Healthcare Reform Update

Health Care Reform: A Historic Milestone

From the Alan Katz healthcare blog;


History was made today. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved comprehensive health care reform legislation, the first Congressional committee to do so in decades. Never mind that the bill is well to the left of the emerging consensus concerning health care reform. Never mind that it passed on a party line 13-10 vote. What is meaningful is that a congressional committee moved comprehensive health care reform forward. Significantly, three House committees are likely to follow suit within the next three-to-four weeks.

The legislation approved by the Senate HELP Committee, which carriers a $600 billion price tag, would require individuals to obtain coverage, employers to help their workers pay for it, and carriers to accept all applicants regardless of their health conditions. Individuals and families earning up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($88,000 for a family of four) would be eligible for subsidies. The Associated Press provides additional information and reaction to the Committees vote, but in my mind, the details are secondary. The vote itself is what is significant. Remember, the Clinton Administration health care reform proposal was never voted upon by any Congressional Committee.

Read the rest here.

Why women's financial needs are different...

We are hosting our first WOW Seminar (Women's opportunity for Wealth). This intimate meeting will be for women only and is only open to 8 attendees.

We will be in a beautiful setting in Atherton, CA. For more info click on events on the right side of our blog. You can also RSVP at events@smbinsure.com.

From an article on MSN:

Why are Women's Financial Needs Different?

At first glance, it may be difficult to believe that women's financial needs are all that different from men's. However, while the general principles of financial planning are universal, women face unique challenges that amount to different financial needs.

• Women live longer than men (an average of 7 years) so they need 20% more for retirement.
  
• On average, women earn 25% less than men.
  
• Since women tend to take time off to raise children or take care of parents (women take off approximately 11 years more from work than men), they save less than men do for retirement.
  
• After earning lower salaries for fewer years, women's social security benefits are about half of men's.
  
• The majority of women had certificates of deposit (CDs) in their retirement savings accounts when a more aggressive investment vehicle was more appropriate.

The Consequences are Serious.

• Almost 1 in 4 women are broke within two months of a husband passing away.
  
• Over 75% of all women are eventually widowed at an average age of 56.
  
• 53% of women are not covered by a pension compared to only 22% of men.
  
• A staggering 87% of the poverty stricken elderly are women.

The statistics are startling--but it's never too late to start taking control of your financial future.