Author: Tony Novak
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The good news/bad news for New Jersey workers on Trump’s health care cuts
Here are six key points for New Jersey workers following the 10/12/2017 Trump executive order on health care: Only 150,000 of the 9 million New Jersey residents, less than 2 percent of the state population, are affected by the Trump health care cut, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. New Jersey does not…
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Friday October 13 nightmare delivered by the president
Until now, The federal government provided financial help to working class people who earn too much to qualify for state Medicaid programs but earn too little to pay for the cost of health insurance. In this case the federal government pays 20% of the cost of coverage directly to insurers to cut premium costs. The president…
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Annotated Health Care Executive Order
This is an annotated copy of the executive order signed by president Trump October 12, 2017 likely affecting the markets for short term medical insurance, limited benefit medical insurance, association health plans, out-of-state insurance purchase, telemedicine and uninsured health plans (Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, Flexible Spending Accounts, Section 125 cafeteria benefit plans. Portions of the executive order…
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How can I save real money on health care?
If you run a business, are self-employed or otherwise pay the full cost of your own health care expenses then you know that the price is too high. We are quickly approaching the point where one out of every five dollars of income will be spent on health care. This week the federal government took…
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The coming revolution in small business health plans
The most dramatic change in small business health plans is expected be introduced by the Trump administration later this week. By relying on executive branch power rather than congressional lawmaking, the administration can effectively revolutionize small business health plans. How is this possible? Isn’t health insurance controlled by state law? Yes but the biggest deterrent…
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15 basic facts about methane and the environment
I’m probably among the small portion of people who follow or care about methane news. There has been more news about thane in the past two weeks than in decades previous. The topic is complex and controversial. This post is an attempt to lay out basic facts that e do know and agree on without…
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Small business problems with ‘bill pay’ services
One of the oddities of modern small business accounting is that banks have promoted services that send paper checks through the postal mail instead of transferring funds electronically. These are called ‘bill pay’ services. Some portion of these paper checks are ‘lost in the mail’ and some skeptical people wonder if this is the reason that…
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Tax reform: “your results may vary”
Investors have cheered the prospect of a tax cut since it first became a reasonable possibility with Trump’s election. The markets reflect that enthusiasm. But now a closer look at the proposed legislation and its uphill battle ahead paint a different picture. First, it is clear that not all large businesses will benefit. Wall Street…
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Eight reasons why we must keep the estate tax
Update 10/9/2017: It now appears certain that Republicans will abandon their effort to repeal the estate tax due to public accumulated public resistance. It is important for the United States to keep the estate tax in place for a wide range of public policy, social equity and financial reasons. I have long promoted the basic…