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☆ A shadow fleet is helping Russia ship oil around the world. And it's growing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

London CNN —Russian oil is still finding its way to buyers around the world. Industry insiders estimate the size of that “shadow” fleet at roughly 600 vessels, or about 10% of the global number of large tankers. Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesThe expansion of the shadow fleet highlights the dramatic changes Russia’s war has brought to the global oil market. As a result, an estimated 25 to 35 vessels are being sold per month into the shadow fleet, according to another senior executive at an oil trading firm. There are also questions about who ultimately runs the shadow fleet.

Review: Is the Wells Fargo Reflect Card the Best Credit Card for You? Let's get the worst bit out of the way first: The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card earns no rewards for spending. The Wells Fargo Reflect Card Doesn't Have a Rewards ProgramThis card doesn't earn any rewards for your spending. Cell phone protectionThe Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers up to $600 of automatic cell phone protection when you pay your monthly phone bill with the card. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightWells Fargo Reflect Fees and CostsThough the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card doesn't come with an annual fee, there are other fees to watch for.

But employee benefits costs? Ask employees what they're missingYou may think your employees are satisfied with the benefits you offer, but it's worth investigating if that's still true. Add access as an employee benefitLet's say there's a potential benefit your employees want, but it's outside your employee benefits budget. "For example, maybe they just want to buy extra life insurance," Schelhaas said. Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®.

☆ Medicare expenses in retirement could top $383,000 for a couple with high drug costs, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"You don't want to be shocked when you get to retirement and find this out, or discover that Medicare doesn't cover everything," Fronstin said. Representing an extreme case, a couple with high prescription drug expenses would need to have saved $383,000 to have a 90% chance of having enough to cover their health-care costs. Advantage Plan coverageThe second coverage scenario analyzed in the study involves a Medicare Advantage Plan, which delivers Parts A and B, and typically Part D, as well extras like dental and vision. Of Medicare's 64.5 million beneficiaries, 29.1 million are enrolled in Advantage Plans and that number is expected to continue growing. While many Advantage Plans have no premium, they do have their own deductibles, copays or coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums that vary from plan to plan.

☆ Biden doubles down on needling Republicans over proposed Social Security and Medicare cuts: 'I'm your nightmare'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

"I guess I shouldn't say any more," he said, "but particularly on Social Security and Medicare." Rubio, who is in the rumored mix for the 2024 GOP nomination, said anybody who supports slashing Social Security or Medicare is delusional. "You have to listen to what the president said the last couple of years about protecting and fighting for Medicare and Social Security." "I've never ever said I would reduce Medicare or Social Security benefits. As for Social Security, its trust funds are expected to be insolvent by 2035, which would trigger 20% in cuts across the board.

☆ Alignment Healthcare's CEO shared 3 reasons he thinks the upstart will win in health insurance — and why it won't unravel like Bright Health
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Young health insurers that went public in 2021 have bled money. Some health insurers that went public in 2021 at high valuations have struggled since then. Several young insurers have bled money as they've grown quickly. Bright Health, another Medicare Advantage insurer, came close to insolvency and had to shut down its health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Growing steadily with a narrow focusBefore the recent market slowdown, growing fast had been a common strategy for newly public health insurers and digital health broadly.

That's a lengthier list of travel insurance than you're going to find on just about any other no-annual-fee credit card. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is also one of the few no-annual-fee credit cards that offer primary rental car insurance (when renting for business purposes). Review: Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card reviewBest no annual fee travel credit cards frequently asked questions (FAQ)Are no annual fee travel credit cards worth it? What is the best no annual fee credit card for international travel? From the above list, the best credit card for international travel is likely to be the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card for a couple of reasons.

☆ China's Covid wave drives up consumer interest in insurance after health system shortfalls
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

For people planning to spend more on that health category, 47% said in December they intend to spend more on health insurance. "This experience is also driving increased interest in commercial health insurance which could cover access to premium private providers," Lipson said. Anecdotes depict a public health system overwhelmed with people at the height of the wave, and long wait times for ambulances. Some of the players in China's health insurance industry include Ping An , PICC and AIA . Hospital fundingHowever, one of the barriers to improving China's public health system is its fragmented financing system, according to Qingyue Meng, executive director at Peking University's China Center for Health Development Studies.

☆ A 34-year-old real estate investor shares 2 mistakes he made in his portfolio before becoming financially independent
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Investor James Berkley is financially independent thanks to his real estate portfolio. He has $45,000 a month of after-tax profit coming in from his real estate investments and owns $7 million worth of real estate. Real estate investing, which he started doing in 2013 on the side while working full-time in finance, is what made him wealthy. To succeed in real estate, "you have to be humble, fix your errors, and then take another shot," he added. He shared two costly mistakes he made early on in his real estate investing career.

☆ Here are key things you need to know if you’re eyeing a Medigap policy alongside basic Medicare
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

For about 23% of Medicare's 65.1 million beneficiaries, the solution for covering those outlays is a so-called Medigap plan. The reasons that some beneficiaries instead choose Medigap alongside basic Medicare vary from person to person, according to Elizabeth Gavino, founder of Lewin & Gavino and an independent broker and general agent for Medicare plans. watch nowHere's what to know about Medigap policies if you're considering purchasing one. There's huge variation in costDespite Medigap policies' standardization, the premiums can vary greatly. The way a Medigap plan is 'rated' also mattersAnother difference in Medigap premiums can come from how the plans are "rated."

Compare the best credit cards with cell phone coverageThere are dozens of credit cards that now offer cell phone protection when you use them to pay your phone bill. Review: The best Wells Fargo credit cardsWhat is credit card cell phone protection? If you've purchased a phone brand new with your credit card, you may already have purchase protection that covers damage or theft for up to 120 days from the date of purchase. Credit card cell phone protection is different. How does credit card cell phone insurance work?

☆ Meet the executive in charge of Bank of America's $15 billion initiative to give no-down-payment mortgages to disenfranchised homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

She leads the neighborhood and community lending program for the second largest US bank. It's her job: Barkley helms a Bank of America lending program aimed at increasing homeownership in multicultural and historically underserved communities. In fact, she says the rationale for the bank's $15 billion Community Homeownership Commitment seems to follow her everywhere she goes in the Dallas metro area, where she is based. A feature of that commitment is a mortgage program that sets aside requirements that often prove to be obstacles to borrowers trying to get traditional loans. When houses are refurbished, the rest of the community will hopefully see the benefits that come from homeownership, she said.

With the right travel credit card, you might find yourself actually looking forward to arriving at the airport. Just by holding a single card like the United℠ Explorer Card, you can travel better than the vast majority of everyone else. Just by opening a single credit card, you can up your travel game in a profound way. Let's take a look at five ways you can drench your travel experience with Tabasco sauce by opening just a single credit card: The United℠ Explorer Card. But you can avoid paying for checked bags with an airline credit card like the United℠ Explorer Card.

Compare the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited Chase Freedom Flex℠Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® are similarly named and have a lot in common, but they're geared to different types of spenders. If you're considering a new cash-back credit card, you'll want to compare the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to see how they stack up. Differences in benefits between Freedom Unlimited and FlexThe Chase Freedom Flex℠ is unusual because it's a World Elite Mastercard rather than a Visa card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (and most other Chase cards). Benefits shared by both cardsSeveral major benefits apply to both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is worth considering on its own, but you can actually boost the value of your rewards when you pair it with certain other Chase credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Chase Freedom Flex benefits and featuresThe Chase Freedom Flex℠ comes with substantial purchase and travel protections, including select World Elite Mastercard benefits that you don't often find on no-annual-fee cards. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightChase Freedom Flex fees and costsThe Chase Freedom Flex℠ doesn't charge an annual fee, so it's a great long-term keeper card. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ are both excellent cards, but they're suited to different types of users. If you're torn between the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, have a look at our comparison of the two Freedom cards to narrow down your choice.

☆ 4 financial moves if you have — or are worried about — long Covid
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"We're far from being done with this," McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida, said of long Covid. Waiting until after developing long Covid might mean you pay higher premiums for life insurance or private disability insurance — or that insurers will deny coverage, McClanahan said. Long Covid has been linked to hundreds of potential symptoms, some of which are debilitating and serious, like damage to vital organs. For instance, there's not yet a test to determine if someone has long Covid, meaning some doctors are hesitant to diagnose or treat patients. For individuals worried they might have long Covid, McClanahan recommends creating a medical diary with detailed logs of each symptom and doctor visit.

☆ Millions suffer from long Covid — and it costs them $9,000 a year in health-care expenses, on average
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

There is no cure or approved treatment for ME/CFS; as with long Covid, patient symptoms are merely treated or managed. 'People are trying all sorts of treatments'Getting an official long Covid diagnosis can be challenging, which can compound early expenses. Like many who suffer from long Covid, Pohl seeks relief from crippling symptoms wherever it's available. "There are so many of us now that it's taking months to see professionals," she said of long Covid patients. watch nowTime alone generally doesn't cure long Covid symptoms; it often requires some form of rehabilitation.

☆ Long Covid may be 'the next public health disaster' — with a $3.7 trillion economic impact rivaling the Great Recession
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Norpel is one of millions of Americans with long Covid, also known as long-haul Covid, post-Covid or post-acute Covid syndrome. Key symptoms: Long Covid has been linked to more than 200 symptoms, according to The Rockefeller Foundation. Duration: There's no consistent definition of how long symptoms must persist for someone to be considered a long Covid patient. What experts do know is that for some, long Covid symptoms can last months or even years. "I don't know if it's for the rest of my life or not," Hurst said of feeling long Covid symptoms.

☆ Despite ongoing Covid risks, more employees consider cutting back on health-care benefits
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Almost 159 million Americans rely on employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. Health insurance plansFor starters, consider what your health coverage costs you. But "don't just look at the monthly cost of your health insurance," Cosgray advised. To be able to use an HSA, you need to be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, or HDHP. Other voluntary benefits offered through an employer can provide additional protection, including hospital indemnity insurance, critical illness coverage and accident insurance.

☆ Which to Choose: Medicare or Medicare Advantage?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Paula Span | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Which to Choose: Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Medicare Advantage plans, like traditional Medicare, are funded by the federal government, but they are offered though private insurance companies, which receive a set payment for each enrollee. The proportion of eligible Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans has hit 48 percent. Which is better: Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Credit... Kenny Holston for The New York Times Unlike most Medicare Advantage plans, traditional Medicare does not include drug coverage.

You probably already know that most travel credit cards offer some form of rental car insurance. It's often said the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best starter travel credit card — and primary rental car insurance is a big reason why. If you're using a business credit card that offers primary car rental insurance, you need to be renting a car for business purposes in order to receive the coverage. Whether your coverage comes from a credit card, the auto rental agency, or your personal insurance plan, you should get rental car insurance. Of all rental car insurance options, primary insurance with a credit card is the best value.

☆ New Medicare enrollment rules that eliminate coverage gaps take effect in 2023. Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

That's poised to change: Beginning next year, current months-long delays in certain Medicare enrollment situations will be eliminated. Additionally, would-be beneficiaries who missed signing up when they were supposed to due to "exceptional circumstances" may qualify for a special enrollment period. Signup rules for Medicare can be confusingMedicare's enrollment rules can be confusing at best and costly at worst, experts say. One change applies to initial enrollment periodsYour initial enrollment period, as it's called, starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after it (seven months total). Additionally, beneficiaries who qualify for the special enrollment period will not face Part B late enrollment penalties.

☆ Here are 4 ways to take advantage of your health-care expenses before the end of the year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Take advantage of reaching your deductibleIf you've met your plan's deductible, you may be able to pay less for qualifying health-care services before the end of the year than you would after the deductible resets Jan. 1. Once you've met your plan's deductible, you may or may not face copays or coinsurance — it depends on your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, which may be higher. See if you can get the medical expense tax deductionThere is a tax deduction for medical expenses, although it comes with parameters that prevent some taxpayers from using it. For starters, you can only deduct health-care expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Its gains grow tax-free, and as long as withdrawals are used for qualifying medical expenses, tapping those funds also comes with no tax.

☆ When the bakery under my apartment caught fire, my renters insurance covered everything — including a new couch I couldn't have otherwise afforded
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Hannah Van Sickle | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When I was in my 20s, my boyfriend's dad all but insisted we get renters insurance. In hindsight, renters insurance turned out to be a game-changer. Here's what's covered by renters insuranceSo what's included in renters insurance rates? Insider's Featured Renters Insurance Companies Lemonade Renters InsuranceProgressive Renters InsuranceAllstate Renters Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. ), my experience with renters insurance lingers as a positive one.

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