Because 2015 is the first year Californians will have to provide information about their health insurance on their tax returns, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a fact sheet detailing what they'll need to know, officials announced.

In the coming weeks, the administration will continue to provide added resources to help consumers prepare for tax filing season, including online tools to help individuals connect with local tax preparation services and determine if they are eligible for an exemption, officials said.

More than three quarters of tax filers will just need to check a box on their tax return indicating they had health coverage for all of 2014, but there will be added steps for those who bought coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces, or decided not to enroll in coverage. Those who had basic health insurance in 2014 meeting the Minimum Essential Coverage requirement for the Affordable Care Act won't receive any new forms in the mail and won't have to fill out new forms when they file their 2014 income tax returns.

What consumers need to know:

When you file your tax return, you'll need to check a box indicating you and your family had health insurance for all of 2014. Types of coverage that meets the Affordable Care Act's standards include: Most job-based plans, including retiree plans and COBRA coverage; Medicare Part A or Part C; Medicaid; the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); most individual health plans you bought outside the Marketplace, including "grandfathered" plans.; If you're under 26, coverage under a parent's plan.

Filing electronically is the easiest way to file a complete and accurate tax return. Last year, some 85 percent of taxpayers e-filed. Electronic Filing options include free Volunteer Assistance, IRS Free File and professional assistance. Helpful resources available include the IRS Resource Guide: Health Care Law: What's New for Individuals & Families.

Last year millions of people purchased coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, and most benefited from a tax credit to lower their monthly premium. Those enrolled in such a plan must provide some basic information about their health insurance when they file their taxes. All Marketplace consumers will receive a new statement called a Form 1095-A that includes all the information they need about their coverage to file their return. Form 1095-A will come by mail by early February. In most states, you can also download a copy of your statement through your Marketplace account starting in late January or early February. You must wait for your Form 1095-A to arrive before filing your taxes. If it hasn't come by early February, you should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

When you get your Form 1095-A, check the information on it like the number of people in your household for accuracy. If you find an error, call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to find out how to get a corrected form.

Keep your Form 1095-A with your other important tax information, like your W-2.

If a tax credit lowered your monthly health insurance premiums for 2014, you will use your Form 1095-A to input some basic information when you file your taxes. When you signed up for health insurance, you had to estimate your 2014 income, which determined the size of your tax credit. Now, you must compare your estimated income with your actual income which could impact the final amount of your tax credit, as can a change in your income or household size during the year. You may see a smaller refund or owe money back if you underestimated your income. You may also get a bigger refund if you overestimated you income.

If you owe money back, there are several repayment options available.

If you did not receive a tax credit to lower your monthly premiums in the Marketplace, you can visit HealthCare.gov/taxes/tools/ to get information you'll need to enter into your tax forms to see if you might qualify.

If your Marketplace coverage started partway through 2014 and you were uninsured earlier in the year, or if you were uninsured for only a short period of time during the year, you may be eligible for an exemption from the requirement to have health coverage. You can claim the exemption on your tax return when you file. The process is fast and easy, requiring only that you select the exemption that applies to you and enter the corresponding code.

Available helpful resources:

HHS Fact Sheet: 3 Tips About Marketplace Coverage & Your Taxes.

Use a tool to get information you may need to determine your 2014 premium tax credit.

Learn more about your taxes if you had a 2014 plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

IRS Resource Guide: Health Care Law: What's New for Individuals & Families.

Learn more about Payment Plans, Installment Agreements and Offers in Compromise.

While those who can afford health coverage but chose not to buy it may have to pay a fee, individuals who could not afford coverage or met other conditions can receive an exemption. If you qualify, receiving an exemption is simple and easy, and means you won't have to pay a fee. You can claim most exemptions on your tax return, but some exemptions are only available through the Marketplace.

There are a variety of exemptions available, including if:

The cost of coverage was too high. This applies to you if the lowest priced plan available to you would have cost more than 8 percent of your income. Visit HealthCare.gov/taxes/tools for information you may need to claim the 2014 unaffordable coverage exemption.

You were uninsured for only a short period of time.

You experienced a hardship, such as if you had medical expenses that resulted in substantial debt, if a close family member passed away, or if you experienced domestic violence, among other hardships. You will need to apply to the Health Insurance Marketplace to qualify for this exemption.

When you file your taxes, you will enter information about the months you had coverage and any exemptions you qualify for on your tax forms. If you could have afforded coverage in 2014 but chose not to buy it and you don't qualify for an exemption you will have to pay a fee with your federal tax return. The fee is based on your income and on how many months you didn't have coverage.

If you didn't have health coverage for all of 2014, you'll pay the higher of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, without coverage, limited to a family maximum of $285, or 1 percent of your income, subject to certain caps.

After almost 10 years, the results of a long-awaited clinical study has proven that cholesterol drug Zetia of Merck & Co is capable of reducing heart attack risk when it is used together with statin.

The study was conducted worldwide on 18,000 heart patients using Zetia, an ezetimibe, plus simvastation as compared to treatments with only simvastatin. LDL cholesterols levels, which is singled out as a critical cause in the development of a cardiovascular problem, decreased by 54 on average.

A 6% reduction in all cardio events, though a modest benefit in high-risk patients, is significant enough. This is the first time that it was proven that the addition of a cholesterol fighter non-statin to the already effective statin will reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular disease.

The resuting data proves that Zetia -- which is already widely used for 12 years for its LDL-reduction capability -- offers a significant protection to several patients. It also supports the hypothesis that a lower LDL cholesterol is beneficial.

Zetia works by preventing dietary cholesterol from being absorbed in the gut, which is different from statins that prevent cholesterol production in the liver. Its presumed lack of effect on the arteries was seen as a challenge to the initial hypothesis that a lower LDL will reduce heart risk.

Dr. Christopher Cannon of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston is the lead author of the study presented in Chicago last week. He said, "One of our goals was to test if even lower LDL even better, and the answer is yes. We have a zillion trials showing statins reduce events... our conclusions are that, yes, a non-statin lowering of LDL with ezetimibe reduced cardiovascular events."

Six years ago, a relatively smaller study was conducted which resulted in the findings that the medicine failed to prevent the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaque) in the arteries. Several experts assumed that this failure to at least slow the plaque accumulation might also mean that it will fail to prevent strokes and heart attacks.

According to the Dr. Cannon, this latest study dubbed "Improve-It" attempts to address that concern, hence asserting the significance of LDL reduction. Furthermore, it showed a benefit for getting really LDL cholesterol levels from patients who had had a heart attack recently and were prescribed with only simvastatin.

Patients have suffered unstable angina or heart attack prior to the trials and all their LDL cholesterol levels were lowered to the target of 70 by using simvastatin. Meanwhile, those who used Zetia got 20% lowered LDL.

In the clinical tests, around 32% of the patients who were treated with a statin and ezetimibe had a stroke or a heart attack after 7 years of follow-up against the 34% when only statin was used. Although the primary benefit came in lowering the chance of strokes and heart attacks, it did not result in survival.

Cannon said, "In absolute terms, there are two heart attacks or strokes prevented for every 100 patients treated. An important factor is this is really a long term safety."

It also proved relatively safe -- there was no highly alarming side effects, that is. Out of the thousands of people in the trials, many of them had LDL levels that are not more than 40 and that did not seem to affect them adversely.

However, experts from Harver Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group are concerned that with no other studies backing up such results about heart attacks, patients might be deprived of proven medication, in the form of statins. But the results are certainly highly significant to those patients who cannot take statins.

The Affordable Care Act is already cutting health care costs, especially at hospitals that in the past provided charity care for uninsured, low-income patients. The reduction in charity care in states that have expanded their Medicaid programs with federal funds means the costs for this care are no longer being shifted to insured and self-paying patients, which makes health insurance more profitable for hospitals and insurers without increasing consumer costs.

But this drop in costs is happening only in the states in about half of the nation that have expanded their Medicaid programs. The other states - mostly in the South and the Plains - have been involved in political struggles that have blocked expansion of health insurance for their poor residents.

Expanding state-run Medicaid assistance programs has been called critical for the success of the new federal health care law. In states that haven't expanded Medicaid, it is currently available to those who have incomes at or below the federal poverty line, which in 2014 is $11,670 for a single person and $27,910 for a family of four. In the states that have expanded their Medicaid programs, the eligibility level is 138%, or $16,104 for an unmarried person and $37,375 for a family of four.

The federal health law was written with this expansion in mind, and it offers most people with incomes ranging from 138% to 400% of the federal poverty level the opportunity to be eligible for federal subsidies as they purchase health care policies through the new health insurance exchanges.

These subsidies were to be paid for by decreases in Medicare reimbursements to hospitals and doctors. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that the federal government could not force states to expand their Medicaid programs, but the cuts in Medicare reimbursements did not change.

Unfortunately, the cutoff point for a subsidy was set at 138%, leaving those between 100% and 138% with no options in the states that didn't expand their Medicaid programs. The resistance to Medicaid expansion is creating a poverty gap.

"It's a crime," Lisa Dubay, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Urban Institute, said of the poverty gap. "These are the most vulnerable people in our society. They have no other access to health care. We have no way to take care of them and that just seems wrong."

Aside from the ethical dilemma of not providing health care to low income people who don't have the ability to purchase subsidized insurance, there is a significant financial cost for the states that aren't expanding. This cost is being passed on to providers and insurers alike, and they are beginning to exert pressure on state governments to agree to the federally funded expansions.

In the states that haven't expanded Medicaid, at least 4,805,380 people are in the poverty gap. These people won't receive federal subsidies to help them purchase insurance, and they will continue to require costly charity care that is shifted to those with insurance and self-payers.

The Americans who fall into the poverty gap in their state also won't be able to get preventive care they need and this in turn could shorten their lives. In addition, the number of bankruptcies will continue to grow, as nearly 2 out of 3 filings are caused by medical bills. No one can predict the outcomes of these efforts, but one thing is certain: The ones who are suffering the most are those being left behind in the health care poverty gap.

Now that the Obamacare transition has come into effect, it is important to understand some of the differences that are now at work. Understanding some of the changes can make it easier to get the greatest benefit from new policy changes that might affect you most. This can also help you to avoid potential negatives. For example, missing the important March 31 deadline can result in a fine of $95 or 1% of your total income (whichever number is greater).

"For those that do not qualify for Medicaid, you will be required to pay your monthly premium fee to your selected insurance company in order to receive coverage," said Jim Holm of EnhanceInsurance.com . "In some cases, customers will need to pay for their deductibles along with a set copay fee for doctor visits or a portion of the cost for the medical service." This latter scenario is referred to as co-insurance, and customers will generally need to complete these payments before the insurance company can actually cover your medical costs. For most information on this, you can visit the federal government's website at HealthCare.gov , a federal government website, and learn more about your options for each insurance plan. To find this information, located the section entitled "See plans before I apply."

Plan Choices

Many industry experts recommend that you narrow down your potential choices to five comparable plans, and then go to the insurer's official website in order to educate yourself about the various benefits available in each program. It is important to look for the types of things that might not be covered - for example, acupuncture or hearing aids. This can help you to avoid plans that are probably not best-suited for your expected needs. It is also a good idea to pay attention to the company's cited coverage examples. These will help explain exactly what the patient will be expected to pay and which costs will be covered by your plan. Note the ways that co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles are explained, as these elements help form the basis for what your plan has to offer.

Choosing your Doctors

Making the proper doctor selection is another important factor to consider. In some cases, your doctor or hospital has not contract ties to the network of your health plan. This can mean you will be responsible for paying out much more. Because of this, it is a good idea to go to your favorite doctors and then to see which health plans they are able to accept. Your health insurance plan will also have a list of drugs and medicines that they will cover. In cases where your prescription is not on this list, you can expect your bills to be higher. So, it is also important to make certain that your insurer offers access to the medications you need.

Potential Tax Credits

The new healthcare system offers ways of reducing your total medical costs. But this can be done in ways that extend beyond simple cost reductions. Additional gains can be made from the Federal tax credits that can make premiums more affordable. These tax breaks apply to households with annual incomes that fall between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty line. In Dollar terms, this equates to roughly $11,500 to $46,000 for individuals, and $24,000 to $95,000 for a family of four. The government's HealthCare.gov website also includes some informative statistics in this area. If your annualized household income falls below 250% of the federal poverty level (which comes out to just below $60,000 for a family of four), you could qualify for reduced out-of-pocket expenses when buying a silver plan.

7 tips to make retirement savings last Even if you were smart (or lucky) enough to have a comfortable retirement nest egg, you may still worry that it may not last you through what may be 30 years of retirement. As many retirees and pre-retirees saw in 2008, one unexpected financial disaster can devastate your life savings. And many others have discovered that even the best-laid plans for retirement can be ripped apart by an unanticipated medical crisis. Learn more tips at: http://hhicfg.com

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Crime Crime levels are low. It is generally safe to walk about at night and to travel on public transport, but you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home and take sensible precautions. Reports of inappropriate touching or 'chikan' of female passengers on commuter trains are fairly common. The police advise that you shout at the perpetrator to attract attention and ask a fellow passenger to call the train staff. The Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo is considered a higher risk area for crime. British nationals have been arrested following disputes with bar staff and doormen. There have also been reports of drink spiking with drugs like Rohypnol. Victims have described loss of consciousness for several hours, during which time large amounts have been fraudulently billed to their credit card. If your passport is lost or stolen, you should report this at a police station and get a police report. Learn more at http://hhicfg.com/blog/foreign-travel-advice-japan/ Foreign Travel Advice by The Harver Group - Your Health Insurance Counter Fraud Services Tokyo

Here's a guide to navigating the difficult questions that you are asked while buying insurance.



While buying insurance online, the toughest part for most customers is answering the medical-and lifestyle-related queries in the proposal form. Some questions are general, but some are specific and relate to medical condition, profession and hobbies of the buyer.

Sample these questions. Has your weight altered by more than five kg in the last two years? Have you been incapable of working for more than five days in a week in the past two years? How many cigarettes do you smoke in a day and/or how many pegs of alcohol do you consume in a week?

Why would the insurer like to know how many cigarettes you smoke or how much liquor you consume? Do the answers to these questions have a bearing on your insurance premium?

The answer is yes. Hence, it is important that you answer all questions correctly.

"Present and past medical conditions, insurance history, personal and family health, lifestyle habits, etc., have an important bearing on risk and, therefore, product pricing," says Mayank Bathwal, deputy CEO, Birla Sunlife Life Insurance.

However, answering these questions can be tricky, especially for a person who is buying the policy on his/her own. We assess these questions and how they can impact the underwriting process.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

The questions asked in a life or health insurance application form can be generic or very specific. The difficulty level may vary accordingly. The answers are mostly in yes or no. If the answer to each question is no, the process is hassle-free if the declarations are true.

However, if the answers are yes, the company seeks further explanations and in some cases even documents so that it can decide the premium or whether to accept your application.

"The purpose of asking about the person's health is to ascertain his well-being. If any risk is noted, further tests may be sought on the basis of sum assured and the person's age," says Bathwal of Birla Sunlife Life.

So, if your answer to the question whether you are a smoker is yes, you will be asked what you smoke (cigarette, beedi or cigar), how many do you smoke in a day and for how many years have you been smoking. If you say you have stopped smoking, you will be asked when and why.

Explanations and documents may not always be difficult to furnish. However, at times, understanding questions, especially the ones related to health, could give you a hard time.

Take, for instance, this question. "Have you undergone/have you been recommended to undergo any of the following: angioplasty, heart bypass surgery, brain surgery, heart valve surgery, aorta surgery or organ transplant or any other major surgery or treatment?"

The use of medical terms, which most people may not be aware of, makes things difficult for the buyer. For instance, you need to be a biology student or a medical practitioner to know which diseases are considered congenital.

Further, it is possible that you have not undergone any of the above mentioned surgeries but some other surgery. Should you mention this in the column 'other major surgery or treatment' category?

Then there are questions that are sure to put you in a fix. So, if the insurer asks if you have experienced any health problem or medical condition within the past three months for which you have not consulted a doctor, what should be your answer? Even if the answer is yes, you will probably not know the name of the condition from which you suffered.

As a result of these issues, insurance companies, which were aggressively promoting online sales, have witnessed very low conversion of online enquiries into sales. The companies are trying to address the issue by starting online assistance, 24X7 call centres etc. Some are even selling online policies through agents.

"To help customers during purchase, we have set up a 24/7 customer helpline. Customers can connect with our telesales advisors through our toll-free number at their convenience. We also call customers who leave their details on our website and assist them through the buying process," says Sevantika Bhandari, director, marketing, Max Bupa Health Insurance.

"Some questions are very technical in nature and so customers may find them difficult to understand. We have tried to translate such questions into a simpler language," says Anuj Gulati, CEO, and Religare Health.

IMPACT ON UNDERWRITING

Based on these declarations, the insurance company assesses the risk involved in insuring the applicant and accordingly fixes the premium. In some cases, it will ask the buyer to undergo medical tests before issuing him the policy.

So, who is a bigger risk for a life or health insurance company-a person who smokes or one who consumes alcohol?

"In term insurance procedures smokers get impacted directly as there are separate slabs for smokers and non-smokers. There is nothing like this for drinkers," says Yashish Dahiya, CEO and cofounder, Policybazaar.com.

This means if you are a smoker, you will pay a higher premium than a non-smoker for a life or a health insurance policy.
If you are in a 'hazardous' occupation or love adventure sports, then also you fall in the higher risk category. The insurer may even reject your request for insurance in such a case.

"If an applicant is involved in adventure sports or lives in a life threatening environment, the insurer can accept the application, reject the application, accept it with exclusions or accept it after premium loading," says Sevantika Bhandari.

Even in case a 'healthy' person's family has a history of diseases such as cancer, diabetes or heart problems, he is usually asked to undergo a test to determine if he/she is susceptible to genetic diseases.

"Based on the results of these tests, the policy can be rejected, passed or passed with restrictions or loading. There is no set rule for such scenarios. It's a subjective call taken by the underwriting team," says Dahiya of Policybazaar.com.

In chronic conditions, where repeat hospitalisation is all but sure, the decision to issue a policy is taken on the basis of medical tests.