DAILY UPDATE: The CARES Act and the MARKETS

By Staff Reporters

***

***

The CARES Act, a COVID relief law that was enacted in March of 2020, made it easier to pull money from one’s 401(k) or IRA It allowed people to take up to $100,000 out of their accounts and have three years to pay it back without the normal 10% early withdrawal penalty and tax payment. For Americans who needed cash quickly, their 401(k) was a tempting well to dip into that wouldn’t have been otherwise available.

In the spring of 2020, nearly 20% of all withdrawals from 401(k)’s, between April 6th and June 26th were related to COVID, according to CNBC. CNBC reported that at Fidelity Investments, the largest provider of 401(k) plans in the U.S., more than 700,000 people took from their 401(k) or their 403(b) plan. The median amount was about $5,000, while more than 18,000 people asked for the full $100,000 amount.

And Vanguard’s How America Saves report from 2021 found that more than 7% of people withdrew from their 401(k) or a 401(b) — similar to a 401(k) but available to not-for-profit companies — in 2020.

READ: https://oig.treasury.gov/cares-act

***

Here is where the major indexes settled:

  • The S&P 500 Index was down 65.41 (1.6%) at 4071.63; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 344.57 (1.0%) at 33,530.83; the NASDAQ Composite was down 238.05 (2.0%) at 11,799.16.
  • The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 12 basis points at 3.394%.
  • CBOEs Volatility Index was up 1.99 at 18.92.

Transportation stocks also had a rough day after United Parcel Service’s (UPS) shares dropped some 10% after its results missed analysts’ forecasts. Energy companies were lower after WTI crude oil futures dropped under $77 a barrel for the first time this month. Small-cap companies, which are considered to have greater recession exposure than larger businesses, were also under pressure, with the Russell 2000 index falling more than 2% and nearing a five-week low.

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

CITE: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

RMDs: Are You of IRS Taxation Age?

Stop 2020 – Restart 2021

By Staff Reporters

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

***

Are You of RMD Age?
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is an amount of money the IRS requires you to withdraw from most retirement accounts, beginning at age 72.
Due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, RMDs were not required in 2020, but RMDs are required in 2021 and each year after. RMDs can be an important part of your retirement income strategy.

IRS: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-required-minimum-distributions

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

Healthcare NOT a Part of the US Inflation Surge!

WHO KNEW?

By Staff Reporters

****

According to Wikipedia, in economics, inflation refers to a general progressive increase in prices of goods and services in an economy.[1] When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reduction in the purchasing power of money.[2][3] The opposite of inflation is deflation, a sustained decrease in the general price level of goods and services. The common measure of inflation is the inflation rate, the annualised percentage change in a general price index.[4]

READ MORE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

***

***

Health Care Price Changes and Per Capita Growth in Medicare | Mercatus  Center

***

Healthcare Not a Part of the US Inflation Surge: Who Knew?

However, according to Jeff Goldsmith, overall health spending has only risen by 4.4% since January of 2020, and the percentage of GDP devoted to health has fallen by more than half a percent, from 18.1% pre-pandemic to 17.5% in October.   This is despite four surges of COVID hospitalizations, overflowing ICUs and ERs, labor shortages, and other COVID-related stresses.  Health system staffing levels are still nearly a half-million lower than they were pre-pandemic.  Had the federal government not stepped in through the CARES Act, FEMA funding, and temporary suspensions of Medicare rate cuts, the nations’ hospitals would have been seriously damaged by COVID-related financial stresses, which are far from being over.  

ESSAY: https://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2021/11/19/healthcare-not-a-part-of-the-us-inflation-surge-who-knew/

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

Subscribe to the Medical Executive-Post

***

***

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The CARES Act and HSAs, HRAs and FSAs, etc
[By Staff reporters]

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law March 27, 2020, contains important updates on the use of health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs).

***

***

So, we wanted to inform you of the below changes that expand qualified medical expenses and access to remote care:

Telehealth services
High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with an HSA may provide pre-deductible coverage for telehealth and other remote care services. This provision will last until December 31, 2021 (plan year must begin prior to this date).
Certain over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medications as qualified medical expenses
The CARES Act restores the ability to use HSAs, FSAs and HRAs to purchase certain OTC drugs and medications, like aspirin and other pain medications, allergy medication, etc., without a doctor’s prescription.
For the first time, menstrual care products are considered qualified medical expenses for payment or reimbursement with an HSA, FSA or HRA.
Both provisions for OTC and menstrual products apply to amounts paid or expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2020, and are ongoing without an expiration date.
Important note for FSAs and HRAs:
You can use your account funds to purchase these products starting today. However, be sure individual merchants, like pharmacies and convenience stores,  update their point of sale (POS) system to now recognize these products as qualified medical expenses for FSA and HRA.
Use your payment card as you normally would for these purchases, and if the sale will not process, you can pay out of pocket with the option to reimburse yourself with account funds. As a reminder, keep your itemized receipt or explanations of benefits, which are needed to verify each purchase so you can be reimbursed.
For HSAs, you may use your debit card as you normally would since no claim reimbursement process is required. Please retain copies of your receipts as needed for tax purposes.
Please visit the US Federal  website for the latest developments and regulation changes related to COVID-19 and your health account(s), such as the CARES Act.

***

***

Assessment: Your thoughts are appreciated

Risk Management, Liability Insurance, and Asset Protection Strategies for Doctors and Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners™ Risk Management, Liability Insurance, and Asset Protection Strategies for Doctors and Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners™

***