Wednesday, March 25, 2009

StillTasty Tells You How Long Your Food Will Last [Food] . Got a fridge full of food but not sure what's still edible and what you'd regret an hour after eating? Web site StillTasty saves money with useful advice on your foods' shelf-life and best storage practices. The site offers several ways to determine the viability of your leftovers and dusty cabinet items, including a simple search, category browsing, and a forum where you can ask more specific questions. You may have been tossing leftovers left and right in those decadent days of 2007, but these days, every dollar counts—which makes StillTasty a nice little tool. We've covered similar ground before, but StillTasty is the best tool for the job we've seen. Thanks Anne! Still Tasty [Lifehacker] 3:47:33 PM     Temporary Healthcare Coverage When I first graduated college my #1 concern was getting a job. For one thing, my Mother was utterly confused as to why she'd bothered to send me to school when I was back in her house, instead of instantly employed upon receiving my diploma. Many an uncomfortable family dinner did this make. As for me, I was well aware that come January, I was getting booted from my Dad's health insurance plan- and I was one of the lucky ones. Most of my friends got the heave-ho the second we moved our tassels in May. Seeing as I am fairly accident-prone and enjoy having my teeth cleaned, making sure I was covered was a priority. Now, given the state of the economy many families are faced with the same concern. Not only is income an issue when losing a job- health insurance and coverage is also a major factor. Should you lose your job, you do have some options: Special Enrollment in Another Group Plan: This option allows an individual and possibly your family to enroll in a spouse's plan regardless of enrollment periods. Be sure you request the special enrollment within 30 days of losing eligibility for other coverage. COBRA Continuation Coverage: If your employer continues to operate and offer a group plan, COBRA continuation coverage may be available. It may be more expensive than what you were paying while employed, but it's likely to be cheaper than private, individual coverage. COBRA coverage usually lasts 18 months, but may last longer. The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) certain individuals will be eligible for COBRA coverage at a discounted rate. Health Coverage through a Government Program: Medicaid, Sate Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medicare are available through your state insurance department of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at 1-800-MEDICARE. Private, Individual Health Insurance: Is an option if you had health coverage for at least 18 months without a significant break in coverage and were part of a group plan; your coverage was not terminated because of fraud or failure to pay premiums; and are not eligible for COBRA or other health coverage. While none of these options may be ideal, it's at least something. Have you ever lost healthcare coverage? What have you done in-between plans? - Colleen [Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog] 3:46:52 PM

© Copyright 2009 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 4/1/2009; 2:33:47 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien