Finance ECO

With the possibility of layoffs lurking around the corner for much of today’s workforce, it is important to be prepared, especially when it comes to health insurance. President Obama’s recent stimulus package includes a 65 percent subsidy on the cost of COBRA premiums for up to nine months. The subsidy applies to anyone laid off after September 1, 2008, provided they meet other important criteria. eHealth, Inc. has posted answers to questions about the subsidy at  www.COBRALearning.com , as well as a COBRA subsidy calculator, which can help you determine what your subsidized payments will be each month. But, before you “auto-enroll” in a subsidized nine-month COBRA plan, you may want to explore options in the individual health insurance market. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 National Health Insurance Plan Study, people who purchased individual health insurance gave it a higher satisfaction rating than those who got healthcare through a small employer (50 emplo...

Contrary to what you may have assumed you don’t need to pay a high annual fee to earn a big return on a rewards credit card. In fact, here are our three best no annual fee credit cards. As you will see they offer a generous amount of cash back, points or miles. No. 3:  IHG Rewards Club Select This is a great hotel credit card. The IHG Rewards Club Select is among the best to have as a credit card for Holiday Inn. Among many advantages it that gives you a free hotel night every year that is without question worth twice the $49 annual fee! The sign-up bonus, for a limited time is 80,000 bonus points which can be redeemed for 16 free hotel nights. You will earn following purchase rewards: -2 points per $1 on gas, dining, and groceries -5 points per $1 on all IHG purchases -1 point per $1 on everything else No. 2:  Platinum Card from American Express For every dollar spent you get five points on airline and hotel purchases, a fact which makes the Amex Platinum the high...

 Driving cars = good Using cell phones = good Driving cars while using cell phones = not so good The two activities combined have proven to be a dangerous mix. Just consider these staggering statistics: 45% of drivers have been hit  or nearly hit by a driver using a cell phone, according to Nationwide Insurance Nearly  5,900 people were killed  and  515,000 were injured  last year in crashes where driver distraction was reported 16% of all fatal crashes involved driver distraction  in 2008, especially among young drivers Considering those unfortunate numbers, it may come as no surprise that: 80% of Americans favor a ban on texting  on cell phones while driving, according to a Nationwide Insurance study More than half support a cell phone ban  while driving altogether More and more states are considering taking legislative action and banning cell phone usage while driving. But Instead of waiting for the federal and state govern...

If you are a house owner and have ever wondered what the importance of a good roof is to your home, there are a few comments to be said on the topic. With decades of experience most industry experts will tell you that out of all the parts of your house, the roofing is the perhaps the most vital component - and more often then not rarely looked upon with sufficient care that it needs. As with the foundation of your house, the roof is really fundamental to the integrity of your home’s structure. With a high-quality roof shouldering your house you can be assured with safety and benefits no low cost low quality roof can provide. Weather is the principal challenge as far as roofs go, and our climate has become increasingly intense. From high winds, heavy rain, hail storms, to heavy snowfall you can start to imagine how much of a torture a house roof goes through each year. Thus. a lesser-quality roof may not stand up to the rigors of your local environment.

Unemployed: Choosing COBRA Subsidy or Individual Health Insurance With the possibility of layoffs lurking around the corner for much of today’s workforce, it is important to be prepared, especially when it comes to health insurance. President Obama’s recent stimulus package includes a 65 percent subsidy on the cost of COBRA premiums for up to nine months. The subsidy applies to anyone laid off after September 1, 2008, provided they meet other important criteria. eHealth, Inc. has posted answers to questions about the subsidy at  www.COBRALearning.com , as well as a COBRA subsidy calculator, which can help you determine what your subsidized payments will be each month.