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The Impact of Fair Trade Coffee on Economic Efficiency and the Distribution of Income
The Impact of Fair Trade Coffee on Economic Efficiency and the Distribution of Income Gareth P. Green Matthew J. Warning Dept. of Economics Dept. of Economics Seattle University University of Puget Sound Introduction Fair Trade Certified™ coffee is receiving increasing attention both by the public and by academic researchers. Fair Trade1 emerged as a response to the adverse conditions faced by small-scale coffee producers in developing countries. Individual small-scale producers have no direct access to international markets and must sell their coffee to local intermediaries. These intermediaries are widely perceived to have monopsonistic2 power in the coffee market at the level of rural communities. The weak bargaining power of producers results in the producers receiving prices below market value, an amount which is ultimately as little as two to four percent of the final retail price of coffee (Transfair, 2007). In addition to these difficult local conditions, coffee producers must also contend with the vicissitudes of the highly volatile global coffee market as illustrated in Figure 1. Coffee prices respond to many variables including weather conditions (particularly frosts in Brazil), pest infestations and the actions of traders and speculators in global coffee commodity exchange. This price instability results in dramatic income fluctuations for 1In this paper we follow the convention of the academic literature, capitalizing Fair Trade when used in reference to coffee certified under the Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International system, and using lower case when discussing more general issues of fairness in the international trading system. 2 Monopsony is analogous to monopoly but concerns the buyer’s side of the market. -
Unitedhealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) Plan
UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan Frequently asked questions and answers 1. Who is eligible to enroll in the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan offered by The Episcopal Church Medical Trust (Medical Trust)? Those enrolled or eligible to enroll in the Medical Trust Medicare Supplement Health Plan will continue to be eligible to enroll in the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan. In general, a former employee (clergy and lay) or member of a Religious Order who is age 65 or older, who is entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Medicare Part B, and who earned five years of credited service under a pension plan sponsored by The Church Pension Fund is eligible to enroll in the plan. In certain cases, pre-65 retired employees entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Medicare Part B are also eligible. Special rules apply to former lay employees or members of a Religious Order who did not participate in a pension plan sponsored by The Church Pension Fund. For more information about eligibility, go to www.cpg.org/gmaeligibility. 2. Do I need Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)? Yes, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. You must continue paying your Medicare Part B premium to Social Security to be eligible for coverage under the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan. 3. Is this the Medicare Advantage plan that I’ve seen in ads? No. This is a custom Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan designed exclusively for retirees of the Medical Trust This plan is different and should not be confused with individual UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that might be available in your area. -
The Medicare Program Was Signed Into Law by President Lyndon B
The Medicare program was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965. Former President Harry S. Truman and his wife were the first beneficiaries. Medicare continues to cover hospital and doctor's visits for older Americans, and now it includes many types of preventive care and prescription drugs. Here are 10 important things you should know about Medicare. What's covered. Medicare Part A covers hospital care and some types of home health care. Medicare Part B is medical insurance that pays for doctor's office visits and outpatient services. Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage Plans are an alternative to original Medicare provided by private insurance companies, often with extra coverage restrictions. Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs, typically in exchange for an additional premium. How much you are paying in. Most workers pay 1.45 percent of their earnings into the Medicare system, and employers match that amount. Self-employed workers contribute 2.9 percent of their income. Earnings that exceed $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples trigger an additional 0.9 percent tax. The enrollment deadlines. You can enroll in Medicare during the seven-month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65. Coverage can start as early as the month of your 65th birthday. If you don't sign up during this initial enrollment period, you could be charged higher premiums for the rest of your life. "If they sign up later than 65 for Medicare, they are going to pay late penalties," says Tanya Feke, a medical doctor and author of "Medicare Essentials: A Physician Insider Explains the Fine Print." "Someone who is working and has health insurance through their employer, they may be able to delay signing up for Medicare without penalties." If you postpone signing up for Medicare due to group health insurance through your current employer, sign up for Medicare within eight months of leaving the job or the coverage ending to avoid the penalty. -
New Insurance for Newbuildi
The Swedish Club Letter 2–2006 Insurance New Insurance for Newbuildi ■■ The Swedish Club is one of very few marine insurance companies that offer a range of products Tord Nilsson broad enough to cover most of the needs of ship- Area Manager owners. Team Göteborg I We will soon complement the products we have by adding an insurance that specifi cally targets the needs of shipowners with newbuildings on order. Our fi rst contact with owners has traditionally been when they have started to look for suppliers of H&M, P&I Cover for liabilities in respect and FD&D insurances. We do in some cases cover FD&D for newbuildings and of superintendents and for the crew whilst travelling to and from the shipyard just prior to delivery. We feel that owners need to start looking at their insurable interests long other shipowners’ personnel before delivery, as there are risks relating to the newbuilding that could affect attending at newbuildings owners adversely. Only a few owners currently do this. Our Newbuilding Risks Insurance is one product and it encompasses three areas: 1. Cover for liabilities in respect of superintendents and other shipowners’ ■■ personnel attending newbuildings. The P&I cover 1that can be offered by a This insurance includes liabilities under the terms of the employment contract to club in the Internatio- Annica Börjesson pay damages or compensation for personal injury, illness or death of the superin- nal Group is ultimately Claims Executive tendent whilst attending the NB site or travelling to and from the site. regulated by the Poo- Team Göteborg I < Hospital, medical, repatriation, funeral or other expenses necessarily incurred ling Agreement, “the in relation to the superintendent whilst attending the NB site. -
Health Savings Accounts (Hsas)
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Updated August 13, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45277 SUMMARY R45277 Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) August 13, 2020 A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account that individuals can use to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses (e.g., deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, and services not Ryan J. Rosso covered by insurance). Although eligibility to contribute to an HSA is associated with enrollment Analyst in Health Care in high-deductible health insurance plans (HDHPs), HSAs are a trust/custodial account and are Financing not health insurance. HSAs have several tax advantages: individual contributions are tax deductible unless made through a cafeteria plan; employer contributions and individual contributions made through a cafeteria plan are excluded from taxable income and from Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance taxes; account earnings are tax exempt; and withdrawals are not taxed if used for qualified medical expenses. Individuals may establish and contribute to an HSA for each month that they are covered under an HSA -qualified HDHP, do not have disqualifying coverage, and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return. The account can be established with an insurer, bank, or other Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-approved trustee and is tied to the individual. Account holders retain access to their accounts if they change employers, insurers, or subsequently become ineligible to contribute to the HSA. To be considered an HSA-qualified HDHP, a health plan must meet several tests: it must have a deductible above a certain minimum level, it must limit total annual out-of-pocket expenditures for covered benefits to no more than a certain maximum level, and it can provide only preventive care services and (for plan years beginning on or before December 31, 2021) telehealth services before the deductible is met. -
January 2019
LYNN COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR CENTER From the Director’s Desk For 2019, we wish you a happy New Year…one filled with joy, peace, and good health…one with decreased worries and in- creased hope. Our first suggestion for you is to buy yourself an accordion file. Commit to starting the New Year off, filing all your important papers. You’ll be amazed at how organized you will be! Speaking of amazed… when you go to the supermarket, do shoppers ask you if you work there? I’m always amazed! What makes me look like I work there? I also think it’s amazing that guide dogs can sniff out allergens. Have we run out of new movie January ideas so much that we can only remake old ones? What I really 2019 miss is the peach buds that are only sold around Christmas. You know the sleek pink candies filled with peanut butter filling! It took me a long time to figure this one out!!! NECCO Candy closed! So, of course there are no peach buds this year! Let’s fig- ure out the recipe and corner the market in time for next year! Keep in mind, I have no candy making experience and 76% of our staff is volunteers! Happy New Year! From Your Mayor Happy New Year! Wishing you and your family a 2019 filled with health and happi- ness. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the holiday season and spend quality time with family and friends. This month we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. -
Drug Price Increases That Exceed Inflation Are Costing Medicare Part D Billions
AARP PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE JUNE 2021 Spotlight Drug Price Increases That Exceed Inflation Are Costing Medicare Part D Billions Leigh Purvis AARP Public Policy Institute Background It has been 15 years since the creation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. Research This AARP Public Policy Institute indicates that the program has been largely Spotlight finds that total successful: beneficiaries report improved access Medicare Part D spending on to prescription drugs and the vast majority are 50 top brand-name drugs was satisfied with their coverage.1 However, there is $38 billion higher between 2015 growing concern about trends in Medicare Part D and 2019 than it would have spending, which has accelerated considerably over been if drug manufacturers had the past decade.2 not increased their prices faster One factor helping to drive these trends is brand- than the corresponding rate of name drug price growth.3 Brand-name drug prices inflation. have been growing faster than general inflation for more than a decade,4,5 and drug companies are increasingly relying on such price increases for revenue growth.6,7 Meanwhile, Medicare inflationary rebate is already required under Part D remains prohibited from negotiating with Medicaid and is responsible for roughly half of the pharmaceutical companies, leaving it exposed to the possibility of paying ever-higher prices for the rebates that state Medicaid programs receive from 10 exact same drug products.8 brand-name drug manufacturers. In response to this challenge, Congress recently This Spotlight provides additional context for considered bipartisan legislation that would require inflation-based rebates, by examining excess drug manufacturers to pay a rebate to the federal Medicare Part D spending due to annual drug price government if their prices increased faster than changes that exceeded the rate of general inflation the rate of general inflation.9 Notably, a similar between 2015 and 2019. -
Do You Have a Medigap Policy with Prescription Drug Coverage?
Do You Have a Medigap Policy with Prescription Drug Coverage? If you have a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy with prescription drug coverage, you will need to make some decisions about how you want to get your prescription drug coverage in the future. Under a new Federal law, new Medicare prescription drug coverage will be available to all people with Medicare, starting in 2006. The new law also requires certain changes to Medigap policies with prescription drug coverage. Here’s What You Need To Know What are Medicare prescription drug plans? Medicare prescription drug plans are a new type of insurance to help people with Medicare pay for their prescription drugs. Medicare is working with insurance companies and other private companies to offer these new plans. While plans will vary, you will have at least two plans you can choose from in the area where you live. Medicare will pay approximately 75% of the premiums for the plan you choose. Do I have to join a Medicare prescription drug plan? No, it’s your choice whether to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan. If you decide to enroll in one of the new plans, you should sign up sometime between November 15, 2005 and May 15, 2006. This is when you will be guaranteed your lowest premium for the Medicare prescription drug plan you choose. If I’m happy with the Medigap prescription drug coverage that I have now, why should I switch to a Medicare prescription drug plan? There are two important reasons to think about switching to a Medicare prescription drug plan. -
Your MTRS Benefits Seminar and Reference Guide J U N E 2 0 1 8 Contacting Us…
Your MTRS Benefits Seminar and reference guide J U N E 2 0 1 8 Contacting us… The MTRS operates two offices; depending on where you are employed, you should contact the office in Charlestown or in Springfield. Main Office Western Regional Office Western Regional Office Main Office One Monarch Place, Suite 510 500 Rutherford Avenue, Suite 210 Springfield, MA 01144-4028 Charlestown, MA 02129-1628 Phone 413-784-1711 Phone 617-679-MTRS (6877) Fax 413-784-1707 Fax 617-679-1661 Office hours and services 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Walk-in services are limited— Members of the Board Please visit our website or call us with your questions and save yourself the drive. Jeff Wulfson Chairman, Designee of Commissioner of Elementary When writing to us… and Secondary Education Be sure to include your name, member number (if known) and only the last four digits Deborah B. Goldberg of your Social Security number—not your entire SSN—on your correspondence. State Treasurer Suzanne M. Bump State Auditor Visit us at mass.gov/mtrs! Dennis J. Naughton Or send your e-mail to us at: [email protected] Jacqueline A. Gorrie Richard L. Liston Anne Wass Executive Director Erika M. Glaster Receive periodic e-mail updates from us— Register online to join our e-mail list—it’s easy! MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM Your MTRS Benefits Seminar and reference guide J U N E 2 0 1 8 Seminar presentation and notes . 2–23 Appendixes A The “retirement percentage” charts: The total percentage of salary average allowed, based on service and age Membership Tier 1 (established membership before 4/2/2012) . -
Medicare Modernization Act Final Guidelines
MEDICARE MODERNIZATION ACT FINAL GUIDELINES -- FORMULARIES CMS Strategy for Affordable Access to Comprehensive Drug Coverage Guidelines for Reviewing Prescription Drug Plan Formularies and Procedures 1. Purpose of the Guidance This paper is final guidance on how CMS will review Medicare prescription drug benefit plans to assure that beneficiaries receive clinically appropriate medications at the lowest possible cost. Two key requirements in the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) are to assure that drug plans provide access to medically necessary treatments for all and do not discriminate against any particular types of beneficiaries, and to encourage and support the use of approaches to drug benefit management that are proven and in widespread use in prescription drug plans today. The goal is for plans to provide high-quality cost-effective drug benefits by negotiating the best possible prices and using effective drug utilization management techniques. This goal can be achieved through a CMS drug benefit review strategy that facilitates appropriate beneficiary access to all medically necessary Part D covered drugs along with plan flexibility to develop efficient benefit designs, thus bringing drug benefit strategies that are already providing effective coverage to millions of seniors and people with a disability to the Medicare population. Our formulary review process focuses on three areas: 1. Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committees. CMS will require P&T committees to rely on widely-used best practices, reinforced by MMA standards. CMS oversight of these processes will assure that plan formularies are designed to provide appropriate, up-to-date access for beneficiaries and give plans the flexibility to offer benefit designs that provide affordable access to medically necessary drugs. -
CONVERSATIONS MATTER Why Medicare (Unlike Medicaid and the Veterans Health Administration) Cannot Negotiate Prescription Drug Prices
Kari Gottfried POL 317: U.S. Health Policy & Politics CONVERSATIONS MATTER Why Medicare (Unlike Medicaid and the Veterans Health Administration) Cannot Negotiate Prescription Drug Prices Gottfried 1 Introduction & Background The national conversation around health care reform has been approached from many angles, but the general consensus is this: the United States is spending more on health care, and getting less in return, than any other comparable country.1 There are many reasons why this is the case, and health policy experts have been trying to get to the bottom of this problem for years. One case they make for astronomical health care costs is the rising price of prescription drugs.2 Both Democrats and Republicans have emerged as critics of this issue, placing the blame on the pharmaceutical industry and their powerful lobby.3 In a Congressional hearing last February, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) challenged pharmaceutical executives, telling them, “We cannot continue to give Big Pharma the blank check that you have had to pay for high- priced prescription drugs.”4 Senator Cassidy (R-La.) argues that the burden should not be placed on the government to pay for these expensive drugs, since the cost eventually falls on taxpayers. He says “if the taxpayer is paying that money… it is almost as if the taxpayer has ‘stupid’ written on their face, which they should not. That is unfair.”5 However, legislators discount the role they have had in this crisis. Nearly one third of prescription drug spending is through the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit,6 but 1 In this paper, “comparable” or “similar” countries to the United States refers to countries that are a part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD countries. -
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) Fact Sheet
THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT (PART D) FACT SHEET What are Medicare Parts A and B? Who May be Covered by Part D? Medicare is a federal insurance program administered by Medicare’s new prescription drug benefit will be available to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for everyone who is in Medicare regardless of their income, people age 65 and older and certain disabled people. The how they get their health care now or how they currently program curr ently consists of two parts: get their drug coverage. • Part A is Inpatient Hospital Insurance that covers How will Part D affect Medicaid Recipients? inpatient hospital, home health, skilled nursing facility, Medicare recipients who are currently enrolled in Medicaid psychiatric hospital and hospice care services. (dual eligibles) will be automatically enrolled in and receive Premiums for Part A are determined by the individual’s drug coverage through Medicare Part D, effective January work history, as shown below: 1, 2006. Medicaid will cease to provide drug coverage to Quarters of Work History Monthly Premium dual eligibles effective December 31, 2005. These 40+ None individuals will be notified of the changes in their 30-39 $206 prescription drug coverage in the Fall of 2005. < 30 $375 • Part B is Supplemental Medical Insurance that covers How will Medicare Beneficiaries Enroll in Part D? doctor visits, outpatient services, some mental health The process for enrollment into Medicare depends on services, durable medical equipment, some preventive whether an individual is enrolled in Medicaid. services and home health visits not covered under Part • Individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid (dual eligibles) A.