Mesothelioma Law Firm

For decades, mesothelioma, a life-threatening disease that can affect the lungs, abdomen, and several other major organs, has been linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos, resulting in many people seeking a mesothelioma law firm to get justice and help them cover the overwhelming expenses associated with the disease. Typically, mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos while working at a job site that used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). In many cases, the manufacturers of asbestos and ACMs knew of the hidden dangers and risks of asbestos, yet failed to inform the public, as asbestos was an extremely profitable mineral. Because of the hinderance of information, workers who developed health issues from
asbestos exposure may be eligible for financial compensation to cover expenses such as lost wages, medical bills, emotional suffering, physical pain, and more.
If you suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or
asbestosis, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation . Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos
trust funds, set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Use our free Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find top mesothelioma lawyers in your area.
What Does a Mesothelioma Law Firm Do?
Law firms specializing in mesothelioma are different from any other type of law firm. Whereas other firms may specialize in areas like car accidents or nursing home abuse, mesothelioma law firms focus primarily on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. It’s not recommended to retain legal representation from a general practice law firm or even a personal injury firm that specializes in a wide array of injury cases. You’ll need an attorney who specifically specializes in mesothelioma cases, as these types of lawsuits are extremely intricate and require vast, in-depth understanding of asbestos exposure and diseases.
Attorneys at these law firms have knowledge and experience regarding federal and state laws concerning asbestos use and its history in the workforce. They also have sharp investigative skills and are able to dig deep to uncover when and where companies and/or other entities exposed workers to asbestos. Additionally, these law firms are comprised of educated attorneys who understand the legal process involving courts, trials, settlements, and appeals.
Moreover, an experienced firm understands that the victim is already suffering enough because of the medical and financial problems associated with asbestos-related diseases. As a result, the firm will handle most everything regarding the lawsuit, including fighting for the legal rights of the client, interviewing witnesses, obtaining medical history, litigations, and more.
An experienced law firm also understands the severe emotional impact that living with mesothelioma brings, not only to victims, but to family members and loved ones as well. An good firm takes this into account and helps ease the minds of victims and their loved ones throughout this enduring process.
What to Look for When Hiring an Asbestos Law Firm
Unfortunately, not all law firms specializing in mesothelioma are the same. While some may have several years of experience, other firms are relatively new to the area of mesothelioma. In addition, some law firms may concentrate on other areas of law besides mesothelioma while another firm may solely focus on asbestos cases.
Aside from using your good judgement when determining which law firm you should use, there are several factors you should consider:
The law firm should have experience in dealing with mesothelioma cases.
The law firm should be extremely knowledgeable in
asbestos laws and prior cases.
Look for a law firm that focuses solely on asbestos-related cases.
Look for law firms with a stellar reputation in handling asbestos cases.
The law firm should not only understand asbestos laws, but should also have extensive knowledge of medical problems associated with asbestos diseases.
The law firm should always keep you updated on what’s going on in your case. Although attorneys are busy people, they should be accessible.
You should always get an initial consultation at no charge before deciding on a firm.
Keep in mind that it’s not recommended to retain a law firm that promises you that you will win your case no matter what. Although statistics show that the majority mesothelioma victims do go on to win their lawsuits, there are a variety of factors involved, and no case is guaranteed. An experienced law firm will help you to understand your chances and what is involved, but will never assure that your case is 100% guaranteed.
Making Things Easier
Although a law firm will do the majority of your case work, it’s always a good idea to be prepared and make things easier so that the process gets rolling faster.
First, make sure to gather your medical documents, including when and where you were diagnosed, and bring this information to your initial meeting. This will allow the firm to determine if your case can be taken on.
Next, be prepared to provide the law firm with your work history and information including the full company name, address, phone number, your job role, and how long you worked there.
Finally, start keeping track of all expenses used pertaining to your disease. For example, always keep a copy of medical bills, hospital visits, mileage used to get to appointments, medical supplies, and anything other expense you paid out due to your illness.
How a Law Firm Can Personally Help You
When first getting started, victims usually have a plethora of unanswered questions regarding asbestos and their rights. A good law firm should be able to provide you with following information:
Evidence Related to Your Exposure: Once you provide the law firm with your work information, they should be able to investigate and determine how asbestos was used at your workplace. In some cases, they may already have the information available.
If You Truly Have an Asbestos Claim: Asbestos law firms understand what’s needed in order to have a true asbestos claim. With this knowledge, they are able to determine how strong your case is and what the estimated chances are that you’ll win. Most attorneys make sure they’re confident in your case before taking it on. Be wary of any attorney who promises to take your case without knowing any of the details or an attorney who claims they can get you an exact amount of compensation before reviewing your case.
Your Case Worth: If the firm decides you have an asbestos case, they will then be able to come up with an average figure of how much your case is worth. This is including past expenses, daily expenses, medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, physical suffering, future expenses, and much more. Keep in mind, however, that there is no set formula as to how much your award amount may be. The aforementioned factors, along with other details, such as if your former company has a trust fund set up or not, will also come into play.
Who Exactly is Responsible: It can be difficult for the average person to determine who exactly is responsible for exposing victims to asbestos. For example, companies can move, go out of business, hide, suppress relevant information, and change ownerships. In some cases, your former company is responsible, the manufacturer of the asbestos products may be responsible, or supervisors and/or owners may be responsible. In other instances, there may be just one sole responsible entity, yet in a different case, there may be several responsible parties. Remember that part of the law firm’s job is to research, seek out, and determine the entity or responsible parties that are liable for your exposure to asbestos.
Law Firm Fees
Law firms may have different fees as well as different payment options. However, an experienced and caring law firm understands that victims of asbestos-related diseases more than likely have enough financial burden in dealing with their illness, and are unable to afford up-front fees for legal representation. As a result, many firms work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only get paid when you get paid.
If the law firm doesn’t win your case, they don’t receive compensation either in most instances. The good news, however, is that a firm has to be confident enough in your case to take it on, meaning there is a good chance that if your case is picked up, it will be successful.
Law firm fees are percentages taken out of your total settlement or verdict amount, and again, the percentage amount will vary depending upon the firm. Make sure you understand how the fees and percentages work with the firm beforehand so that there will be no confusion later on.
If a law firm doesn’t provide a contingency fee basis, there is a good chance that they don’t have the financial resources to successfully prove your case. Keep in mind that you’ll want a firm that has the financial capability to take on your case on a contingency fee basis.
Attorneys without the resources to handle your case usually can’t provide you with the best representation. An ideal rule of thumb is to ask up-front about how the fees work so that there are no surprises later on. Attorneys with your best interest in mind will have no problems answering any questions you have regarding fees and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to court?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions, which is understandable, as most people who are dealing with an asbestos-related illness generally do not want to spend time in a court room. Generally, you will not have to go to court. Most mesothelioma lawsuits are taken care of via settlements.
In some instances, however, if the defense doesn’t agree on a settlement or if you don’t agree on a settlement, you may have to go to trial, which requires going to court. An experienced law firm will help you through every step of the way, and if you are too ill to attend, arrangements can be made to record your testimony beforehand.
What if I don’t know which company exposed me to asbestos?
As previously mentioned, part of an asbestos law firm’s job is to uncover the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure. The culpable parties are typically manufacturers who supplied asbestos to job sites, which can range from one company to many.
I have workers’ compensation benefits. Can a law firm still help me even if I have other compensation benefits?
Other compensation benefits, such as workers’ compensation or VA benefits, doesn’t disqualify you from seeking compensation

Mesothelioma Cancer Guide

Though asbestos was thought to be useful for its flame-resistant properties, long-term exposure to its particles and fine fibers has been proven to pose serious health risks to people who come into prolonged contact with it. Due to its widespread use all over the world, hundreds of millions are exposed to asbestos, even to this day. Unfortunately, prolonged exposure and and in some cases, short-term exposure, can lead to mesothelioma cancer, a debilitating disease in which there is no cure.
Mesothelioma cancer is a cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lungs, otherwise known as pleural mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers can also attack the lining of the abdominal cavity, resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. Additionally, the diseases sometimes affects the sac which surrounds the heart, as well as other organs in the body.
Malignant mesothelioma takes decades–sometimes up to 50 years–to develop after exposure to asbestos and eludes a quick diagnoses. Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pains, or both. As the disease advances to its final stage, symptoms can become more severe and typically include severe chest and lung pain, bloating, fatigue, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, night sweats, fever, and more.
Each year, more and more cases of mesothelioma surface, and within the decade, the number of victims are expected to peak.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial
compensation . Use our free Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool today to find a leading mesothelioma attorney in your area. With over $30 billion currently in asbestos trust funds, now is the right time to take the first step in determining what you may qualify for.
Who Gets Mesothelioma Cancer?
Most mesothelioma victims are people who have served in the military and/or worked in an environment in which they were in daily contact with asbestos. In other instances, people can develop mesothelioma through second-hand contact via clothing or through radiation treatment. Yet, the main cause of mesothelioma stems from excessive exposure to asbestos.
American naval vessels built from the 1930s to the early 1960s contain extremely large amounts of asbestos. Floors, hulls, electrical systems, steam pipes, and more contain asbestos fibers in order to add tensile strength, heat resistance, and low electrical conductivity. This in turn made ships safer, particularly in regards to extreme temperatures and fires. However, these excessive amounts of asbestos in warships and auxiliary vessels exposed sailors, Marines, and naval yard workers to the carcinogenic fibers which trigger the disease.
Additionally, power plants, steel plants, manufacturing facilities, oil companies, welding business, and more used asbestos extensively prior to its ban. Prior to its regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the late 70s, asbestos was used in many plants, mills, and other buildings across the world where several thousand people were subjected to it during their workdays.
Although anyone exposed to asbestos is at risk of developing mesothelioma, the average victims are typically males. The underlying reason for this is simply because males were the predominant gender in places of employment in which asbestos was used prior to its ban. Since it usually takes decades to diagnose, victims are commonly older, with an average age of 60.
Even though it’s rare, children also have a chance of developing mesothelioma. In most cases, children were exposed to asbestos via second-hand contact from a family member who worked extensively around the dangerous mineral. Unfortunately, when children and even young adults develop mesothelioma, it’s normally not diagnosed immediately since the disease is so prevalent among older adults.
Diagnosing Mesothelioma Cancer
As previously stated, it could take 20 years or more in order to diagnose mesothelioma since the symptoms tend to show up slowly, and in some cases, it isn’t diagnosed until 50 years after exposure. Even then, the symptoms start out so minor that unless your physician has a complete medical and work history, including the fact that you were exposed to asbestos, diagnosis may still be delayed.
Once your physician starts the diagnosis, several blood tests, scans, and a biopsy is typically performed. A biopsy allows your physician to remove parts of the lung tissue in order to search for asbestos fibers. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, your physician will be also be able to assess what stage of the disease you are in. Once the stage of the disease is determined, your physician will start on a treatment plan that’s the most beneficial for you.
Stages of Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma has four stages. The first stage is the earliest of the disease and consists of mesothelioma not quite yet beginning. People with stage 1 mesothelioma have the best chances of getting the cancerous cells removed. As the stages advances, however, so does the disease, with Stage 4 being the final stage.
Stage 2 of the disease still renders hope for the victims since the tumor, although growing, has still not spread to the point in which surgery is not an option. Stage 2 is only slightly more threatening than Stage 1, with the main difference being that the tumor has now begun to spread from its origination. It hasn’t invaded any organs at this point of the disease, but getting treatment quickly is crucial.
Once a victim reaches Stage 3, the disease has spread to specific parts of the body and prognosis is much shorter when compared to the previous stages. However, if the tumor is in mass, surgery may still be an option for qualified patients.
If the disease reaches the final stage, the prognosis is grim, and physicians tend to look for palliative treatments as opposed to curative treatments. Palliative treatments concentrate on helping victims manage pain and prolong their lives instead of attempting to remove the tumors. In the majority of cases, the tumors are far too widespread during this stage to be surgically removed. This is not to say that curative treatments are not an option for Stage 4 patients, but generally speaking, the cancer has spread too far to successfully remove it all.
Unfortunately, many victims may not even know they have mesothelioma until its final stage since it takes decades for the first symptoms to show up, which results in many patients not starting treatment when curative options would have been more successful. It’s absolutely crucial to seek medical checkups if you think you’ve been exposed to asbestos, even if you have no symptoms.
Mesothelioma Cancer Prognosis
Mesothelioma cancer currently has no cure, rendering prognosis grim for patients. It’s important to remember, however, that each patient is different and while one person may survive a year, another person may go on to live decades. It’s imperative to work with your physician on the best
treatment options for you and your unique situation.
Mesothelioma Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy, radiation, or the combination of both has proven to be the most effective mesothelioma treatments so far. However, if the disease is caught in its early stages, surgery is almost always recommended in order to remove the cancer, pending that the patient meets certain health and age requirements. Older patients and/or patients in weak health conditions may not be able to withstand the physical demands required for surgery.
If the disease is in its advanced stages, particularly stage 4 , multimodal treatment options are usually utilized, meaning a combination of two treatments, typically chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery is rarely an option for the latest stages of the disease as aforementioned, since the health of the patient along with the spreading of the tumor makes surgery extremely risky.
Another possible future option is in the form of a vaccine. Known as the CRS-207, the vaccination works by boosting the immune system enough to attack the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Although its still in its trial phase, several patients who participate in a clinical trial extended their life expectancy rates. The patients’ disease stages ranged from early to advanced stages. For more detailed information on the CRS-207, contact your physician.
Aside from or along with traditional treatments, many mesothelioma patients have opted for a range of complementary and alternative treatments. Specific herbs and vitamins, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, and holistic healing are among a few of the examples that can be utilized. Although many alternative treatments are not recognized in traditional medical practices, an array of physicians are coming around and taking notice of how effective these non-traditional treatments can be. In some cases, physicians have opened up their own alternative medicine practice.

Home insurance policies are long, complicated and written in legalese. But it can really pay to know what's in yours and how it works.

Home insurance policies are long, complicated and written in legalese. But it can really pay to know what's in yours and how it works.
"Insurance is a complex product and there's no harm and no shame in not fully understanding it," says Alessandro Iuppa, former president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Most people don't read a policy until they've had a claim denied, and that's too late."
Finding an insurer
Get recommendations from friends, relatives, co-workers or other people you trust. Be sure to check out the companies.
If your state keeps information, complaints or complaint ratios, weigh that too. You can find information about how to contact your state insurance office at www.naic.org . Make sure the company is on strong financial ground so it will be there if you have to file a claim. Check its ranking with A.M. Best Company.
Your dwelling
You want to be sure that if you had a total loss of your home tomorrow, your homeowners insurance policy would pay enough to build the exact same house in the same spot.
Don't just focus on what you paid for the home. You want enough insurance to replace it, right down to that funky wallpaper.
"It's common sense, but it's not what people think about," says Tena B. Crews, associate director of technology pedagogy at the University of South Carolina and author of "Fundamentals of Insurance."
You also want to consider how home values and construction costs in your area would affect you if you needed to rebuild.
"If you're living in a community or area where values have been skyrocketing, you want to be sure you have a replacement policy that will provide sufficient resources to rebuild," says Iuppa.
If you've made any renovations, talk to your agent. Find out what he or she needs to document the changes and the value you've added to your home.
Replacement value
After a loss, if you want the insurance company to reimburse you for the cost of a new version of your possessions, then you want replacement value insurance for your belongings. In other words, the company pays you to replace what was lost.
But you might have to request it because not all policies have replacement value as the default coverage. Beware of policies that promise "fair market" or "cash value." That means the company will give you the current value of the item, which will include wear and tear and depreciation. It also can make more work for you during a claim, since you have to substantiate not only the fact that you owned the article, but also what it was worth when you lost it.
It also pays to ask how your company handles claims with replacement value insurance. Some firms want you to purchase the new item and show a receipt before reimbursement. If that's the case, how much time do you have? (If you're living in a motel room while you rebuild the house, you may not want to replace the giant entertainment system right away.) And if you decide not to replace the item at all (you never really liked Aunt Minnie's green frog vase), how will the company reimburse you?

Health Insurance Marketplace Public Use Files (Marketplace PUF)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) is committed to increasing transparency in the Health Insurance Marketplace. While health plan information including benefits, copayments, premiums, and geographic coverage is publically available on Healthcare.gov, CMS has also released downloadable public use files (PUFs) so that researchers and other stakeholders can more easily access Marketplace data.
The Health Insurance Marketplace Public Use Files (Marketplace PUF) are available for plan years 2014 through 2016 to support timely benefit and rate analysis. It is important to note that the 2016 Marketplace PUF will be updated regularly to reflect the plan data that consumers will see when shopping for a Marketplace Qualified Health Plan (QHP). Data for the 2016 Marketplace PUF were imported to CMS systems on April 22, 2016. The 2015 Marketplace PUF data were imported to CMS systems on July 24, 2015, and the 2014 Marketplace PUF data were imported on July 30, 2014.
The Marketplace PUF includes plan and issuer level information for certified Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and stand-alone dental plans (SADPs) offered to individuals and small businesses through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace PUF includes data from states participating in the Federally Facilitated Marketplaces (FFM), which include State Partnership Marketplaces (SPMs), and states whose State-based Marketplaces rely on the federal information technology platform for QHP eligibility and enrollment functionality. The Marketplace PUF does not contain any data on plans offered in states that established and operate their own Marketplace (State-based Marketplace) and do not rely on the federal platform for QHP eligibility and enrollment functionality, nor does it contain enrollment or claims data.
The Marketplace PUF consists of eight separate files as described below:
Benefits and Cost Sharing PUF (BenCS-PUF) – Plan-level data on essential health benefits, coverage limits, and cost sharing.
Rate PUF (Rate-PUF) – Plan-level data on individual rates based on an eligible subscriber’s age, tobacco use, and geographic location.
Plan Attributes PUF (Plan-PUF) – Plan-level data on maximum out of pocket payments, deductibles, cost sharing, HSA eligibility, formulary ID, and other plan attributes.
Business Rules PUF (BR-PUF) – Plan-level data on the application of rates, such as allowed relationships (e.g., spouse, dependents) and tobacco use.
Service Area PUF (SA-PUF) – Issuer-level data on the geographic coverage or service area (i.e., where the plan is offered) including state, county, and zip code.
Network (Ntwrk-PUF) – Issuer-level data identifying provider network URLs.
Plan ID Crosswalk PUF (CW-PUF) – Plan-level data mapping plans offered in 2014 to plans offered in 2015.
Machine-readable URL PUF (MR-PUF)—Issuer-level URL locations for machine-readable plan network provider and formulary information
For more information about the Marketplace PUF, please review the General Information Factsheet, Data Disclaimer-User Agreement and Data Dictionaries.

What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?

How to Use Your State’s Health Insurance Marketplace to Buy “Affordable” Health Insurance
ObamaCare’s Health Insurance Marketplace, or ObamaCare Marketplace, is your State’s price comparison website for subsidized health insurance. The following guide will explain the marketplace and how you, your family, and your business can compare health plans and qualify for reduced premiums and out-of-pocket costs on marketplace based coverage.
FACT:
HealthCare.Gov is the official Health Insurance Marketplace, although many state’s created their own Marketplace.
Open Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace
ObamaCare’s Health Insurance Marketplace is open during each years
annual open enrollment period . Open enrollment is the only time you can apply for cost assistance , enroll in a plan, or switch plans without qualifying for
a special enrollment period . Enroll during open enrollment to avoid the per-month fee for not having insurance in 2015.
2015 open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace started November 15th, 2014 and ends February 15th, 2015. Log in to your marketplace account and verify your plan before December 15th, 2014.
FACT: To avoid the penalty you need to obtain and maintain minimum essential coverage throughout the year. All marketplace coverage counts as minimum essential coverage.
01 › 10 Best Health Insurance Plans 02 › Business Insurance Plans 03 › 10 Best Insurance 04 › Low Cost Health
Health Insurance Marketplace Facts
• Most Americans non-exempt will be required to have
by 2014. Uninsured Americans can shop for coverage options in their State’s marketplace.
• No one can be denied coverage on the marketplace for health related reasons.
• Premium costs are no longer based pre-existing conditions, health status, claims history, duration of coverage, gender, occupation, and small employer size and industry.
• The only factors that can affect premiums of starting in 2014 are your income, age, tobacco use, family size, geography and the type of plan you buy. This applies to all plans sold through your State’s health insurance marketplace.
• The marketplace is open to all Americans, but no one is required to use it.
• If you already have insurance you can keep it.
• You can compare competitively priced health plans through the marketplace to find the best deal for you, your family or your employees.
• Individuals and families earning less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level can get cost assistance through the marketplace.
• Small businesses with under 50 full-time equivalent employees can use a part of the marketplace called “the SHOP” (Small Business Health Options Program).
• Small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time full-time equivalent employees with average annual wages below $50,000 can get tax credits to help pay for employee premiums through the SHOP.
• ObamaCare’s first open enrollment in your State’s marketplace ran from October 1st, 2013 to March 31st, 2014. Open enrollment for 2015 runs from November 15th, 2014 to February 15th, 2015. There is an open enrollment period every year as well as special enrollment periods.
• Medicare, health insurance marketplaces, and employer based insurance have open enrollment periods. Medicaid, CHIP and non-subsidized private insurance outside of the marketplace are not subject to mandatory enrollment periods, although most ObamaCare-compliant plans “known as Minimum Essential Coverage ” can only be purchased during
open enrollment inside and of the marketplace.
• Insurance purchased by the 15th of each month starts on the 1st of the following month after you paid your premium. Insurance purchased after the 15th starts on the 1st of the month after that.
• You can get an estimate of what your health insurance will cost on the marketplace by going to the healthcare.gov . Applying and enrolling in a plan are not the same thing, you are free to shop around for plans during open enrollment.
• Remember many states have their own marketplace, but healthcare.gov official health insurance marketplace.

The Health Insurance Marketplace

Health Insurance Marketplace — also known as the Health Insurance Exchange — is the place where people without health care insurance can find information about health insurance options and also purchase health care insurance. Information can also be found regarding eligibility for help with paying premiums and reducing out-of-pocket costs.
In addition to the federally-facilitated Marketplace,
HealthCare.gov , there are also state-based Marketplaces. Whether you use the federally-facilitated Marketplace or a state-based Marketplace depends on the state in which you live. If you visit
HealthCare.gov , you will be asked to provide your ZIP code. If you live in an area served by a state-based Marketplace, you’ll then be redirected to the website of your state-based Marketplace.
Health care insurance purchased through the Marketplace
If you purchased health care insurance through the Marketplace, you should receive a Form 1095-A,
Health Insurance Marketplace Statement , at the beginning of the tax filing season. The information shown on Form 1095-A helps you complete your federal individual income tax return. If Form 1095-A shows coverage for you and everyone in your family for the entire year, check the full-year coverage box on your tax return. Among other things, Form 1095-A reports the total monthly health insurance premiums paid to the insurance company you selected through the Marketplace. It lists the amount of premium assistance you received in the form of advance payments of the premium tax credit that were paid directly to your insurance company. If you received a Form 1095-A with incorrect information, see our Incorrect Forms 1095-A and the Premium Tax Credit questions and answers to find out how it affects your taxes.
If you chose to have advance payments of the premium tax credit paid directly to your insurance company, you must file a federal income tax return, even if you are otherwise not required to file. You are required to reconcile — or compare — these payments to the premium tax credit you’ll compute for your tax return. Even if you did not choose to receive advance payments, you must file a federal income tax return to claim the premium tax credit. See below for more information regarding the effect of failing to reconcile advance payments of the premium tax credit.
If you purchased coverage through the federally facilitated Marketplace and you set-up a HealthCare.gov account, you can get a copy of Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement online from your account. Visit your Marketplace’s website to find out the steps you need to follow to get a copy of your Form 1095-A online. You can use either the information from your online account, if it is available, or the Form 1095-A that is mailed to you to complete your tax return.
Failing to file tax returns will prevent advance payments in the next year
The IRS reminds taxpayers who received advance payments of the premium tax credit that they should file their tax return timely to ensure they can receive advance payments next year from their Marketplace.
If advance payments of the premium tax credit were paid on behalf of you or an individual in your family, and you do not file a tax return reconciling those payments, you will not be eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions to help pay for your Marketplace health insurance coverage in the next year. This means you will be responsible for the full cost of your monthly premiums and all covered services. In addition, we may contact you to pay back some or all of the advance payments of the premium tax credit.
Marketplaces will determine eligibility for advance tax credit payments and cost-sharing reductions for the coverage year in the fall before the new coverage year starts. You will substantially increase your chances of avoiding a gap in receiving this help if you electronically file your tax return with Form 8962 by the due date of your return.
If you have a question about the information shown on your Form 1095-A, or about receiving Form 1095-A, or about a letter you received, contact your Marketplace as shown in the table below or visit
HealthCare.gov/taxes .

CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE

What exactly is cyber liability insurance?
First understand that cyber security insurance has many names it is known by:
cyber risk insurance
network security insurance
hackers insurance
e-commerce insurance
e-business insurance
information security insurance
Why do I need hackers insurance?
Here are a few examples of how cyber liability insurance can protect your business:
Here are just a few items to consider:
What would you do if you experienced a Data breach/privacy breach of your clients private information?
What if your website got hacked?
What if you were sued for not having the proper privacy and terms and conditions pages on your website?
What if you were sued for copyright infringement on your website?
What if your webmaster borrowed information that infringed on the intellectual property rights of others?
What would you do if you had a Virus cripple your computer network?
What if one of your employees left multimedia/Media defamatory remarks about your company or a clients company?
What if your Network security was breached?
What if you were bombarded with denial of service attacks?
What if your clients became victims of ID fraud because of a breach at your business?
Isn't cyber insurance just for big companies?
Have you seen these names in the news regarding cyber attacks and data breaches?
IRS
Wendys
Time Warner Cable
Michaels
Neiman Marcus Group
Apple
Home Depot
Federal Reserve
Please don't think that since you have liability insurance already that you don't need this. You might be surprised to learn that general liability insurance policies normally exclude cyber liability and that means you are not covered. PLUS think about this: If the US government can't keep hackers out of the IRS, or, if BILLION dollar corporations like Apple aren't hack proof, then think of how easy it could be to breach your company data.