What You Should Know About the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act offers an opportunity for health insurance coverage for millions of Americans who simply find it too expensive to do on their own. Health insurance has become very expensive for most people and to that effect, millions of Americans are denied proper health insurance due to pre-existing medical condition. Most people will find that this new Act who provides much needed financial relief as well as medical cover for people who could not afford this on their own.

Important Dates

There are a few important dates that you should keep in mind. October 1, 2013 is the day that the Health Insurance Marketplace opens. Individuals will be able to buy health insurance and apply for other options to see what they qualify for. Your health insurance coverage can begin as soon as January 2014, as long as you buy your medical insurance during the open enrollment period.

January 1, 2014 is the date on which purchased insurance plans will start to be effective. If you've purchased your plan later than the enrollment period, your coverage may begin later as well. March 31, 2014 is the date on which the open enrollment periods of the Marketplace closes. You cannot apply to purchase health insurance until the next open enrollment period begins.

What You Need to Apply

If you want to apply for health insurance you need to know a few things ready. You will need to gather important documents so that this information can help to determine the best type of plan and offer that you will receive. You would also find out if you are eligible for lower premiums or tax credits. You might even be approved for Medicaid. You need to have your most recent tax return or parents pay stub available, along with Social Security numbers for all the individuals you are applying for. If you have an existing health insurance plan, make sure that you have the policy number handy.

Essential Health Benefits

Health insurance companies are required by law to provide a certain amount of health insurance benefits to all their members. These benefits uphold essential health benefits and they include outpatient services, inpatient services, emergency services, prenatal, maternity and newborn care, pediatric care, preventive and wellness services, prescription drug coverage, and others. Some insurance plans may offer additional benefits to you as well.

In the near future you will be able to buy healthcare insurance even if you are sick. If you previously applied for insurance and you were denied coverage, you cannot be denied as of 2014. In addition to this, health insurance companies may not charge you more if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Women can also not be charged more just because they are female.

The only exception is that people who already have health insurance plans before 2014 may choose to keep those plans. The plan that excludes it pre-existing medical condition will then continue not to cover the expenses that relate to that condition. These plans do not need to comply with the new law; if you want insurance that covers a pre-existing condition you can apply for insurance in the marketplace.

HealthLine.com is a popular resource that offers expert health advice from qualified professionals and experienced contributors. Find out more about health insurance penalties from Healthline.com.

Splendies, my New Sexy and Pretty Intimate Wear

Have you ever tried  subscribing for undies?  If not, this is the cheaper and exciting way of getting your  monthly subscription of  cute and sexy underwear.  I love the three  different  undies that Splendies have sent me.

The first one is the sexy lace   from Spree.  This is the kind of   panty that you  would want to wear on special occasion.. Wink..

This intimate basic is  my color and I like the fabric they used as well.

This floral design from Youmita is very comfortable, love the fabric and there is no visible line as  it isn't  stitched but  ironed.Pretty neat isn't it?  Let us see if I can seduce my husband in wearing these lol.  Just kidding, he need not be seduced  hahaha.

Can you believe that all of these three  undies only cost $8.99 to subscribe?  It would be delivered to your door and  you will get different  kinds of panties every time.  They said that their size runs a little small so I ordered  the next size and sure enough, it is perfect for my size.  Thank you so much Splendies!

You can check 'em out here www.splendies.com.

Disclaimer:  The author of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  The products mentioned above were provided for FREE for evaluation purposes.  

Living Life to the Fullest

Aging is a part of  our lives.  As we age, our physical looks  changes.  Sometimes, the way we look or present ourselves tells our age but  sometimes  looks could be deceiving as well.  

At age 40, I know that physically I changed as  evident to   some  unwanted lines from here and there.  I matured emotionally and spiritually.  I used to be  very jealous (relationship-wise) when I was  younger but when I met my husband it all went away.  I am confident that I can trust  him and that alone help my doubts of having a strong and  stable  relationship.  I am glad that I met him when I was  30 as I  am more mature.  He is the perfect match for me, his strengths are my weaknesses and my strengths are his weaknesses.  

I am glad that God gave me the ability to bear children.  I have two wonderful kids to which my world revolves and a  loving husband.  We might not have all  the wealth in the world but  my family alone is enough for us to survive and live the life that I dreamed of.  I believe that living life to fullest even just on simple ways can bring so much happiness especially if you  spend it  more with your family.  

Getting Diamond Engagement Rings for Less

Engagement rings are often considered to be important investments. Diamonds represent eternal love with their everlasting brilliance and beauty. If you are buying a loose diamond for a custom mounted ring, be a savvy shopper to get the most bling for your buck. You should learn the language of the jewelry trade and understand how diamonds are graded. Do your homework beforehand, and you may be able to negotiate a better deal when purchasing your ring. After determining the grade of stone you want, call several jewelers for quotes or visit websites like Shaneco.com to speak with a professional. 

The GIA and the 4 C’s of Grading Diamonds

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the oldest and most respected independent gemstone laboratory in the world.  Established in 1931, the GIA educates future jewelers, as well as the public, on how to identify and purchase high-quality diamonds.  GIA labs also grade and certify diamonds for a nominal fee.  Reputable jewelers know about GIA grading and will sell GIA-certified diamonds.  To ensure the quality of your gemstone, always ask to see the original GIA certificate before purchasing.      

Understanding the GIA grading criteria will allow you to make an informed buying decision.  Often, a slightly flawed stone will look just as dazzling and brilliant as a highly graded stone, but will cost considerably less.  The grading criteria used by the GIA are commonly referred to as the “4 C’s” for cut, clarity, color, and carat.  Here’s how to get the most for your money by using the 4 C’s :

1. Cut:  Represents the proportions of a stone, its reflective qualities, and the depth.  The cut greatly determines the amount of sparkle your stone will have.  You may have a stone with excellent color and clarity, but if the cut is poor, it may appear dull.  The GIA grades for cut are Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.  For a superior dazzle, make sure the cut is Very Good or Excellent if you are buying a round shape and Good or better for fancy shapes like marquise, pear, princess, etc.     

    

2.Clarity: Indicates the internal and external flaws a stone has.  GIA grades are FL (flawless), IF (internally flawless), VVS1-2 (very, very slightly included), VS1-2 (very slightly included), SI1-2 (slightly included), and I1-3 (Included).  If your stone is not more than 1 or 2 carats, you may save a substantial amount of money by choosing the lesser grade of VS1-2 or SI1.  To the untrained eye, these grades will still appear flawless. 

3.Color: Represents how colorless or white the stone is.  GIA grades run alphabetically from D-Z.  Diamonds graded D, E, F (colorless) are the rarest and most expensive stones.  To reduce cost without sacrificing appearance, consider grades of G-J for a nearly colorless stone.  The bigger the stone, the more obvious any color will be, so consider a higher grade of G-H in diamonds over 1 carat.  

4.Carat: Indicates the size of a stone by weight.  Remember that the cut and shape of a stone also affects how “big” a stone appears.  For example, a 1-carat marquise may look bigger than a 1-carat round diamond.  Also, cost per carat goes up as you hit whole carat weights (1, 2, or 3 carats, for example).  To save money, buy slightly below the whole carat weights.  For example, buy a .90-carat stone instead of a 1-carat stone. The difference in size will not be apparent to most people.        

The key thing to remember is to comparison shop and negotiate to get the best price. Enjoy the sparkle, knowing you didn’t have to break the bank to get it. 

Article courtesy of Shane Co.

The Biggest Belt

My  daughter was so fascinated  with this huge belt that we saw at Cleveland  Museum of Arts.

This is the part  of the museum where I wasn't sure if you are allowed to take pictures or not so I took some  until   I was told not to lol.  Nevertheless, I got two good shots.

I just thought that  photos were allowed as no one was guarding it, usually on the parts where photos are not allowed, they assigned someone to keep it from  photographers or they have a sign saying that photos are not allowed.