Brothers91 | E+ | Getty Images If getting health insurance through a public exchange has been too pricey for you, that could soon change. The $1.9 trillion Covid stimulus package that’s expected to clear the House of Representatives on Friday includes several provisions that aim to make health care more affordable for households. They include:
Personal finance
Austin Goergen, a student at Oregon State University, started a petition last year to allow dependents ages 17 and up to qualify for stimulus checks. Austin Goergen Washington lawmakers are one step closer to authorizing new $1,400 stimulus checks for millions of Americans. This time, one big group could become eligible for the first time:
JoAnn Hargrove had to stop working full time to help her 7-year-old daughter with virtual learning. Courtesy: JoAnn Hargrove Like many single parents, JoAnn Hargrove has been struggling throughout the pandemic. Her 7-year-old daughter has spent the past year at home, learning virtually. That meant Hargrove, a U.S. postal carrier in Pittsburgh, had to stop
Jessica Cruz and her family were in a bind. When the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, Cruz, a 39-year-old care coordinator in New York, and her two children, ages 10 and 14, were all sent home to work and attend school remotely. That put tension on the family budget, as Cruz’s children used to get
Hinterhaus Productions As Congress works to finalize its latest coronavirus relief bill, some American families are poised to receive a financial windfall. Between new $1,400 stimulus checks and an enhanced child tax credit, that could add up to more than $14,000 for some families. “All of the focus has been on the $1,400 when, in
Fabio Camandona | iStock | Getty Images For Covid-vaccinated individuals in the 65-and-over crowd, hitting the road (or sky) may become more alluring than it’s been in nearly a year. Be sure to consider whether your Medicare plan will travel with you. While coverage when you’re away from home depends partly on your destination, it
Avishek Das | LightRocket | Getty Images Got bitcoin or other crypto? It could come back to bite you if you don’t let the IRS know about it. Regardless of how you interacted with any cryptocurrencies last year, you’re expected to include the information on your 2020 tax return. And for those who had income
Kathy Kraninger, former president Donald Trump’s appointee to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images “Big deal” Both are a type of qualified mortgage, a category that carries legal protections for lenders from consumer lawsuits. That may happen, for example, if borrowers can’t make monthly payments and lose their homes to
martin-dm | E+ | Getty Images The amount of money raised by special purpose acquisition companies in the past year has soared. SPACs are an alternative way for companies to go public that differs from a traditional initial public offering in its process, speed, disclosure and regulatory requirements. Key participants involved in SPACs include SPAC sponsors
Al Drago | Getty Images News | Getty Images The measure, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, would pay unemployed workers an extra $400 a week through Aug. 29. Those additional relief payments would raise federal spending by about $163 billion through 2022, according to a cost estimate the Congressional Budget Office issued last
sturti | E+ | Getty Images Struggling student loan borrowers who own a business received some welcome news this week: They will no longer be excluded from the Paycheck Protection Program. Any business owned 20% or more by a borrower who had fallen behind on their payments previously could be determined ineligible for the government-subsidized
A child attends an online class at a learning hub inside the Crenshaw Family YMCA during the Covid-19 pandemic on February 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images It’s almost one year into the coronavirus pandemic and students are still suffering, especially Blacks and Hispanics. Many schools around
President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for his last time as President on Jan. 20, 2021 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Pete Marovich | Pool | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump’s tax returns are back in the news. The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s efforts to
The smallest businesses that have had the most trouble accessing forgivable loans from the Paycheck Protection Program will soon get extra help. The Biden administration on Monday announced changes for the pandemic aid program focused on helping small and minority owned firms as well as sole proprietors. For two weeks, starting Wednesday, the Small Business
Urbazon | E+ | Getty Images There is a lot to deal with when a loved one passes away. On top of the emotional aspect of handling death, there is the financial stuff — which would include any Social Security benefits the deceased was receiving. You may wonder how the government knows to stop sending
By almost every measure, the coronavirus crisis has been devastating for working women. More women work on the front lines and are at a greater risk of contracting Covid-19, putting themselves and their families in jeopardy. They have reported increased anxiety and stress as a direct result of new work routines and concerns about job
An activist wears a “Fight For $15” T-shirt at a news conference prior to a vote on the Raise the Wage Act, July 18, 2019 at the U.S. Capitol. Alex Wong | Getty Images A $15 minimum wage could become a reality in the U.S. While millions would get a pay boost from a higher
Luc MacGregor | Bloomberg | Getty Images Bitcoin has had blockbuster growth in the last decade, skyrocketing in price and even gaining the support of big banks. Yet for many retail investors, it can be a complicated investment – it’s historically expensive, volatile, can’t be purchased through a brokerage account and isn’t backed by a
The beaches in Cancun, Mexico, have been crowded despite the Covid-19 epidemic . Barcroft Media | Barcroft Media | Getty Images Even Sen. Ted Cruz admits his decision to vacation in sunny Cancun, Mexico, this week while his home state of Texas was suffering record cold and massive power outages was “obviously a mistake,” as
PeopleImages You might want to buckle up for this tax season. Whether due to pandemic-related relief, remote work or no work, individuals may find that preparing their 2020 taxes is a bigger challenge than usual. “I think it’s going to be much more complicated,” said Julio Gonzalez, CEO of Engineered Tax Services. This year, the