March, 2010 Spring Time

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Solid Health Insurance solidhealthinsurance logoServices
Healthy Tips for Spring

Greetings!
Last night the health care reform passed. What does it mean for you? Ultimately 32 more million Americans will be eligible for health insurance by growing Medicaid, mandating all Americans to buy health care and offering those living under 400 % of the poverty line subsidies to help buy insurance through new regulated "exchanges."
 
College graduates can stay on their parents's insurance until age 26. For American enrolled in Medicare the prescription drug "doughnut hole" will be closed. There will be no major change for Americans currently having health insurance through their employers.
For richer families,families with 2 children making more than $250,000, their Medical payroll tax will increase from 0.9% to 2.35% and they will pay a 3.8% tax on investment income starting 2013. On the regulatory reform, the law bars insures from rescinding coverage to the sick, discriminating based on pre-exisiting conditions and capping lifetime coverage. The Washington Post published a useful interactive tool  to see how the reform will  affect you click on.
Get Fit for Spring! 
 It's that time of year again when we're ready to jumpstart into spring, and that includes getting fit. Time to stop Spring Fitnessgroaning and think about where to start. There are a lot of small things you can do that can go a long way to get fit after a long winter, and hopefully these tips will help to motivate you!  
 
Read more about healthy tips to get fit for Spring
In This Issue
Get fit for Spring !
Financial Tips for Dealing with Hospital and Medical Costs
Getting Ready for Tax Season
Blue Shield & Kaiser Permanente
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Financial Tips for Dealing with Hospital & Medical Cost
Hospital charges 
An appendix surgery with a 3 day hospital stay cost approx. $ 36,000. It is important for the consumer to know how to deal with the hospital. Inform your insurance carrier and agent that you need to go to the hospital, ask your doctor for the diagnostic code and the insurance company will inform you what the negotiated rate will be and also your out-of- pocket expense. It is very important to contact the financial office of the hospital. With insurance plans having higher deductibles, the hospital will ask for a deposit. Negotiate this deposit. Ask for the facitility charges of the hospital, as these are the highest cost. Negotiate a payment plan with the hospital for your deductible.
If you are asking the hospital for financial assistance, be prepared to show proof of your income, expenses and savings. These can include pay stubs, rent & mortgage statements, alimony, unemployment checks, tax statements and all bank & savings accounts.  
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Getting ready for Tax Season
  Barbara headshotIt is the time for getting ready for taxes. Are you ready, do you need help ?
 
You might want to attend an ealy morning seminar.
Tax &  IRS Specialist, Mike Montano with Demetriou, Montano & Assoc. will answer the 25 most frequently IRS & Tax questions.
The meeting will be held on March 31st at 7:30 am at Panini in Marina Del Rey. 
 

 To rsvp to this seminar please email 

 info@solidhealthinsurance.com 
Happy EasternBarbara headshotWishing my Jewish and  Christian clients & friends a Happy Passover and Happy Eastern.
 Enjoy the traditions of Passover with your family and friends. Have a Seder filled with lots of good food and tradition. 
A bit early, but as my April Edition will be sent after Eastern, I wish you a happy Eastern and a joyous Eastern hunt !

Relax, Love, Laugh, Get Fit and enjoy this Spring time.

 Sincerely,
 Barbara Schmalz                                            
  
Solid Insurance Services
310-909-6135 
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Looking for a great real estate broker? Keller Williams
Did you know that my husband is a real estate broker associated with Keller Williams?
Obama's First Time Buyer Incentive Program will be discontinued April 30th - take advantage of the tax incentive now! Please don't hesitate to contact Bob with any real estate issue you might have. Contact  bob_schmalz@wlaregroup.com