Search Results for: blog tax cut

Donate and Get a Tax Break

Count up those donations and get a tax break! With the Fiscal Cliff looming in 2013, families much do as much as we can to cut our taxes in 2012. Donations and charitable contributions are one way to do just that. Make sure that you make your donations the right way, or you may lose out on valuable deductions. I know December is busy, but if you can take a few hours out of the afternoon for a day or two to collect and deliver donations, you’ll start the new year off with a little financial kickstart, and chances are … Continue reading →

Insurance Blog Week in Review – May 13 – 19, 2012

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Once a week, the Insurance Blog Week in Review gives you a brief description of all of the blogs that were posted in the past seven days. There could be anywhere between twelve and fourteen blogs that appear here weekly. Did you miss something? Now is your chance to “ketchup”. Governor Christie Vetoes Insurance Exchange New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would have set up an online marketplace for health insurance. He feels that it is too early to set up his state’s insurance exchange, and is waiting to see what the Supreme Court decides about … Continue reading →

Texas Sues Federal Government Over Funding Cut to WHP

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The Texas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The lawsuit is challenging the federal government’s decision to cut the funding to the Medicaid Women’s Health Program in Texas. The decision was made after Texas chose to exclude the largest provider of women’s health care in their state from receiving any of the funding from WHP. First, a little background about this situation. The Medicaid Women’s Health Program, (WHP), is part of the Medicaid program in Texas. The WHP provides funding for the basic preventative care that women need. It includes things like … Continue reading →

Insurance Blog Week in Review – Week of February 12 – 18, 2012

In a given week, there can be anywhere from twelve to fourteen different blogs appearing here. The Insurance Blog Week in Review brings you a quick and easy way to “ketchup” on the news that you may have missed. Clinic Will Charge Unhealthy Workers Higher Insurance Rates The Cleveland Clinic is going to charge employees that are considered to be unhealthy a 21% higher health insurance premium. To avoid the increase, the worker has to see a doctor and follow the health plan the doctor prescribes. The Insurance Podcast Roundup for the week went up on February 13, 2012. Each … Continue reading →

Congress Passes Another Extension on the Payroll Tax

Congress has managed to work together and to pass legislation that extends the payroll tax cut. This is about more than the payroll tax, however. It also affects the Medicare reimbursement rate for doctors, and unemployment insurance benefits for people who haven’t been able to find employment. This is not the first extension that Congress has passed regarding the Medicare reimbursement cut, the payroll tax, and the length of unemployment insurance benefits. There was a last minute extension that happened right before Christmas of 2011. At that time, the Senate had passed an extension for those things, and the House … Continue reading →

Congress is Deadlocked Over Medicare Payment Cut- Again

Last year, shortly before Christmas, Congress was gridlocked over what to do about the upcoming deadline that would require a cut to the Medicare payment for doctors and hospitals. Their solution was to pass a two-month extension of that deadline. Now, that extended deadline is approaching, and Congress is deadlocked, once again, over how to solve this problem. Shortly before Christmas of 2011, the United States Senate passed a bill that would have prevented a 27% pay cut for Medicare reimbursement to doctors and hospitals. There was a December 31, 2011, deadline coming up. If nothing was done, the massive … Continue reading →

Insurance Blog Week in Review – January 15-21, 2012

News about insurance related issues moves pretty fast. Every week, there are fourteen different posts on the Families.com Insurance Blog. You may have overlooked, or missed, something that you really would have liked to read. The Insurance Blog Week in Review can help you “ketchup”. The ASPCA Sells Pet Insurance Do you need affordable pet insurance? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has some options for you. The Insurance Podcast Roundup for the week went up on January 16, 2012. Insurers Say Sleep Lab Tests Are Overprescribed More doctors are prescribing an overnight stay at … Continue reading →

The Tax Man Cometh

If you spent all or part of 2011 working part-time or less, you may be wondering if you even have to file taxes this year. Many self-employed workers wonder the same, especially if they didn’t generate much money in the last 12 months. To determine whether or not you earned enough cash to warrant filing taxes, you must first consider your age, employment status, and total earnings. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines “earnings” as wages, salaries or tips paid to you by an employer (or yourself, if you are self-employed). In addition, the IRS also counts long-term disability benefits … Continue reading →

What Do the Postal Service Cuts Mean for Your Household?

It was bound to come to this. The US postal service is an independent bit of the government that while subject to government rules and regulation is not supported by government funds or tax dollars. For years it has been hurting financially, and is now requesting to be allowed to make some changes to help reduce that debt. USPS asked the Postal Regulatory Commission for a number of changes that may affect when and how you get your mail. One of the items for change is the standard delivery service. Currently set at two days, it would be changed to … Continue reading →

Cutest Book EVER!

Have you ever bore witness to something so incredibly cute that it made you… ovulate. I dare you to look at the unequivocally adorable illustrations that fill Charlie the Ranch Dog and not turn into a puddle of mush… or want to spawn, ASAP. I about died from the cuteness the first time I paged through the charming children’s book courtesy of HarperCollins. But then, when my 6-year-old daughter and I actually sat down to read Charlie the Ranch Dog, I discovered the story was as delightful as the pinch-your-cheek cute pictures. Continuing in our week-long series of super summer … Continue reading →