Wednesday, October 16, 2013

5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM

5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM

Rise and shine! Morning time just became your new best friend. Love it or hate it, utilizing the morning hours before work may be the key to a successful and healthy lifestyle. That’s right, early rising is a common trait found in many CEOs, government officials, and other influential people. Margaret Thatcher was up every day at 5 a.m.; Frank Lloyd Wright at 4 am and Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney wakes at 4:30am just to name a few. I know what you’re thinking - you do your best work at night. Not so fast. According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health benefits for those with a life before work go on and on. Let’s explore 5 of the things successful people do before 8 am.

1. Exercise. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Most people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether it’s a morning yoga session or a trip to the gym, exercising before work gives you a boost of energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at work. Even if you aren’t bright eyed and bushy tailed at the thought of a 5 am jog, try waking up 15 minutes early for a quick bedside set of pushups or stretching. It’ll help wake up your body, and prep you for your day.

2. Map Out Your Day. Maximize your potential by mapping out your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that helps when prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving when trying to fit everything into your timetable. While scheduling, don’t forget about your mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after that stressful meeting for a quick walk around the block or a moment of meditation at your desk. Trying to eat healthy? Schedule a small window in the evening to pack a few nutritious snacks to bring to work the next day.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. We all know that rush out the door with a cup of coffee and an empty stomach feeling. You sit down at your desk, and you’re already wondering how early that taco truck sets up camp outside your office. No good. Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep you mind on what’s at hand and not your growling stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical health, it is also a good time to connect socially. Even five minutes of talking with your kids or spouse while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost your spirits before heading out the door.

4. Visualization. These days we talk about our physical health ad nauseam, but sometimes our mental health gets overlooked. The morning is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.

5. Make Your Day Top Heavy. We all have that one item on our to do list that we dread. It looms over you all day (or week) until you finally suck it up and do it after much procrastination. Here’s an easy tip to save yourself the stress - do that least desirable task on your list first. Instead of anticipating the unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your lunch break, get it out of the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well equipped to handle more difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressively easier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!

Source: http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/5-things-super-successful-people-8-am-190800886.html

Also on Forbes:
16 Things You Should Do At The Start Of Every Work Day

The Top 25 Small Companies In America


The 20 Best Non-Tech Small Companies In America

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Questions Often Asked About Health Law - NYT

October 4, 2013

Millions of consumers rushed to the online health care exchanges on Tuesday only to be greeted with long waits and frustrating error messages.
Those who managed to create accounts or peruse the plans offered in their state left with many questions about the Obama administration’s health care plan. Among them: What does all of this mean for my 26-year-old child, who is now too old to remain on my own policy? The premium subsidies are based on my income, but what if I have no idea what I may earn next year? How is “modified adjusted gross income” calculated anyway?
Last week, my column addressed the broad outlines of how the exchanges will work, from how the different tiers of coverage would be structured to what types of individuals would qualify for tax credits on their premiums.
Dozens of additional queries landed in my in-box this week. Here’s are some of the most frequently asked questions and an attempt at answering them:
Q. I haven’t seen any discussion about students. My son will be 26 next month, and thus can no longer be on my plan. He is a full-time student in another state and fully dependent on my financial support. Do you know where he fits into this system?
— Mark Alper, Berkeley, Ca.
A. Adult children lose coverage through a parent’s policy on their 26th birthday. But they can then immediately enroll on the exchange — even outside the open enrollment period, which ends on March 31. Individuals under age 30 may also qualify for a “catastrophic” plan, which carries a lower premium but a very high deductible (equivalent to the out-of-pocket maximum, or $6,350 for a single person, in 2014). Tax credits, however, cannot be applied to catastrophic plans.
Q. My difficulty and confusion is I don’t actually know what my annual income is or will be in the coming fiscal year. I am a freelance classical musician, meaning I have seasonal employment from as many as 20 employers in a year and I file tax returns in seven states and three countries.
— gibarian, San Francisco
A. The experts I spoke with said you needed to make your best educated guess when estimating your income. The exchange will verify it by checking your tax return from last year as well as your current income. (The federal government has contracts with firms that provide that information.) If your self-attested income varies by more than 10 percent when compared to those two sources, you will be asked to provide more documentation, according to a spokeswoman at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Q. I have very little annual personal income, but am fortunate to have other savings/resources that would allow me to pay for one of the better plans with higher premiums. (I have no access to any employer-sponsored plan). I am willing to enroll in one of these better plans on my state’s health exchange even if I don’t get any subsidy for it. (I seem to earn too little to qualify for a subsidy anyway.) Will I be allowed to do this, and do this without penalty or added taxes?
— KRyan, New York City
Q. I am currently unemployed but have a sizable trust fund. Do I qualify for discounts/tax credits when buying health insurance? Will I be required to show my federal tax return?
— Jory, Columbus, Ohio
A. You can certainly buy coverage on the exchanges when you don’t have coverage through an employer. Whether or not you pay full price or qualify for a premium tax credit depends on your modified adjusted gross income, which is based on your latest tax return (and yes, the exchanges will check your return).
If your household’s modified adjusted gross income is from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (that’s $11,490 to $45,960 a year if you’re filing as an individual and $23,550 to $94,200 for a family of four), you may be eligible for a premium tax credit, according to CCH, a tax and accounting service.
Several readers had questions about how the modified adjusted gross income is calculated. It’s basically your “adjusted gross income,” which can be found on line 37 of your 1040 tax return form. But it requires that you add back certain items like nontaxable Social Security income, tax-exempt interest and foreign-earned income, Mark Luscombe, a principal analyst at CCH, said.
The figure also includes income from items like dividends, interest, real estate and retirement account withdrawals. So even if you do not have much earned income, but have significant income from other sources, you obviously won’t qualify for financial assistance.
Premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies are generally based on your household income, which includes your spouse and any dependents for whom you file a personal exemption and who also earn enough money to file a return, he added.
Q. I get insurance through my employer. My same-sex husband has little to no income and will be using the exchange. Our state of residence (Virginia) is letting the federal government run the exchange. Our state does not recognize our marriage, but the Internal Revenue Service does. How will he determine income when using the exchange?
— S.G., Eastern U.S.
A. The I.R.S. said last month that all married same-sex couples would be treated as married for federal tax purposes, regardless of where they live. And starting in the 2013 tax year, all married couples will be required to file their returns together as either “married filing jointly” or “married filing separately.”
The insurance exchanges will also see you as married. In fact, if you’re a married couple buying insurance on the exchange — gay or straight — you’re required to file a joint federal return, the Treasury Department said. (Why? Imagine how many more people would qualify for subsidies if they used “married filing separately” status.)
Your premium tax credits will ultimately be reconciled against your 2014 household income. So when the exchange asks for your information about your projected income, it’s probably wise to use what you expect your combined household income to be in 2014. The exchange will verify it by checking your tax returns from last year as well as your current income.
Q. I am wondering whether moving to a new state is considered a life event. My state, Maine, has only two choices of providers and is said to be one of the most expensive states for insurance. I am contemplating moving to another state which has many choices, but can I cancel my Maine coverage and obtain new coverage in my new location? — jwc, Maine
Q. We are currently living overseas. When we move back to the United States, which will be after the enrollment period for the exchanges has closed, will we still be eligible to sign up?
— Lisa, Melbourne, Australia
A. Moving to a new state is indeed considered a qualifying life event, so you will be able to sign up even after the open enrollment period closes. The same goes for people moving back to the country. You do, however, need to be living in the United States to buy a plan on the exchange. American citizens living abroad are not required to get health insurance under the new law.
Q. I’m looking forward to buying insurance for my 82-year-old mom. She came to live in the United States this year and got her green card in July 2013. She is not eligible for Medicare since she has never worked/paid taxes in this country. How much will it cost to insure her?
— Martaines, Miami
A. Most immigrants who are “lawfully present,” including people with permanent resident status (also known as green card holders), can buy coverage on the exchange. Just like citizens, they are also eligible for premium tax credits and cost-sharing assistance if they meet the income requirements. (In fact, most legal immigrants must have coverage by 2014, unless they qualify for an exemption.)
As a green card holder, your mother will be eligible for the exchange, but will need to live here for five years to qualify for Medicaid. Since she is not eligible for Medicare, however, she can apply for a premium tax credit, said Lynn Quincy, a senior policy analyst at Consumers Union.
Premiums rise with age, but it’s hard to say how much she will pay since the exact rules will vary from state to state. Generally speaking, however, federal rules allow insurers to charge older adults (someone in their sixties, for instance) up to three times the premium they would charge younger adults, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. It will be easier to get a more specific answer by checking the plans on your state’s exchange.
Q. I am eligible for Medicaid, but because of my treatment needs, I want to purchase insurance on the exchange (even at full cost). But when I state that I have no income, the Web site simply directs me to Medicaid — no option for the exchange. Can I purchase on the exchange? — Kate, Ill.
A. Yes. If you are eligible for Medicaid but not yet enrolled, then you can still buy coverage on the exchange. The drawback: people who can get Medicaid (or Children’s Medicaid, also known as CHIP) are not eligible for premium tax credits, according to Kaiser. If you can’t sign up on the Web site, try calling: 1-800-318-2596.
Q. I haven’t seen a clear statement as to whether being on Cobra (from prior coverage on my ex-wife’s employer plan) will exclude me from the exchanges. Can I drop the Cobra plan if there’s a better deal on the exchange?
— John, Livingston Manor,
N.Y.
A. If you lose your job, you may be able to extend your employer-based health insurance for up to 18 months through Cobra. (But you often must pay the entire premium — the share you paid when you were employed, plus your employer’s share.) If you have Cobra coverage, you can keep it. But you also can go to the exchange, where you might qualify for subsidized coverage. You can get exchange-based coverage as early as Jan. 1, as long as you enroll in a plan by Dec. 15.
Q. My 26-year-old-son recently lost his job (which did not provide insurance). He has very little savings. How is he expected to purchase coverage with no ability to pay?
— Jim, Poughkeepsie
A. He may qualify for Medicaid if he lives in one of the states that expanded the program, according to Cheryl Fish-Parcham, deputy director of health policy at Families USA, a consumer advocacy group. Some states have already started covering single adults, and others will begin later this year. (In the states that are not expanding Medicaid, only low-income parents with children, or low-income adults who are elderly or have a disability qualify, she said.)
If his income is above the poverty line and he doesn’t qualify for Medicaid, he may be able to buy a plan on the exchange and receive a tax credit to lower the monthly premiums. “The costs of some plans are quite minimal for people with low incomes,” she said. But the exchange also asks about household income, so what he is eligible for depends partly on whether he expects to file taxes on his own, or whether you expect to claim him as a dependent, she said. He may also qualify for a hardship exemption.
Q. I am retired and have rheumatoid arthritis. I had to enter a high-risk insurance pool and now pay exorbitant monthly fees for not very comprehensive coverage. Do I drop this insurance and go to the exchanges? Are there other private insurance I can qualify for? When I fill out an application, will they ask if I have a pre-existing condition?
— Robert, Conn.
A. Starting next year, insurance plans can’t refuse to cover people or charge them more just because they have a pre-existing condition, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This rule applies to all plans sold on the exchanges, employer-provided or group plans and many individual plans sold outside the exchanges. But there is an exception: individual grandfathered plans which are essentially plans that existed before March 23, 2010, and have generally remained the same, don’t necessarily have to follow the new rule. The exchange application does not ask for health information. The earliest you can get coverage is Jan. 1 (if you enroll by mid-December), so don’t drop your current coverage before then.

  Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/your-money/estimating-income-and-other-questions-on-the-health-care-plan.html?pagewanted=1&nl=your-money&emc=edit_my_20131007&ref=your-money-email

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

A Guide to the New Exchanges for Health Insurance-NYT

Given all of the rhetoric about the Obama administration’s health care law, it’s not surprising that many consumers are confused about how the new insurance exchanges will actually work. Some states that oppose the law have gone as far as intentionally limiting the information that trickles out to its residents. 

But after much anticipation, the curtain will finally rise on the exchanges next week, providing millions of consumers with an online marketplace to compare health insurance plans and then buy the coverage on the spot. 

The exchanges are likely to be most attractive to people who qualify for subsidized coverage. Individuals with low and moderate incomes may be eligible for a tax credit, which can be used right away, like a gift card, to reduce their monthly premiums. People with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied coverage or charged more (this applies to most plans outside the exchanges, too). And all of the plans on the exchanges will be required to cover a list of essential services, from maternity care to mental health care. 

“In today’s individual market, it’s like Swiss cheese coverage,” said Sarah Dash, a research fellow at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. “Consumers should have an easier time figuring out what they are getting for their money.” 

But it’s still going to take some time to analyze the plans and their costs, which are expected to vary widely across the states. And the coverage may still pinch many families’ budgets. Fortunately, there’s a six-month window, from now to March 31, for people to figure it all out.
Here’s some information to get you started: 


Q. Where can I apply or get more information on the exchanges?
A. To avoid fraud artists, enter through the front door: Healthcare.gov. From there, you can find links to the exchange offered in your state. There may be technical glitches as the program gets started, so alternatively, you can call 1-800-318-2596. 


Q . When does coverage go into effect?
A. You can apply as early as Oct. 1, but coverage won’t begin until Jan. 1. The enrollment period for coverage in 2014 closes on March 31, 2014. After that, you can enroll only if you have a major life event like a job loss, birth, marriage or divorce. 


Q. What sort of coverage will be offered?
A. All plans will have to provide the same set of essential benefits, including prescriptions, preventive care, doctor visits, emergency services and hospitalization (this also applies to most individual and small-employer group plans sold outside of the exchanges). But plans can offer additional benefits, or different numbers of services like physical therapy, so you’ll need to do a side-by-side comparison to see what fits your needs — or at least the needs you can anticipate. 


Q. Are the plans sold on the exchange more comprehensive than plans outside?
A. There are four plan levels, each named for a precious metal. They all generally offer the same essential benefits, but their cost structures vary. The lower the premium, the higher the out-of-pocket costs.
The bronze level plan, for instance, has the lowest premiums, but will require consumers to shoulder more costs out of pocket. They generally cover 60 percent of a typical population’s out-of-pocket costs, and include deductibles, co-payments and coinsurance. The silver plans cover 70 percent; gold, 80 percent; while platinum covers 90 percent (and therefore carries the highest premiums).
If you buy a plan on an exchange, your annual out-of-pocket costs cannot exceed $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for a family of two or more in 2014. Catastrophic plans are also available to people under age 30 or those suffering a financial hardship. These carry high deductibles (equivalent to the out-of-pocket maximum, or $6,350 for a single person, in 2014). You cannot apply tax credits to these plans, either.
Premiums will vary across the states because of a variety of factors, like market competition, the underlying cost of care and the negotiating power of the exchanges, according to Kaiser research


Q. If the costs with plan levels are similar, how will plans differ within the metal levels?
A. Networks of doctors and hospitals will differ, and cost-sharing structures may also vary. One plan might have lower deductibles and higher co-pays, whereas another plan might have a separate deductible for prescriptions. Various medications may also be covered differently. “If you are someone who is taking medicines, make sure you know what your drugs will cost in the various plans being offered,” said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, deputy director of health policy at Families USA, a Washington consumer advocacy group. 


Q. Will I be eligible for a premium tax credit (subsidized coverage)?
A. People with income between 100 percent of the poverty line (or about $23,550 for a family of four) and 400 percent of poverty ($94,200 for a family of four) are eligible for a tax credit to defray premium costs. (All income eligibility is based on your modified adjusted gross income; the online version of this column links to a guide explaining how that is calculated).
The tax credits are set up so that consumers will not have to pay more than a certain percentage of their income, ranging from 2 percent for those with incomes of up to 133 percent of the poverty level ($15,282 for a single and $31,322 for a family of four) to 9.5 percent for those with income of 300 to 400 percent of the poverty level, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The dollar amounts of the credits are calculated based on the costs of the second-to-lowest-cost silver plan available to you.
Kaiser has a calculator that can give you an idea of your eligibility


Q. Can I get help with my out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles?
A. People with incomes between 100 percent of the federal poverty line ($23,550 for a family of four) and 250 percent ($58,875 for a family of four) are also eligible for cost-sharing reductions, which means you’ll pay less for items including deductibles and co-payments, and you’ll have lower out-of-pocket maximums.
There is a big caveat: you can qualify for the reductions only if you buy a silver plan. When choosing a silver plan — and compare them closely, because they will differ — the exchange Web site will automatically show what you will pay, with the cost-sharing reductions included, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Even if you’re tempted by the bronze plans’ lower premiums, remember you’ll probably end up paying more for out-of-pocket costs. For people who qualify for both premium and cost-sharing subsidies, the silver plan will usually be the better deal, Ms. Fish-Parcham said. 


Q. Should I use all of my subsidy at once? How can I avoid owing taxes?
A. The premium subsidies are delivered in the form of a refundable tax credit, which can be used immediately to reduce your monthly premiums.
You can use it all right away, or you can use part of it, or none at all. If you expect your income to remain the same, you might use the entire credit. But if your income is likely to rise, it may pay to use only a portion of the subsidy. That way, you’ll avoid owing money to the I.R.S. at tax time.
If your income does change, report it to the exchange. If your income drops, you may be eligible for a larger credit. Changes in family size should also be reported. “It will all get reconciled on your taxes in the spring of 2015,” said Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation. 


Q. How can I find out if my doctor accepts exchange-based insurance?
A. Many of the insurance providers’ networks of doctors and hospitals will be narrower than are typically found in commercial insurance, as my colleague reported this week. So just because your doctor accepts, say, a Blue Cross plan provided by your employer, that doesn’t necessarily mean the doctor will take the same carrier’s plan offered on the exchange.
The plans will be required to provide a directory that lists their network’s providers, Ms. Pollitz said, so inspect them carefully. 


Q. How will I know if my drugs are covered by the plans?
A. The exchanges must include a summary of benefits and coverage for each plan. That includes information about what your co-payments would be for generic, brand name and specialty drugs. It should also provide a Web link to the plan’s list of covered drugs and how they are categorized by a particular plan, said Ms. Fish-Parcham. 


Q. If I have employer-based coverage, can I go to the exchange for coverage?
A. You can, but you probably won’t want to. Your employer’s plan is usually a better deal. Many employers heavily subsidize your premiums and you can pay for your coverage using pretax dollars, something you can’t do if you buy coverage on the exchange.
“Plus, employer plans are typically fairly generous,” said Lynn Quincy, a senior policy analyst at Consumers Union.
Besides, if your employer offers you coverage, you probably won’t qualify for a tax credit unless your share of the premium (for the lowest-cost plan for individual coverage offered by your employer) is more than 9.5 percent of your modified adjusted gross income, Ms. Quincy explained.
If your employer’s insurance plan doesn’t cover 60 percent of medical costs, on average (what’s known as “minimum value”) you may also qualify for subsidized coverage. Your employer is supposed to let you know where the plan falls in terms of minimum costs. “If you are spending huge amounts out of pocket each year and you have a high deductible, it’s worth looking at what your possibilities are,” said Sara R. Collins, vice president of the health care coverage and access program at the Commonwealth Fund. 


Q. Am I eligible for Medicaid?
A. The health care law aimed to expand Medicaid so that everyone under age 65 would qualify if they earned up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (that’s about $16,000 for an individual and $32,500 for a family of four in 2014). But the Supreme Court ruled in June that the decision to expand Medicaid is up to the states — and only 26 states have decided to move forward, according to Kaiser


Q. So if I’m poor but not eligible for Medicaid, can I get insurance on the exchange?
A. Yes, but unfortunately, many people in this situation won’t be able to afford it. People who don’t qualify for their state’s Medicaid program but earn too little to qualify for subsidies on the exchange will have to pay full price for the coverage offered on the exchanges. So if you can’t get Medicaid and your income is below 100 percent of the poverty level, you will not be eligible for subsidized coverage on the exchange. 


Q. What if I’m self-employed or own a small business?
A. If you’re self-employed with no employees, you can shop for coverage on the exchange.
If you have fewer than 50 employees, you can get coverage for yourself and your workers though the Small Business Health Options program, known as the SHOP Marketplace. “Small employers have always wanted to have the buying clout of a large employer and the SHOP exchanges offer them just that,” said Kevin Lucia, project director at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute. 


Q. What are the penalties for not having coverage? Are there any exceptions?
A. Most people will be required to have insurance, with some exceptions. You are not required to buy insurance if: the cost of insurance premiums would exceed 8 percent of your income, your income is below the threshold for filing taxes, you have a certified hardship, or you would have qualified for Medicaid but live in a state that did not expand the program. Illegal immigrants, the incarcerated, members of Indian tribes and those who qualify for certain religious reasons are also exempt.
Everyone else will pay a penalty. In 2014, it will cost you $95 or approximately 1 percent of your income, whichever is greater. The penalties will rise each year.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/your-money/health-insurance/a-guide-to-the-new-health-insurance-exchanges.html?ref=your-money-email&nl=your-money&emc=edit_my_20130930&_r=0