Small business health insurance blue cross blue shield

Susan Tompor Detroit Free Press Published 7:00 AM EDT Mar 21, 2019 Lately, we're all worried about what crooks might find out about us on the "dark web." Given high-profile data breaches at places such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Health Alliance Plan, as well as Marriott and Equifax, it's not surprising that consumers are running scared.  Consumers, though, might be expecting a bit too much when they sign up for costly credit-monitoring services. Do you really think, somehow, you can pay somebody to remove your Social Security number or credit card information from nefarious areas on the Internet used for criminal activity after you've suffered identity theft?  About 36 percent of consumers who have seen ads for "dark web monitoring" incorrectly believe that identity theft services can remove their personal information from the cyber underground marketplace. "That would be a very compelling reason to sign up," said Susan Grant, director of consumer … [Read more...] about Stolen ID on the dark web? Here’s what to do

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press Updated 11:52 p.m. UTC Aug 1, 2018 Washington – The Trump administration is clearing the way for insurers to sell short-term health plans as a bargain alternative to pricey Obama-law policies for people struggling with high premiums. But the policies don’t have to cover existing medical conditions and offer limited benefits. It’s not certain if that’s going to translate into broad consumer appeal among people who need an individual policy. “For many who’ve got pre-existing conditions or who have other health worries, the Obamacare plans might be right for them,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday. “We’re just providing more options.” Officials say the plans can now last up to 12 months and be renewed for up to 36 months. But there’s no federal guarantee of renewability. Plans will carry a disclaimer that they … [Read more...] about Officials promoting lower-cost, short-term health plans

Kathleen Gray Detroit Free Press Published 10:00 p.m. UTC Jul 26, 2018 The campaign to legalize marijuana has started out with a whimper just over three months before the issue goes to voters on Nov. 6. Neither side had raised much money for the upcoming election in the second quarter, submitting campaign finance reports on Wednesday that looked more like a legislative race, rather than a major initiative that could bolster or kill the budding marijuana industry in Michigan. Healthy and Productive Michigan, a political action committee formed to oppose the proposal, raised just $1,651 and its major donor – Smart Approaches to Marijuana, the Alexandria, Va., group that supports medical marijuana but not recreational marijuana – hasn’t kicked any more money into the campaign since its initial donation of $275,000. The anti-pot group has $67,551 in available cash for the campaign, but former Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, who is a spokesman for the … [Read more...] about Campaign for legal pot in Michigan getting off to a slow start

Jonathan Oosting The Detroit News Published 8:27 p.m. UTC Jul 23, 2018 Lansing — The group behind a $1.8 million advertising campaign featuring Democrat for governor Gretchen Whitmer is primarily funded by union and liberal groups, a new disclosure report reveals. Build a Better Michigan on Monday voluntarily released a report due to the Internal Revenue Service on July 15 but not yet published by the federal agency. The delayed disclosure, which may have lasted through the Aug. 7 primary, had prompted “dark money” criticism from Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed of Shelby Township. "Build a Better Michigan is proud of our record of 100 percent compliance with all IRS regulations and requirements,” President Mark Burton said in a statement, “but as the Trump Administration’s IRS continues to lag in its duty to make this filing public, we are going above and beyond our responsibilities by releasing this ourselves today.” An initial … [Read more...] about Group reveals donors behind Whitmer ad campaign

JC Reindl Detroit Free Press Published 12:00 p.m. UTC Jul 20, 2018 If the recent rebound in Detroit's office space market has put some suburban landlords on the defensive, then the golden towers of Southfield Town Center could be the front line in this regional battle for office tenants. The property's New York-based owner has been pumping $56 million into adding amenities and sprucing up the lobbies, corridors, meeting spaces and the greenery-filled atrium inside the string of four towers and a low-rise building that make up the second largest office and hotel complex in Michigan after the Renaissance Center. Those upgrades, which also added food trucks, installed Zagster bicycle-share stations and tore out carpeting and generic drop ceilings for tenants wanting a more "unfinished" look, have been helping the gargantuan 2.2 million-square-foot … [Read more...] about Suburbs strain to compete with pricier Detroit office space market