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☆ Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood faces off against Republican Scott Gryder in Illinois' 14th Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Lauren Underwood is running against Republican Scott Gryder in Illinois' 14th Congressional District. IL-17IL-06IL-13 HouseDemocratic Rep. Lauren Underwood faces off against Republican Scott Gryder in Illinois' 14th Congressional District. Illinois' 14th Congressional District candidatesUnderwood, a two-term Democrat first elected in 2018, is the youngest Black woman to serve in the US House of Representatives. He previously chaired Kendall County's Young Republicans and the Kendall County Republican Central Committee. Voting history for Illinois' 14th Congressional DistrictIllinois' 14th Congressional District sits below the 11th District and extends southwest along Interstate 80 into LaSalle County.

☆ Layoffs are picking up. These are the first 3 steps to take after losing your job
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this article UALAALTSLANFLXSHOP-CALYFT Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTWanan Yossingkum | Istock | Getty ImagesThe labor market is still strong, but layoffs are picking up. File to collect unemployment benefits ASAPYou should file for unemployment benefits as soon as possible after a layoff, said Andrew Stettner, the director of workforce policy and senior fellow at The Century Foundation. Even if you received unemployment benefits earlier in the pandemic and are facing joblessness again, you may qualify for more aid. (However, if you have less than $5,000 in the account, the money may be sent to an individual retirement account for you, she added.) However, you won't be able to continue contributing to a plan at a company you're no longer working for.

☆ 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.

I recently discovered that my health insurance plan offers 3 benefits that can save me money. Last week, when I started putting together this spreadsheet, I was reminded of how expensive health insurance can be. That's why I decided to look into my health insurance plan to see if there are any perks offered to me that can help me cut costs in other areas of my life. I recently discovered a sweat equity program my health insurance plan offers as a way of encouraging members to focus on their physical health. When I got on my husband's health insurance plan, I didn't check if mental health services were included.

☆ Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace starts Nov. 1. Here's what you need to know about 2023 coverage
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For example, in Virginia, premiums are dropping by an average of 18% and in New Mexico they're rising by 14%, Cox said. watch nowIf you have marketplace coverage and are facing a large premium increase, you can always check to see if there's a more affordable option available, Cox said. Before the changes, the aid was generally only available to households with income from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level. Either way, at any point during the year, you can adjust your income estimate or note any pertinent life changes (birth of a child, marriage, etc.) that could affect the amount of subsidies you're entitled to.

Pfizer plans to sell the Covid vaccine it developed with BioNTech at $110 to $130 per dose for teens and adults once the U.S. government stops paying for them, the drugmaker said Friday. Since the start of the pandemic, the government has provided Americans with free Covid tests, vaccines and treatment, through a combination of funding from Congress and other government programs. The government has already stopped providing free Covid tests. A CDC advisory committee voted Wednesday to add Covid vaccines to the Vaccines for Children program, a federal plan that provides free vaccines to children eligible for or covered by Medicaid. Pfizer said it also plans to provide free vaccines to people without insurance through its patient assistance program.

☆ President Biden says 22 million people have signed up for student loan forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on the student debt relief plan in the South Court Auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on October 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden said 22 million people have registered for student loan relief since applications opened on Monday. Biden campaigned on a promise of student loan forgiveness. In August, he announced that federal student loan borrowers earning under $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income would be eligible for up to $10,000 in forgiveness. "In total more than 40 million Americans stand to benefit from this relief," Biden said.

☆ Republican Sen. Ron Johnson faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in the Wisconsin Senate race
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson is running for reelection against Democratic Lt. Gov. Johnson has maintained a conservative voting record during his two terms in the Senate. In the Senate, Johnson serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, the Budget Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Commerce Committee. Barnes, who in 2018 was elected as lieutenant governor on a ticket with Democratic Gov. Barnes has raised nearly $26.1 million, spent $22.7 million, and has $3.5 million in the bank, as of September 30.

But the Inflation Reduction Act, which represents about a third of the spending, was passed by Democrats alone. The White House is still pushing a more expansive child tax credit that was not included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Here’s a detailed look at what Mr. Biden wanted and what he got:Climate and Environment Proposed $722 billion Passed $509 billionOn climate, the Biden administration got much of what it wanted. Health Care Proposed $563 billion Passed $412 billionOn health care, there were some victories for the president — and much trimming. The family programs were eliminated largely because of concerns from Mr. Manchin about the overall size of what became the Inflation Reduction Act.

☆ Fact Check-Obama speech about healthcare reform taken out of context
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A clip of former U.S. President Barack Obama speaking about affordable health care has been taken out of context. Just walking and holding hands. The clip is from a speech Obama gave at the Catholic Health Association Conference on June 9, 2015, in Washington, DC. In the speech, (transcript) (here), (video) (here), Obama discussed health care reform and the Affordable Care Act. It’s like a whole new world for me.’ Just walking and holding hands – something that one of our fellow Americans for years could not do.

☆ Millions at risk of losing health insurance if U.S. ends Covid public health emergency in January
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The Health and Human Services Department will give the public 60 days notice before lifting the public health emergency, Becerra said. The health emergency also allowed millions of people to receive increased food benefits through the federal government's nutrition program. When the public health emergency does end, HHS estimates up to 15 million people will be disenrolled from Medicare and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Millions to lose Medicaid coverageThe most dramatic impact from ending the public health emergency will fall on people enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Trump administration Health Secretary Alex Azar activated the FDA's emergency authorization powers in March 2020, about two months after first declaring the public health emergency.

☆ How these cofounders continually update and reshape their company's benefits and wellness policies based on their employees' needs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The duo continually update their company's benefits based on employees' needs, they said. When crafting policies, George and Kennedy ask themselves what the company's benefits package should do for their employees. George spoke with Insider about continually improving her company's benefits based on employees' needs. The monthly wellness stipend, which allows employees to spend $50, was introduced in 2016. We noticed that our employees prioritized different aspects of personal wellness and we wanted to honor all of those practices.

Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams clashed in a debate Monday night over issues ranging from guns and crime to abortion and election laws. The debate came at a crucial time for Abrams as she seeks to gain ground after trailing in the polls all year. Kemp is leading Abrams by 5 to 6 percentage points in averages of recent surveys, with just three weeks to go until Election Day. Abrams hit Kemp for restricting legal abortion and backing permissive gun laws, which she said have made Georgia less safe. Kemp has rejected expansion, calling it a “broken government program,” while Abrams argued that it’s necessary to protect Georgians.

Senate and House leadership from both parties manned the phones, contacting local, state and federal authorities to call up the National Guard, D.C. police and other security forces to secure the Capitol. These bipartisan efforts were led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who showed remarkable composure and leadership in the face of physical danger. She is also one of the most effective speakers in history, and she does it while battling the double standards that apply to powerful women. Days after the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, Pelosi’s caucus in the House passed the bill without a single Democratic defection. As Pelosi established a new vision for House leadership, she did so with careful attention to detail.

Warnock defended his votes on a sweeping climate and health care bill and gun violence prevention legislation during his two years in the Senate. Heading into the debate, Walker called himself a “dumb country boy,” setting low expectations against Warnock, the eloquent pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr. used to minister. Walker’s debate goal was simple: Go on offense, tie Warnock to unpopular President Joe Biden, rising gas prices and high inflation. Warnock hammered Walker for opposing the Inflation Reduction Act to defend himself against attacks that his votes fueled inflation. Walker appeared flat-footed when asked if he favors Medicaid expansion, saying that "people have coverage for health care" and that he wants Georgians to "get off the government health care and get on the health care he’s got," gesturing toward Warnock.

☆ Biden administration finalizes Obamacare 'family glitch' fix
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Ahmed Aboulenein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Tuesday finalized a rule it said would fix the so-called family glitch in the Affordable Care Act that priced many people out of health insurance and would help over a million Americans. The open enrollment period for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act starts on Nov. 1. Also known as Obamacare, the law helps low and middle-income Americans who do not have access to affordable health insurance coverage through an employer. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who like Biden is a Democrat, said in a statement the fix will bring down healthcare costs and expand access to affordable coverage. Republicans say the remedy contradicts the text of the law and that it will significantly increase spending on Obamacare plans.

☆ New Affordable Care Act Rule Expands Subsidies to Families
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Stephanie Armour | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Biden administration said the ACA change means about 1 million Americans will either gain coverage or see their insurance become more affordable. WASHINGTON—Families where at least one member gets health insurance from an employer will find it easier to qualify for Affordable Care Act subsidies that reduce monthly premiums under a rule issued Tuesday by the Biden administration. Individuals have been unable to get federal subsidies for ACA health-insurance plans if they were eligible for affordable employer coverage that meets minimum coverage standards. But the coverage had to be affordable just for the employee and didn’t take into account other family members.

The debt ceiling is going to be an important tool," Carter told Reuters. "I try not to think about it," he said referring to a possible debt limit battle. 'EXTENDED DEBATE'Debate about the debt ceiling could flare again early next year, after the new Congress is sworn in. "There is likely to be an extended debate" on the debt limit next year no matter who wins the midterms, said Akabas, who has seen several such battles waged. McConnell avoided answering a question about the 2023 debt limit debate, saying: "We haven't even finished 2022 yet."

☆ Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock blasts GOP opponent Herschel Walker over campaign tumult: 'We have seen some disturbing things'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Raphael Warnock called out Herschel Walker after a campaign appearance on Friday, per the AJC. Warnock said that Walker's campaign tumult centered on abortion shows "a disturbing pattern." We've seen a disturbing pattern, and it raises real questions about who is actually ready to represent the people of Georgia," Warnock said of Walker. Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker. He alluded to what he depicted as a Democratic-led smear campaign during a Thursday press coverage in Georgia.

☆ Trump privately asked Obama how he got high approval ratings, book says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump asked Obama how he kept his approval ratings high in 2016, according to a forthcoming book by NYT's Maggie Haberman. Trump publicly skewered Obama but was privately fixated with his popularity and achievements. Trump asked Obama about his approval ratings the first time the two of them met in the Oval Office after Trump clinched his 2016 election victory, according to Haberman. Obama also struck a more conciliatory tone toward Trump, saying after Trump won that he would not publicly attack his successor. Trump left office with record low approval ratings.

☆ House Republicans want to cancel Biden's push to make it easier for the IRS to go after tax cheats and send out refunds more quickly
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Joseph Zeballos-Roig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The IRS funding is meant to pursue tax cheats, shorten phone wait times, and issue refunds faster. House Republicans broke with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in rolling out their policy platform. McConnell has opted to keep the focus instead on Biden's handling of the economy without specifying what Senate Republicans intend to do if they recaptured the upper chamber. House Republicans' intention to repeal IRS funding echoes their earlier efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama throughout the 2010s. A group of Senate Republicans led by Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho sent a letter to the tax agency on Thursday urging them to prioritize improving taxpayer services.

☆ Human Rights Campaign, largest U.S. LGBTQ advocacy group, names new president
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Human Rights Campaign announced Tuesday that Kelley Robinson will serve as its ninth president — the first Black queer woman to lead the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization. Robinson will step into the role a year after HRC fired its previous president, Alphonso David, who was the organization's first Black president. David allegedly consulted with the governor's office in December 2020, while president of HRC, the report said. David maintained that he wasn’t aware of allegations of sexual harassment against the governor during his time as chief counsel. In February, David sued the organization in federal court, alleging that he was underpaid and then terminated “because he is Black."

☆ Biden says he plans to run for reelection in 2024, but here's one reporter's lesson from 2008 on why anything is possible
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He said there was no chance of him becoming vice president. They're real," Biden told me that afternoon. Mark Bowden later asked Biden, then vice president, in his West Wing office about that marathon quote. "That was absolutely, positively true when I said it," Biden told him. I never, never, never, never aspired to be vice president.

☆ Democrats want to bring back Biden's child tax credit soon — and a new report shows it was a huge success in fighting child poverty
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Joseph Zeballos-Roig | Madison Hoff | Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The expanded child tax credit helped slash child poverty by roughly half, and some Dems want to bring it back. "This was a historic achievement to reduce child poverty by a record amount driven by the expansion of the child tax credit." He added that given the expanded child tax credit has expired, "the challenge now is for the Congress to extend it." Some Democrats want to bring back the expanded child tax creditThe enhanced child tax credit provided up to $300 monthly checks per kid to parents for six months. Without measures like the expanded child tax credit, poverty likely increased in 2022.

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