How to Contact the Original Creditor in Collections
June 2nd, 2011
If you have a bill in collections, track down your original creditor to pay your bill and work on improving your credit. When a debt isn’t repaid, it can move from one collection agency to another while employees attempt to collect a portion of the debt. If you need to speak to the original creditor, find out their contact information and make the call. Original creditors may not be able to get the debt back from the collection agency it was sold to, but you can find out how legitimate the debt is by speaking with them.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
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- 1Check your credit report for a list of your debtors.
Tags: Contact, Contact Original
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I Can’t Afford to Get Sick
May 29th, 2011
Everyone remembers the dreaded doctors visits of our youth. No one was excited about having a strange person shine a light in our eyes or press some tasteless Popsicle stick on our tongues. But nowadays, with the shortage of health insurance coverage becoming a major issue, adults have financial reasons to dread visiting the doctor.
People may joke about the fact that they cant afford to get sick due to the high cost of medical bills. But in some instances, because health care is so astronomically expensive without insurance, people honestly cannot afford to get sick.
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New Report: Health Reform Essential To Young Adults-Nearly Half Can’t Afford Needed Care, Forty Percent Struggling With Medical Debt
May 28th, 2011
Young adults ages 19-29 are struggling to get the health care they need more than almost any other age group, demonstrating the need for Affordable Care Act provisions, some already in place, that will expand health insurance and make it more affordable, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. The report found that in 2010, 45 percent of young adults couldn’t afford the care they needed, meaning they didn’t fill a prescription, didn’t go to the doctor when they were sick, or skipped a test, treatment, or follow-up visit, up from 32 percent who went without needed care because of cost in 2001.
The Affordable Care Act is already making a difference for young adults. Read full post…
Tags: Percent Struggling, Struggling
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How Do I Get a Copy of My SSI Award Letter?
May 28th, 2011
You will need your Social Security number to process your award letter request.
SSI, or supplemental security income, is income provided by the Social Security Administration for people with low income who are blind, disabled or over the age of 65. Your SSI award letter — also known as a proof of income letter — is a letter stating what your monthly SSI benefits are.
Tags: Award Letter, Letter
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Two-Way Truce Can Improve Health Care
May 23rd, 2011
Last week, 42 freshman House Members sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to stop Democrats from employing “Mediscare” tactics on them and their colleagues for their votes in support of Rep. Paul Ryans (R-Wis.) Medicare proposal and other health care policy changes.
Lots of columnists, pundits and pols hooted at this, given that most of the freshmen had run for their jobs by treating the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, as a piñata, railing against death panels and its burn-and-slash approach to Medicare, which in turn had rallied senior support to the GOP cause.
I could hoot at the hypocrisy, too, even as I wish we could tone down the rhetoric and find a way to actually have–I shudder to use the hackneyed phrase, but will–an “adult conversation” about the urgent need to find some common ground on health care reform. Som
Tags: Care
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Affordable Care Act Helps Fight Unreasonable Health Insurance Premium Increases
May 19th, 2011
Today, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final regulation to ensure that large health insurance premium increases will be thoroughly reviewed, and consumers will have access to clear information about those increases. Combined with other important protections from the Affordable Care Act, these new rules will help lower insurance costs by moderating premium hikes and provide consumers with greater value for their premium dollar. In 2011, this will mean rate increases of 10-percent or more must be reviewed by state or federal officials.
“Effective rate review works – it does so by protecting consumers from unreasonable rate increases and bringing needed transparency to the marketplace,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Read full post…
Tags: Increases, Insurance Premium, Insurance Premium Increases, Premium Increases
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Is There an Automatic Stay Protection for a Co-Debtor Under Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
May 17th, 2011
Two people filing jointly for Chapter 7 bankruptcy are entitled to equal protection under federal bankruptcy laws — including the automatic stay. Married couples and individuals are eligible for Chapter 7; unmarried individuals cannot file jointly. The automatic stay is a major reason why some couples file for bankruptcy. The stay is a legal injunction signed by a judge and is granted to everyone filing for bankruptcy.
Tags: Automatic Stay, Bankruptcy
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Health Insurers Making More Money Than Ever While People Postpone Medical Care
May 14th, 2011
If people continue paying their premiums but use medical services less, health insurers make more money because they have to pay out less. It is an irony that as people struggle and postpone medical care, the insurance companies thrive. It is one of the paradoxes of a recessionary environment
Both UnitedHealth Group and Cigna have noticed a drop in hospital stays and medical use.
So far, the irony is understandable. It is like a year with no natural disasters, insurance companies make more money. Read full post…
Tags: Health Insurers, Medical, Postpone Medical
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