Education, health care among issues this week
Budget work is also slated to continue, as are hearings in Senate Resources related to Alaska's oil production tax. The committee is expected to release an oil tax bill soon.
The Legislature is off to a fast start: bills that do not pass by the time lawmakers adjourn will die. Plus, lawmakers face a number of big, complex issues that will impact future budgets, including the unfunded pension liabilities and oil taxes.
A bill that would increase education funding is expected to advance from the Senate Education Committee. The measure, SB171, would increase the base student allocation by $125 the first year, to $5,805; $130 the next year and $135 the third year. The bill, sponsored by the committee, is intended to keep pace with inflation, and provide some certainty about funding levels.
Gov. Sean Parnell has said he's open to discussing ways to help school districts meet fixed costs but has problems with increases in formula programs, including raising the base student allocation. He said in tough economic times, domestically and abroad, Alaska must remain as liquid as it can financially.
Sen. Kevin Meyer, co-chair of the Senate Education Committee, said he likes the idea of one-time fixes to help schools with fuel costs, and is open to ideas that the governor or others might have regarding fair and equitable funding to districts. But he said an increase of some kind is needed because education costs are rising.
"I don't know if anybody has the ideal model of education funding," Meyer, R-Anchorage, said. "Until we figure that out, (increasing) the BSA is the only method we have."
House Democrats and National Education Association-Alaska are among those urging an increase in the base student allocation.
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to hear a bill that would establish a health care exchange in Alaska.
How To Establish Health Insurance Company - News
As a requirement of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, each state must establish an insurance exchange as a mechanism for consumers to purchase health insurance plans. If the legislature does not pass a bill or the governor does not sign a bill
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to hear a bill that would establish a health care exchange in Alaska. An exchange is a marketplace for coverage options. Under the federal health care law, the government could step in and establish exchanges in
While Nixon's top health appointees have pursued many of the new federal funding opportunities under the Affordable Care Act, the Democratic governor hasn't put Missouri on the map as an early innovator in transforming health care delivery.
It appears we are at that point now on the question of establishing a Virginia health benefits exchange, despite bipartisan support to move forward. In essence, a health insurance exchange is a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to
By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer Oklahoma is one of 15 states that has made the least progress toward establishing a health insurance exchange but also one whose people could most benefit from one, a study by the Urban Institute shows.
Maintaining Your Health Insurance After Divorce
How is Health Insurance Affected by Divorce?Most families receive health benefits through one of the parents’ employers. After divorce, the spouse who is receiving coverage is forced to drop the dependent recipient; their newly divorced spouse. This negative outcome can be lessened, or at least addressed, by marriage documents and divorce settlement provisions . As it concerns children, almost all states allow dependent children to continue receiving coverage after divorce. Children born of the ex-spouse and a third party, however, will not retain coverage. Whether a divorce is imminent or not, then, preparing for the worst will streamline the process of re-establishing coverage.
The Importance of Establishing Insurance Coverage before DivorceIn the absence of any legally defensible agreements concerning health insurance , spouses about to file for divorce can capitalize on the opportunity to re-establish a health plan early in order to avoid coverage gaps. Especially when non-dependent children are involved, soon-to-be divorced spouses should either contact their employers, insurance companies, or COBRA to ensure that coverage is continuous.
How to Retain Health Insurance through Your Spouse’s EmployerIf you wish to stay on your spouse’s employer-sponsored health plan after divorce, you must take advantage of COBRA. COBRA, which represents the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, was drafted by the federal government in 1986 to provide individuals in certain scenarios with temporary health coverage. This law offers coverage to divorced spouses and their dependents at group rates, although it is often more expensive than employer-sponsored healthcare because it is not supplemented. Still, COBRA is a reliable and reasonably priced health plan that eliminates coverage gaps, allowing ex-spouses to contact other insurance providers while they are covered for up to 36 months.