Morgan's Sharebook 

Currently the unemployment rate is 8.9% with a total loss of jobs at 539,000 as of April. Our health care system uses the employer as a sponsor for health insurance between the employee and the health insurance company. The issue is what happens when we lose our jobs? We also lose our health coverage because the employer is the intermediary, without the link are only choices for health coverage are state and federal coverage such as Medicare or Medicaid, or purchasing a private plan. If you suffer from prolonged unemployment you will qualify for Medicare or Medicaid but what if the person is hired again, the employer does not offer insurance and you make too much to qualify for state or federal insurance?

I have been looking lately at medical discount cards. There have been quite a few that are not worth the fees that the companies promoting them charge. Also care must be taken that the card is actually accepted by enough doctors in your area that you can use the card. What good is a medical discount card if no one accepts it? I have found two states which license some companies which offer medical discount cards. Licensing for discount card providers is still in its formulate stage so many states do not offer certification. The good news is that some of these state licensed companies operate in multiple regions, maybe in yours.

Here are the links:

Illinois

Connecticut

Well, things are slowing down a bit so I can work on the networking and building up the business. I am moving my website the third time because I have maxed out the capabilities of who I have right now. I'm moving to intut which will allow me to coordinate with Quickbooks. A full Wiki will be in the works for the applications, agreements and other service documents for those in need so they can get them quickly and efficiently. PBWiki seems the way to go. Web sites are not designed for such things for small organizations. The Web site will be the focus and hub that will then link to the Wiki for all informational aspects of the agency. An LLC is also perking because Federal grant funding is iffy for many non-profits now. The LLC will partially fund the non-profit. Government bond purchasing is now approved for the corporation which will allow interest on long term holding (when it occurs). A line of children's books will be in the works with proceeds to benefit the fund. Then we can start giving cash out!

In the meantime, I am watching in disdain how so many people are losing their jobs and more likely than not, losing family health care coverage. The only choice then is COBRA but COBRA rates are through the roof. Why? Because COBRA is from your last employer who no longer has you as an employee. They now have to maintain your health care and all residual claims paperwork and that is not much to many employers liking.

Employers premiums, especially for small business are skyrocketing so it is difficult for them as well.

I have a great deal of statistics to back everything and I hope I will sooner rather than later get them to everyone.