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Estate Planning: 5 Things to Consider

If you are preparing to draft your estate plan with your estate planning attorney, there are a variety of issues that you will need to think about before your documents can be finalized. We can help you stay on top of the latest news that affects your everyday life. Subscribe to stay up to date. (To subscribe to our blog click here). Prior to drafting your estate plan, we recommend that you give some thought to the following items: How do you want your money and assets handled if you die? Do you want any restrictions? If you are married,…
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Criticism continues against Gov. Pritzker’s move closing health care enrollment for immigrants

Backlash continued to rain down on Gov. JB Pritzker Wednesday following his decision last week to close enrollment for a state-funded health insurance program for immigrants under 65 as other Illinois officials highlighted that a bill is sitting on the governor’s desk that would allow the state to issue regular driver’s licenses for noncitizens. Though not connected, the two issues took center stage as Pritzker continued to push back against criticism from Latino lawmakers and immigrant advocates that his administration’s decision on the health insurance program was “immoral and fiscally shortsighted.” Pritzker has defended the move because program costs are…
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It’s Not Just You: Many People Confront Health Insurance Obstacles on Care and Bills

TheNews A majority of Americans with health insurance said they had encountered obstacles to coverage, including denied medical care, higher bills and a dearth of doctors in their plans, according to a new survey from KFF, a nonprofit health research group. As a result, some people are delayed or skipped treatment. Those who were most likely to need medical care — people who described themselves as in fair or poor health — reported more trouble; three-fourths of those receiving mental health treatment experienced problems. “The consequences of care are delayed and missed altogether because of the sheer complexity of the…
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Health and travel insurance for international students

Between applying to schools and sorting out travel visas and accommodations, moving to Canada as an international student can be quite daunting — especially once you start considering medical and travel insurance. While Canada prides itself on its publicly funded healthcare, it’s not always available right away for newcomers and international students. And the costs can mount for people who are not covered, as well as the stress of falling ill far away from your home country. Thankfully, most international students enrolled in a full-time program in Canada have some level of health insurance, either through their provincial health coverage…
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20 American Cities With the Highest Uninsured Rates

In this article, we discuss the 20 American cities with the highest uninsured rates. To skip the details about the causes of rising uninsured rates and analysis of healthcare in the US, go directly to 5 American Cities With the Highest Uninsured Rates. The US is one of the most medically advanced countries in the world. Yet the country is notorious for high healthcare costs. While a major chunk of the population in the US remains uninsured for healthcare, the trend is changing and more and more people are coming to the health insurance net. In September 2022, The US…
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Broker warns rise in claims could trigger further hikes by health insurer

Further financial pressure is being heaped on hard-pressed families with the news that another health insurer has hiked its prices. Irish Life Health announced yesterday it was upping its premiums by 5% from July this year, its second increase in the past six months, adding an extra €400 on average to bills. It is the latest insurer to add to the financial hardships households are experiencing as Laya and VHI both announced increases earlier this year. It comes at a time when families are being squeezed on all sides by rising mortgage interest rates, grocery inflation and soaring energy costs.…
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Aviva added more than 100,000 private health insurance customers in a year as the NHS struggled

Insurance firm Aviva has reported a 25% increase in the number of new health insurance policies taken out in the first three months of this year – as the NHS lists were lengthened and staff went on strike. The Aviva boss was explicit in linking the rise in new policies to failings in the public health service. The increase is “a consequence of what we’re seeing in the NHS and customers basically say that if they can take control over their health situation then they will,” chief executive Amanda Blanc said. More individuals and companies are “attracted to the benefits…
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Tips on planning for dental costs if you don’t have coverage

A freelance photographer living in downtown Toronto, Armin Fares is living his dream. The 32-year-old says he worked hard to be his own boss and set his own schedule. But while working for himself offers independence, what he doesn’t offer is access to dental coverage. “I don’t have access to health benefits like you would work for a company,” Fares says. “I often fear getting some sort of dental issue like a cavity or a root canal because it’s so expensive to fix and could leave me financially vulnerable.” Fares says he has an emergency fund for unexpected health expenses,…