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Effective January 1, 2018 New York becomes the latest state to require that employers provide paid family leave, joining California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Also, Washington State adopted a paid family leave act in 2007, that has not been implemented due to a lack of funding, and San Francisco has adopted its own ordinance. The New York law is:...

My recent post (“Your Money … and Your Life”) described some of the decisions facing individuals in making health insurance and health care purchasing decisions. The choices described in that blog post were, generally, decisions that individuals make once per year – such as what type of health insurance coverage to buy (e.g., HMO, PPO, high deductible plan) or whether...

The Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress have been clear about their desire to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. But, while that legislative battle plays out, the ACA is still on the books and defines the rules for the American health care system. This blog post will not look at the repeal and replace battle. Rather, it looks...

As the wrangling over the future of the Affordable Care Act continues, it is important for consumers to keep their eyes on a very important issue – an issue that remains important, regardless of the outcome of the political battles. The issue: the increasing burden on individuals in making health care purchasing and utilization decisions. Health Care is Complicated In...

As the Administration and Congress move beyond replacing the Affordable Care Act (at least for now), the focus is turning to changes in the tax code. This does not mean that employee benefits are out of the crosshairs; rather, it may simply mean that the target might shift. Here’s why: First (and Second) Goal – Reducing Corporate Tax Rate As...

It is too soon to predict the fate of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), or, as we call it, TrumpRyanCare. But, the AHCA as currently proposed – and the debate among Republicans over its provisions – represents a significant statement. That statement: the core provisions of the ACA regarding insurance market reforms now appear to be accepted by both...

Let’s take a break from the ACA repeal-and-replace debate to look at an issue that frequently confuses (and trips up) unwary seniors entering Medicare: the impact of Medicare coverage on other insurance and how to approach enrollment in Medicare. Basic Rules Eligibility for Medicare is really eligibility for two different types of insurance coverage: Medicare Part A (hospitalization) and Medicare...

As the Administration and Congress define their vision of “repeal and replace” we are seeing a number of efforts to increase the use individual accounts as a key component of any likely Trump/RyanCare proposal. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) figure prominently in a number of Republican proposals as a way for individuals to pay for current (pre-retirement) health care costs. For...

There is a lot of talk in Washington about repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – Obamacare. The question for Medicare beneficiaries is--how will any changes affect you? The most important direct impact is that Medicare beneficiaries could pay more for prescription drugs. Here’s why: •      Under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage (Part D) there is a gap in your insurance...

As the Administration and Congress move forward with new health care proposals (Trump/RyanCare), they are grappling with the true meaning of “repeal and replace.” This blog post will describe one way of looking at how different groups are likely to be impacted by repeal and replace under “Trump/RyanCare.” Market Access vs Financial Access The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to...