for insurance
Posted by admin / Under Insurance
DES MOINES — Legislative Republicans proposed Thursday to spend $182 million less than Gov. Terry Branstad’s $6.242 billion budget plan for next fiscal year and about $119 million under majority Senate Democrats’ targets by providing less money to education, human services and economic incentives and requiring state employees and elected officials to pay $200 a month for their health insurance coverage. All three competing and contrasting fiscal 2013 budget approaches offered by the governor and leaders of the split-control Legislature would fully fund spending commitments already approved last session, including a 2 percent “allowable growth” increase for K-12 public schools...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:27:04 AM
Three States to Require Insurers to Disclose Climate-Change Response Plans
Posted by admin / Under Insurance
Insurance commissioners in California, New York and Washington State will require that companies disclose how they intend to respond to the risks their businesses and customers face from increasingly severe storms and wildfires, rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change, California’s commissioner said Wednesday. “Our experience and other states’ experience as regulators is you get a far better response rate if you require response to be provided than if you just allow companies to decide when and how they will respond,” said Dave Jones, the California commissioner. “Our goal is to have the most complete, best and accurate...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:27:04 AM
Dave Says Insurance, Insurance
Posted by admin / Under Insurance
Dear Dave, I’ve got auto insurance, but can you tell me what other kinds of insurance are good to have? Chris Dear Chris, The purpose of insurance is to transfer risk that you can’t afford to take. Most people can’t afford to have a heart attack and triple bypass surgery. Having to pay for something like that completely out of pocket would bankrupt just about anyone. That’s why health insurance is a vital part of any good financial plan. It’s also important to have auto, which you do, and homeowner’s insurance, too. If you don’t own a home, make sure...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:27:04 AM
Texas health insurance rebates are on the line
Posted by admin / Under Insurance
It sounds too good to be true, and if Texas regulators have their way, it won't happen. About 690,000 consumers are slated to get an estimated $160 million in rebates from health insurance companies by Aug. 1. But the Texas Insurance Department wants to slash that amount by three-fourths and phase in changes slowly. The department says the individual insurance market could be destabilized if companies have to make the payments and cut into profits. Consumer groups say that everything will be fine and that customers deserve their full refunds. A federal decision is expected within two weeks. The rebates...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:27:04 AM
"Fatti Maschii Parole Femine" Should Be, "Fatti Totalitaria Parole Liberale"
Posted by admin / Under Insurance
(For the short version, skip to the "Body of Comment" section.) This is a personal rant, and is why I will leave Maryland as soon as I can afford to. Please indulge. Thank you. The state of Maryland kicks a man while he is down. April 2010, I lost my job as a computer programmer. Though I interview at least twice a week, jobs are competitive and very hard to get. Perhaps my biggest pet peeve is the trend for employers to tell me, "You're hired. You will start as soon as we get the budget for the project approved."...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:27:04 AM
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