Will the minimum wage hike mean higher consumer costs?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Scott Weisberg says his company, the Mariners Harbor-based Everything Entertainment — a tent, stage and lighting company — loses out to businesses that “don’t have all the unfair tax advantages” that come with doing business in New York.

On top of this, Weisberg now has to pay his workers a higher wage, and he fears he can’t remain competitive in the marketplace.

“I’m going to have to start new guys at $15 an hour and it’s going to make it impossible for me to do business,” said Weisberg.

“At the end of the day my guys will be working less, because I won’t be able to afford the increase (in per hour pay),” he added.

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Ask Yourself These Questions When Enrolling in Medicare Part D

Deciding when to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan is a big decision and we can help.

When Should You Enroll in Medicare?

I’m About to Turn 65

Eligibility: If you’re turning 65, now is the time to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan. Unless you plan on delaying enrollment due to employer coverage or are disabled, you need to enroll in a plan during your Initial Enrollment Period in order to avoid a late enrollment penalty.

For three months before and after your 65th birthday month, you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare. (For example, if you turn 65 on June 13, you will be eligible from March 1 until September 30 of that year.)

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Staten Islander finds flood insurance leaves a lot to be desired

Many Staten Islanders knew their homeowners insurance simply wouldn’t cover them for damages caused by floods — but plenty have frustratingly found that even with flood insurance, it can still be hard to recoup their losses.

“The damages, the public adjuster says, are estimated at about $183,000,” said Dongan Hills resident Anthony Capriotti. “The flood insurance wants to pay us $20,000.”

Capriotti lives above Hylan Boulevard, on Adams Avenue — not exactly waterfront property. But he still had $250,000 in flood insurance for his home, though his policy did not cover contents. During Hurricane Sandy, floodwaters were so high Capriotti and his family were rescued by boat.

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Health record access soon may be as easy as using Uber

Is getting your health records finally about to become as easy as booking an Uber?

The Obama administration on Monday night announced a new agreement with major hospital systems and leading electronic health record vendors to make it easier for patients to access those digital records, reduce barriers to sharing the information between health providers, and standardize technology that would better allow communication across the platforms containing patient data.

The agreement involves vendors that provide 90 percent of the electronic health records (EHRs) to U.S. hospitals, as well as health-care systems in 46 states, including the nation’s five biggest private health systems.

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Proof Needed to Enroll in Health Plan Post-Deadline

WASHINGTON — People who want to buy health insurance in the federal marketplace outside the annual open enrollment period will now have to provide documents to show they are eligible, the Obama administration announced on Wednesday.

In the last two years, insurers say, many people went without coverage and then signed up under the Affordable Care Act when they became sick and needed care. Insurers say that people who sign up after the deadline tend to generate more claims and more costs, raising premiums.

5 Tips for choosing a Protection Plan

Protection plans are low-cost insurance plans that provide full protection and financial stability to your family in case of any unforeseen events. Before choosing any insurance plan, you need to carefully assess your needs and requirements. Here are 5 simple steps will help you take the right decision.

For Auto insurers, the rate is there but where’s the profit?

Much like we’ve observed in the Homeowners’ market, Personal Auto in general has been seeing steady rate increases. However, while Homeowners is expected to achieve its third consecutive year of underwriting profits in 2015, Personal Auto has stubbornly remained at a combined ratio of just over 100 during that time.

Fearing Punishment for Bad Genes

About 700,000 Americans have had their DNA sequenced, in full or in part, and the number is rising rapidly as costs plummet — to $1,000 or less for a full genome, down from more than $1 million less than a decade ago. But many people are avoiding the tests because of a major omission in the 2008 federal law that bars employers and health insurers from seeking the results of genetic testing.

Top Hospitals Likely Are Available On A Marketplace Plan, Study Finds

Despite much hand-wringing over the size and quality of provider networks on the health insurance marketplaces, many top-notch hospitals are available in-network in marketplace plans this year, a new study found. However, more than half of those hospitals participated in fewer plans than last year, limiting their in-network availability to just one marketplace plan in a growing number of cases.

Humana-Aetna merger gets a green light from Kentucky insurance commissioner

Kentucky has given Humana Inc. the green light to merge with Connecticut-based competitor Aetna Inc.