Yesterday, we advised you to start preparing for your 2023 tax filing. Today, we’ll talk about deductions you can take that are not included on Schedule A, Itemized deductions. These are “above the line” deductions that are afforded you, even if you don’t itemiae.
Continue reading Above the line…
We’ve spoken how the Inflation Reduction Act (sic) includes many provisions that were started when the pandemic hit; in this case, an increased subsidy for those signing up for the Affordable Care Act. Had the Inflation Reduction Act not been passed, those folks would have seen a tremendous increase in the costs of their health insurance. And, with the public health emergency declaration, the ability to enroll in Medicaid was enhanced (and now continued)- so much so that 88 million folks are so enrolled (a 17% increase since the start of the pandemic in February 2020).
Continue reading Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and the Pandemic Emergency
Open Season is almost over. I know that many of you just can’t decide what’s the best plan- which one will work for you. It’s hard to predict what drugs you’ll need, if you’ll contract a bug, or just be fine.
Continue reading Tomorrow??????
You know the statement playing with a full deck?
If you play pinochle, then your full deck is considered to be 48 cards. If you play with a conventional deck, it increases to 52. Except that’s not really true. Because a conventional deck has two jokers.
Continue reading Not playing with a full deck at all
It starts. Today is the beginning of open season. Time to choose our health care plan. Or, if you are like me and entitled to Medicare, today is the day to decide to ADD to the mandated service. Because years ago, the government cut Medicare provisions. Now, we need to choose a drug plan and a Medicare Advantage plan to cover all those things that aren’t covered. Or pay through the nose.
Continue reading Hurry Up. Less than 45 days left
More finagling with Obamacare. TheDonald keeps screwing with the insurance companies so that PPACA will die. And, since he is clearly the smartest person in the world (do you think he drinks Dos Equis?)- NOT, he is positive that the world will believe that he didn’t kill it, but it died a natural death. (Hmm. Must be like the Nazis and KKK- that had a torch march on Friday night, threatened the Jews of Charlottesville (without guns while they marched, with guns by the only synagogue in Charlottesvile), and employed vehicular manslaughter (with 19 others maimed and hurt)- were the ones endangered and justified in their actions.)
Continue reading Fake Savings!
One of the biggest problems with Obamacare is the the inability to determine what next year’s costs are really going to be. From the big insurers’ point of view, they feel that their inability to know who is (and how many who’s are) going to sign on to the program before they list their proposed premiums. From the small (and newly formed coops) insurers’ point of view it has been the changing rules as to who is responsible for the transfer payments from the lower cost insurance pool to the higher ones.
Continue reading To have or not to have? (Health insurance)
Surprise! Your health insurance rates are going to go up. Why? Insurance for the insurance companies…
Continue reading Rates on the rise?
Today is the day… One that will probably match the revolution in health care that arose almost 50 years ago. That was Medicare. This one, which will be revised as often and for the same reasons that we refined Medicare- is popularly (or is that infamously) known as Obamacare (PPACA is the legal abbreaviation for the act.)
Continue reading Today is the day!
It’s time for a little truth. One that has probably eluded you for years- because your employer provides your health insurance. But, if you have to buy your own insurance- or, worse yet, have no insurance, you probably have an inkling of these insidious practices.
Continue reading What’s behind that curtain?
