COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under ARRA

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as amended on December 19, 2009 by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 DOD Act) provides for premium reductions for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. To qualify, individuals must experience a COBRA qualifying event that is the involuntary termination of a covered employee's employment. The involuntary termination must occur during the period that began September 1, 2008 and ends on February 28, 2010. The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage that began on or after February 17, 2009 and lasts for up to 15 months.

Further information is available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html.

Read More "COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under ARRA"

Winter Driving Tips

As temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter, winter quickly approaches. The coming months offer hazardous driving conditions. During winter storms, the leading cause of death is transportation accidents. Being proactive with your vehicle and emergency protocol can make the difference!

Install good tires. Remember, all tires need the recommended amount of tread in order to function properly. Make sure air levels are at the pressure level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer (You can usually find this information printed in the manual). Some jurisdictions even require vehicles to be equipped with chains and/or snow tires.

Windshield scrapers and brushes should be on-hand to aid in snow and ice removal.

Holiday travel should be planned carefully. Keep an eye on the weather report in the week leading up to your trip. Try to aim for daylight driving.

Dress warm – from head to toe. Wear layers and always have a coat.

Tune in to your local radio stations frequently. Typically, these stations will have the most accurate weather conditions for your geographic area.

Have food and water on hand. Keep “munchies” and a few bottles of water in your trunk or glove box along with a blanket and up-to-date phonebook.

Maintain a half tank of gas and a safe antifreeze level.

Slow down and keep a safe distance between you and other drivers.

Watch for bad weather - If the weather is getting progressively worse but you still need to leave home, use public transportation if possible.

Read More "Winter Driving Tips"