Anti-immigrant critics who complain that, “They don’t want to learn English and become citizens” should see the action at CLUES. The Lake Street office bustled with activity on October 11. About 30 immigrants and lots of volunteers showed up for Citizenship Day, ready to complete the 21-page application and move on to filing. Continue reading
Citizenship Day comes to Lake Street
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I’m on Al Jazeera
Today’s article: New right-to-farm laws protect Big Ag, not small farmers
“The new wave of state right-to-farm laws is meant to stop environmental regulation and animal rights activists and protect industrial-scale agriculture. Across the country, supporters of right-to-farm laws are demanding that there be no restrictions on fertilizer use or animal antibiotics — even when they are used solely for growth stimulation and create human health problems — and no limits on puppy mills or crowding and caging of farm animals. These laws threaten not only the environment but also the continuation of traditional and family farming.”
Click here to read the whole article!
And, in case you missed it, here’s an earlier post, also published on Al Jazeera: US embrace of Cuban refugees underscores hypocrisy on immigration (August 26, 2014)
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What you need to know about health insurance bills, networks and tiers
© John Takai – Fotolia.com
I couldn’t believe the bill — $447 for a single office visit. Even worse, the bill said my share was $168. I thought my deductible was $75, so that seemed like too much. As I always do when faced with puzzling bills, I called the insurance company.
This is the one of a series of articles on understanding health insurance. Click here for all of the articles. This series covers basics — exceptions and complications go beyond the basics.
Decoding the bill
The woman on the help line patiently went through the bill. Continue reading
Filed under health care, health insurance
Putting together the puzzle: Deductibles, copayments, co-insurance, out-of-pocket limit
puzzle © Ionescu Bogdan – Fotolia.com
Cathy’s son was born with a heart defect that needed immediate surgery and then continuing expensive care as he grew up. She told her story on #getcovered:
“My husband and I … both had good jobs and insurance and figured that meant that we would be all set should we ever need it. We soon learned, however, that like so many Americans, we were underinsured: we had coverage–it just didn’t really cover anything when it came to the care our son needed to save his life.”
This is the one of a series of articles on understanding health insurance. Click here for all of the articles. This series covers basics — exceptions and complications go beyond the basics.
Wait — they had health insurance, and it still didn’t pay for her son’s medical care? That’s right. Cathy and her husband ended up maxing out their credit cards and eventually going bankrupt to pay for their son’s medical care. Continue reading
Filed under health care, health insurance
What does health insurance cover?
© Remains – Fotolia
Last year, I paid $30 for my flu shot. This year, I’ll pay nothing, as long as I go to my own clinic or one of dozens of others approved by my health insurance company. That’s one of the changes made by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) requires insurance policies to cover ten basic areas: Continue reading
Filed under health care, health insurance
New sanctuary movement challenges consciences
Beatriz Ramirez and her two young children moved into Chicago’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in September. Rosa Robles Loreto has lived in Tucson’s Southside Presbyterian Church since August. In Philadelphia, the Indonesian Mennonite Philadelphia Praise Center and the Jewish Tikkun Olam Havurah stand ready to welcome immigrants seeking sanctuary. They are part of a new sanctuary movement, with religious groups from Maine to California committing to shelter immigrants in danger of deportation. Besides offering sanctuary to immigrants, they challenge the country’s leaders to change harsh and punitive immigration laws. Continue reading
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Beyond the premium: What will you really pay for health care?
© phasinphoto Fotolia.com
In 2013, Chris had inexpensive health insurance. His premiums were only $200 each month. That sounds pretty good, especially since average premiums for a single person are more than $400 per month.
This is the one of a series of articles on understanding health insurance. Click here for all of the articles. This series covers basics — exceptions and complications go beyond the basics.
Trouble was — Chris’s actual health care costs were a lot higher. Besides paying the premium, he had to pay $3,000 of medical costs out of his pocket before the insurance paid a dime. Premiums are just one of the costs to look at when you buy health insurance. Continue reading
Filed under health care, health insurance
Non-profit boards and rotting fish
Photo by Midquel, published under Creative Commons license. FFI – https://www.flickr.com/photos/39151655@N00/191432293
“A fish rots from the head down,” according to an old saying. The state shut down Community Action of Minneapolis (CAM), and executive director Bill Davis needs a good defense attorney, but the “head” of this and other non-profit organizations includes the board of directors. Even though CAM is dead, the problems that brought it down continue in other non-profit organizations. Continue reading
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Open enrollment time: Should you renew or change your health insurance?
Every year that annoying notice comes. It’s open enrollment time. During this time, you can make choices about health insurance. You can compare deductibles, calculate premiums, check coverage, and read policies. Or you can do nothing, and your insurance will automatically renew. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, individual insurance, MNSure insurance, or Medicare, you need to decide. Continue reading
Filed under health care, health insurance
Doubling the jeopardy for thirteen-year-old girls
When should the media publish photos and full names of crime victims? When two thirteen-year-old girls went missing, the sheriff sent out their names, descriptions and photos in a call to the public to help find them. That seemed like a necessary step in the search, and publishing the information could help. But after they were found, should news media continue to republish their full names and photos? Continue reading
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Mary Turck