"I have two health insurance plans. Why do I still have to pay for some things?"

Q: "Why do I have to pay anything out of pocket? I have two health insurance plans. Between them, shouldn't they cover all the costs?"

A: Unfortunately, most insurers changed the rules under which they coordinate benefits within the past 10-15 years. Under the new rules, there's less economic advantage to have two (or more) health insurance plans.

As a general rule, if you have two health plans and you receive both of them on your own (i.e. you don't get either of the plans through your spouse), then generally the plan that you've had for the longest period of time should be the primary policy.

However, there are a lot of variables that can change the result. For example, if one of your plans is Medicare and you get the other plan through your employer, then having a Medicare plan can change the order of benefits, depending on the size of your employer.

Confusing? Yup. If you're having problems with an insurance issue and you live in Washington state, feel free to give us a call. We may be able to help. Our insurance consumer hotline is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number if 1-800-562-6900. You can also reach us at AskMike@oic.wa.gov.

Insurance tips: Are my antiques and collectibles covered?

Q: "I have a number of rare antiques and collectible items of special value. Are they covered by my homeowners policy?"

A: Household goods usually are covered, but only to a limited value. If you have rare, valuable items, it's a good idea to talk to your agent or insurer about that, because you may need to insure them separately. This will likely cost more, but maybe not a lot more. And you'll know you're covered, rather than finding out after a fire, burglary, etc. that your policy was inadequate.

Also, you may need to get professional appraisals to establish the current, accurate value of the items.

For more tips, including inventorying your possessions, resolving claims, etc., please see our "insurance tips for homeowners" page.

Recent Life Update #2!

I�m back with another catch up of what I�ve been up to recently!  These are from the last three weeks, I�ve been crazy busy as usual and have been out most evenings socializing which is most unlike me!
I�ve been to the theatre, lots of restaurants and lots of blogger events.  Work has also been really good and my creativity is flowing.

1) Cuddles with Balthazar, my little hamster with only one ear.
2) Outside the theatre after seeing Daniel Radcliff perform in the Cripple of Inishman!
3) I won a cocktail making task at the Rituals Event � the cosmopolitan challenge!
4) Pancakes with work mates!


1) Art installation in Dalston on a Friday evening
2) Creating a graphic eye look for Company magazine�s weekly edit app
3) Editing YouTube Videos
4) Tanya and I at the Vichy event


1) Before doing �Clue Quest� with my sister�s boyf
2) Outfit of the day � Topshop, Primark, H&M
3) On the dodgems on a Friday night at Mile End Fun Fair
4) Drinking shandy in dungarees


1) Creating shadows in the sun
2) Pizza at work
3) With my favourite girls ever � Zoe, Lily and Emma
4) Nic from Pixiwoo creating magic at an Avon event


1) New pale CC cream�s from Gosh launching soon
2) The incredible Zoella bought me macaroons!
3) Helping Tanya sort her makeup kit out � I was in makeup heaven
4) Morning strolls!

Catch up
I was recently asked on Twitter if I could write a post about how I got my job so I�m currently typing it up, although it�s turning out to be a massive post all about my work history.  If you like the sound of this let me know and I�ll be sure to publish it. 

I filmed a makeup tutorial yesterday, a simple one but the before and after shots are really impressive, I can�t wait to publish it.  I also trekked out to Streatham last night to watch a friend perform with his band.  They are called Whisky Jax and they are super cool so check them out here -

Whisky Jax!

In terms of books, I�ve read one this month so far � The End of Alice is was super disturbing and I wouldn�t recommend it if you don�t like graphic novels.  I�ve just downloaded Nabokov�s Lolita to read next � have you read it?  This week ahead is going to be super busy with lots of work drinks and catching up with friends I haven�t seen in a while so the next catch up post should be interesting! 

What have you been up to recently? Also, please recommend me some books!

xxxx

Finding Spivey Hall - Its Pretty Side Faces the Lake

"Nobody" went to Morrow, Georgia until they built Spivey Hall.

It's a bold claim: "one of the finest facilities...in the nation..." and there is so much that fascinates about this small auditorium in Morrow, Georgia, south of the cultural centers of metro Atlanta.



Spivey Hall is a 392 seat concert hall completed in 1991 at Clayton State University. On June 29 I went to a free 11am concert culminating a choral workshop, about 60 voices accompanied by piano and organ. Brief expert commentary: They rocked!. Spivey Hall rocked.

I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the concert hall. You can find some here. So I'll show you a bit of the outside so you won't be surprised when you visit.


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Clayton State University is a low slung campus in a park overlooking lakes and ponds. Spivey Hall's curvy side faces Swan Lake. The curve houses the lobby and grand stair. The stage is on the street-side. The music school connects on the south.


This is Spivey Hall from the street. It does not express itself on the outside.


It's rather a shock, I didn't expect a brick box. But this is above average for the backside of a theater though most backsides face the back.


You really need the sign.


You enter to the back-left, there's a porte-coch�re next to the comfortable entry.


The entry is on the second floor. The lake side is a glass wall, though it's hard to see the lake though the trees.


The entry is a balcony overlooking the grand lobby, the stair, and the lake.


They set up the lobby for an after concert buffet.

 
From the stair you pick up all the design themes, lake to the left, lyre themed balustrade, black marble floors (but not in the auditorium), faux-painted colossal pink columns, crystal sconces, blue rectangles on the walls.


The lobby feels bigger than it is.


It's quite comfortable, it's open with many cozy comers and niches. The outgoing and the wallflowers can feel good in here.


This is the view as you exit the auditorium seeing through the lobby to the lake.


I walked out to see the lake side. But it's so grown up you really can't see the pretty side very well.

Now that you can find your way I suggest you visit next Saturday for a Sacred Harp sing: Community Singing and Potluck Luncheon: Saturday, July 20, 10AM - 4PM. It's free.

Calibre ebook is a program to manage your ebooks

Calibre ebook is one of  the best program to manage your ebooks. Calibre ebook enables you to manage your ebooks like a library according to their covers, titles and categories. In short, Calibre ebook is just like an e-library.

Products to help with hayfever!

I�ve said before that I have terrible, terrible hayfever.  I suffer really badly from it and have done since I was about 11 so I popped together a selection of products that I find helps lessen the suffering so much.

Before getting on to the products, I should mention that my allergy is so terrible that I get a yearly injection to help get rid of the symptoms.  It�s not a great injection to get (it�s very expensive) but after five days symptoms are pretty much gone.  Until I get the injection, these are the products I swear by!

 

Me after a sneezing attack � 8 sneezes in a row!

Kleenex Pocket Tissues � Tissues!  This is an obvious one but there have been multiple times that I�ve hopped on the tube and realised I don�t have any tissues, which leads to me sneezing over my hands and getting generally quite messy (gross, I know).  I like the Kleenex one as they are super soft and last a while.

Murine Irritation and Redness Relief Eyedrops � I don�t think I could have got through this hay fever season without these.  I suffer from terribly itchy, red eyes especially in the evening and these magically soothe my eyes and also take away any signs of redness or bloodshot-ness!  They cost me about �5 and I get them behind the counter at my local chemist and find them better than the itchy eyes Optrex ones I used to use.

Prevalin Allergy Relief Spray � Lots of people recommended me this and so I gave it a try.  I�m not generally a fan of nasal sprays as they seem to make me sneeze even more, however this one in particular lessened nose blockage after the initial sneeze tickle and outburst! 

Optrex Activist 2-in-1 Eye Spray- This is an odd product; a spray which you use with your eyes closed!  You spritz this on to closed eyes and it apparently seeps through to help soothe eyes.  The good thing is you can use this even when wearing eye makeup and it doesn't ruin it but I�m not sure whether it actually helps my itchy eyes that greatly!

Boots Own Brand Hayfever pills -   I used to buy only branded hayfever pills such as Zirtek, Benadryl etc but now I just buy chemists own branded ones, which are half the price, normally on offer also and have the exact same ingredients.  This saves me so much money and works just as well so they are handbag staples!

What are your favourite products for lessening the symptoms of hayfever?

xxxx

TRIA Captives and Republican Politics

With the current version of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) set to expire at the end of next year unless Congress takes affirmative action to extend it, one thing has become clear already: the politics are complicated.   More specifically, the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives appears to be divided as to whether the federal government should continue to play a role in the private insurance marketplace.

Those with an interest in the continued viability of TRIA captives should pay attention because this is shaping up to be a very fluid and uncertain legislative process.  But before getting too far into the political weeds, a quick historical refresher would probably be helpful.

TRIA was first passed by Congress on a bipartisan basis in 2002 with the intent of helping to stabilize the property insurance marketplace in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.   The Act created a reinsurance program providing for a federal backstop for industry losses exceeding $100 million per year connected with future terrorist attacks.

The program details are that 85% of insured losses would be paid by the federal government after an insurer meets a deductible of 20% of annual premiums.    For losses up to $27.5 billion, the Treasury Department will collect 133% of payouts through surcharges on property/casualty policies.  Regulators have been given discretion to develop specifics to recoup payouts in access of $27.5 billion.

The Act was extended without much opposition in 2005 and 2007 so what�s different this time around?  Those votes were cast prior to the 2010 congressional election, which swept into office many �Tea Party� Republicans and Democratic control was upended in the House.

There is no shortage of commentary with regard to whether or not the growing influence of these small government true believers within the House Republican Caucus is good for the party over the longer term so this blog will refrain from offering similar political commentary.

What we can say with some certainty is the emerging debate over TRIA re-authorization is exposing the same type of divide among Tea Party and �establishment� Republicans that has been seen repeatedly over the past three years on high profile legislation.  Sometimes the party coalesced and other times it did not.

The current TRIA extension legislation (H.R. 508) is now pending in the House Financial Services Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).    While a member of the party leadership, his conservative political orientation more often than not synchs with the Tea Party Caucus.

Clearing Hensarling�s committee is the first step to final enactment, but while the congressman has not explicitly ruled out moving the legislation, he has signaled real skepticism of maintaining the federal government�s role in the private insurance market, even in the cases of terrorism.

In recent meetings with Republican members of the committee (most of whom were not in Congress when the law was originally passed in 2002), industry lobbyists have confirmed conflicting positions.   Some acknowledge that practical marketplace realities dictate the extension, while others have indicated they will oppose the legislation, citing the overriding priority of reducing the size and scope of the federal government.  For their part, House Democrats are mostly sitting back at this point while the Republican politics play out.   

Obviously there is still quite a bit of time on the game clock for congressional action and political ideology could very well yield to practical realities, but it�s risky to simply assume another TRIA extension will be pro forma.   After all, if Congress can go to the brink over raising the debt ceiling, tax hikes and budget sequesters, why should we think that H.R. 508 will be pushed over the finish line by the tailwind from previous years?

 

Current Makeup Bag Favourites #3

One of the little things I LOVE doing (as sad as it may seem) is rummaging through my makeup collection and pulling out bits and bobs to add to my daily makeup bag.  I think rotating products in my daily routine is a great way of finding new gems and re-discovering old favourites. 

Here are the recent staples that I�ve been using daily!

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Barely There � I don�t think I talk about this lipstick enough but it is my favourite lipstick of all time.  This goes EVERYWHERE with me, it�ll always be in my bag as it�s just the most perfect natural pink for my skintone.  It�s also super affordable and moisturizing; I can�t rave about it enough.

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Androgen � I purchased this recently and it has not left my makeup bag since.  Androgen is the most stunning bright peachy pink cream which really brightens up my complexion.  The cream is extremely pigmented, soft and blendable which makes it an absolute pleasure to use!

MAC Studio Finish Concealer � This was a stern favourite in my makeup bag for about 4 years, however it took a back seat in my collection for quite a while.  Recently I decided to bring it back out and I�ve fallen back in love with it all over again.  This is such a fabulous concealer because it conceals everything!  It�s quite thick and creamy but does an incredible job of covering imperfections.

Real Techniques Blender Brush � I had to include this in this post as it�s what I�ve been using to apply the MAC concealer with.  I started using this as an eye shadow brush at first but then realised it works wonderfully for applying and blending concealer.  It picks up just the perfect amount of product and allows me to really buff and blend it into the skin for a flawless base.

YSL Baby Doll Faux Cils Mascara � Faux Cils seems to be a mascara that everyone and their Mum has tried� apart from me!  I got my hands on this recently after a friend didn�t want it and have been using it ever since.  I adore it!  Despite being really overly fragranced, it makes my lashes look long and defined, without being clumpy.  It�s pricey but a great product; I look forward to using this every morning.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Eyeliner � I am a big, big liquid eyeliner fan as you all know � my eyes feel naked and bear without it.  I like to switch up my liquid liners as there are always so many to try from the highstreet and this is the one I�ve been reaching for the most recently.

Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner in Black � I always, always come back to this eye liner because quite truly it�s the best!  This is SO pigmented, creamy and soft and best of all, it is cheap as chips. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder � This is the final step in my daily morning makeup routine!  I take my Real Techniques Powder Brush and sweep this powder all over my face to mattify my skin and set my foundation.  I wish this had a mirror in it so I could take it out with me but I always, always use this when getting ready at home!

I�m due another makeup switch up soon so stay tuned for that!

What products have been staples in your bag recently? 

xxxx

The Perfect Night in for �50!

I�ve said it before; I�m definitely one of those girls that prefers a night in relaxing rather than a night out on the town.  My idea of the perfect evening is a cup of tea, a good book, music, good food and company.  When I was challenged by Money Supermarket to have the �perfect� night in for only �50, I thought � that�s a doddle!  I set aside one evening last week and made it my �official evening in� and here is what I got up to!

Bath time!

Food, pamper and cuddles with Balthazar!


Green tea in my Morrissey mug, new candle and book!

As soon as I got in from work I ran a bath for myself to relax before the evening ahead.  I used the new Timotei Organic Delight Range (which is free from parabens, sulphates, silicones etc) to wash my hair with.  I also picked up a little essential oil from the Muji sale which was �2;  I adore adding essential oils to baths as they make the whole bathroom smell incredible, this lime one being super invigorating and delicious.  I also added the Aveeno Bath and Shower Oil which I recently got because my eczema has been playing up, it�s a creamy oil which smells like oats which is lovely but can get a little sickly!  I�ve discovered that I like to pour a few drops of this into the bath and rub some into my body whilst in the bath too!

Secondly and maybe the most important part of the night;  food!  Me and the Snooks family love takeaways, one of our favourites being a chinese called Dinner Box from the Just Eat website.  I ordered a selection of our fav dishes, included honey ribs, crispy fried vegetables, sea-spiced aubergine, noodles etc! 

Once fed and bathed I�m pretty much the most content!  I changed into my dressing gown (it�s SO soft and from Very.co.uk) and had a little cuddle with Balthazar my little hamster (I�m going to introduce her properly to you all very soon).  Then I lit a candle I treated myself to just for the night as my current one is running out.  It�s from Muji and called Nashi which means Japanese pear and it smells SO GOOD.  I then  jumped into bed with a cup of green tea and a new book I�ve just started reading.  It�s called �The End of Alice� by A.M Holmes.  It�s not the loveliest book I�ve ever read as it�s told from the perspective of a paedophile in jail (controversial, I know) but the story so far has been intriguing. 

Chinese Takeaway: �28.10
Timotei Organic Delight range: �6.98
Muji Lime Oil: �2
Aveeno Oatmeal Bath & Shower Oil: �5.46
Muji Candle: �3.99
Book on my Acer Tablet: �5.99

Total: �52.52

Now I�m a tiny bit over budget, but the beauty products I purchased can be used multiple times so you are getting moneys worth with them!  And instead of a book I could have listened to music on Spotify (my new favourite band being Little Comets � check them out) or I could have watch some TV online for free (been loving Hannibal, Dates and Breaking Bad recently, not to mention that the final season of Dexter has just started).  But I really enjoyed this challenge and I�m looking forward to seeing other �night in� blog posts!

The winner of the Money Supermarket Big Night In wins a prize too so fingers crossed for me too!

What would your idea night consist of? 

xxxx

Morrow, Georgia's Classical Niches with Urns

The Morrow First United Methodist Church (1967) is the best building on this stretch of Jonesboro Road, a rather pleasant, practical, sparse, green, burger, nail-care, big box road along the tracks.


Its portico has two fine niches with urns. I'm at a loss about why these are so appealing to me but there you go.

Morrow has Spivey Hall and Clayton State University but you can't see them from the road and they aren't designed for show.

Morrow has two important if unexpected side by side moderns: The National Archives at Atlanta and The Georgia Archives.Both are warehouses fronted by impressive facades activated with modern facade pizazz. They catch my eye but don't make me care.


Wren-Gibbs style churches are everywhere. But there's SOMETHING about First Methodist. I couldn't figure it out when I was driving 45. So I stopped for a minute last Saturday.

William R. Tapp Jr. Architect Associates used some fine if modest detailing in 1967. Mr. Tapp, 1922-2011 was a Georgia Tech alum who designed a lot of buildings around here though this is my first encounter. His name is carved into a niche plaque.


The design "money" is in the portico...


...and in the niches. Isn't it amazing how the urn's shadows and reflections color and shade the niche.

Perhaps I'll do Morrow First Baptist another day. It's on Lake Harbin.


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Space NK Sale haul!

I was very naughty last week and placed a sneaky little order in the Space NK sale� it wasn�t my fault!!  Thought I�d show you what I purchased because I�m super happy with them!




Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Candle � There�s nothing I love more than 1) candles and 2) sweet food, so when I spotted this it went straight into my basket.  I�ve never actually tried any Laura Mercier products before so this was a treat.  Apparently this was a limited edition product in their Creme Brulee range and comes in a massive tumbler with a snakeskin print on the side.  I haven�t burnt this yet but on first impressions it smells like a warm, sweet vanilla caramel; delicious!  �14.50 down from �29.

Diptiqye Amber Oud Candle � I adore spicy, woody scents and just reading �Amber Oud� I knew that I would adore it.  This miniture candle was from their Christmas collection (I much prefer winter candles to summer ones). It�s quite risky purchasing a candle without smelling it beforehand but this has not disappointed.  I picked this up for �12.50 down from �25.

Diptyque Eau Duelle 100ml � This has quickly become my favourite perfume EVER after buying it in May and I�ve already nearly used up half of my 50ml bottle, so when I spotted a 100ml bottle of this in the sale I SQUEALED!  A bottle of this is normally �70 but I got it for �34.  Bargain.  Super happy with this purchase.

There we have it!  You can tell I�m going through a bit of a romantic period at the moment� after work I come home, change into my pjs, light candles, make a tea and snuggle to read books or blogs in bed.  I love this little routine I�ve got going on and these treats will make this relaxation time even better!

Did you pick anything up from the Space NK sale? 

xxxx

ACA Gobbles Up Self-Insurance Marketplace One Bite at a Time

This week�s announcement that the ACA�s employer-mandate provision has been postponed has understandably gotten a lot of attention.  It�s a big deal for sure, but while federal regulators punted on this high profile provision, they demonstrated no such caution with the release of two sets of final rules over the past week that will have the likely effect of eroding the self-insurance marketplace.

So while everyone is talking about the employer-mandate development, it�s important to interject some exclusive reporting and commentary regarding separate finalized ACA rules related to contraceptive coverage and student health plans to demonstrate how self-insurance options are being quietly restricted in certain market segments.

The rule-making process for contraceptive coverage has certainly attracted much attention over the past two years, but this blog is agnostic regarding the ongoing religious liberty debate that dominates the headlines.   We have, however, been very interested in how the final rules will affect self-insured religious organizations, of which there are many.

As some may recall, when the controversy originally erupted over the prospect of religious organizations being forced to provide coverage for contraceptive coverage, Obama�s political operatives quickly hatched a plan: insurance companies would be required to include this coverage at no cost to the religious organizations.

Notwithstanding the fact that this accommodation failed to satisfy religious liberty objections, the White House overlooked the fact that a large percentage of religious organizations operate self-insured group health plans, so the suggested insurance company fix would not apply to these plans.

Faced with this realization, regulators have floated various proposals during the rule-making process on how self-insured religious organizations can comply with the law.  Most of these proposals have been variations on the theme of forcing third party administrators to take responsibility for coordinating such coverage. 

For good measure, regulators offered a closing comment in the proposed rules essentially saying that such organizations can always convert to fully-insured arrangements if self-insurance is no longer viable.  You have to appreciate such bureaucratic thoughtfulness.

Based on the final rules released last week, it appears that the viability of self-insured plans will be significantly compromised.  At issue is that regulators are forcing TPAs to serve as plan fiduciaries solely for the purpose of arranging separate contraceptive coverage for plan participants.

Industry stakeholders have raised numerous concerns that such an approach is legally questionable and would expose TPAs to a variety of legal liability scenarios.  But the regulators flatly rejected these comments, asserting that �the Department of Labor�s view that is has the legal authority to require the third party administrator to become the plan administrator under ERISA section 3(16) for the sole purpose of providing payments for contraceptive services if the third party administrator agrees to enter into or remain in a contractual relationship with the eligible organization to provide administrative services for the plan.�  

Already acutely sensitive to potential fiduciary designations outside of the ACA context, it�s a reasonable conclusion that at least some TPAs will consider the new rules to be a tipping point, forcing them to part ways with their religious organization clients, which in turn will make it more difficult for such organizations to maintain their self-insured plans.

In separate news, CMS published the final rule last week clarifying exemptions to the individual mandate requirement in as provided for in the ACA.  As part of this, the rule also contained the final language on which "non-insurance� programs will be considered minimum essential coverage (MEC) for purposes of satisfying the mandate.

The earlier, proposed version of the rule had included self-funded student health plans in the list of allowable MECs.  Under the final version of the rule, however, self-funded student plans will only be considered MEC for plan years beginning before December 31, 2014.  After that date, such plans will have to apply to CMS to maintain the exemption.

Given the explicit goal of the Administration to steer as many young and healthy individuals into the exchanges as possible, this blog is highly skeptical that such exemptions will be forthcoming.  And of course, the real effect of this rule won�t be felt until after the 2014 elections. 

We�ll concede the fact that student health plans and religious organizations do not represent major segments of the overall self-insurance marketplace, but they are viable segments that are being quietly gobbled up by the bureaucracy.    So while everyone understandably is now talking about the employer-mandate delay, much of the real action continues to be in the details of the highly technical ACA implementation rules that cannot be easily distilled by the media nor understood by most health care reform observers.