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Annual Healthcare Costs for Families Hit $25K
The data is in and it’s concerning: The annual healthcare costs for a family of four have hit $25K. According to the annual Milliman Medical Index analysis, this represents an increase of $1,155 over last year’s costs, and it is triple what healthcare costs were in 2001.
Even worse, it’s anticipated that family healthcare costs will rise another 4.7% this year alone. Although this is the lowest annual increase in 15 years, it is still taking a financial toll on today’s families. According to Chris Grod, co-author of the Milliman Medical Index, this is a “significant and somewhat unsettling milestone.”
Unsettling is right. What exactly does this data mean for you and your family? What can you do in light of these rising costs?
According to the report, the cause of increasing healthcare costs is due to two factors:
It’s not just the fees associated with insurance and doctor’s visits, it’s the actual prescriptions themselves that are rising in cost too. According to Milliman, prescription drug costs alone make up 17% of the average family’s healthcare costs, which equals an average of $4,270 annually.
These increases can be challenging to navigate. Here’s what you can do to help offset them:
By understanding how these increases in healthcare costs affect you and your family and establishing ways to help defer these costs, you can still keep your family members healthy while enjoying the activities and lifestyle you desire. 6 Meds FamilyWize Users Save Big On!You’ve no doubt read the common statistics about skyrocketing prescription costs. Anything you can do to save money on prescriptions — especially those you take regularly — is worth the effort. One way to save is, of course, the FamilyWize Prescription Savings Card, which can save you quite a bit on your medications — even up to 82 percent! — depending on the drug. The card (and the app) is free and we pass 100% of the savings back to you, so you’re always receiving the best price possible (whether it’s ours, the insurance price, or the pharmacy price). Not convinced? Today we’re sharing six medications that FamilyWize users save big on. Just think — these savings could be yours too!
Yes, the savings that come with the FamilyWize card are a huge relief for those without insurance and facing what can be large medical expenses, but anyone can use it! The FamilyWize price is sometimes better than the insurance price. For those who are underinsured with high deductibles or a plan that doesn’t cover many necessary medications, and for those with insurance, the savings are there for the taking! Use the Drug Price Lookup Tool to find out what you’ll pay before you go to the pharmacy, or don’t be hesitant to present the card and ask the pharmacist for a price comparison. Saving Money on PrescriptionsAside from the FamilyWize card, there are other ways to save. Always ask your pharmacist about the availability of your prescription medication in a generic, non-branded version. The highest savings percentages, as noted above, will nearly always be with generic drugs. However, you can use the FamilyWize card with any prescription. No matter what, you’ll always receive the best price. We understand that this sounds too good to be true — but it’s not! Here’s how it works: FamilyWize negotiates with pharmacies across the U.S. to get discounts similar to what they would give large groups like insurance companies and employers. FamilyWize then passes 100% of these negotiated discounts to its cardholders. That’s it! Don’t miss out on these savings. Get your free card here or the app here. |
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has announced the 2016 Building Bright Spaces for Bright Futures Fund (BBSFBFF) grants, with a total of $57,600 awarded to eight Vermont child care programs.
The 2016 grantees are:
Funded by legislative appropriations, contributions and revenue from a special-issue license plate, BBSFBFF grants are allocated for starting, relocating, expanding, or improving a Vermont child care program’s physical facility and/or accessibility.
Grantees must be participants in the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS), Vermont’s quality recognition system for child care, preschool, and after school programs.
“The Loan Fund is proud to administer these important grants,” said VCLF Executive Director Will Belongia. “The Building Bright Spaces for Bright Futures Fund is having a tremendous impact, increasing the quality and availability of early care & education programs throughout Vermont,” he said.
VCLF’s Director of Child Care Programs Hope Campbell agreed. “Studies show that high-quality child care has a tremendous impact on a child’s ability to succeed in all areas of life,” she said. “With these grants, Building Bright Spaces is helping provide that advantage to more and more Vermont children,” she added.
BBSFBFF was created in 2002 by the Vermont legislature to increase the quantity and quality of child care and early education programs in Vermont. Since its inception, the fund has awarded $1.275 million in 118 grants to 107 child care programs, benefiting over 3,200 Vermont children and their families.
Since 1987, VCLF has loaned over $90 million to local businesses, affordable housing developers and community-based organizations that has created or preserved 5,200 jobs; built or rehabilitated 4,000 affordable homes; created or preserved quality care for over 3,700 children and their families; and supported community organizations providing vital services to hundreds of thousands of Vermonters.
Green Mountain United Way’s Central Vermont office is moving to a new location. Our new office will give us a more centralized location from which .
Beginning August 1 we will be located at 73 Main Street #33, Montpelier, VT.
For the time being, our phone number will remain 802-622-8056 and you can always reach our Central Vermont staff by email:
Tawnya Kristen, Executive Director: tkristen@gmunitedway.org
Pam Bailey, Director of Operations: pbailey@gmunitedway.org
Carrie Stahler, Director of Funding & Program Development: cstahler@gmunitedway.org
Laurie Kelty, Administrative Assistant and VTShares Coordinator: lkelty@gmunitedway.org
Thank you for your understanding while we transition to our new space.
Green Mountain United Way is moving offices and we have 2 beautiful wooden desks that are free to a good home (or any home, actually.). You’ll need to come pick up and transport these desks, but they’re FREE! and in excellent condition.
Please send any questions regarding these desks to Tawnya by email tkristen@gmunitedway.org.
Desk 1 – standard wood office desk
Measurements: 29″ tall x 36″ deep x 72″ wide
Includes 5 office drawers, 2 file drawers, hole to hide cords and wires
Desk 2 – L-corner wood and metal office desk
Measurements: 29″ tall x 36″ deep x 72″ long (left side, front in photo) x 24″ deep x 84″ long (right side, wall side in photo)
Includes: 2 office drawers, 2 file drawers, 2 – holes to hide cords and wires (does not include box on top of desk)
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Green Mountain Club
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Hello!
It’s time to mark your calendars for OUR House’s Annual Sexual Violence Summit – held this year on September 14th at the beautiful Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee Vermont.
We have an exciting list of presenters this year, lots of NEW speakers and NEW topics which will bring helpful discussion and knowledge to many different disciplines.
Attached you will find the official save the date flyer – purchasing information along with workshop details will be out in the coming weeks.
Below is a lineup just in case you aren’t able to see a PDF on your device.
Please feel free to pass along to any person, group or list serve you think might have any interest in attending!
2016 Summit Presenters/Workshops
Conference will run from 9am-4pm, will include a continental breakfast as well as a generous and delicious lunch!
Admission will be $85 per or $70 for 4 or more in same organization, purchased at same time.
[pdf-embedder url=”http://www.gmunitedway.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Summit-Email-2016.pdf”]
Have a great weekend!
Rebecca L. Duranleau
Executive Director ~ Forensic Interviewer
O.U.R House of Central Vermont
38 Summer St, Barre VT 05641
(p) 802.476.8825 (f) 802.479.0370
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