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☆ You can now file your taxes directly to the IRS for free — if you live in 1 of these 12 states
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The IRS' much-anticipated free tax filing software is now online. Direct File is in a pilot phase and available for "simple" tax returns for 2023. For now, the tool is limited to taxpayers who lived in one of 12 states last year. The much-anticipated Internal Revenue Service software — aptly named Direct File — opened as of Wednesday in a pilot phase ahead of its wider public launch in mid-March. While it's free to sign up, there is a catch: to file using the tool, taxpayers must have been a resident of one of 12 states for all of 2023 and not have income from any other state.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, aren't Organizations: IRS, Service, Revenue Service, Arizona California Florida Massachusetts Nevada New Hampshire New, Account Locations: Arizona California Florida Massachusetts Nevada New Hampshire, Arizona California Florida Massachusetts Nevada New Hampshire New York South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington Wyoming, Arizona , California , Massachusetts, New York

The Direct File pilot program is rolling out in stages. The agency estimates that several hundred thousand taxpayers are eligible for the initial rollout in the 2024 tax season. Four other states that have a state income tax also are part of the pilot program — Arizona, Massachusetts, California and New York. In those four, state tax agencies will help people directly file their state taxes as well. “Direct File is one step toward getting the IRS in line with 21st century tax administration,” Olson said.

Persons: “, Danny Werfel, Nina Olson, ” Olson, Werfel, Tania Mercado, ” Robert Nassau, preparers, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Center for Taxpayer Rights, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Republicans, Intuit, Low, Clinic, Syracuse University College of Law Locations: Florida , New Hampshire , Nevada , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona , Massachusetts, California, New York, Germany, Japan

The total for the latest open enrollment period marks a 30% increase from a year ago, based on past enrollment figures published by the health policy research organization KFF. Officials said the figures include 5 million new signups and more than 16 million people with 2023 ACA plan coverage. West Virginia, which has expanded Medicaid, saw the largest percentage increase in enrollment at 80%. “Marketplace coverage is very important to those in those states whose incomes are under 138% of poverty,” says Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access and tracking health system performance for The Commonwealth Fund. “It is a reflection of the lack of Medicaid expansion in those states.”An analysis by KFF notes ACA health plan enrollment has increased each year during the Biden administration.

Persons: It’s, Xavier Becerra, “, ”, Sara Collins, KFF, Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Cynthia Cox, Cox, signups, ” Cox, Collins, ” Collin Organizations: Biden, “, Social Security, Affordable, ” Department of Health, Human Services, District of Columbia, Commonwealth Fund, American Locations: Texas, enrollees, Florida, West Virginia, signups

☆ Struggling insurance upstart Oscar is making a long shot bet on a Trump-era program to fuel growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The New York insurance company has struggled to find its footing for years. At the top of the list is this little-known Trump-era policy, which offered employers a new way to give workers health benefits. Oscar has struggled with deep lossesBertolini is the former CEO of the insurance company Aetna. The company raised its health plans' prices and renegotiated contracts with healthcare providers and vendors — including its pharmacy-benefit manager — to lower expenses. In the future, Oscar plans to design specific health plans that cater to those types of customers.

Persons: —, Joshua Kushner, Mario Schlosser, Oscar, it's, Mark Bertolini, It's, Bertolini, Trump, Ari Gottlieb, Elijah Nouvelage, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, New, Morgan Healthcare, Aetna, Reuters, HRAs Locations: New York, ICHRAs

☆ Tax-advantaged accounts can help you save on health-care costs—here's how HSAs and FSAs differ
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts are both tax-advantaged financial tools that can help you save money on your medical expenses. Some FSA funds may roll over into the new year, but it depends on your plan sponsor, according to FSAStore. If you invest your HSA funds, the earnings are also tax-free, giving HSAs a triple tax advantage. "Your HSA custodian doesn't micromanage your HSA expenses like they will your FSA," Rhinehart says. She says it's a good idea to keep receipts when you use your HSA funds just in case you're ever audited.

Persons: FSAs, Charlene Rhinehart, Rhinehart, HSAs, they'll, doesn't Organizations: CNBC, Fidelity, Internal Revenue Service Locations: FSAStore

☆ It's open enrollment season for health coverage. If you're self-employed, you can't afford to ignore it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Picking health insurance on your own — without the help of a human resources department — can be daunting. Instead of throwing up your hands in frustration, here are answers to questions self-employed individuals often have about open enrollment. Doing nothing will mean they are automatically reenrolled in last year's marketplace plan. How much health insurance costs the self-employed Cost will vary, depending on the plan you choose, who is covered and what subsidies you're eligible for. If you want more specific help, you can also choose to work with an agent or broker who is trained and certified to sell marketplace health plans in the state they are licensed.

Persons: Anthony Lopez, Alexa Irish, Laura Speyer, enrollees, Lopez, You'll Organizations: Getty, Centers, Medicare, Medicaid Services, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, deductibles, state's Department of Insurance Locations: trepidation, eHealth

☆ Open Enrollment Begins for Affordable Care Act Health Plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Unsubsidized monthly premiums — the “sticker” price — for a benchmark silver plan are rising 4.5 percent on average as a result of inflation and greater use of health care services since the pandemic, according to a KFF analysis. (Plans are grouped by metal levels, ranging from bronze plans, which have low premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs, to gold and platinum plans, which have higher premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs.) The average monthly premium for a benchmark silver plan is expected to be about $477 for an individual, and the average lowest-cost bronze plan $364, KFF found. Most marketplace customers, however, don’t pay those sticker prices, because tax credits lower their monthly cost — to zero, in some cases. Premium tax credits are based on a family’s size and income and the cost of plans in the area.

Persons: Cox, ”, KFF Organizations: Affordable Care, D.C Locations: Washington

☆ As open enrollment begins for Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace, here's what you need to know for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Getty ImagesFor millions of people, it's time to compare benefits and prices and pick health coverage on the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces. The enrollment will likely stay high this year, according to Jennifer Sullivan, director of health coverage access at the CBPP. Moreover, with some people set to lose Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program coverage, they may need to move to marketplace coverage. People who lost coverage via those plans who are moving to the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace will have a special enrollment period until the end of next July, Sullivan noted. watch nowHowever, for everyone looking to enroll in a marketplace health plan for next year, it's best to try to do it sooner rather than later.

Persons: Jennifer Sullivan, Sullivan, it's, Louise Norris, Norris Organizations: Affordable, Center, Budget, Children's Health, Care, D.C, Navigators Locations: Jan, Washington, Idaho, Virginia

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS plans to invite select taxpayers across 13 states to try out the agency's pilot electronic free file tax return system beginning in January. The agency estimates that hundreds of thousands of taxpayers will participate in the limited rollout of the program for the 2024 filing season. The IRS faces intense blowback from private tax preparation companies that have made billions from charging people to use their software. The introduction of a government-run option could upend the industry and fundamentally change the way taxpayers interact with IRS. The states are “really blazing the trail for this exciting project and finding a way for state filing to work within the context of this, ” Zucker said.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, ” Werfel, Werfel, ” Derrick Plummer, Joe Biden, Gabriel Zucker, ” Zucker, that’s, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Intuit, America, Arizona’s Department of Revenue, New York’s Department of Taxation, Finance, Taxpayers, “ Locations: Arizona , California , Massachusetts, New York, Alaska, Florida , New Hampshire , Nevada , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington, Wyoming

☆ Why paying off your student loans won't get easier anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Student-loan borrowers are entering uncharted territoryThe Education Department has never had to reenter 28 million people into payments at the same time. Plus, federal servicers' technology may not be up to the task. In contrast, federal student-loan servicing has been contracted out to five companies, and the government doesn't have the resources to fully keep tabs on the industry. "So there really were deep-rooted structural problems in the loan programs on the policy design but also on the execution side," Kvaal said. As the years went on, the GAO continued to identify flaws in student-loan programs that were hurting borrowers.

Persons: Greg Ogden, Ogden, I've, servicer, he's, he'd, We're, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, James Kvaal, —, Kvaal, Barack Obama's, Obamacare, servicers, Scott Buchanan, servicers —, servicer MOHELA, MOHELA, Biden, Virginia Foxx, she's, Cardona, it's, Foxx, Carolyn Fast, Joe Biden's, Buchanan, Warren, Pamela Herd, Herd, Melissa Emrey, that's, Miguel Cardona, we're Organizations: Public, Education Department, Department, Student Loan, —, GOP, The Century Foundation, Federal Student Aid, Georgetown University, Medicare, Student Aid, Office, Biden, Social, Education, Consumer Financial, Emrey, Federal, Aid Locations: servicers, Arras

☆ Opill: The FDA approved the US’ first over-the-counter birth control pill. What happens next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the oral contraceptive Opill for over-the-counter use, making it the first nonprescription birth control pill in the United States, but it will be months before it’s available. The typical combination birth control pill, the most commonly used form of oral contraception, uses both hormones to prevent pregnancy. “People use birth control for things outside of preventing pregnancy like [polycystic ovary syndrome], treating heavy periods, painful periods,” she said. “There’s a lot of uses for it outside of birth control that people also will benefit if they can get it over the counter.”Who can use Opill? This could have a major impact for adolescents and young adults who may not otherwise have the resources to access birth control, according to Brandi.

Persons: Gynecologists, ” ACOG, Carolyn Westhoff, they’re, “, ”, Opill, Kristyn Brandi, Brandi, ” Brandi, Anne, Marie Amies Oelschlager, Amies Oelschlager, Jennifer Robinson, ” Robinson, Frederique, Joe Biden, Court’s Dobbs, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Meg Tirrell Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, American College of Obstetricians, FDA, Columbia University, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Gynecology, of Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University, Treasury, Labor, Human, CNN Health Locations: United States, Opill, New Jersey

☆ Dr. Mandy Cohen: Biden chooses the next CDC director
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And as Cohen takes on what’s become an increasingly politicized role at the CDC, Biden heralded her capacity to work across the aisle. I look forward to working with Dr. Cohen as she leads our nation’s finest scientists and public health experts with integrity and transparency,” the president said. Cohen will hit the ground running as leader of the world’s finest public health organization saving lives every day. Walensky announced her departure from her government role last month in the days before the Covid-19 public health emergency lifted. As she prepares to step into the role, Cohen inherits an agency wracked with challenges and low morale.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mandy Cohen, Rochelle Walensky, Dr, Cohen, ” Biden, what’s, Biden, Jeff Zients, Zients, “ Dr, ” Cohen, Walensky, –, Obama, ”, Andy Slavitt, “ She’s, Slavitt, Republican Sen, Richard Burr of, she’s, … I’ve, Mandy, ” Burr, Burr, “, ” Slavitt, Roy Cooper, Cohen “, Trump, Cooper, she’ll Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, White House, CDC, North, North Carolina’s Department of Health, Human Services, Trump, Biden, Centers, Medicare, Medicaid Services, Yale School of Medicine, Harvard, of Public Health, The Washington Post, Center for Strategic, Studies, America’s Health Security, Republican, White, Democratic North Carolina Gov, Center for Health Sector Management, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Locations: North Carolina’s, Chan, “, North Carolina, Richard Burr of North Carolina, North Carolinians

☆ Opinion | The Book I Wish Every Policymaker Would Read
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The New York Times Audio app includes podcasts, narrated articles from the newsroom and other publishers, and exclusive new shows — including this one — which we’re making available to readers for a limited time. Download the audio app here. My pitch for this episode is simple: Jennifer Pahlka has written one of the best policy books I’ve ever read. Over the course of her career, Pahlka has become obsessed with an area of policy that is too often ignored by policymakers: implementation. [You can listen to this episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.]

Persons: Jennifer Pahlka, Pahlka, Obama, HealthCare.gov, Gavin Newsom, “, Ezra Klein Organizations: New York Times, House, America, Gov, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google

☆ As states drop families from Medicaid, children may have another coverage option
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty ImagesKids may qualify for Medicaid even if parents don'tParents who lose their Medicaid coverage during the disenrollment period shouldn't assume that their children no longer qualify either, Donovan said. If you receive a notice that your health insurance coverage is ending, try to find out if your child will be kept on the plan. "It's easy to find out if your kids qualify for CHIP," Simon said, recommending families start at HealthCare.gov. Donovan recommends families search online for their state CHIP program to apply, or that they call 1-800-318-2596. The costs of CHIP coverage depends on your state and income, Donovan said.

☆ Want your tax refund faster? Here’s what to do
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The IRS says it typically issues federal refunds within 21 calendar days of accepting your tax return, assuming there are no issues. Tom O’Saben, director of tax content for the National Association of Tax Professionals, said some of his clients have received their refunds in as little as 10 days. “If you filed on paper and are expecting a refund, it could take four weeks or more to process your return,” the IRS notes on its website. This can be an issue if you got married recently and changed your last name but failed to inform the Social Security Administration of your name change. If the IRS finds you still owe tax on that unreported income, you may have to return some or all of your refund, plus interest, and possibly an underpayment penalty.

☆ Obamacare enrollment to open this spring for people losing Medicaid after pandemic protections end
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The 17 states that run their own marketplaces can implement a special enrollment period but are not required to do so. Individuals who lose Medicaid won't have to provide any additional documentation to shop for Obamacare. Medicaid enrollment swelled during the pandemic after Congress basically banned state governments from kicking people off the program for the duration of the public health emergency. Congress passed a federal spending bill in December that separated the Medicaid coverage protections from the public health emergency. HHS has estimated that 15 million people will lose Medicaid coverage once the pandemic-coverage protections end.

☆ Biden picks Jeff Zients as next chief of staff -statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Friday picked his former COVID-19 policy coordinator, Jeff Zients, to be the next White House chief of staff, citing his expertise in health care and the economy. Zients will replace Biden's current chief of staff Ron Klain, the statement said. "I’ve seen Jeff Zients tackle some of the toughest issues in government," Biden said in a statement announcing the move. Klain, a longtime aide and adviser to Democratic presidents and vice presidents, has been chief of staff to Biden since he took office in January 2021. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients delivers remarks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2021.

☆ Former Covid chief Jeff Zients to replace Ron Klain as White House chief of staff, Biden confirms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jeff Zients, former White House Covid-19 response coordinator under Biden and an economic advisor to former President Barack Obama, will replace Ron Klain as White House chief of staff, President Joe Biden confirmed in a statement Friday. Zients is a longtime ally of both Biden and Klain and has a reputation of getting things done. In recent weeks he has returned to the White House to help coordinate staff turnover after the midterms, where he has worked closely with Klain. The White House will hold an official transition event next week to welcome Zients and thank Klain, Biden said in his statement. Zients worked as CEO of health care consulting firm the Advisory Board Company, which is now part of UnitedHealth.

☆ Affordable Care Act Enrollments Reach Record High
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Stephanie Armour | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

More than 16.3 million people selected a plan on the ACA marketplaces, based on data released Wednesday by the Biden administration. Enrollments under the Affordable Care Act have reached an all-time high on the federal and state exchanges, helping drive the nation’s uninsured rate down to record lows despite steeper monthly premium costs. The Biden administration Wednesday provided the most comprehensive look so far at sign-up activity during the ACA’s most recent open-enrollment period, which marks the 10th for the Obama-era health law. The official sign-up window on the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov, began in November 2022 and ended Jan. 15, although a number of states that run their own marketplace exchanges have later deadlines for 2023 coverage.

☆ Explainer: Who is Jeff Zients, incoming White House chief of staff?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden named businessman and former COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients to become his second White House chief of staff on Friday, replacing Ron Klain, who is departing the administration after two years on the job. WHO IS JEFF ZIENTS? In the Biden administration, Zients served as the first COVID-19 response coordinator, charged with rolling out a massive vaccine program nationwide in early 2021. He stepped down from that role in 2022 before being tapped to prepare for potential staff turnover at the White House after the midterm elections. The White House chief of staff is like the chief operating officer for the government, someone who runs daily operations, oversees implementation of the president's policies and serves as a liaison for cabinet members.

☆ You can still sign up for 2023 health insurance through the public marketplace — but waiting past Dec. 15 can delay coverage
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

FamVeldIf you don't have health insurance lined up for next year, there's still time to get private coverage through the public marketplace. The deadline is Dec. 15 — Thursday — to sign up on Healthcare.gov for a health plan to take effect Jan. 1. Most marketplace enrollees — 13 million of 14.5 million — qualify for federal subsidies (technically tax credits) to help pay premiums. For enrollees who get subsidies, coverage is generally dropped after three months if premiums are not caught up. That's been the case even if a worker wanted their dependents covered too — meaning the actual cost of family coverage could far exceed that threshold.

☆ Around 5.5 mln people have signed up for 2023 Obamacare plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People who want to choose a healthcare plan for 2023 under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, can enroll between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15. However, if they want to be covered as of Jan. 1 they generally need to choose a plan by Dec. 15. Around 1.2 million of the people who have signed up for the plans are new consumers, HHS said. In late November HHS said that nearly 3.4 million people had signed up for health plans. Companies that provide these plans include UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N), CVS Health (CVS.N), Centene Corp (CNC.N), and Elevance (ELV.N).

☆ Bigger Affordable Care Act Subsidies Likely to Boost Enrollment
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Stephanie Armour | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The enrollment season in the 33 states that rely on the federal marketplace HealthCare.gov will run from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. WASHINGTON—The open enrollment period beginning Tuesday under the Affordable Care Act is likely to see a brisk pace of sign-ups, public-health officials say, with consumers getting more federal financial help to buffer them from higher premiums next year. The enrollment season in the 33 states that rely on the federal marketplace HealthCare.gov will run from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, while sign-up periods vary in states that run their own exchanges. Consumers must enroll by midnight on Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1 on the federal exchange, where people can go to obtain coverage and learn about their eligibility for subsidies.

☆ Health insurance open enrollment: How to spot misleading marketing for insurance
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Bram Sable-Smith | Kaiser Health News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Health care sharing ministries are an alternative to health insurance in which members agree to share medical expenses. Nationwide, lawmakers and regulators are taking notice of how health care plans are sold. Rising health care prices can drive up the cost of regulated health plans, such as those that are compliant with the Affordable Care Act. For now, he suggests working with health care navigators, who help consumers enroll in plans through the official health insurance marketplace, healthcare.gov. She is on the market for health insurance again and plans to choose a company she’s heard of before.

However, if you can't get life insurance due to your pre-existing condition, you can qualify for no medical exam life insurance. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. If you have cancer, most life insurance providers will have a waiting period — usually five years — before you will be eligible for traditional life insurance. That is why geneticists suggest getting private life insurance coverage before genetic testing, because the results may disqualify you for life insurance in the future. Data sourced from NAIC and QuotacyNo medical exam life insurance is an optionIf your pre-existing health condition makes you ineligible for traditional life insurance, no medical exam life insurance is an option.

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