Heiman Consulting

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ATTENTION EMPLOYERS WITH LAYOFFS
HUGE TAX CREDIT ON COBRA PREMIUMS
 
If you have layed off employees or playing future layoffs, remember a new law allows you to take tax credits to in order to lower the premiums to employees.  Many people who get laid off are eligable to continue their insurance under COBRA.  However, most opt out because they can't afford the premiums and used most of their unemployment to just make rent or mortgage and pay utilities.  Now, through tax credits, you can lower their prremiums to 35% of what they would pay under the old plan.

Click here to connect to the Dept of Labor to learn more
HEALTH INSURANCE NOT TAXABLE
 
Starting 2011cost of employer provided health insurance must be on your W2 FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.  It is not taxable.  It is designed to let employee know how much their total compensation is worth.  Many employees are unaware of how expensive insurance is and are completely shocked when they leave how much it costs to keep their insurance. If they know these costs they can make better decisions about insurance, union negotiations, and how much they use medical services.  If you know how much healthcare really costs, you are more likely to shop around for services rather than just going to the hopital for tests that can be done at a local clinic. see Affordable Care Act
 
EMPLOYEES:
DON'T LET YOUR INSURANCE LAPSE
Take advantage of the new COBRA insurance and avoid a "break in coverage".  Most individual policies will not cover pre-existing conditions and some group policies with your new employer will not cover pre-existing conditions if you have a "break in coverage".  When you leave or get laid off, you will receive a letter from the insurance company stating the period of coverage.  You will need this letter to get new insurance with no gap for pre-existing conditions.
BEWARE:
With all the talk of a national health insurance, insurance companies are coming out of the woodworks trying to offer coverage at below rates of your group insurance.  But do they pay when you have a claim.  Many insurance companies offer lower rates, but when you go to the hospital, deny the claim as a "pre-existing condition" or delay payment for months while you have collection agencies harrasing you night and day.
 
ALSO BE AWARE:
There is a great deal of media blitz about waiting lists and sub-standard care in countries that have "socialized medicine".   This media blitz is coming from so called "News" broadcasts but are actually commentary programs disguised as news.
 
Real statistics from Kaiser Foundation and United Healthcare Foundation:
Texas ranks 46th in quality of healthcare with 25% uninsured (not illegal aliens; California also has more illegal aliens and only has 18% uninsured with the national average of 15%). Washington state ranks 10th, only has 11% uninsured and has a public option for only $150 per month (full price not government subsidized), when Texas group insurance costs $660 per month and has no public option.