Tag Archives: United States

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Young adults without insurance

08/14/2013 Nativegrl77

Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

In six weeks, getting older may get a bit easierYoung adults historically are the biggest group of uninsured Americans. If you fall in this group, or know someone how does, we want to hear your story. It will help us make sure the new insurance marketplaces debuting Oct. 1 work for you.

In about six weeks, health reform will unveil one of its biggest improvements for Americans in need of health insurance.

And if you’re a young adult who doesn’t have coverage – either because you are too old to be on your parents’ policy, your job doesn’t offer insurance, you’re in school, or you just think insurance is a drag – we want to specifically hear from you.

Are you a young adult without insurance? Share your story and help us make sure this new change works for you.

Starting Oct. 1, Americans without coverage can now find health insurance policies offered in their state in one spot on the Internet – and compare them by price and types of coverage. These online ‘marketplaces’ will also spell out who can get financial assistance to pay for their insurance, and how to get that help.

Why are we interested in hearing specifically from people age 19 to 29? Because this group historically is uninsured at higher rates than any other age group. Most don’t have access to insurance – they’re part-time workers, self-employed, or trying to find that first steady job with benefits.

Obamacare already helped 3 million young adults get coverage by requiring insurance companies let their parents keep them on their policies until age 26. Now, the marketplaces should help millions more find coverage and help those struggling pay for it.

If you are young and uninsured, or know someone who is, we need to hear about it. The reasons why you can’t get insurance will help us track whether the law meets your needs.

Even if you don’t fit this age group, you probably have a son or granddaughter who does. Please forward this email to anyone you know who is young and uninsured so we can hear from them.

Sincerely, Blake Hutson, Consumers Union Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

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ACA

08/12/2013 Nativegrl77

Regional Administrator Calvin Goings

Affordable Care Act, Part 2

America’s 28 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating two out of every three net new jobs and employing half of America’s workforce. From mom-and-pop stores and restaurants, to high-tech startups and productive manufacturers, small businesses are helping to drive our economy and create jobs in our local communities.

Many small business owners consider their employees to be part of their family, and providing benefits such as health care is one important tool they have to help retain their talented workforce and compete for skilled employees.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is committed to giving small business owners the resources they need to start and grow a business– including access to critical information about how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) works.

Under the Affordable Care Act, small employers will have more options.

First, starting January 1st, 2014, small businesses with generally up to 50 full-time equivalent employees will be able to purchase health insurance through the online health insurance marketplace for small businesses, known as SHOP.

The SHOP Marketplace will offer employers a choice of qualified health plans from different private health insurers and make it easier for employers to make side-by-side comparisons between these plans, based on price and benefits.

SHOP also offers employers and their employees access to health insurance plans that must include a package of “Essential Health Benefits” like coverage for doctor visits, preventive care, hospitalization and prescriptions. Any many small employers may be eligible for tax credits of up to 50% of their premium costs if they choose to purchase coverage through SHOP.

Enrollment starts on October 1st for coverage beginning January 1, 2014.

The Affordable Care Act allows small employers to offer health coverage in a way that makes sense for their business and works for their bottom line. And the SBA is committed to leveraging our resources and federal partnerships to connect you with the facts and resources you need to understand the law.

I hope you have found this information useful. Please feel free to forward this to your friends and colleagues. If you have comments or questions for me, please contact Connie Marshall in my office at connie.marshall@sba.gov. Sincerely, Calvin CALVIN W. GOINGS

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did you know … ewg.org

08/12/2013 Nativegrl77

Sick of not knowing what’s in your personal care products?With almost 72,000 products, EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database is the go-to online resource for personal care product ingredient safety information. Check our what’s in your shampoo, lotion or lip balm today.

EWG's Meat Eater's Guide to Climate Change + Health

Want to eat greener?The truth is that most Americans – especially kids – consume much more meat than vegetables. So EWG examined the impact of Americans’ eating habits on health and the environment. Check out EWG’s Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change + Health to see our findings and find out which foods are the best – and worst – for us and the planet.

What’s the truth about bottled water?The labels on those expensive bottles may lead us to think the water inside comes from pristine springs or has amazing healing powers. But bottled water companies don’t have to tell us what’s actually in those bottles. EWG’s 2011 Bottled Water Scorecard grades more than 170 bottled water labels.

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Congress … Bee a Champ!

08/09/2013 Nativegrl77

A new bill in Congress would ban pesticides responsible for poisoning millions of honeybees.

Tell your representative to support the Save America’s Pollinators Act today!

Bees are dying by the millions all across America.
According to leading scientists, they’re being poisoned by a group of pesticides called neonicotinoids (also known as “neonics”). If we don’t stop using these chemicals soon, the bee population could be done for – and so could all the fruits and vegetables that rely on bees for pollination.
But there’s hope. A bill was just introduced in Congress that would impose a ban on neonics until a scientific review and field studies prove no harm will come to bee populations from their use.
Passing this bill won’t be easy. Big Agriculture and chemical companies like Bayer are already lobbying hard to defeat it. Massive public support is the only chance the bees have. Over 100,000 Greenpeace supporters helped raise the profile of this issue last month. Together we now have a chance to save the bees before it is too late.
Write your congressperson today and urge them to support the Save America’s Pollinators Act and save the bees!
The stories are shocking. Some 50,000 bees dropped dead a few weeks ago in Oregon after being exposed to the deadly pesticides. And last winter alone, 31% of beehives in the United States collapsed. Sobering stuff.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been dragging their feet on this issue for too long. EPA is currently conducting a study on neonics that they don’t expect to finish until sometime in 2018! At this rate, there may not be any bees left by that time.
By allowing toxic chemicals like neonics to weaken and kill bees, we threaten our food and our environment. Every day these chemicals are allowed to be used is one day closer to disaster.
Now’s the time to act. Tell your congressperson to support the Save America’s Pollinators Act today.
The world is stepping up to take action and it’s time for the US to do the same.
Policymakers in Europe pulled three commonly used neonics off the market earlier this year, citing the growing body science showing their harms to pollinators. Just a few weeks ago, the EU added another bee-harming pesticide to their restricted list.
However, the Industrial Agriculture lobby has no intention of backing down and Congress is going to need all the support it can get.
Write your Representative now and tell them to support this critical bill and save the bees.
Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favorite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves. Avocados, almonds, apples…the list goes on. A world without bees.
A win for the bees here in the US is possible, but only if we keep the pressure up on Congress to do the right thing.
Thanks,
Mark Floegel Greenpeace Senior Investigator and Beekeeper
P.S. America’s bees are being poisoned. There’s a bill in Congress that would help save them. Write your representative today and tell them to support the Save America’s Pollinators Act today! Then forward this message to your friend and family.

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Is pregnancy a fireable offense? …

08/08/2013 Nativegrl77

A pregnant fast-food worker in Washington, D.C., was fired after her employer refused to let her drink water on the job, but permitted other workers to do so.
A pregnant cashier at a Dollar Tree store on Long Island wasn’t allowed to sit on a stool, even though workers in other Dollar Tree stores did. Instead, she was required to stand for 8 to 10 hours at a stretch — landing her in the emergency room. The stories keep coming. Women who want to keep working — or need to keep working — but who wind up forced to choose between their jobs and the health of their pregnancies.
We’re only $1,035 away from our $10,000 goal — and our deadline is midnight tonight.
Your gift of $10 or more will help us fight for women facing challenges in the workplace and beyond.

Employers may not know they’re breaking the law when they refuse to make the types of on-the-job adjustments for pregnant women that they make for other workers. But they are. And it’s up to all of us to fight for the pregnant workers who are on the front lines, just trying to do their jobs in the face of employers who treat them unfairly — and illegally.
Anything you can contribute will help. Please help us meet our $10,000 goal by midnight tonight.
Your support means so much to us. Thank you, as always, for everything you do for women and families.
Sincerely,
Emily J. Martin Vice President and General Counsel National Women’s Law Center
P.S. We depend on your support to help us fight for women and their families. Please help us reach our $10,000 goal before midnight tonight.