Workplace Health Management (WHM) There are four key components of workplace health management:
Occupational Health and Safety
Workplace Health Promotion
Social and lifestyle determinants of health
Environmental Health Management
In the past policy was frequently driven solely by compliance with legislation. In the new approach to workplace health management, policy development is driven by both legislative requirements and by health targets set on a voluntary basis by the working community within each industry. In order to be effective Workplace Health Management needs to be based on knowledge, experience and practice accumulated in three disciplines: occupational health, workplace health promotion and environmental health. It is important to see WHM as a process not only for continuous improvement and health gain within the company, but also as framework for involvement between various agencies in the community. It offers a platform for co-operation between the local authorities and business leaders on community development through the improvement of public and environmental health.
The Healthy Workplace setting - a cornerstone of the Community Action Plan.
The Luxembourg Declaration of the European Union Network for Workplace Health Promotion defined WHP as the combined effort of employers, employees and society to improve the health and well-being of people at work
This can be achieved through a combination of:
Improving the work organization and the working environment
Promoting active participation of employees in health activities
Encouraging personal development
Workplace health promotion is seen in the EU network Luxembourg Declaration as a modern corporate strategy which aims at preventing ill-health at work and enhancing health promoting potential and well-being in the workforce. Documented benefits for workplace programs include decreased absenteeism, reduced cardiovascular risk, reduced health care claims, decreased staff turnover, decreased musculoskeletal injuries, increased productivity, increased organizational effectiveness and the potential of a return on investment.
However, many of these improvements require the sustained involvement of employees, employers and society in the activities required to make a difference. This is achieved through the empowerment of employees enabling them to make decisions about their own health. Occupational Health Advisors (OHA) are well placed to carry out needs assessment for health promotion initiatives with the working populations they serve, to prioritize these initiatives alongside other occupational health and safety initiatives which may be underway, and to coordinate the activities at the enterprise level to ensure that initiatives which are planned are delivered. In the past occupational health services have been involved in the assessment of fitness to work and in assessing levels of disability for insurance purposes for many years.
The concept of maintaining working ability, in the otherwise healthy working population, has been developed by some innovative occupational health services. In some cases these efforts have been developed in response to the growing challenge caused by the aging workforce and the ever-increasing cost of social security. OHA's have often been at the forefront of these developments.
There is a need to develop further the focus of all occupational health services to include efforts to maintain work ability and to prevent non-occupational workplace preventable conditions by interventions at the workplace. This will require some occupational health services to become more pro-actively involved in workplace health promotion, without reducing the attention paid to preventing occupational accidents and diseases. OHA's, with their close contact with employees, sometimes over many years, are in a good position to plan, deliver and evaluate health promotion and maintenance of work ability interventions at the workplace.
Health promotion at work has grown in importance over the last decade as employers and employees recognize the respective benefits. Working people spend about half of their non-sleeping day at work and this provides an ideal opportunity for employees to share and receive various health messages and for employers to create healthy working environments. The scope of health promotion depends upon the needs of each group.
Some of the most common health promotion activities are smoking reducing activities, healthy nutrition or physical exercise programs, prevention and abatement of drug and alcohol abuse.
However, health promotion may also be directed towards other social, cultural and environmental health determinants, if the people within the company consider that these factors are important for the improvement of their health, well-being and quality of life. In this case factors such as improving work organization, motivation, reducing stress and burnout, introducing flexible working hours, personal development plans and career enhancement may also help to contribute to overall health and well-being of the working community.
The Healthy Community setting In addition to occupational health and workplace health promotion there is also another important aspect to Workplace Health Management. It is related to the impact that each company may have on the surrounding ambient environment, and through pollutants or products or services provided to others, its impact on distant environments. Remember how far the effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear accident in 1986 affected whole neighbouring countries.
Although the environmental health impact of companies is controlled by different legislation to that which applies to Health and Safety at work, there is a strong relationship between safeguarding the working environment, improving work organization and working culture within the company, and its approach to environmental health management.
Many leading companies already combine occupational health and safety with environmental health management to optimally use the available human resources within the company and to avoid duplication of effort. Occupational health nurses can make a contribution towards environmental health management, particularly in those companies that do not employ environmental health specialists.
Selasa, 24 Oktober 2017
Senin, 09 Oktober 2017
Health Savings Accounts - An American Innovation in Health Insurance
INTRODUCTON - The term "health insurance" is commonly used in the United States to describe any program that helps pay for medical expenses, whether through privately purchased insurance, social insurance or a non-insurance social welfare program funded by the government. Synonyms for this usage include "health coverage," "health care coverage" and "health benefits" and "medical insurance." In a more technical sense, the term is used to describe any form of insurance that provides protection against injury or illness.
In America, the health insurance industry has changed rapidly during the last few decades. In the 1970's most people who had health insurance had indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance is often called fee-forservice. It is the traditional health insurance in which the medical provider (usually a doctor or hospital) is paid a fee for each service provided to the patient covered under the policy. An important category associated with the indemnity plans is that of consumer driven health care (CDHC). Consumer-directed health plans allow individuals and families to have greater control over their health care, including when and how they access care, what types of care they receive and how much they spend on health care services.
These plans are however associated with higher deductibles that the insured have to pay from their pocket before they can claim insurance money. Consumer driven health care plans include Health Reimbursement Plans (HRAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), high deductible health plans (HDHps), Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Of these, the Health Savings Accounts are the most recent and they have witnessed rapid growth during the last decade.
WHAT IS A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT?
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States. The funds contributed to the account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. These may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability.
Another feature is that the funds contributed to Health Savings Account roll over and accumulate year over year if not spent. These can be withdrawn by the employees at the time of retirement without any tax liabilities. Withdrawals for qualified expenses and interest earned are also not subject to federal income taxes. According to the U.S. Treasury Office, 'A Health Savings Account is an alternative to traditional health insurance; it is a savings product that offers a different way for consumers to pay for their health care.
HSA's enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.' Thus the Health Savings Account is an effort to increase the efficiency of the American health care system and to encourage people to be more responsible and prudent towards their health care needs. It falls in the category of consumer driven health care plans.
Origin of Health Savings Account
The Health Savings Account was established under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act passed by the U.S. Congress in June 2003, by the Senate in July 2003 and signed by President Bush on December 8, 2003.
Eligibility -
The following individuals are eligible to open a Health Savings Account -
- Those who are covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
- Those not covered by other health insurance plans.
- Those not enrolled in Medicare4.
Also there are no income limits on who may contribute to an HAS and there is no requirement of having earned income to contribute to an HAS. However HAS's can't be set up by those who are dependent on someone else's tax return. Also HSA's cannot be set up independently by children.
What is a High Deductible Health plan (HDHP)?
Enrollment in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a necessary qualification for anyone wishing to open a Health Savings Account. In fact the HDHPs got a boost by the Medicare Modernization Act which introduced the HSAs. A High Deductible Health Plan is a health insurance plan which has a certain deductible threshold. This limit must be crossed before the insured person can claim insurance money. It does not cover first dollar medical expenses. So an individual has to himself pay the initial expenses that are called out-of-pocket costs.
In a number of HDHPs costs of immunization and preventive health care are excluded from the deductible which means that the individual is reimbursed for them. HDHPs can be taken both by individuals (self employed as well as employed) and employers. In 2008, HDHPs are being offered by insurance companies in America with deductibles ranging from a minimum of $1,100 for Self and $2,200 for Self and Family coverage. The maximum amount out-of-pocket limits for HDHPs is $5,600 for self and $11,200 for Self and Family enrollment. These deductible limits are called IRS limits as they are set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In HDHPs the relation between the deductibles and the premium paid by the insured is inversely propotional i.e. higher the deductible, lower the premium and vice versa. The major purported advantages of HDHPs are that they will a) lower health care costs by causing patients to be more cost-conscious, and b) make insurance premiums more affordable for the uninsured. The logic is that when the patients are fully covered (i.e. have health plans with low deductibles), they tend to be less health conscious and also less cost conscious when going for treatment.
Opening a Health Savings Account
An individual can sign up for HSAs with banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other approved companies. However not all insurance companies offer HSAqualified health insurance plans so it is important to use an insurance company that offers this type of qualified insurance plan. The employer may also set up a plan for the employees. However, the account is always owned by the individual. Direct online enrollment in HSA-qualified health insurance is available in all states except Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Contributions to the Health Savings Account
Contributions to HSAs can be made by an individual who owns the account, by an employer or by any other person. When made by the employer, the contribution is not included in the income of the employee. When made by an employee, it is treated as exempted from federal tax. For 2008, the maximum amount that can be contributed (and deducted) to an HSA from all sources is:
$2,900 (self-only coverage)
$5,800 (family coverage)
These limits are set by the U.S. Congress through statutes and they are indexed annually for inflation. For individuals above 55 years of age, there is a special catch up provision that allows them to deposit additional $800 for 2008 and $900 for 2009. The actual maximum amount an individual can contribute also depends on the number of months he is covered by an HDHP (pro-rated basis) as of the first day of a month. For eg If you have family HDHP coverage from January 1,2008 until June 30, 2008, then cease having HDHP coverage, you are allowed an HSA contribution of 6/12 of $5,800, or $2,900 for 2008. If you have family HDHP coverage from January 1,2008 until June 30, 2008, and have self-only HDHP coverage from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, you are allowed an HSA contribution of 6/12 x $5,800 plus 6/12 of $2,900, or $4,350 for 2008. If an individual opens an HDHP on the first day of a month, then he can contribute to HSA on the first day itself. However, if he/she opens an account on any other day than the first, then he can contribute to the HSA from the next month onwards. Contributions can be made as late as April 15 of the following year. Contributions to the HSA in excess of the contribution limits must be withdrawn by the individual or be subject to an excise tax. The individual must pay income tax on the excess withdrawn amount.
Contributions by the Employer
The employer can make contributions to the employee's HAS account under a salary reduction plan known as Section 125 plan. It is also called a cafeteria plan. The contributions made under the cafeteria plan are made on a pre-tax basis i.e. they are excluded from the employee's income. The employer must make the contribution on a comparable basis. Comparable contributions are contributions to all HSAs of an employer which are 1) the same amount or 2) the same percentage of the annual deductible. However, part time employees who work for less than 30 hours a week can be treated separately. The employer can also categorize employees into those who opt for self coverage only and those who opt for a family coverage. The employer can automatically make contributions to the HSAs on the behalf of the employee unless the employee specifically chooses not to have such contributions by the employer.
Withdrawals from the HSAs
The HSA is owned by the employee and he/she can make qualified expenses from it whenever required. He/She also decides how much to contribute to it, how much to withdraw for qualified expenses, which company will hold the account and what type of investments will be made to grow the account. Another feature is that the funds remain in the account and role over from year to year. There are no use it or lose it rules. The HSA participants do not have to obtain advance approval from their HSA trustee or their medical insurer to withdraw funds, and the funds are not subject to income taxation if made for 'qualified medical expenses'. Qualified medical expenses include costs for services and items covered by the health plan but subject to cost sharing such as a deductible and coinsurance, or co-payments, as well as many other expenses not covered under medical plans, such as dental, vision and chiropractic care; durable medical equipment such as eyeglasses and hearing aids; and transportation expenses related to medical care. Nonprescription, over-the-counter medications are also eligible. However, qualified medical expense must be incurred on or after the HSA was established.
Tax free distributions can be taken from the HSA for the qualified medical expenses of the person covered by the HDHP, the spouse (even if not covered) of the individual and any dependent (even if not covered) of the individual.12 The HSA account can also be used to pay previous year's qualified expenses subject to the condition that those expenses were incurred after the HSA was set up. The individual must preserve the receipts for expenses met from the HSA as they may be needed to prove that the withdrawals from the HSA were made for qualified medical expenses and not otherwise used. Also the individual may have to produce the receipts before the insurance company to prove that the deductible limit was met. If a withdrawal is made for unqualified medical expenses, then the amount withdrawn is considered taxable (it is added to the individuals income) and is also subject to an additional 10 percent penalty. Normally the money also cannot be used for paying medical insurance premiums. However, in certain circumstances, exceptions are allowed.
These are -
1) to pay for any health plan coverage while receiving federal or state unemployment benefits.
2) COBRA continuation coverage after leaving employment with a company that offers health insurance coverage.
3) Qualified long-term care insurance.
4) Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance for: Part A (hospital and inpatient services), Part B (physician and outpatient services), Part C (Medicare HMO and PPO plans) and Part D (prescription drugs).
However, if an individual dies, becomes disabled or reaches the age of 65, then withdrawals from the Health Savings Account are considered exempted from income tax and additional 10 percent penalty irrespective of the purpose for which those withdrawals are made. There are different methods through which funds can be withdrawn from the HSAs. Some HSAs provide account holders with debit cards, some with cheques and some have options for a reimbursement process similar to medical insurance.
In America, the health insurance industry has changed rapidly during the last few decades. In the 1970's most people who had health insurance had indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance is often called fee-forservice. It is the traditional health insurance in which the medical provider (usually a doctor or hospital) is paid a fee for each service provided to the patient covered under the policy. An important category associated with the indemnity plans is that of consumer driven health care (CDHC). Consumer-directed health plans allow individuals and families to have greater control over their health care, including when and how they access care, what types of care they receive and how much they spend on health care services.
These plans are however associated with higher deductibles that the insured have to pay from their pocket before they can claim insurance money. Consumer driven health care plans include Health Reimbursement Plans (HRAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), high deductible health plans (HDHps), Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Of these, the Health Savings Accounts are the most recent and they have witnessed rapid growth during the last decade.
WHAT IS A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT?
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States. The funds contributed to the account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. These may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability.
Another feature is that the funds contributed to Health Savings Account roll over and accumulate year over year if not spent. These can be withdrawn by the employees at the time of retirement without any tax liabilities. Withdrawals for qualified expenses and interest earned are also not subject to federal income taxes. According to the U.S. Treasury Office, 'A Health Savings Account is an alternative to traditional health insurance; it is a savings product that offers a different way for consumers to pay for their health care.
HSA's enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.' Thus the Health Savings Account is an effort to increase the efficiency of the American health care system and to encourage people to be more responsible and prudent towards their health care needs. It falls in the category of consumer driven health care plans.
Origin of Health Savings Account
The Health Savings Account was established under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act passed by the U.S. Congress in June 2003, by the Senate in July 2003 and signed by President Bush on December 8, 2003.
Eligibility -
The following individuals are eligible to open a Health Savings Account -
- Those who are covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
- Those not covered by other health insurance plans.
- Those not enrolled in Medicare4.
Also there are no income limits on who may contribute to an HAS and there is no requirement of having earned income to contribute to an HAS. However HAS's can't be set up by those who are dependent on someone else's tax return. Also HSA's cannot be set up independently by children.
What is a High Deductible Health plan (HDHP)?
Enrollment in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a necessary qualification for anyone wishing to open a Health Savings Account. In fact the HDHPs got a boost by the Medicare Modernization Act which introduced the HSAs. A High Deductible Health Plan is a health insurance plan which has a certain deductible threshold. This limit must be crossed before the insured person can claim insurance money. It does not cover first dollar medical expenses. So an individual has to himself pay the initial expenses that are called out-of-pocket costs.
In a number of HDHPs costs of immunization and preventive health care are excluded from the deductible which means that the individual is reimbursed for them. HDHPs can be taken both by individuals (self employed as well as employed) and employers. In 2008, HDHPs are being offered by insurance companies in America with deductibles ranging from a minimum of $1,100 for Self and $2,200 for Self and Family coverage. The maximum amount out-of-pocket limits for HDHPs is $5,600 for self and $11,200 for Self and Family enrollment. These deductible limits are called IRS limits as they are set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In HDHPs the relation between the deductibles and the premium paid by the insured is inversely propotional i.e. higher the deductible, lower the premium and vice versa. The major purported advantages of HDHPs are that they will a) lower health care costs by causing patients to be more cost-conscious, and b) make insurance premiums more affordable for the uninsured. The logic is that when the patients are fully covered (i.e. have health plans with low deductibles), they tend to be less health conscious and also less cost conscious when going for treatment.
Opening a Health Savings Account
An individual can sign up for HSAs with banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other approved companies. However not all insurance companies offer HSAqualified health insurance plans so it is important to use an insurance company that offers this type of qualified insurance plan. The employer may also set up a plan for the employees. However, the account is always owned by the individual. Direct online enrollment in HSA-qualified health insurance is available in all states except Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Contributions to the Health Savings Account
Contributions to HSAs can be made by an individual who owns the account, by an employer or by any other person. When made by the employer, the contribution is not included in the income of the employee. When made by an employee, it is treated as exempted from federal tax. For 2008, the maximum amount that can be contributed (and deducted) to an HSA from all sources is:
$2,900 (self-only coverage)
$5,800 (family coverage)
These limits are set by the U.S. Congress through statutes and they are indexed annually for inflation. For individuals above 55 years of age, there is a special catch up provision that allows them to deposit additional $800 for 2008 and $900 for 2009. The actual maximum amount an individual can contribute also depends on the number of months he is covered by an HDHP (pro-rated basis) as of the first day of a month. For eg If you have family HDHP coverage from January 1,2008 until June 30, 2008, then cease having HDHP coverage, you are allowed an HSA contribution of 6/12 of $5,800, or $2,900 for 2008. If you have family HDHP coverage from January 1,2008 until June 30, 2008, and have self-only HDHP coverage from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, you are allowed an HSA contribution of 6/12 x $5,800 plus 6/12 of $2,900, or $4,350 for 2008. If an individual opens an HDHP on the first day of a month, then he can contribute to HSA on the first day itself. However, if he/she opens an account on any other day than the first, then he can contribute to the HSA from the next month onwards. Contributions can be made as late as April 15 of the following year. Contributions to the HSA in excess of the contribution limits must be withdrawn by the individual or be subject to an excise tax. The individual must pay income tax on the excess withdrawn amount.
Contributions by the Employer
The employer can make contributions to the employee's HAS account under a salary reduction plan known as Section 125 plan. It is also called a cafeteria plan. The contributions made under the cafeteria plan are made on a pre-tax basis i.e. they are excluded from the employee's income. The employer must make the contribution on a comparable basis. Comparable contributions are contributions to all HSAs of an employer which are 1) the same amount or 2) the same percentage of the annual deductible. However, part time employees who work for less than 30 hours a week can be treated separately. The employer can also categorize employees into those who opt for self coverage only and those who opt for a family coverage. The employer can automatically make contributions to the HSAs on the behalf of the employee unless the employee specifically chooses not to have such contributions by the employer.
Withdrawals from the HSAs
The HSA is owned by the employee and he/she can make qualified expenses from it whenever required. He/She also decides how much to contribute to it, how much to withdraw for qualified expenses, which company will hold the account and what type of investments will be made to grow the account. Another feature is that the funds remain in the account and role over from year to year. There are no use it or lose it rules. The HSA participants do not have to obtain advance approval from their HSA trustee or their medical insurer to withdraw funds, and the funds are not subject to income taxation if made for 'qualified medical expenses'. Qualified medical expenses include costs for services and items covered by the health plan but subject to cost sharing such as a deductible and coinsurance, or co-payments, as well as many other expenses not covered under medical plans, such as dental, vision and chiropractic care; durable medical equipment such as eyeglasses and hearing aids; and transportation expenses related to medical care. Nonprescription, over-the-counter medications are also eligible. However, qualified medical expense must be incurred on or after the HSA was established.
Tax free distributions can be taken from the HSA for the qualified medical expenses of the person covered by the HDHP, the spouse (even if not covered) of the individual and any dependent (even if not covered) of the individual.12 The HSA account can also be used to pay previous year's qualified expenses subject to the condition that those expenses were incurred after the HSA was set up. The individual must preserve the receipts for expenses met from the HSA as they may be needed to prove that the withdrawals from the HSA were made for qualified medical expenses and not otherwise used. Also the individual may have to produce the receipts before the insurance company to prove that the deductible limit was met. If a withdrawal is made for unqualified medical expenses, then the amount withdrawn is considered taxable (it is added to the individuals income) and is also subject to an additional 10 percent penalty. Normally the money also cannot be used for paying medical insurance premiums. However, in certain circumstances, exceptions are allowed.
These are -
1) to pay for any health plan coverage while receiving federal or state unemployment benefits.
2) COBRA continuation coverage after leaving employment with a company that offers health insurance coverage.
3) Qualified long-term care insurance.
4) Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance for: Part A (hospital and inpatient services), Part B (physician and outpatient services), Part C (Medicare HMO and PPO plans) and Part D (prescription drugs).
However, if an individual dies, becomes disabled or reaches the age of 65, then withdrawals from the Health Savings Account are considered exempted from income tax and additional 10 percent penalty irrespective of the purpose for which those withdrawals are made. There are different methods through which funds can be withdrawn from the HSAs. Some HSAs provide account holders with debit cards, some with cheques and some have options for a reimbursement process similar to medical insurance.
Sabtu, 23 September 2017
The Importance of Personal Property in Estate Planning and Estate Settlement
For the next several years, the United States is going to be inundated with the largest demographic of older people joining the ranks of "seniors" that this country has ever experienced.
This new trend signals dynamic changes for estate planning and estate dispositions. In the last three years, a paradigm shift has occurred in the personal property business. The multitude of inquiries are now from Boomers asking for help with their parents' personal property appraisals or estate clean outs. They are just beginning to comprehend that they also are facing the eventuality of their own need to scale back. Before 2006, the majority of inquiries for help in appraising items, helping downsize, and appropriately disposing of personal property, were almost always from Boomers' parents, who had become frail mentally or physically and needed to be in a more protective living environment.
One reason for the dramatic changes in estate planning and property disposition is based on the statistic that Baby Boomers have more siblings than children! The support system underneath them will not be as broad as what they provided for their parents' generation or for themselves. They are expected to outlive their own parents by at least ten years. One can only surmise what will happen to older adults in this future, if their estates are not large enough to sustain them in their golden years. Soon, Boomers will be making life-changing decisions more proactively for themselves than their parents did.
By definition, an estate is "the nature and extent of an owner's rights with respect to land or other property." However, people see their estate as land, building structures and portfolio assets in cash and investments, but often overlook the potential worth of their personal property that surrounds them. In fact, recently completed personal property appraisals show that the value of personal items and collections housed within the home were appreciably more than the sale of the house and its land.
Accumulation:
Over the years, personal property begins to build in all households. The psychology behind accumulation has been studied in hoarders and certain types of compulsions. However, the basic reasons all people accumulate are for comfort, sentimentality, procrastination, fear of things becoming more valuable, fear of change, and control. Within the Great Depression era, they also didn't want to discard anything, because "one day we will use it." As humans, our need to accumulate probably goes back to the time of the caveman. If they didn't gather and accumulate the basics, they simply didn't survive.
Evaluation:
Personal property items, such as jewelry, antiques, furniture, heirloom pieces, art, coin, stamp and book collections, may all command impressive amounts of money if their market value is known, as well as the best outlets for selling. To safeguard a client's personal property within an estate, professionals should help you with the evaluation process, before costly mistakes occur.
With this in mind, you should have a list of reputable senior resources at hand to recommend to clients. For the evaluation of personal property, work with a respected personal property appraiser who is educated and experienced in this industry and can also recommend a network of reputable professionals to properly dispose of collections. Personal property experts are strategic partners to you, to urge your clients to:
Know the appraised value of their household goods, collections, and furnishings. There are plenty of unsavory and unscrupulous people waiting in the wings to take or to purchase these belongings cheaply, when the owner does not know the worth!
Record this appraisal information in a written format with photographs or videotape to accompany the evaluation for personal knowledge, insurance purposes, and to place with their important legal documents. This record eliminates most from guessing the value, when the time comes to divvy up the estate equally among designated heirs. Update every five years.
Find someone to help them understand estate tax and consequences. Emphasize that "dying is not cheap" and the wisdom of distributing personal property prior to death, if they desire. These actions help minimize feuding among the heirs, simplify what the heirs have to go through, and make life easier for everyone involved in the estate settlement process.
By knowing the value and having it in writing, their heirs will not make dangerous assumptions, for example, that the personal property is all "junk" and should be disposed of quickly at a yard sale. Personal property liquidators provide your client with peace of mind and the means to downsize and dissolve a home full of a lifetime of accumulated things.
A professional evaluation is also necessary because family members can inflate values and history of items that have been passed from generation to generation. Sometimes these stories about items become so embellished with time that they lose their accuracy.
Distribution:
The process of dismantling the contents of a home begins with family members. Prior to the division of the personal property, an appraiser should have come in to offer the executor and heirs a fair market value on the significant belongings. Once items have then been distributed among the heirs, the remainder should be left in charge of a professional appraiser and estate liquidator, who knows upon sight what contents can be sold and what can't. Different methods of distribution include estate sales, auctions, consignment houses, garage sales, donations, and ads in newspaper or on the Internet. Before anything is given up to these outlets, the family should be aware of what they have and the values. It is a wise decision for senior clients and Boomer heirs to plan their own downsizing and evaluation of their possessions. Making these decisions while the respected elder is still in control is best for everyone.
This new trend signals dynamic changes for estate planning and estate dispositions. In the last three years, a paradigm shift has occurred in the personal property business. The multitude of inquiries are now from Boomers asking for help with their parents' personal property appraisals or estate clean outs. They are just beginning to comprehend that they also are facing the eventuality of their own need to scale back. Before 2006, the majority of inquiries for help in appraising items, helping downsize, and appropriately disposing of personal property, were almost always from Boomers' parents, who had become frail mentally or physically and needed to be in a more protective living environment.
One reason for the dramatic changes in estate planning and property disposition is based on the statistic that Baby Boomers have more siblings than children! The support system underneath them will not be as broad as what they provided for their parents' generation or for themselves. They are expected to outlive their own parents by at least ten years. One can only surmise what will happen to older adults in this future, if their estates are not large enough to sustain them in their golden years. Soon, Boomers will be making life-changing decisions more proactively for themselves than their parents did.
By definition, an estate is "the nature and extent of an owner's rights with respect to land or other property." However, people see their estate as land, building structures and portfolio assets in cash and investments, but often overlook the potential worth of their personal property that surrounds them. In fact, recently completed personal property appraisals show that the value of personal items and collections housed within the home were appreciably more than the sale of the house and its land.
Accumulation:
Over the years, personal property begins to build in all households. The psychology behind accumulation has been studied in hoarders and certain types of compulsions. However, the basic reasons all people accumulate are for comfort, sentimentality, procrastination, fear of things becoming more valuable, fear of change, and control. Within the Great Depression era, they also didn't want to discard anything, because "one day we will use it." As humans, our need to accumulate probably goes back to the time of the caveman. If they didn't gather and accumulate the basics, they simply didn't survive.
Evaluation:
Personal property items, such as jewelry, antiques, furniture, heirloom pieces, art, coin, stamp and book collections, may all command impressive amounts of money if their market value is known, as well as the best outlets for selling. To safeguard a client's personal property within an estate, professionals should help you with the evaluation process, before costly mistakes occur.
With this in mind, you should have a list of reputable senior resources at hand to recommend to clients. For the evaluation of personal property, work with a respected personal property appraiser who is educated and experienced in this industry and can also recommend a network of reputable professionals to properly dispose of collections. Personal property experts are strategic partners to you, to urge your clients to:
Know the appraised value of their household goods, collections, and furnishings. There are plenty of unsavory and unscrupulous people waiting in the wings to take or to purchase these belongings cheaply, when the owner does not know the worth!
Record this appraisal information in a written format with photographs or videotape to accompany the evaluation for personal knowledge, insurance purposes, and to place with their important legal documents. This record eliminates most from guessing the value, when the time comes to divvy up the estate equally among designated heirs. Update every five years.
Find someone to help them understand estate tax and consequences. Emphasize that "dying is not cheap" and the wisdom of distributing personal property prior to death, if they desire. These actions help minimize feuding among the heirs, simplify what the heirs have to go through, and make life easier for everyone involved in the estate settlement process.
By knowing the value and having it in writing, their heirs will not make dangerous assumptions, for example, that the personal property is all "junk" and should be disposed of quickly at a yard sale. Personal property liquidators provide your client with peace of mind and the means to downsize and dissolve a home full of a lifetime of accumulated things.
A professional evaluation is also necessary because family members can inflate values and history of items that have been passed from generation to generation. Sometimes these stories about items become so embellished with time that they lose their accuracy.
Distribution:
The process of dismantling the contents of a home begins with family members. Prior to the division of the personal property, an appraiser should have come in to offer the executor and heirs a fair market value on the significant belongings. Once items have then been distributed among the heirs, the remainder should be left in charge of a professional appraiser and estate liquidator, who knows upon sight what contents can be sold and what can't. Different methods of distribution include estate sales, auctions, consignment houses, garage sales, donations, and ads in newspaper or on the Internet. Before anything is given up to these outlets, the family should be aware of what they have and the values. It is a wise decision for senior clients and Boomer heirs to plan their own downsizing and evaluation of their possessions. Making these decisions while the respected elder is still in control is best for everyone.
Jumat, 15 September 2017
Foreign Car Auto Repair - What To Look For In a Repair Shop
Worried about expensive bills for your foreign car repair? If you are looking for a foreign car auto repair shop, look for premium care from knowledgeable and experienced technicians. Also it is a good idea to research repair shops before you need one so you are prepared for any vehicle emergency. Read on and find out more.
In order to retain maximum performance, cars need regular maintenance. Above all, it is crucial to find someone you trust to work on your vehicle, especially your foreign car, as they required specialized parts and service. It might be difficult to find a local repair shop skilled in imported car repair, but it is important that you find a certified repair shop for all your auto repair needs. It helps to find specialized auto shops so you can find a mechanic who is skilled to work on your car and can guarantee warranties on the parts, service, and continued performance.
Save Time by Finding a Technician Online
With a little research online, you should be able to zero in on the most qualified expert help for your car. Because their engines and electronics operate differently than American cars, servicing of these cars requires dedicated and specialized training. For instance, Audi has eight dedicated training centers located in the US and a number of auto repair technicians are taught to handle auto repair requests of Audi customers in the America. Other leading car manufacturers have similar centers so trained experts can handle all requests related to braking, safety, performance enhancement, and other maintenance needs of your foreign car.
You can find a wide range of foreign car repair shops online, plus compare rates and experience that will help you choose a professional who offers quality service at great rates. You could even check the reputation of the shop on review sites such as Kudzu and Yelp. These online tools are a great resource for honest and reliable imported auto repair professionals for your most prized possession. You can find a number of companies which will perform Supercharger / Turbo Kit Installations, Performance Tuning (ECU Chip Tuning, Part Upgrades) and even Performance Brake UpgradesSupercharger / Turbo Kit InstallationsSupercharger / Turbo Kit Installations at reasonable costs for your imported vehicles. You can even choose exhaust or manual fabrication based on your needs or have various systems of your car such as fuel injections, batteries etc tested at these centers.
In order to retain maximum performance, cars need regular maintenance. Above all, it is crucial to find someone you trust to work on your vehicle, especially your foreign car, as they required specialized parts and service. It might be difficult to find a local repair shop skilled in imported car repair, but it is important that you find a certified repair shop for all your auto repair needs. It helps to find specialized auto shops so you can find a mechanic who is skilled to work on your car and can guarantee warranties on the parts, service, and continued performance.
Save Time by Finding a Technician Online
With a little research online, you should be able to zero in on the most qualified expert help for your car. Because their engines and electronics operate differently than American cars, servicing of these cars requires dedicated and specialized training. For instance, Audi has eight dedicated training centers located in the US and a number of auto repair technicians are taught to handle auto repair requests of Audi customers in the America. Other leading car manufacturers have similar centers so trained experts can handle all requests related to braking, safety, performance enhancement, and other maintenance needs of your foreign car.
You can find a wide range of foreign car repair shops online, plus compare rates and experience that will help you choose a professional who offers quality service at great rates. You could even check the reputation of the shop on review sites such as Kudzu and Yelp. These online tools are a great resource for honest and reliable imported auto repair professionals for your most prized possession. You can find a number of companies which will perform Supercharger / Turbo Kit Installations, Performance Tuning (ECU Chip Tuning, Part Upgrades) and even Performance Brake UpgradesSupercharger / Turbo Kit InstallationsSupercharger / Turbo Kit Installations at reasonable costs for your imported vehicles. You can even choose exhaust or manual fabrication based on your needs or have various systems of your car such as fuel injections, batteries etc tested at these centers.
Jumat, 25 Agustus 2017
What You Need to Know About Long Term Care Insurance
What is long term care insurance?
Long term care insurance is a type of health insurance designated to provide care for individuals living with a chronic illness or injury. Long term care insurance provides both medical and non-medical assistance to the insured, whether in a care facility such as a group home or a nursing home or living in their own home and in need of help with their daily care. It differs from other types of care that are covered by traditional insurance coverage because it pays for help with custodial care, or assistance with tasks of everyday living that most people can do for themselves.
It is often a difficult task to begin thinking and talking about long term care insurance. We don't like to think of ourselves as no longer independent and able to care for ourselves. However, just as with car insurance, life insurance and home owner's insurance, long term care insurance is an extremely important piece of security and protection for you and your family. You may never need long-term care, but when a disabling injury or illness affects your life it often results in long term effects that prevent you from carrying out your activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. This is when it is often necessary to have ongoing help. It can be burdensome or even impossible for family members to provide this level of care on a long term basis. When this is the case, other long term care options may be the most logical choice for your needs.
Is Long Term Care Insurance Expensive?
Depending on the level of care that is needed and the length of time the care is needed, long term care can become extremely expensive. The costs can include supplies and medications, nursing care or direct care help, adaptive equipment, physical therapy equipment, and other needs that are not covered by traditional health insurance. These long term care needs may be a temporary situation, but are generally health care needs that the insured well have for the rest of their lives.
Like all types of insurance, it is possible you may never have a claim against your long term care insurance policy, but if chronic illness or injury leaves you unable to independently care for your activities of daily living. It is expected that this year over 9 million adults in America will need long term health care. That number is expected to rise as high as 12 million by the year 2020. As many as 70 % of elderly adults who need long term care will receive it at home from family or friends. Long term care insurance will cover the costs associated with this type of at home care.
Of adults over the age of 65, there is a 40% chance they will need to consider nursing home care. About 10% of the people who enter a nursing home will wind up staying there for five years or longer. By having long term care insurance, you don't need to worry about whether your Medicare or primary health insurance will pay for care in the nursing home. Your long-term care insurance will cover these expenses.
What About Medicare?
Many seniors depend upon Medicare to help pay for their health care costs. However, Medicare does not pay for most long-term care. Medicare will pay for medically necessary skilled nursing care whether in facilities or home care, but you must meet eligibility requirements and most other options must be paid for by different means, such as long-term care insurance.
However, not all long term care insurance is the same. Some will pay only for nursing home care, while others will pay for a wide range of services and cares such as informal home care, adult day care centers, assisted living services or facilities, medical equipment and others.
When you are considering different long-term care plans, it can be very helpful to think about the different activities and functions you may need help with. You should consider what future needs you may have, especially any that are based on conditions or situations you are already dealing with. Consider activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and moving in or out of bed, a chair or a wheelchair. Next, think about additional services you might need help with like shopping, preparing meals, housework and laundry, getting to appointments, handling finances and bill paying, using the telephone and home maintenance and repair work. Further, consider whether you will need help with remembering to take your medications, monitoring your diabetes, using eye drops or ear drops, getting oxygen or caring for a colostomy bag or a bladder catheter. These are all areas that a long term health insurance plan can help you pay for.
Long term care insurance is a type of health insurance designated to provide care for individuals living with a chronic illness or injury. Long term care insurance provides both medical and non-medical assistance to the insured, whether in a care facility such as a group home or a nursing home or living in their own home and in need of help with their daily care. It differs from other types of care that are covered by traditional insurance coverage because it pays for help with custodial care, or assistance with tasks of everyday living that most people can do for themselves.
It is often a difficult task to begin thinking and talking about long term care insurance. We don't like to think of ourselves as no longer independent and able to care for ourselves. However, just as with car insurance, life insurance and home owner's insurance, long term care insurance is an extremely important piece of security and protection for you and your family. You may never need long-term care, but when a disabling injury or illness affects your life it often results in long term effects that prevent you from carrying out your activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. This is when it is often necessary to have ongoing help. It can be burdensome or even impossible for family members to provide this level of care on a long term basis. When this is the case, other long term care options may be the most logical choice for your needs.
Is Long Term Care Insurance Expensive?
Depending on the level of care that is needed and the length of time the care is needed, long term care can become extremely expensive. The costs can include supplies and medications, nursing care or direct care help, adaptive equipment, physical therapy equipment, and other needs that are not covered by traditional health insurance. These long term care needs may be a temporary situation, but are generally health care needs that the insured well have for the rest of their lives.
Like all types of insurance, it is possible you may never have a claim against your long term care insurance policy, but if chronic illness or injury leaves you unable to independently care for your activities of daily living. It is expected that this year over 9 million adults in America will need long term health care. That number is expected to rise as high as 12 million by the year 2020. As many as 70 % of elderly adults who need long term care will receive it at home from family or friends. Long term care insurance will cover the costs associated with this type of at home care.
Of adults over the age of 65, there is a 40% chance they will need to consider nursing home care. About 10% of the people who enter a nursing home will wind up staying there for five years or longer. By having long term care insurance, you don't need to worry about whether your Medicare or primary health insurance will pay for care in the nursing home. Your long-term care insurance will cover these expenses.
What About Medicare?
Many seniors depend upon Medicare to help pay for their health care costs. However, Medicare does not pay for most long-term care. Medicare will pay for medically necessary skilled nursing care whether in facilities or home care, but you must meet eligibility requirements and most other options must be paid for by different means, such as long-term care insurance.
However, not all long term care insurance is the same. Some will pay only for nursing home care, while others will pay for a wide range of services and cares such as informal home care, adult day care centers, assisted living services or facilities, medical equipment and others.
When you are considering different long-term care plans, it can be very helpful to think about the different activities and functions you may need help with. You should consider what future needs you may have, especially any that are based on conditions or situations you are already dealing with. Consider activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and moving in or out of bed, a chair or a wheelchair. Next, think about additional services you might need help with like shopping, preparing meals, housework and laundry, getting to appointments, handling finances and bill paying, using the telephone and home maintenance and repair work. Further, consider whether you will need help with remembering to take your medications, monitoring your diabetes, using eye drops or ear drops, getting oxygen or caring for a colostomy bag or a bladder catheter. These are all areas that a long term health insurance plan can help you pay for.
Minggu, 13 Agustus 2017
Tips Sheet on How to Collect Personal Property of California Decedents by Affidavit and Avoid Probate
A powerful tool to collect bank and brokerage accounts of a relative who has died is California Probate Code §13100. This law provides for the collection and transfer of personal property of a decedent by affidavit or declaration without probate court or any other legal action.The affidavit/declaration is made by the decedent's successors, those persons succeeding to the property by will or intestacy.
Requirements
1. This procedure is for personal property only, not real property. Bank and brokerage accounts are personal property.
2. Personal property and real property owned by decedent cannot exceed $150,000. Property held in joint tenancy and trust are excluded from the total. Automobiles, boats and mobile homes are also excluded from the total.
3. If the estate of the decedent includes any real property in California, the affidavit is accompanied by an inventory and appraisal of the real property.
4. Original death certificate.
5. 40 days have passed since death.
6. No probate petition has been filed in probate court for decedent's estate.
Why this is so powerful of a tool
The affidavit is a document. It is not filed with the court, just submitted to the financial institution.
A notary public's certificate of acknowledgment identifying the person executing the document is reasonable proof of identity of the person executing the affidavit. Personal appearance by the successor is not needed.
If the financial institution holding the decedent's property refuses to pay, deliver, or transfer any personal property within a reasonable time, the successor may compel compliance by filing a complaint in Superior Court. The Successor is allowed to recover reasonable attorney fees.
Intestacy Distributions of Personal Property, i.e. no Will and no surviving spouse, how distributions will be decided
1. Real property passing, no surviving spouse or issue and predeceased spouse has died within 15 years
For purposes of distributing real property if the decedent had a predeceased spouse who died not more than 15 years before the decedent and there is no surviving spouse or issue of the decedent, the portion of the decedent's estate attributable to the decedent's predeceased spouse passes to predeceased spouses intestate heirs.
2. Intestacy Distributions of Decedent's personal property, no surviving spouse or issue and real property with predeceased spouse who has died more than 15 years
to the decedent's parent or parents equally.
If there is no surviving parent, to the issue of the parents
If there is no surviving parent or issue of a parent to grandparents equally
If there is no surviving parents or grandparents to the issue of those grandparents
If there is no surviving parent, grandparent or issue of a gr andparent, but the decedent is survived by the issue of a predeceased spouse, to that issue
If there is no surviving issue, parent or issue of a parent, grandparent or issue of a grandparent, or issue of a predeceased spouse, but the decedent is survived by next of kin, to the next of kin in equal degree
Requirements
1. This procedure is for personal property only, not real property. Bank and brokerage accounts are personal property.
2. Personal property and real property owned by decedent cannot exceed $150,000. Property held in joint tenancy and trust are excluded from the total. Automobiles, boats and mobile homes are also excluded from the total.
3. If the estate of the decedent includes any real property in California, the affidavit is accompanied by an inventory and appraisal of the real property.
4. Original death certificate.
5. 40 days have passed since death.
6. No probate petition has been filed in probate court for decedent's estate.
Why this is so powerful of a tool
The affidavit is a document. It is not filed with the court, just submitted to the financial institution.
A notary public's certificate of acknowledgment identifying the person executing the document is reasonable proof of identity of the person executing the affidavit. Personal appearance by the successor is not needed.
If the financial institution holding the decedent's property refuses to pay, deliver, or transfer any personal property within a reasonable time, the successor may compel compliance by filing a complaint in Superior Court. The Successor is allowed to recover reasonable attorney fees.
Intestacy Distributions of Personal Property, i.e. no Will and no surviving spouse, how distributions will be decided
1. Real property passing, no surviving spouse or issue and predeceased spouse has died within 15 years
For purposes of distributing real property if the decedent had a predeceased spouse who died not more than 15 years before the decedent and there is no surviving spouse or issue of the decedent, the portion of the decedent's estate attributable to the decedent's predeceased spouse passes to predeceased spouses intestate heirs.
2. Intestacy Distributions of Decedent's personal property, no surviving spouse or issue and real property with predeceased spouse who has died more than 15 years
to the decedent's parent or parents equally.
If there is no surviving parent, to the issue of the parents
If there is no surviving parent or issue of a parent to grandparents equally
If there is no surviving parents or grandparents to the issue of those grandparents
If there is no surviving parent, grandparent or issue of a gr andparent, but the decedent is survived by the issue of a predeceased spouse, to that issue
If there is no surviving issue, parent or issue of a parent, grandparent or issue of a grandparent, or issue of a predeceased spouse, but the decedent is survived by next of kin, to the next of kin in equal degree
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