Consumer Tips

Holidays means friends, family and lots of smiling!

It’s important not to neglect your smile during the holiday season. Even though our brains may be in shopping mode for most of December, don’t forget about a great gift you can treat yourself to: a checkup and whitening for your smile.

The first thing people usually notice about you is your smile. And during the holidays, this is probably the only time of year you see some of these friends and family members. There are pictures being taken left and right, and who doesn’t want to have a bright, healthy smile in these captured moments?

So if you do decide to fit in that last-minute checkup or decide to get a teeth whitening procedure to freshen up your smile, don’t forget to enjoy discounts from your Union Plus Health Savings Plan.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

For many, doling out the cash to get a toothache treated can hurt almost as much as the tooth itself. That’s because about 40 percent of Americans lack dental insurance, and most who have a dental plan lose that coverage once they retire.

But ignoring dental problems or skipping preventive care can harm you—for example, chronic gum infection is associated with an increased risk for heart attack, some studies suggest.

Our experts recommend these 10 steps to maintain oral health without wrecking your budget.

Savvy Strategies

• Get dental insurance through work if you can. Most employers who offer dental insurance pay half or more of the premium cost, and most plans fully cover exams, X-rays, and cleanings; 80 percent of basic procedures such as fillings; and 50 percent of bigger-ticket work such as crowns, says Evelyn Ireland, executive director of the National Association of Dental Plans. Expect an annual deductible of $50 to $100; the yearly maximum many insurers pay out is usually $1,000 to $1,500.

• Consider dental savings plans. No dental insurance through work? Participants in these buying-club-like programs pay an annual fee of $80 to $200 to access a large network of dentists (60 percent of those nationwide) who offer discounts of up 50 percent for members.

• See whether a dental HMO may work. Dental health maintenance organizations, most often available in larger urban areas, charge $200 to $300 per person per year. Participants get twice-yearly cleanings and exams with no additional fee, and pay a few dollars to a few hundred for fillings, root canals, and crowns. About 20 percent of dentists nationwide participate. Search for dental plans here by checking the “DHMO” box and then your state.

• Consider ACA coverage. If you get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, you can also purchase optional dental insurance. Currently, dental is available only when you enroll in a full health plan. But dental coverage will be available separately next year for Medicare recipients on the exchange in Kentucky, and more states are expected to follow suit.

• Check veteran’s benefits. If you have a service-connected disability, you’re eligible for free comprehensive dental care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Other veterans can buy comprehensive dental insurance at a reduced rate.

• Bargain hunt. Look up local rates for dental procedures at Fair Health Consumer and Healthcare Bluebook, then ask your dentist for a discount. In our 2012 survey, Consumer Reports readers who asked for a break were often successful.

• Create an emergency dental fund, and put aside money every month. “Unpredictable things happen, and you have to have a way to pay for it,” says Julia Hallisy, D.D.S., president of the nonprofit Empowered Patient Coalition in San Francisco. “You could bite on a peach pit and crack a tooth.”

• Check community health centers. Some offer low-cost dental care but may have limited services and, possibly, waiting lists. Call the local health department or state dental association, or go to Tooth Wisdom to find those centers.

• Try university dental schools. Many charge 30 to 40 percent less than private dentists, and you’ll be treated by supervised students. “The quality of care is excellent,” says Judith Jones, D.D.S., professor of dentistry at Boston University and an American Dental Association spokeswoman. Find dental schools here.

• Help your teeth last longer. Brush for a full 2 minutes—most of us stop after 30 seconds—twice each day with a soft-bristle manual or electric toothbrush, and floss before bed. Drink tooth-friendly beverages, including plain water. (Soda and drinks with lemon and lime can erode enamel and weaken teeth.) Increase your production of saliva, which helps protect teeth, with sugar-free hard candy and gum. Avoid sugary food and drinks. See a dentist once each year—more often if you have periodontal disease or are still getting cavities.

Dental Insurance You Can’t Rely On

• Medicare. It covers little dental care (except for hospital services such as post-accident jaw reconstruction). Medigap (the supplemental private insurance) generally offers no dental insurance. Medicaid coverage is quite limited.
• Dental insurance you buy on your own. Just 4 percent of Americans do that. “Insurance makes you feel protected, but there are often one-year waiting periods before you can qualify for work like root canals and crowns,” says Julia Hallisy, D.D.S. “Some plans exclude these altogether.” One typical plan, AARP’s PPO “Plan B” dental insurance, begins at $474 per year per person. It has a $100 deductible and an annual cap of $1,000, and you pay part of the cost for all services and procedures. So you’d spend at least $574 before reaping a benefit.

Copyright© 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. No reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission.

More ways save on dental care

• Union members and their families can also save with the Union Plus Dental Discount Programs.  Sign up fees start at just $5/95//month of $59.95/year.

We spend so much time making sure our mouths are taken care of that we sometimes forget to care for our toothbrushes! Every toothbrush deserves a little TLC for all the work it does keeping our mouths clean and healthy. We all know that brushing your teeth keeps your mouth clean, but it's just as important to keep our toothbrushes clean, too.

Keeping your toothbrush clean is essential to keeping your mouth clean

Of course we love our toothbrushes, but we can't get too attached to them because it's important to switch them out every three months and after every sickness. After three months, toothbrushes become worn out and are no longer effective in cleaning teeth completely. Each sickness brings a whole new colony of bacteria and germs to hang out on your toothbrush. You definitely don't want to clean your teeth with that!

Storing your toothbrush properly is vital to keeping it away from bacteria and germs

Bacteria grows in dark, wet places, so try to find a new place for your toothbrush besides your bathroom cabinet or drawer, and be sure not to keep it near any other toothbrush or anywhere close to the toilet. Keeping your toothbrush dry and clean between uses is very important. Make sure to rinse your toothbrush with tap water after each use and allow it to dry completely with the bristles facing up.  It's best to place it in a cup or rack to allow it to dry out properly. It needs room to breathe!

Choosing the right toothbrush for your mouth can be difficult if you don't know what you're looking for

It is best to use a soft bristled toothbrush, because medium and hard bristled toothbrushes can actually damage your gums and the enamel on your teeth.  Whether you prefer handheld, sonic or electric toothbrushes, the most important thing to keep in mind is that it's your technique - not the toothbrush - that matters most in keeping your teeth the cleanest.

Having good brushing technique is important

The best technique for brushing your teeth is to place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle pointing toward your gums and brush in a circular motion. This will massage your gums, which stimulates blood flow and will clean your teeth by rubbing away any bacteria that has accumulated since your last cleaning.

Still not sure how to choose the best toothbrush for you? Look for brushes that have earned the American Dental Association's (ADA) seal of approval to help narrow down your choices.

The Save My Home Hotline is staffed by fully-trained, HUD-certified counselors that can discuss your individual situation and offer advice and guidance that is personalized for your situation.

Get the facts on the Save my Home Hotline and take a step towards saving your home.

Who Can Participate in the Program?

Union members and their families.

What is the Save My Home Hotline Phone Number?

1-866-490-5361.

What Are the Save My Home Hotline Hours?

The Save My Home Hotline is available by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Can I Talk to a Counselor in Person?

Yes. There are more than 100 local offices in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Call the Save My Home Hotline at 1-866-490-5361 to schedule an appointment.

Is There a Charge to Use the Save My Home Hotline?

No. This service is free to union members and families.

I Already Am Behind on My Mortgage Payments. Can the Hotline Help Me?

Yes. The hotline's HUD-certified counselors can help you establish a budget, set priorities and explain all the available strategies to stop foreclosure and help you keep your home. Landlords and lenders often are willing to be flexible about repayment of late or missing payments.

If you simply cannot make your payments, your counselor can provide advice for working with the lender. Your lender may be able to restructure your loan to a fixed rate, for example, or allow you to make smaller payments for a limited period of time (those payments will be added to the loan balance, though.) If necessary, your counselor will make referrals to other resources or alternatives such as a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (where you essentially turn the home back over to the lender). You'll leave the session with a plan outlining actions you need to take.

Will the Counselors Work Directly with My Lender?

No. Unlike with credit counseling, the Save My Home Hotline counselors are unable to work directly with your lender. However, they will create an action plan to help you address your housing concerns. After the session, you should be better prepared to work with your lender. And, you may call the Hotline to speak with a counselor as many times as you need to make sure all of your questions and concerns are answered.

What Type of Information Should I Have Ready to Discuss with a Counselor?

Your counseling session will consist of a review of your circumstances, including income, expenses, debts and mortgage terms. You should have the account numbers, billing addresses, current payments and balances for all creditors you owe, as well as any information from your mortgage lender, including payment amount and time delinquent (if applicable).

Who Offers the Save My Home Hotline?

The Save My Home Hotline is offered by Union Plus, which provides benefits to union members, through Money Management International (MMI). MMI is the nation's largest full-service, nonprofit credit counseling agency and currently assists nearly 100,000 clients in repaying their debts. For more than 46 years, MMI and its family of Consumer Credit Counseling Services agencies have helped consumers nationwide, with more than 100 local offices throughout the country.
 

Secure Your Personal Information

• Use a cross cut shredder to turn documents containing personal and financial information into confetti.
• Lock up your wallet or purse at work, and never leave it in your vehicle.
• Avoid giving out any personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call, even if the person calling seems to have detailed information about your accounts.
• Don't carry identification that includes your Social Security number (SSN). If a business requests your SSN, question whether it is really necessary. If they insist, ask if you can provide only part of the number, such as the last four digits.
• Don't print your driver's license number, phone number, or SSN on your checks. Print only your first initial (instead of first name) and last name on your checks.
• Don't put your complete credit card account number on your check when you pay your bill. Instead just put the last four numbers.
• Read privacy notices from your financial institutions for instructions on how to say "no" to information sharing.

Secure Your Mail

• Install a locked mailbox or use a post office box to receive your mail, especially if it arrives while you're not home.
• Stop paper bills.
• Place outgoing mail in an official US Postal Service mailbox. These mailboxes are locked and tend to be more tamper proof than your personal mailbox.

Secure Your Computer

• Create difficult passwords that include a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters -- not your name, address, birth date, or anything that would be easily guessed.
• Don't store passwords on your computer or write them down where others may easily find them. Keep them somewhere secure -- hide them in a locked drawer, for example.
• Never respond to e-mails requesting personal information, or click on links to popular Web sites asking you to verify your information. Type in the correct Web address and go directly to those sites to log in instead.
  
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Secure Your Credit

• Review your credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year.
• Consider using a credit monitoring service to notify you of changes to your credit information.
• Monitor your financial accounts online and set up e-mail or cell phone alerts for unusual activity.

1. Don’t travel if you are experiencing any sign of illness.
    
2. Get your flu shot at least two weeks before you leave.
    
3. Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
    
4. Stay hydrated. Drink more water and less caffeine.
    
5. If you're traveling by air, pack a small (TSA-approved size) bottle of hand sanitizer in your carry-on luggage. Use it once you're settled in your seat and again after you leave the plane. If you're traveling by car, keep a bottle in your glove box or door pocket and use it.
    
6. Take precautions when using public lavatories.
    
7. Pay attention to symptoms of nearby travelers. Try to keep your distance and avoid contact with anything they might touch.
    
8. Don’t share food or drinks.
    
9. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or tissue if someone near you sneezes or coughs in your direction. Discard used tissues right away, then wash or sanitize your hands carefully.

With many working families planning their summer vacations, it's good to know which hotels to book and which to boycott.

Now there's an iPhone app to help you quickly and easily find hotels where UNITE HERE members are employed. Or you can do an online search from your computer. You'll be supporting good union jobs, and find friendly faces to greet you on your trip.

How about knowing which hotels to steer clear of?  Here's a list of hotels to boycott including the long list of Hyatt Hotels that have substandard working conditions for their housekeeping staff.

Looking for an alternative to booking a hotel stay?  Union members can get great deals on condos, even save 15% off nightly rentals.

Tips for Car Trips:

• Be Prepared by Having 24-Hour Emergency Roadside Assistance. 

Union Plus Motor Club costs less than AAA, plus you get $40 in gas rebate vouchers when you sign up for one year.

• Plan Itineraries and Arrange Accommodations Well in Advance.

Reservations for hotels, restaurants and rental cars get booked quickly during peak travel times. Book now to get great deals on nightly and weekly condo rentals with your Union Plus discount.

• Get a Tune Up.

Before any long-distance drive, get your oil changed and your brakes, fluids and tire pressure checked. The slightest deficiency in air pressure significantly reduces a car's gas mileage.  Use your Union Plus discount to save 10% on getting your car serviced at Goodyear.

• Get an Early Start to Avoid Holiday/Weekend Gridlock.

Traveling during late night/early morning hours helps. The worst times to travel are after meals since most travelers postpone leaving until they've eaten with their families. Make sure all your drivers are thoroughly rested.

Tips for Air Travel:

• Book Your Ticket ASAP.

The key to securing the best deal is flexibility in your travel date. Also check into special fares or consider flying into an alternate airport and renting a car. Save up to 25% with car rental deals from Union Plus and choose from the top 6 rental companies.

• Arrive Early.

Airport parking, long lines at security checkpoints, and oversold flights mean it's a good idea to arrive early.

• Keep a Close Eye on Your Belongings.

Be aware of your surroundings and keep a close watch over tickets, wallets, purses, and other belongings. Thieves don't take vacations; but they can ruin yours.

• Avoid Getting Bumped.

1. Get an advance seat assignment.
2. Check-in online. 
3. Don't be late.

• Remember 3-1-1.

Regulations limit the amount of gels and liquids passengers can take through security in carry-on luggage.  Keep travel-size toiletries to 3 ounces or less that fit comfortably in 1 quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag with 1 bag per passenger. 3-1-1.

• Know Your Limits.

Pack light and know baggage limits. Many airlines now charge for checked luggage.

One out of every 200 homes will be foreclosed according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. For a city the size of Washington, DC, that’s as much as 3,000 homes per year. And what does foreclosure look like?

According to the Homeownership Preservation Foundation:

• 32% experienced a job loss.
• 25% experienced a health crisis.
• 85% have already missed one mortgage payment.
• Most have no savings, no available credit, and extended families have limited resources.
• Most have first-time loans, less than three years old.

These are scary situations, but not necessarily uncommon ones. Although foreclosures and delinquencies have dropped to pre-2007 levels, knowing what to do can be the difference that saves your home. If you are a union member, you have resources available when things go bad, and to help make sure things don’t get worse.

Union Plus Save My Home Hotline – This program is provided through the non-profit Money Management Institute (MMI), and is accredited to provide counseling for labor union members facing foreclosure. This program has the largest network of local offices, for those who don’t prefer counseling by phone.

Union Plus Mortgage Program – The Union Plus Mortgage program can help you purchase a home while also receiving special benefits by virtue of your union membership. Once you have a Union Plus mortgage for a year or more, you're protected with unique mortgage assistance program administered through the AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan.

The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance provides interest-free loans and grants to help make mortgage payments when you're disabled, unemployed, locked out or on strike. The program has provided over $10.6 million in assistance to union members.

Foreclosure Resources from the AFL-CIO – Knowledge is power when it comes to saving your home. The AFL-CIO’s website has a robust list of information regarding what to do in this situation, including:

• Rights during foreclosure
• Federally approved housing counselors
• Legal Assistance
• And information regarding negotiating a mortgage modification with your bank

AFL-CIO Community Services Network – The AFL-CIO Community Services Programs were established to improve the lives of workers and their families by connecting to their human and social services needs. Some of the services they provide include an emergency assistance fund, information and referral services, lay-off & strike preparation, and educational workshops.

Here are some tips and tricks for ensuring your MLS listing catches some attention.

Hire or DIY

This is the first decision you need to make. Whether you’re FSBO or have a realtor – think about investing in having a professional take pictures of your home. They will have a good eye for lighting, camera angles to make your home larger and also special lenses to enhance the look of your rooms. If you enjoy photography and have a good camera – there’s no reason to shy away from the job, but just be sure to follow the below steps to ensure you’re thinking about everything before you begin.

De-Clutter and De-Personalize

This is something you’ll hear from a realtor when getting your home “show ready” – the less clutter and personal items, the better. Invest in totes or an actual storage service if you’re not ready to get rid of things.

Light

When you take pictures, make sure it’s during the brightest point of the day (in your home). Depending on where your windows are located and the position of your home – it could be in the morning or afternoon. Open all blinds and shades to let ample light in and notice how much more inviting your home will look in your pictures.

Set the Scene

Think about buying fresh flowers for your dining room table, side tables, bathrooms or guest room. Set your dining room table with a beautiful tablecloth and place settings. Buy potted flowers for your porch and back yard. Buy a cozy throw to add color to your couch or bedroom. Remember you can always re-use things like plants and flowers in multiple rooms to add a pop of color to your pictures. Get inspired by thumbing through recent Pottery Barn magazines to see how they’ve staged their rooms – even the smallest details can make a big difference.

Highlight Your Best Features

If you have a beautiful kitchen or large backyard – be sure to highlight these areas with multiple pictures. You can never have too many good pictures for prospective buyers to view.
 

With these tips, you shouldn’t have any issues capturing some attractive pictures of your home. If you’re interested in learning more about the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards Program or for a SIRVA-Approved real estate agent in your area, you can contact 800-284-9756. If you decided to use one of our pre-screened agents, you can receive $50 cash back after closing for every $10,000 of home sale or purchase price.*Click here to learn more >>