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8+ min ago (746+ words) Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization (total value). Together they account for the majority of the crypto market. While newcomers often ask which one is "better," this framing misses a key truth: these networks were designed for different purposes and serve different roles. Bitcoin operates on a simple yet powerful premise: create a scarce digital asset that cannot be inflated or controlled by any central authority. According to the'Bitcoin whitepaper, the network caps total supply at 21 million coins, a limit hard-coded into the protocol itself. This scarcity forms the foundation of Bitcoin's "digital gold" narrative. Just as gold derives value from its limited supply and the difficulty of mining new deposits, Bitcoin derives value from its mathematical scarcity. When something cannot be created endlessly, each unit becomes more valuable over time, especially if demand grows....

1+ hour, 18+ min ago (337+ words) The GST rate cut in health and term insurance would have made policyholders look forward to the premium renewal date, for a change, to examine the cost savings. A 12-16 per cent savings is on the cards and this is appealing to prospective policyholders. The interest can be gauged from the brokers and aggregators who are reporting a surge in enquiries for insurance.If lower cost was a tailwind to insurance purchase, an option to further reduce premiums by another 10-20 per cent should appeal to even larger cohort of the under or the uninsured. Deductibles can be a handy tool to save on premiums but must be wielded by the right policyholder. Here, we discuss the ideal condition to opt for it, and how it is different from Co-pay which is better avoided. Health insurance is a necessary protection net for…...

2+ hour, 40+ min ago (306+ words) Medical trend rates represent the annual percentage increase in medical plan costs per employee, both insured and self-insured. These figures help organisations budget and adapt their benefits strategies to ensure sustainability in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. India's medical trend rate remains above the global average of 9.8 percent, but the pace of growth is slowing due to moderated utilisation. Cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal conditions and cancer continue to be the top drivers of medical costs, with hypertension, high cholesterol and poor nutrition as leading risk factors. "India's healthcare landscape is evolving, with employers increasingly adopting flexible benefit plans, cost containment strategies and wellbeing programs to manage rising costs," said Ashley D'Silva, head of Health Solutions, India at Aon. "By leveraging data and partnering with insurers, businesses can better anticipate risks and support a healthier, more productive workforce." Trends Impacting Medical Trend…...

2+ hour, 54+ min ago (35+ words) Americans are feeling the strain already with less than three weeks to go until the expiration of COVID-era tax credits that have helped many people pay for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act....

6+ hour, 45+ min ago (1087+ words) Many older Americans have a straightforward plan for affording retirement: Work longer, or never stop working at all. But in fact, about 40 percent of the employed population will quit their jobs earlier than expected " and one of the main reasons is an unexpected disability. The results can be devastating for economic security in retirement " lost income can force these early retirees to live off whatever savings they have accumulated, and to claim Social Security at the youngest possible age, 62, foregoing the higher benefits that come from delayed claiming. But older workers who become disabled do have an important option to avoid that outcome. They can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance, a program that provides a substantial portion of their full retirement benefit. But the insurance program is at a crossroads. For years, applicants have faced very long backlogs before…...

7+ hour, 11+ min ago (134+ words) KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner discussed Affordable Care Act subsidies on Crooked Media's What a Day on Dec. 10 and on Slate's What Next on Dec. 9. KFF Health News Washington health policy reporter Amanda Seitz discussed the cost of insurance on Illinois Public Media's The 21st Show on Dec. 10. KFF Health News Nevada correspondent Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez discussed Native Americans and the Rural Health Transformation Program on The Daily Yonder's The Yonder Report on Dec. 3. Vaccine Panel's Hepatitis B Vote Signals Further Turbulence for Immunization Policy, Public Trust Journalists Talk Increasing Insurance Costs, From Marketplace Plans to Employer Coverage Sticker Shock: Obamacare Customers Confront Premium Spikes as Congress Dithers Health Care Consolidation and Rising Costs Happen, but Obamacare Is Not the Key Culprit...

8+ hour, 39+ min ago (316+ words) The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated all acquirers, processors, payment terminal service aggregators and providers to establish dual connectivity with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Unified Payment Services Limited (UPSL) within one month. The new directive aims to eliminate persistent Point of Sale (PoS) transaction failures. The directive contained in circular PSS/DIR/PUB/CIR/001/002 signed by Rakiya Yusuf, CBN director of the payments system supervision department builds on a September 2024 policy to end reliance on single routing channels that have plagued the nation's cashless payments ecosystem. Read also: Reps advance bill to amend CBN Act Under the rules, "All Acquirers, Processors, and Payment Terminal Service Providers (PTSPs) shall establish and maintain active connectivity with both licensed Payments Terminal Service Aggregators (PTSAs), namely the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Unified Payment Services Limited (UPSL)." PoS…...

8+ hour, 53+ min ago (506+ words) One of former Mayor Eddie Sundquist's best policy decisions came with trying to move city retirees off of the city's health insurance policies and onto Medicare. The move was to save about $1.1 million a year, according to Sundquist's 2021 budget presentation. The idea initially upset retirees, so the initiative was removed from the 2021 [] Big Cost-Saving Moves Are Not Easy To Make One of former Mayor Eddie Sundquist's best policy decisions came with trying to move city retirees off of the city's health insurance policies and onto Medicare. The move was to save about $1.1 million a year, according to Sundquist's 2021 budget presentation. The idea initially upset retirees, so the initiative was removed from the 2021 budget before finally being implemented after additional time was spent getting retired city employees on board. Costs associated with moving eligible retirees to a Medicare Supplement or Medicare…...

11+ hour, 25+ min ago (824+ words) With insurance premiums set to rise sharply for at least 22 million Americans, Mike Johnson unveils alternative With health insurance premiums set to rise sharply for at least 22 million Americans who purchase their coverage through Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces using tax credits that will expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts, the US House speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a Republican alternative late Friday. Johnson's bill comes as his party refuses to extend the enhanced tax subsidies for people who buy policies through the ACA, dubbed Obamacare by opponents of the 2010 law. Those subsidies help lower premiums for Americans who do not get insurance through employers. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, huddled behind closed doors to assemble the package for consideration next week as the House focuses the final days of its 2025 work on healthcare. "House Republicans are tackling…...

12+ hour, 29+ min ago (127+ words) 97 percent of inpatient hospital markets lack meaningful competition....From 2014 to 2026, individual market premiums are up 129 percent, employer-sponsored insurance premiums are up 68 percent, and general inflation is up 39 percent...In 2026, the average deductible for an individual on a bronze plan is $7,476, and the average deductible for an individual on a silver (no CSR) plan is $5,304....The federal taxpayer share of the premium increased gradually from 68 percent of the premium in 2014 to nearly 80 percent in 2020. As a result of the COVID credits, the federal taxpayer share of the premium reached 93 percent... Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you....