December 15, 2017
GOP tax bill nears final passage
Republicans in the House and Senate are close to pulling together the final version of their proposed tax legislation. The bill has been in conference committee, where members have been hammering out the details to address concerns from both chambers.
While nothing definitive has been released, congressional leadership is expected to unveil the final version later today to deliver the bill to President Trump’s desk by Christmas. We expect the legislation will include the removal of the individual mandate from the Senate’s version of the bill, which would eliminate the requirement for certain people to purchase health insurance. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says elimination of the individual mandate would result in premium increases of 10 percent as 13 million people drop their coverage without the requirement.
Some members have indicated that the medical expenses deduction will be added back into the final legislation and that the threshold to qualify will be lowered from 10 percent to 7.5 percent. This means families whose qualifying medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of their yearly income will be allowed to deduct some of those costs from their taxes. Including this provision is big win for cancer patients, who traditionally face high costs associated with their care.
Last chance to enroll for insurance
Today is the FINAL DAY to purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, as the open enrollment period closes today at midnight. After today, you will no longer be able to purchase plans through the state insurance exchanges for 2018 coverage.
Use the Cancer Insurance Checklist to help weigh your options and calculate costs, and reference this checklist to pull together the information you’ll need to enroll.
Make sure that you and your family are covered for 2018!
Have a healthy holiday
Buffets and potlucks make it especially tempting to overeat. Instead of piling up your plate with indulgences, fill up on healthy items you know you will eat, then take a small sample of treats to try.Seasonal food, drinks and parties are some of the best traditions of the holidays. But in celebrating the season, many people wind up making poor food choices throughout December. Here are some tips to avoid the “festive fifteen” and reduce your cancer risk:
- Buffets and potlucks make it especially tempting to overeat. Instead of piling up your plate with indulgences, fill up on healthy items you know you will eat, then take a small sample of treats to try.
- Choose drinks that are low in calories and sugar. You should also drink a glass of water to quench your thirst before having a specialty drink.
- Keep up your workout routine. Schedules usually get more packed around the holidays, but it’s important to make time for exercise. You can also plan active outings with friends and family to get everyone moving, like sledding, skiing or neighborhood walks to check out the best decorations.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
The advocacy newsletter will return to your inbox on Friday, January 5, 2018. We wish you and your family a happy and healthy new year!
