Most of us don’t bother to look at our medical bills. We just assume that they are correct and that our insurance company paid them. The thought of second guessing or challenging them never crosses our mind.  Yet a Harvard Law & Medical Study indicates that a high percentage of them could be incorrect.  Now, I’m not saying that all of them are wrong, just that they warrant checking.

Here are ten reasons why you should check your hospital bill for errors and overcharges.  It is in your best interest to check each bill for these ten reasons.

1.  Was it you? If you are a Jr. you might be confused with a Sr. when rushed registrars enter data from a pre-existing patient. I have observed several times, registrars confusing patients with the same first and last names.

Make sure you were there and actually received the services/procedures on the date listed on the bill. Keep all your medical appointments on a calendar and double-check your calendar dates with the dates shown on the bill.

2.  Duplicate billing.  Did your doctor order only one test, but you were billed for two? Entering a bill for services/procedures takes concentration and data entry errors can result in a patient being charged more than once for the same service, supply, or medication. Check with your physician to verify how many tests were ordered on the day in question.

3.  Hospital stay days.  A hospital stay charge should only be from your admission date until your discharge date. You should not be charged for the day you were released to go home (discharge date).

4.  Wrong room. You’ll also want to be sure you are charged for the room you were in. You should “not” be billed for an ICU room if you were in a semi-private room; nor should you be charged for a private room when you had a roommate.

5.  Operating time. Hospitals bill for more time than they should. They often bill for operating room set up or clean up/breakdown. These charges are included in the cost of the operating procedure and are therefore disallowed. Also, the operating room time billed should be the same as the anesthesia time billed.

6.  Over coding. This is where a more expensive procedure/service is charged when a lesser one would do. For example, a name-brand medication instead of its generic alternative, or a longer office visit that includes paper work time when only the actual face-to-face time should be charged.

7.  Data entry errors.   Data entry errors caused by hitting the wrong key or too many keys, or interpreting the given information incorrectly, can cost you thousands of dollars because of one innocent mistake.

8.  Overcharging. Are there charges on your hospital bill for a “Mucus Disposal Receptacle” (box of Kleenex)? A “Dental Cleanser” (toothbrush)? A “Dressing Change” (change of bandage)? “Tubing” (IV)? All these charges should be covered in the cost of your procedure and not broken out separately. Surgical instruments should not be charged to you.

9.  Insurance coverage limits. Does your insurance plan have a cap on paid medical costs? If so, checking your medical bills for errors, overcharges, and bogus charges can save you thousands of dollars and ensure you don’t go over your insurance coverage limit.

10. Protecting yourself and your insurance company. Don’t pay more than you owe! Ninety percent of hospital and medical bills contain errors and overcharges. According to the U.S. government, millions of dollars worth of medical billing errors and bogus insurance denials go undetected each year.

********************

Medical Bill Detectives is a Subsidiary of Medical Bill Consultants^TM, LLC.

We’ve been mentioned in the January 2008 issue of “O” magazine and on an August, 2008 edition of CBS Evening News.

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10 Reasons for Checking Your Medical Bills

• Tax Trap #1: Unemployment Income isn’t taxable. Sorry, the tax man does  wants a cut of the action even when you’re unemployed. The easiest way to handle the taxes is to have them withheld just like a paycheck.

• Tax Trap #2: Killing Your Golden Goose When You Raid Retirement Accounts. The last accounts you want to tap are your retirement accounts for several reasons. Since the amount you take out is taxable, the IRS requires that 20% be withheld to cover the taxes.So, if you request $10,000, you’re only going to get $8,000. Since the $10,000 would be added to any other income you have for the year, you may be pushed into the next tax bracket (see Marginal Tax Brackets) and the $2,000 may not even be enough.PLUS, there will be 10% penalty that can’t be reduced by any other credits.Your state will tax the income and may also charge penalties for withdrawing early.

• Tax Trap #3: IRAs can cover certain expenses such as re-training expenses paid directly to a qualified educational institution, health insurance premiums or even early retirement, BUT, you have to handle the withdrawals exactly right or you’ll be socked with taxes. Check with your tax preparer and/or financial advisor.
• Tax Trap #4: Debt Settlements are taxable unless you fall into certain categories. So, if you have a $10,000 balance and the creditor takes $5,000 and call it paid off, you’ll receive a 1099-C for the amount of debt that was canceled. Be sure to take this document to your tax preparer. There are some special rules for debt that is canceled through foreclosure. Debt discharged through bankruptcy are not taxable.
• Tax Trap #5: 401(k) Loans are taxable if you leave your job (for any reason). If you borrow from your 401(k) and are laid off or leave for any reason including disability, your loan becomes due immediately. If you are unable to pay it back, it will be considered a distribution and you will be taxed on it and pay the 10% penalty. However, you would have received the entire amount requested with no taxes withheld like the above example. Therefore, you will have to come up with all the taxes and the penalty on your own. It may take a couple of years for them to actually catch up to you and the IRS will add taxes and penalties in the meantime.

Before you start taking money out of accounts, meet with your tax preparer and do some tax planning to make sure you don’t cost yourself money in taxes, fees or penalties.

Just About Perfect is generouslly offering a free 3 month membership to anyone who is unemployed. Use the Just About Perfect coaches to help you get on the right track, right now!

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Unemployed? Top 5 Tax Traps!

The possibility of losing your home to foreclosure can be terrifying. The reality that scam artists are preying on the vulnerability of desperate homeowners is equally frightening. Many so-called foreclosure rescue companies or foreclosure assistance firms claim they can help you save your home. Some are brazen enough to offer a money-back guarantee.

Unfortunately, once most of these foreclosure fraudsters take your money, they leave you much the worse for wear.

Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver. Their goal is to make a quick profit through fees or mortgage payments they collect from you, but do not pass on to the lender. Sometimes, they assume ownership of your property by deceiving you. Then, when it’s too late to save your home, they take the property or siphon off the equity. You’ve lost your home to foreclosure despite your best intentions.

If you think you may be facing foreclosure, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know how to recognize a foreclosure rescue scam. And even if the foreclosure process has already begun, the FTC and its law enforcement partners want you to know that legitimate options are available to help you save your home.

How the Scams Work

Foreclosure rescue firms use a variety of tactics to find homeowners in distress: Some sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers and on the Internet or through public files at local government offices, and then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others take a broader approach through ads on the Internet, on television, or in the newspaper, posters on telephone poles, median strips and at bus stops, or flyers or business cards at your front door. The scam artists use simple and straight-forward messages, like:

“Stop Foreclosure Now!”

“We guarantee to stop your foreclosure.”

“Keep Your Home. We know your home is scheduled to be sold. No Problem!”

“We have special relationships within many banks that can speed up case approvals.”

“We Can Save Your Home. Guaranteed. Free Consultation”

“We stop foreclosures everyday. Our team of professionals can stop yours this week!”

Once they have your attention, they use a variety of tactics to get your money:

Phony Counseling or Phantom Help

The scam artist tells you that he can negotiate a deal with your lender to save your house if you pay a fee first. You may be told not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit counselor, and to let the scam artist handle all the details. Once you pay the fee, the scam artist takes off with your money.

Sometimes, the scam artist insists that you make all mortgage payments directly to him while he negotiates with the lender. In this instance, the scammer may collect a few months of payments before disappearing.

Bait-and-Switch

You think you’re signing documents for a new loan to make your existing mortgage current. This is a trick: you’ve signed documents that surrender the title of your house to the scam artist in exchange for a “rescue” loan.

Rent-to-Buy Scheme

You’re told to surrender the title as part of a deal that allows you to remain in your home as a renter, and to buy it back during the next few years. You may be told that surrendering the title will permit a borrower with a better credit rating to secure new financing – and prevent the loss of the home. But the terms of these deals usually are so burdensome that buying back your home becomes impossible. You lose the home, and the scam artist walks off with all or most of your home’s equity. Worse yet, when the new borrower defaults on the loan, you’re evicted.

In a variation, the scam artist raises the rent over time to the point that the former homeowner can’t afford it. After missing several rent payments, the renter – the former homeowner – is evicted, leaving the “rescuer” free to sell the house.

In a similar equity-skimming situation, the scam artist offers to find a buyer for your home, but only if you sign over the deed and move out. The scam artist promises to pay you a portion of the profit when the home sells. Once you transfer the deed, the scam artist simply rents out the home and pockets the proceeds while your lender proceeds with the foreclosure. In the end, you lose your home – and you’re still responsible for the unpaid mortgage. That’s because transferring the deed does nothing to transfer your mortgage obligation.

Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver.

Bankruptcy Foreclosure

The scam artist may promise to negotiate with your lender or to get refinancing on your behalf if you pay a fee up front. Instead of contacting your lender or refinancing your loan, though, the scam artist pockets the fee and files a bankruptcy case in your name – sometimes without your knowledge.

A bankruptcy filing often stops a home foreclosure, but only temporarily. What’s more, the bankruptcy process is complicated, expensive, and unforgiving. For example, if you fail to attend the first meeting with the creditors, the bankruptcy judge will dismiss the case and the foreclosure proceedings will continue.

If this happens, you could lose the money you paid to the scam artist as well as your home. Worse yet, a bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to obtain credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job.

Where to Find Legitimate Help

If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately. You may be able to negotiate a new repayment schedule. Remember that lenders generally don’t want to foreclose; it costs them money.

Other foreclosure prevention options, including reinstatement and forbearance, are explained in Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do, a publication from the FTC. Find it at www.ftc.gov.

You also may contact a credit counselor through the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF), a nonprofit organization that operates the national 24/7 toll-free hotline (1.888.995.HOPE) with free, bilingual, personalized assistance to help at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure. HPF is a member of the HOPE NOW Alliance of mortgage servicers, mortgage market participants and counselors. More information about HOPE NOW is at www.995hope.org.

Red Flags

If you’re looking for foreclosure prevention help, avoid any business that:

• guarantees to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances
• instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit or housing counselor
• collects a fee before providing you with any services
• accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer
• encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time
• tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender
• tells you to transfer your property deed or title to it
• offers to buy your house for cash at a fixed price that is not set by the housing market at the time of sale
• offers to fill out paperwork for you
• pressures you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.

If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately.

Report Fraud

If you think you’ve been a victim of foreclosure fraud, contact:

• Federal Trade Commission
• Your state Attorney General
• Your local Better Business Bureau

For More Information

To learn more about mortgages and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.

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Beware Foreclosure Rescue Scams

• If you didn’t get the full Economic Stimulus check last year, you may still be able to get it this year especially if your income is lower due to unemployment or investment losses. Your tax preparer will need to know how much you received last year. If you don’t remember how much your check was, you can find out at “How Much Was My 2008 Stimulus Payment” at the IRS site. Once your taxes are completed, you’ll find out if you’re going to get additional Economic Stimulus money. If you owe taxes, it will reduce the amount owed. If you’re getting a refund, it will be included. If you earned over $75,00 (single) or $150,000 (married), the credit starts phasing out.Babies born in 2008 may also be eligible for the $300 stimulus payment. If you claimed your child last year but supported himself in 2008, he may be eligible for up to $600.
• Some of your capital gains may not be taxed at all. If you’re taxable income puts you into the 10% or 15% income tax brackets (read about Marginal Income Tax Brackets), you won’t pay any capital gains taxes. Even if you are in a higher bracket, some of your gain might qualify for the zero rate.
• Breaks for Higher-Income Taxpayers. Some of the Bush Administration tax breaks are still phasing in (many will expire in 2011 unless Congress acts to keep them in place). In 2008, itemized deductions and personal exemptions phaseouts were increased – resulting in lower taxes. The itemized deductions phase-outs start at adjusted gross income of about $159,950 for most taxpayers with exemptions at $159,950 for single filers and $239,950 for joint filers.
• $7,500 Credit for First-Time Home Buyers. If you bought your first home (or hadn’t owned a home in 3 years) between April 8, 2008 and July 1, 2009, you may qualify for a credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $7,500 on your 2008 return.If you buy in 2009, you can take the credit on your 2008 return or amend if you purchase after filing. The current economic stimulus bill may change this so check with your tax preparer.

  The credit is really a no-interest, 15 year loan that will be paid back each year ($500 per year).

As Congress debates the new economic stimulus bill, there may be many changes that affect your taxes. Your tax preparer stays up-to-date with all the new information so don’t wait until tax time to check in and do some tax planning.

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“Not To Miss” Tax Perks for 2008

If you’re behind on your taxes, now’s a good time to get caught up.

You can find the entire IRS ruling at: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=201115,00.html

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IRS Lowers Interest Rates

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

This has been circulating since July 2008 and it’s been popping up in people’s emails recently.  Just thought I’d bring this to your attention.

Here’s the email:
-Begin-
[Collected via e-mail, July 2008]

From: UPS Packet Service
Subject: UPS Paket N0328795951

Dear Sir/Madam,

Unfortunately we were not able to deliver the postal package you sent on July the 1st in time because the recipient’s address is not correct.

Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office.

Your UPS

-End-

And an updated email that has been circulating since August 2008
This is UPS response:

-Begin-
Attention: Virus Warning
Service Update

We have become aware there is a fraudulent e-mail being sent that says it is coming from UPS and leads the reader to believe that a UPS shipment could not be delivered.  The reader is advised to open an attachment reportedly containing a waybill for the shipment to be picked up.

This e-mail attachment contains a virus.  We recommend that you do not open the attachment, but delete the e-mail immediately.

UPS may send official notification messages on occasion, but they rarely include attachments.  If you receive a notification message that includes an attachment and are in doubt about its authenticity, please contact customerservice@ups.com.

Please note that UPS takes its customer relationships very seriously, but cannot take responsibility for the unauthorized actions of third parties.

Thank you for your attention.
-End-

Double check your inboxes!

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Virus: UPS/FedEx Delivery Failure

Most tax preparers will provide you with a Tax Planner to help you gather all the information you need. This will also save you money because having all the information in one place and in a logical order saves the tax preparer time. There’s a shortage of good tax preparers and we usually give preference to those who schedule appointments and have their information in good order. 

1. Set Up A Filing System For All Your Receipts and Taxable Documents. If you use Quicken (Quicken Online is freee!) or Microsoft Money you can review and print reports showing all your taxable transactions. You can also enter the data into Excel. At this point in the year, don’t try to go back and record all your transactions, the only ones you care about are the ones that affect your taxes. Be sure to watch the mail for W-2s from all employers, 1098s from mortgage companies and 1099s from savings accounts, brokerage accounts and contract employers. Most of these are required to be mailed by January 31st. Make sure to collect all of them because duplicate copies are sent to the IRS and if you miss one (say for a closed account), the IRS will be contacting you and they’ll expect some additional interest or penalty fees. One of the first things I do when I start my 2008 tax preparation is make new folders for 2009. I keep the file in my computer so I can re-use it each year just by changing to the new year.  
2.  Review Your Wage Withholdings. If you received a large tax refund last year, reduce the number of dependents you claim so you’ll get more money in each paycheck. No point in giving the government your money for a year, particularly if you’re struggling financially or have a lot of credit card debt. You might also want to save the money at my favorite bank: INGDirect. If you owed money last year or are self-employed, you’ll want to make sure you increase your withholdings or pay estimated taxes so you don’t have to pay penalties and interest.  
3. Review Investment Accounts to Minimize Taxes. With most portfolios down this year, consider the tax ramifications of selling some of your stocks. You’ll definitely want to work with your stock broker and tax professional to get the maximum benefit out of this strategy.
    
4. Document Charitable Contributions. The IRS requires that all charitable contributions have receipts and documentation. So, if you take used household goods to the Salvation Army or a Church thrift store, list out everything that you are contributing and ask for a receipt. You’ll value each item yourself but you must have a list and a receipt. Charitable mileage for 2008 is calculated at 14 cents per mile.
    
5. Document Work-Related Expenses Especially If You Are Self-Employed. Equipment, supplies, travel expenses and business mileage (rates are 50.5 cents per mile for the first 6 months of the year and 58.5 cents per mile for the last half of the year), business gifts, health insurance, home office deduction, union dues, uniforms and required tools, educational expenses, and more may be deductible. You don’t have to decide, just document them and bring them to your tax preparer. 
    
6. Bunch Your Deductions. Sometimes you’ll have expenses but they aren’t enough to get over the minimum requirements. If you can pay for some of next year’s expenses this year, you might be able to deduct them. For example, Medical Expenses are useless unless they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income and Miscellaneous Expenses (such as unreimbursed employee expenses) must be greater than 2%.This means that if your adjusted gross income is $50,000, your medical costs have to be more than $3,750 and your miscellaneous expenses over $1,000 before you get any reduction in your income/taxes and that’s every year. Let’s say that you have $3,500 of medical expenses in 2008 — that’s not enough to reduce your taxes. But, if you can have lab work done, purchase prescriptions, have your eyes checked and get new glasses, or have minor surgery done in 2008, anything over $3,750 will reduce your income and thus your taxes.This is a very simple example for illustration purposes only. Be sure to check with your tax professional about your personal tax situation. 

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6 Ways To Get Ready for 2008 Taxes

Thanks to Marie at MommyCommunity.com for “How To Create a Thanksgiving Holiday The Whole Family Will Love” ebook. Get your copy at: http://www.mendyourmoney.com/Thanksgiving-Holiday.pdf 

And if you need a last minute recipe, check out “Thanksgiving Recipes” courtesy of Diane at Dine Without Whine at http://www.mendyourmoney.com/Thanksgiving-Handout-2008.pdf. (By the way, Dine Without Whine is a great menu planning service for busy families like yours!)

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Here are some great Thanksgiving freebies! Enjoy!

Yes, you can be covered for more than $100,000 based on how the account is titled. For example, you can have account(s) for 1$00,000, your spouse can have account(s) for $100,000  and you can have joint accounts for $200,000. Note: Joint Trust accounts are not included in this ownership. For more information, see the FDIC publication, “Insuring Your Deposits.”

You can also confirm that your accounts are covered by the FDIC at EDIE – Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator. It will allow you to calculate the insurance coverage of your accounts at each FDIC-insured institution.

Someone else wrote in to ask why anyone would have that much cash in a bank anyway? That’s a good question and I’ll address that in a future article.

Warmly,

Cindy

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Update: Take Your Money And Run?

I received that very question from some clients this morning. David and Rhonda had heard that one of our local banks was in trouble and wanted to get my opinion on getting their money out. I hope my response caught them before they made the mad dash to the teller window.

Here’s what I told them:

“I doubt there’s a big rush to pull money from XYZ Bank.”

Remember, your money isn’t really “in” the bank. They’ve lent it out to others and they are required to have amount of deposits on hand to cover normal business. However, if everyone takes their money out at once it’s a “run on the bank” and will certainly cause the bank to go under (a la The Depression). Remember what happened in “It’s A Wonderful Life“?”

According to CNN, the FDIC had to close IndyMac because customers made a run for their money withdrawing more than $1.3 BILLION. Ouch!

“This institution failed today due to a liquidity crisis,” OTS (Office of Thrift Supervision) Director John Reich said.

What Should You Do To Protect Your Money?

• Make sure you don’t have more than $100,000 in any one bank
• Sit tight and don’t increase the chances your bank will fail by withdrawing your money. That’s why there’s an FDIC (Credit unions have the NCUA so they’ll be OK, too).

The last thing the government wants to see is banks failing and there are programs in place to make sure you don’t lose your money (up to $100,000 per person – not per account). It just increases all our costs when you take yours out.

There’s lots to worry about in the economy right now but so far, this isn’t one of them. You can be sure that if I’m concerned, I’ll be letting you know.

Warmly,

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Take Your Money And Run?

Too often, irregular occurring expenses get left out of our financial equation. Our income stretches to cover the regular monthly expenses and the remainder trickles away toward little things like the morning espresso or lunches out or a dozen other daily splurges. We choose not to think about the brakes that are getting spongy or the plumbing that’s beginning to make strange noises. And we end up riding a financial roller coaster, never knowing when the next crisis will throw us for a loop.

Planning and saving for those events can help prevent an ordinary life from turning into a crisis and can also cut down dependence on credit cards. Not having savings is a major reason people get into debt — event when they don’t have problems controlling their spending.

An Anti-Emergency Fund^TM is the way to anticipate and save for those irregular events that are anything but unexpected. The Anti-Emergency Fund^TM is the foundation of a three-part savings plan.

With a little advanced planning, a broken water heater, a high winter heating bill or the family vacation don’t have to result in financial emergencies. An Anti- Emergency account helps in saving for those variable expenses, both expected and unexpected, that inevitably occur.

Some people call this their “emergency fund,” but it’s really a savings fund that helps you prevent financial disasters. No, you can’t predict when your car is going to break down, but you can predict that it will occasionally need maintenance and repairs and set aside a little money in advance for those events.

Here are some steps to help you get started on your Anti-Emergency Fund^TM:

Identify your irregular expenses.
Take an inventory of those variable expenses that occur throughout the year. Looking back at checking account registers and credit card statements can help you do this. Some examples of these include property taxes, insurance premiums, vacations, car tune-ups, holidays and birthdays. List as many of your non-monthly expenses as you can remember.

Write the anticipated amounts on the calendar.
In many cases, you will know when the expenses are due to occur. In others, you won’t. But you know that sooner or later a car will have problems or an appliance will break down. Try to anticipate these expenses and list them somewhat earlier than you actually expect them to come up. Be sure to update your calendar as you discover more expenses.

Include money in your monthly spending plan for non-monthly expenses.
If your car insurance, for example, is due in May, set aside a small portion each month starting in February. That way, when May rolls around you can transfer the expense to your spending plan and have money available to pay it. Setting aside even a few dollars each month for foreseeable expenses can make it easier to manage your money throughout the year.

You may think you don’t have any “extra” money during the month to set aside, but repairing your car or paying your insurance are not optional expenses. By setting aside small amounts ahead of time, you’re avoiding larger money woes ahead. So you may need to find ways to reduce your regular monthly spending. By tracking your expenses, you may discover areas where you can trim your monthly spending with only small sacrifices. Costs of twice-weekly trips to the drive through or a professional manicure can add up quickly over a month. The important thing is to start today. It may be discouraging at first if you find that you don’t have enough money to fully fund your Anti- Emergency Fund^TM, but you’ll begin to succeed the minute you start the process. Small amounts of savings add up quickly and start compounding immediately!

One of the mistakes people make when trying to get their finances under control is not having a savings account. They may reason that it’s better to put money toward reducing credit card debt at 18 percent interest than to toss it into a low-interest regular savings account. The problem is that if you don’t have money set aside for those unavoidable bills, you inevitably end up adding to your credit card balance to cover the difference.

Stabilizing your debt means agreeing not to incur new charges and to begin paying down what you owe. A savings account is a key element in making that happen — and in improving your financial freedom!

I recommend INGDirect for savings because they’re the best bank I’ve ever found!

Warmly,

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Create your own Anti-Emergency Fund

Suze Orman is making her online Will and Trust Kit available to all at no charge. I don’t know how long it will last! Here’s how to get it:

• Go to SuzeOrman.com.
• Click on Will & Trust Kit link on upper left menu.
• Click the orange Gift Code button.
• Type “people first“.

You can create a will, a revocable trust, Financial Power of Attorney, and an Advanced Directive / Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. No more excuse and it’s f-r-e-e!

This is a pretty basic package so if you have a large estate or other issues, you’ll want to consult an estate attorney. You can still go ahead and do the Healthcare Power of Attorney, though and save your family the heartache of having to make end-of-life decisons for you.

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Free Will & Trust Kit From Suze Orman (online version)

The ladies at Menu Planning Central have put together a little care package for stressed out moms! And they’re letting me pass them on to you!

Get special reports on “Kids Summer Activities”, “Family Friendly Summer Recipes” and “Summer Exercise for Mom”.

Warmly, Cindy

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Free Summer Stress Package for Mom

The Insurance Information Institute has great software (FREE!) you can download to create a room by room Home Inventory. It’s fun and easy to use and you can update it whenever you make a new purchase.

Also great for itemizing charitable contributions, making sure you have enough insurance and settling insurance claims faster if you ever need to. You can also add photos with your digital camera or videotape a walk through of your house.

You should store your home inventory file in your safe deposit box or with a trusted friend or family member. You can also print a report and keep it with your other insurance information. For $14.99 per year, Vault 24 will store your file in a Secure Swiss Databank that you can access 24/7.

Download Know Your Stuff. The Insurance Information Institute doesn’t have access to your Home Inventory.

Warmly, Cindy

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Know Your Stuff

Dear Presidential Candidates, Senators and Representatives,

I’m sharing my thoughts with you about our health care system both personally and from my clients. Here’s what we are all saying:

WE’RE WORRIED ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE and it is constantly on our minds!

We worry about it:

• At bedtime
• At work
• With every ache and pain
• On our birthdays

We talk about it at:

• Our kids’ sporting and school events
• Church
• Social gatherings
• Work
• Restaurants
• Over the dinner table
• Our medical appointments

We make major life decisions based on health care issues and ask ourselves if we can or should:

• Retire
• Change jobs
• Move to a new state
• Start a business
• Get divorced, married, be a domestic partner,
• Have a child

The health care issue is draining the very life force of our lives and the economy, too. We are wasting time, money and energy dealing with an issue that is as basic as the food we eat and the air we breathe.

Safe, efficient, reliable health insurance is every American’s right. We all know we’ll have to pay for it – just get us a system that works!

Respectfully,

Cindy Morus

P.S. We would all enroll in the Congressional Health Care Plan and be very, very, very happy!

P.P.S. Stay tuned for Part II where I’ll provide some ideas from the “trenches” for fixing this situation.

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Health Insurance Sucks!

Question: I’m hearing more and more about Identity Theft. What can I do to protect myself and my family? ~ Sarah

Answer: Hi Sarah, that’s a good question. While nothing can protect you 100%, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself. Here are a few:

• Protect your Social Security Number
  - Don’t carry your it with you (or your children’s)
  - Don’t have it printed on your checks and don’t write it on yourself
  - Don’t write it on forms just because they ask for it, including job applications.
  - Don’t let your employer or health insurer use it as an identification number.
• Take care with your mail
  - Get a lockable mailbox and take all outgoing mail to the post office
  - Notice if you don’t get mail for a day or two
  - Put your mail on hold at the post office if you go on vacation
  - Stop getting credit card offers (see previous blog post)
• Lock down private information
  - Don’t leave bills, bank statements, checkbooks or credit cards laying around your house for visitors to see to pick up.
  - Password protect files on your computer like tax returns, financial spreadsheets and money management software like Quicken or MS Money.
  - Clear your car of paycheck stubs, receipts and other financial records
  - Shred bills, old checks and bank statements, especially credit card offers
• Protect your passwords
  - Change them at least twice a year
  - Don’t use something common like your address, phone number birthday, anniversary or children’s info
  - Use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols if possible. Even capitalizing one of the letters in the middle of your password can help
• Check your Credit Reports
  - Get your free copies at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/. There are 3 reports so you can order one every 4 months
  - Review Credit Reports for errors
  - Correct false entries
  - Check your children’s reports, too
• Review all incoming bills and statements
  - Verify that all charges are really yours
  - Contact the bank or credit card company if you don’t receive your statement on time
  - Change your statements to come by email and save a tree, too
• Avoid public computers
  - Don’t check your bank balance
  - Don’t logon on to financial websites that require your password

Remember, it’s often someone you know or even a family member who makes you a victim of Identity Theft.

Warmly, Cindy Morus

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Protecting myself from Identity Theft?