The Oso tragedy
We have all been heartbroken by the images coming from the deadly mudslide near Oso on the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River. Every day, the news seems more anguishing as we watch fellow Washingtonians deal with unimaginable losses.
Many of us are searching for ways to assist families who have lost their homes, their property, and especially their loved ones. Snohomish County has put together a “How To Help” webpage with links to all the places accepting donations and providing services to the Oso victims.
A local bank in Snohomish County announced this week it will be forgiving debts on property destroyed by the Oso mudslide. This is welcome news to a grieving community struggling to recover.
Not all lenders, however, will be forgiving debts. Even if they wanted to, contractual and legal restrictions may prevent some lenders from forgiving loans.
Many of us don’t know this, but most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from landslides, earthquakes, and floods. If you want this coverage, you need to purchase it separately. (See this King 5 story, Mudslide homeowners still on hook for mortgages)
In Washington, only about 15% of homeowners have earthquake insurance according to the Northwest Insurance Council. If an earthquake destroys your home and you don’t have the right insurance, you’ll likely be on the hook to continue making monthly payments for a destroyed home.
Many people think they have “full coverage” but in reality, full coverage doesn’t exist. Every family’s situation is unique and it’s unlikely that someone has insurance protection for every asset and every possible scenario. Therefore, it’s important to know what your policies cover and what they don’t cover.
For more information on what your policy may and may not cover, call your insurance company or agent, and visit the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s website.
For information about landslides in Washington state, visit the Department of Natural Resources page and the Department of Ecology’s section on landslides.
The Affordable Care Act outperforms expectations in every Washington County
The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) presented our state with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand access to quality and affordable health care.
One of the most important provisions of the ACA is the expansion of the Medicaid program. When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ACA, they did so with the provision that state legislatures choose to accept the federal funding for Medicaid Expansion.
One of the 2013 session’s major accomplishments was opting-in to Medicaid Expansion. For the first time, folks making less than 138% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for health care coverage. These working families had previously slipped through the cracks, unable to afford rising premiums even with subsidies.
Since October 1, 2013, nearly one million Washingtonians have enrolled in new or continuing coverage. Every single county in the state, from San Juan to Skamania, has exceeded its Medicaid enrollment goals.
This bump in enrollment benefits us all. Washingtonians with health coverage pay about $1 billion/year in higher premiums to cover the costs of the uninsured showing up in emergency rooms – the most expensive place to receive care.
If you or someone you know may be eligible for Medicaid, or if you’re interested in learning more about low-cost insurance options, visit www.wahealthplanfinder.org.
Do you get a good return on your tax dollars?
Most of us in Washington sure do! The map below shows the return each county gets in state assistance for every dollar they pay in state taxes. 33 of our 39 counties receive back more than they pay in. The differences are rather staggering: from a low of $.46 return in San Juan County to a high of $3.16 in Ferry County. This certainly flies in the face of all those eastern Washington folks who say they are “tired of sending their tax money to the coast.” Only Kittitas County can actually make such a claim.
A new analysis from Wallet Hub that illustrates which states are net contributors vs. net receivers of federal dollars is also interesting. Washington is about even, receiving $1.05 for every dollar contributed to the federal government according to the Wallet Hub analysis.
Most of the South including Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi get a much bigger return, according to the analysis. Mississippi, for example, receives $3.07 for every dollar they pay to the federal government.
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