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Awareness Bulletins
Investment Fund Categories
August 2007 - Over the past decade, American investors increasingly have turned to variable funds to save for retirement and other financial goals. As with other investment choices, investing in variable funds involves risk. It pays to understand how to choose products that match goals and tolerance for risk.
Vacation Home Insurance
May 2007 - With summertime just ahead, many NEA members will be retreating to their vacation homes for a well-deserved break. Just like your primary residence, your vacation home needs to have adequate protection. Unlike your primary residence, vacation homes require a different type of property insurance.
Debt Consolidation
April 2007 - According to the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, consumer debt is now at a record $2.17 trillion ($800 billion of that in credit card debt). Consumers have various choices to deal with their debt, including paying the minimums, consolidation, or bankruptcy. A smarter way to control your debt is through the use of various consolidation programs: home refinance, home equity loan, auto loan refinance, personal loans, and transferring credit card balances.
Educator Expense Deduction
March 2007 - Eligible educators can deduct from gross income a portion of qualified expenses for education supplies. The expenses can be deducted even if the taxpayer does not itemize their deductions. A late adjustment to the law in 2006 is causing some confusion on the proper way to apply the deduction on an IRS Form 1040; taxpayers need to insert the amount on line 23.
Dental Plans
February 2007 - There are generally two kinds of dental plans available to individuals and employees. The most common is an insured plan that provides a set amount of coverage and benefits. An insured plan may offer up to three types of plan designs: indemnity amounts, a flat percentage, or a dental maintenance organization. The second kind of dental plan is a general discount dental plan.
Pension Protection Act of 2006
September 2006 - The Pension Protection Act of 2006 focuses on six key reforms to fix outdated pension laws, strengthen workers’ retirement security, and reduce the prospect of a future multi-billion dollar taxpayer bailout. A variety of benefits are provided within the law, including the permanency of Roth IRAs [and Roth 403(b)s], new non-spousal provisions as related to retirement assets, and the extension of money held in a flexible savings account.
Home Replacement Value
July 2006 - Over the past several years, several weather-related catastrophes have highlighted the importance of knowing the appropriate value of the family home. Increases in building materials and labor costs, indirectly due to hurricanes and higher world demand, have caused the replacement value of the family home to rise higher than the general inflation rate.
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005: Impact on Medicaid and
the Payment of Long-term Care Expenses
May 2006 - Medicaid, a government-sponsored health insurance program for
eligible, low-income individuals in each state, is being affected by the
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The Act has a major impact on how Medicaid
pays for long-term care services.
The Roth 403(b) Retirement Program
January 2006 - The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 created new employer-sponsored retirement programs, including the Roth 403(b). It is designed to appeal to individuals who want to save retirement money via their paychecks.
A Letter
of Instructions: What Your Family Needs To Know
December 2005 - The death of a loved one is very stressful for family
members. A letter of instructions contains guidance and information to
help family members cope with decisions that need to be made shortly following
your death.
Medicare Part D
November 2005 - The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization
Act of 2003 added Medicare Part D - an outpatient prescription drug plan. The coverage begins in 2006.
Why Long-Term Care Insurance Rates Have Increased
October 2005 - The cost of long-term care insurance has been rising for
the market as a whole. Recently, long-term care insurance rates have increased
up to forty percent. Long-term care insurance premiums and rates are based
on different factors than those of health insurance.
NEA Member Benefits' Response to Hurricane Katrina
September 2005 - NEA Member Benefits responds to members' needs - especially in times of disaster. NEA Member Benefits and the NEA Members Insurance Trust program suppliers are working hard to help the 6,000 NEA members participating in NEA-sponsored programs who are affected by Hurricane Katrina.
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