Consumer Tips

There are certain times when you can make these changes; some of these time periods are different depending on the type of Medicare plan. For Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C) and Medicare prescription drug plans, there's an Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) when you can sign up for, change, or disenroll from the plan.

The AEP runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. If you didn't sign up for one of these plans when you first became eligible for Medicare (during your Initial Enrollment Period), the AEP is generally your chance to make these changes, unless you qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP).

What changes can you make during the AEP?

Here's a quick rundown of what you can do during the Annual Enrollment Period:

• Change to a Medicare Advantage plan from Original Medicare, Part A and Part B.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, Part A and Part B.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another (regardless of whether either plan offers drug coverage).
• Enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Change from one Medicare prescription drug plan to another.
• Opt out of Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

Changes you make during the AEP go into effect January 1 of the next year.

Union Plus has partnered with eHealth to offer union retirees the Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance Program. The resources offered by eHealth can help you navigate your Medicare Plan options and choose the right Medicare plan for you and your spouse, based on your budget and needs. eHealth can provide information about many different insurance companies and Medicare plans at no additional cost to you with no obligation to enroll.

If you need personalized help over the phone, you can call an eHealth licensed insurance agent at 888-680-4770 (TTY users 711) Monday through Friday, 8 am – 8 pm Eastern Time during AEP to help you compare Medicare plan options available in your area or you can visit unionplusmedicare.com.

Signs and Symptoms That Your Pet Ingested Chocolate

If a pet has ingested chocolate, the most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity (such as excitation, restlessness, or panting), tremors and convulsions, seizures, racing heart rate, and arrhythmia.

Why and How is Chocolate Toxic

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, this chemical is the reason that chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats. The more theobromine found in a product, the more toxic it is to a pet.

Chocolate Types: From Most Toxic to Least Toxic

Baking chocolate is the most toxic, followed by semisweet/dark chocolate, then milk chocolate, and lastly white chocolate (which contains an insignificant amount of theobromine).

How Much Chocolate Will Poison My Dog or Cat?

Toxic doses of theobromine are 9 milligrams per pound. Meaning that a 20-pound animal would need to eat 8.2 ounces of milk chocolate, or just 0.9 ounces of baking chocolate to achieve a toxic dose.

Reduce the Risk

To help reduce the chance of your pet eating chocolate, be sure to keep chocolate-products in out of reach areas for pets. Cats are more finicky about what they eat and probably won’t eat chocolate that is left out but dogs actually like the smell and taste of chocolate, so you need to be much more careful with them.

What to do if Your Dog or Cat Eats Chocolate

If you suspect or know that your pet has eaten chocolate, it is important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

Start pre-shopping early

Buying a house is no small feat. The more you can do to prepare, the better. One step to consider is pre-shopping a few years ahead of your target date. This means looking at listings and features for homes in your target location.
This is a great way to get a handle on the cost of homes in your area, while figuring out your home-buying priorities. How important is location? Size? Accessibility? As you begin to weigh these features against potential costs, you’ll get a much better sense of what you need versus what you want. You’ll also really begin to see how much you’ll need to start saving.

Set a spending cap and start saving for your down payment

You may not have to put a significant down payment on your new home, but the more cash you can bring to closing, the better off you’ll be. You’ll have more flexibility when it comes to mortgage terms, and if you have at least 20 percent of the home’s value available as a down payment, you can avoid costly PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) payments.

By understanding your spending threshold, you can decide how much you’ll need for a down payment, which will then allow you to start planning out your budget.

Figure out the monthly cost of homeownership

We all know that housing costs don’t end with the mortgage payment. There are a ton of other costs and considerations unique to homeownership. You need to have a sense of these costs and where they fit into your future budget, because the last thing you want is to buy your dream home only to discover that you can’t actually afford it.

Property taxes – This is one of your most significant costs and it can catch you off guard if you aren’t prepared for it. Property taxes vary wildly depending on where you live, so you’ll want to do your research. This calculator from Smart Asset can give you a rough estimate of your yearly tax bill based on ZIP code and home value.

Homeowners’ insurance – Your homeowners’ insurance premium will depend on a range of factors from the age of your home to the type of materials used to build the home. It’s difficult to get an accurate estimate without speaking directly with an insurer, but this list of average premium prices across all 50 states is a good starting point. Just keep in mind that if your home is in a flood-prone area, you’ll likely have to purchase additional flood insurance.

Energy and heating bills – It’s probably no surprise to learn that a house usually costs more to heat and power than an apartment. How much it will cost is tricky to pin down ahead of time, since it depends so much on your plan details and usage rates. Your best bet may be to check with utility companies in your target area to see if they have cost calculators available, like this one from Reliant. If you’re the outgoing type, you could also just ask someone in the neighborhood how much they spend on heating and energy.
Home repair – A popular rule of thumb is to set aside one percent of the value or purchase price of your home each year for potential repair costs. Obviously, the likelihood of your home needing repairs changes greatly depending on age and location, so if you’re buying an old home or a fixer-upper, you’ll want to prepare for a bigger spend.

What don’t you have?

Lastly, you’ll want to consider what you don’t already have. Will you need to purchase furniture? A washer and dryer? A refrigerator? These are all things you’ll probably want to have as soon as you move in, so be sure to set aside funds for any necessary appliances or furnishings.

Train yourself to live on your house budget

Once you understand the upfront and ongoing costs of homeownership, you’ll be able to plot out a budgeting course that 1) saves you the necessary amount of money, and 2) prepares you for the monthly costs of owning a home. Luckily, the two objectives can go hand-in-hand. As you work towards buying a home, take the money you’ll eventually be spending on property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, and the rest, and put that money into savings – which you’ll then use to help purchase your home. Now you’ll have the money you need to buy your first home, plus the proven ability to comfortably manage and stay in that home!

Unfortunately, the turmoil that rises up in the wake of a major disaster is also a prime breeding ground for scams and scam artists. These crooks take advantage of the anguish and confusion surrounding a major misfortune and use it to twist our fears and sympathy to their advantage. Fortunately, there are a few key ways you can protect yourself from the sort of scams that tend to pop up during and after a disaster.

Remember that anyone can call you or send you mail

A large portion of the most successful scams start simply with a phone call or a piece of mail. The people calling sound authoritative and the mail looks authentic, so you go along with what you’re being told. That’s why it bears remembering that anyone can call you and anyone can cobble together an official-looking piece of mail. Avoid assuming that just because someone seems credible, that they are.

Independently verify everything

If someone calls and tells you that you need to make a payment immediately in order to maintain your flood coverage (a popular scam that cropped up again in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey’s record rainfall), hang up the phone and check with your insurer directly. Don’t use any phone number provided via robocall or unsolicited mail. Use the phone number provided on your monthly bill or find one directly on your insurer’s website.

Scammers will always try to keep you inside their loop by providing you with phone numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses, and website links that they control. If you’re ever suspicious, be sure to independently verify what you’re being told.

Legitimate services will almost never pressure you to take any action immediately

Many scams work because they prey on our fears – that if we don’t do what we’re told to do, something terrible might happen. That fear is only increased during a disaster, when terrible things are already happening and we’re just trying to minimize the damage.
If someone is telling you that you need to act now, chances are good they’re trying to prevent you from verifying whether or not they’re a legitimate business or service. Don’t let the pressure get to you.

Never make payments or give out personal information on a phone call you didn’t initiate

There may be a legitimate charity or business calling you directly and asking you to make a payment, but the odds are against it. Your safest bet is always to avoid making payments or providing crucial personal information over the phone or through email. If you do need to do either, at least make sure you’re the one who started the call. You’re highly advised to never include confidential information in an email – if you need to submit that kind of information online, make sure you’re using a secure site (the web address should begin with https).

Be wary of anyone going door-to-door

Scammers have been known to pose as contractors, charity workers, or even government officials, and unfortunately fake uniforms and ID cards can be pretty convincing. Just keep in mind that if anyone is trying to sell you something or looking for a donation, you can say no and then do the necessary research. You should be especially wary of anyone asking for full payment upfront on any service. Also, no government employee should be asking you for payment or confidential financial information before providing a benefit or service.

Stick with charities and services you know and trust

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to simply stick with the charities and businesses you’re already familiar with. That isn’t to say you can’t give to new charities or use new businesses, but the best research is usually firsthand. At the very least, lean on services with an established track record. If you can’t verify that the charity or business in question in credible, chances are good you can easily find an alternative that is.

Document everything

Even when dealing with legitimate businesses and charities, things can go awry. When hiring someone to perform any sort of service, make sure that

1. They’re qualified and you’ve seen any licenses or certifications required by their field;
2. They provide you with an estimate upfront, followed by a written agreement detailing what work will be done by when and at what price;
3. You confirm with your insurer that any work that’s supposedly covered by your insurance actually is; and
4. You pay with a credit card whenever possible. Paying with a credit card gives you the ability to reverse any fraudulent charges, adding an extra layer of protection.

Good recordkeeping doesn’t guarantee that you’ll avoid any and all potential scams, but it will make things much easier to untangle in the event someone tries to take advantage of you.

Good luck and stay safe!

Union Plus Credit Counseling

Union members can get a no-obligation money and credit assessment from certified, experienced consumer credit counselors though Union Plus Credit Counseling. Powered by the non-profit Money Management International (MMI), your free session will cover a complete financial review, assistance in budgeting, advice for working with creditors, and more.

LEARN MORE

Improvements Can Boost Home Value
Home improvement projects do more than increase your comfort and pleasure—they can spike the cost to rebuild your home.

Higher Construction Costs Aren’t Factored In
Even if your home was properly insured when you purchased it from a builder, today’s higher costs of construction and changes in building codes could cause problems should you need to rebuild.

Older Homes Have Unique Characteristics
Older homes, especially if they are historic, present unique insurance challenges.

Potential problems: Older homes often feature better craftsmanship and higher-quality materials than those used in contemporary homes. Details, such as high-grade wood floors or an elaborately detailed Victorian exterior, can be much more expensive to replace than modern vinyl tile and siding.

1. Check your current data usage
   
   With the rise of unlimited plans, you might feel pressure to change your data bucket and opt for an unlimited plan. But if you’re not a heavy data user (less than 4GB a month), chances are you’re better off skipping the plan upgrade — and sticking to a lower tier data plan. 
    
2. Consider your lifestyle 
   
   Have a large family that needs coverage? You’ll want to look into family plans that enable several people to stay connected at a rate that provides economic flexibility. 
   
   Similarly, if you’re just looking to cover yourself, you’ll want to consider how much talk, text and data you truly need — and amend your plan where appropriate. Make plans to look at your current carrier account to assess where you can make changes.
    
3. Determine your deal-breakers
   
   Plans that don’t offer free roaming probably won’t work for those who travel a lot — and similarly, if you’re an avid music streamer, you’ll want to avoid plans that limit your data to 1GB a month. 
    
4. Evaluate your daily phone habits 
   
   Do you talk on the phone for hours, but spend very little time texting or using data? Look for a plan that gives you more hours to talk — and imposes limits to your text and data. That way, you’ll pay only for what you’ll truly use.
    
5. Look for discounts 
   
   Wireless can be costly  — so taking the time to find out if your carrier offers any special discounts is important. You may be able to score major savings with your wireless carrier simply by way of your union membership.
   
   Research what plans are eligible for discounting pricing, and consider your savings opportunities. The discount plan may come with less data allowance than the one you had before, but you'll save more money in the long run. 

Here are the facts, according to Equifax. The breach lasted from mid-May through July. The hackers accessed people’s names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. They also stole credit card numbers for about 209,000 people and dispute documents with personal identifying information for about 182,000 people. And they grabbed personal information of people in the UK and Canada too.

There are steps to take to help protect your information from being misused. Visit Equifax’s website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com.

• Find out if your information was exposed. Click on the “Potential Impact” tab and enter your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number. Your Social Security number is sensitive information, so make sure you’re on a secure computer and an encrypted network connection any time you enter it. The site will tell you if you’ve been affected by this breach.
• Whether or not your information was exposed, U.S. consumers can get a year of free credit monitoring and other services. The site will give you a date when you can come back to enroll. Write down the date and come back to the site and click “Enroll” on that date. You have until November 21, 2017 to enroll.
• You also can access frequently asked questions at the site.

Here are some other steps to take to help protect yourself after a data breach:

• Check your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — for free — by visiting annualcreditreport.com. Accounts or activity that you don’t recognize could indicate identity theft. Visit IdentityTheft.gov to find out what to do.
• Consider placing a credit freeze on your files. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. Keep in mind that a credit freeze won’t prevent a thief from making charges to your existing accounts.
• Monitor your existing credit card and bank accounts closely for charges you don’t recognize.
• If you decide against a credit freeze, consider placing a fraud alert on your files. A fraud alert warns creditors that you may be an identity theft victim and that they should verify that anyone seeking credit in your name really is you.
• File your taxes early — as soon as you have the tax information you need, before a scammer can. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. Respond right away to letters from the IRS.

Visit Identitytheft.gov/databreach to learn more about protecting yourself after a data breach.

What Do Thieves Do With Your Information?

Once identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. An identity thief can file a tax refund in your name and get your refund. In some extreme cases, a thief might even give your name to the police during an arrest.

Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Identity 

• You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
• You don’t get your bills or other mail.
• Merchants refuse your checks.
• Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
• You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
• Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
• Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
• A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
• The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.
• You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.

If your wallet, Social Security number, or other personal information is lost or stolen, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft.

You make good money and you don’t think your expenses are unreasonable, but at the end of the month there’s nothing left over. You aren’t falling behind, but you aren’t getting ahead either. Something seems off.

So what gives? If you have plenty of income, why aren’t your finances coming together like you think they should? There are a few possible reasons.

You aren't paying attention

It sounds simple enough, but many spending problems start small and then balloon over time because we just aren’t paying attention. When we have money, we’re much less likely to budget carefully or really stop to consider our purchases. Why would you, if you know you can afford it?

The trouble, of course, is that just because these purchases don’t cause us any pain at the time we make them, doesn’t mean they don’t eventually catch up to us. Today’s half-considered purchase is the reason there’s no money left over at the end of the month. Start paying attention by tracking your purchases. Review your spending regularly and ask yourself, “What of these things did I really need?”

Your wants are louder than your needs

You probably already know that smart budgeting requires the ability to separate wants from needs. The trouble is that this isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds.

When we get used to certain wants, they start to feel an awful lot like a need. This is a power of a habit. Something becomes a part of your routine and you don’t just want it – you need it. This is why buying a $5 coffee at Starbucks by itself is not an issue. Once it becomes a daily habit, however, and it starts to feel essential, then it’s a problem and you need to work on rewiring your bad habits.

You’re overpaying for convenience

If you can afford it, there are quite a few things you never have to actually do for yourself. And if you’re interested in saving time, there are plenty of ways to spend money and save time. After a while, however, you may find yourself leaning a little too heavily on these conveniences, which can be financially distressing, even if you have the income to support it.
If you’re overspending on convenience, a good trick is to try and always remember what it feels like when you reach the end of the month and there’s little to no money left over. What’s that feeling? Disappointment? Worry? Anxiety? Frustration? Find that feeling and hold on to it. Then, when you’re trying to decide if you should eat in or dine out (for example), weigh those negative feelings against whatever momentary positive feelings you may get from taking the more convenient, but more expensive option. If the desire to stop feeling anxious about money outweighs your desire to not have to cook dinner tonight, you’ll find it’s much easier to make a change.

You actually can’t afford the things you buy

If there’s a danger to being financially comfortable, it’s how easily that can turn into financial complacency. When you have a more than adequate income, your sense of financial scale can be thrown off. You don’t hesitate to buy a brand new car with all the upgrades or buy a nice home on the good side of town because, in your mind, you can afford it.

But just because you have the money, doesn’t necessarily mean that you can afford it. There’s a reason nearly one-third of all lottery winners end up declaring bankruptcy – no amount of money is infinite. What you spend today is not available to spend tomorrow. That may seem obvious, but spending money has never been easier than it is today. You don’t need to hand over cash, write a check, or even swipe a credit card anymore. Unless you’re actively budgeting yourself, it’s very easy to get the wrong idea about your money.
The trick is to train yourself to see the bigger picture. A top of the line car may be affordable, but where else could some of that money be going? Try to understand what your financial priorities are and let those priorities guide you when spending money you could otherwise be saving.

You don’t know what you really want

Most financial problems boil down to this feeling: “I am Here, but I feel like I should be There.” After all, if you think things are fine as they are, then there’s no problem, right? But what if you don’t know what “There” looks like? What if you only know that “Here” isn’t cutting it?

That can be a very debilitating problem. It’s incredibly difficult to make positive changes when there’s no plan, and it’s even harder to create a good plan when there’s no goal. If you’re feeling stuck, a big part of that may be because you don’t know what it is you really want.
That’s okay, of course. But in the interim, you might want to consider creating a starter goal – something to get you moving, even if it ends up changing somewhere along the way. It can be small and short-term, but it should be concrete rather than abstract. Once you have a goal to work towards, some of these other problems become much easier to identify and manage. But it all starts with a goal.

If you need help finding your starting point, considering speaking with a budgeting counselor from MMI. We understand what it feels like to feel stuck, and we can suggest resources and next steps to start you moving in the right direction.

Union Plus Credit Counseling 

Union members can get a no-obligation money and credit assessment from certified, experienced consumer credit counselors though Union Plus Credit Counseling. Powered by the non-profit Money Management International (MMI), your free session will cover a complete financial review, assistance in budgeting, advice for working with creditors, and more.

Learn More 

No. The real IRS doesn't call and if they do contact you about unpaid taxes, they do it by mail, not by phone. 

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stop. Don’t wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card. Once you send it, the money is gone. If you have tax questions, go to irs.gov or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.
    
2. Pass this information on to a friend. You may not have gotten one of these calls, but the chances are you know someone who has.

​​Please Report Scams

 If you believe you've been the victim of an IRS scam, please report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.