Month: September 2020

2020-09-29T18:01:00

(BPT) – New research from Spotify, part of its annual “Culture Next” report, takes a closer look at the force that is Gen Z, revealing them to be a passionate crew of young people taking the reins for their future — a plugged-in, podcast-listening squad streaming news podcasts The Daily, NPR News and The Journal. A progress-driven group more interested in moving forward than they are in political parties. A dynamic unit made up of independent thinkers, who intend to be their own bosses one day (if they aren’t already).

2020-09-29T10:01:00

(BPT) – Fall is here, and with it comes the anticipation of pumpkins, cooler temperatures, and for many, the start of classes. But let’s be honest: The COVID-19 pandemic means this fall is unlike any other in memory, and as a parent, you may be suddenly juggling your new roles of part-time remote teacher, IT technician and cafeteria chef along with your normal work responsibilities. The physical, mental, and for some, financial toll of this arrangement has left many feeling exhausted and stressed.

In fact, MetLife’s recent study on mental health found that having kids at home or no access to childcare or in-person schooling is the biggest single source of stress for parents of kids under 12 (52%) after fear of contracting the virus or a friend/family member contracting the virus (66%). Compounded by rising financial anxieties from possible financial setbacks, many parents are looking to benefits provided by their employer during open enrollment — the period of time wherein U.S. employees can make changes to their health insurance coverage and enroll in other insurance benefits — to build financial strength and help prepare for the unexpected.

This may be why, according to MetLife’s 2020 open enrollment survey, two-thirds (66%) of parents with kids under age 12 feel that open enrollment is more important this year than last year, and almost 60% plan to spend a greater amount of time selecting their benefits.

Setting aside time to prepare for open enrollment may seem overwhelming with all that’s going on now — particularly for parents with kids at home — but since changes to benefits are not available throughout the year outside of major life events, such as getting married, divorced or having a baby, it’s important to make it a priority. Fortunately, you can get started with three simple steps:

1. Pick benefits best suited to your family.

Even if you’re happy with the coverage you have, don’t assume you can set it and forget it year-to-year. Employers often introduce new benefit offerings, and plan benefits can shift in a number of ways (think: changes to dentists participating in the network, or prescription medication coverage).

Start by evaluating what you’ve spent for healthcare over the last few years and think about any significant expenses you may expect to incur in the coming year, such as the birth of a baby or braces for your teenager.

Next, read the information provided by your company to see what’s new for 2021. Some companies are now offering additional access to telemedicine or other mental health benefits. Perhaps your family has adopted a pet during the pandemic? Many employers offer pet insurance, which can help pet parents offset costs for vet visits. By taking the time to properly evaluate the plans your company offers, you can save hundreds — or even more — every year.

2. Explore new ways to protect against unexpected, out-of-pocket medical expenses.

There is a wide array of benefits many employers offer — beyond medical, dental, and vision coverage — that can close potential financial gaps and help parents safeguard their incomes from the unexpected. Critical illness or hospital indemnity plans, for instance, help protect against unforeseen out-of-pocket costs by providing a lump sum payout if you are diagnosed with certain illnesses or hospitalized. Parents may also look at incorporating health savings or flexible spending accounts that allow you to use pre-tax dollars to cover expenses related to childcare and healthcare, as well as commuting costs, which reduce taxable income, as well as earn interest.

Finally, legal plans provide access to a wide network of attorneys, for a limited additional charge, if any. These professionals can help prepare critical documents, such as wills and estate plans, which are important for new parents, as well as powers of attorney or advance health care directives, which are important when a child turns 18 and heads off to college.

3. Maximize your savings.

The pandemic and its many financial aftershocks have exposed a vulnerability we already knew existed: Americans simply don’t save enough. Therefore, while retirement savings can usually be adjusted throughout the year, open enrollment is a good time to reevaluate and make sure that, if your company matches employee contributions to retirement accounts, you are saving at least the minimum percentage to earn the match. If not, you’re leaving money on the table.

What’s more, as enrolling in new benefits plays a direct role in your monthly expenses, the fall is an opportune time to begin building your savings. Automate your savings by either having a portion of your paycheck directly deposited into your savings account or by setting up regular transfers from your checking to your savings. Automatically moving money to your savings means it will be there when you need it — which can help quell parents’ financial anxieties steadily throughout the year.

Employee benefits, at the most basic level, are provided to help improve your physical and financial well-being. Spending time reviewing benefit options and choices now can, in turn, help to alleviate stress later, giving parents — and all employees — more time to focus on their families. Get started now and help make sure your family is in the best possible position to have a healthy, financially secure new year.

To learn more about making open enrollment decisions and how to maximize your benefits this year, visit: metlife.com/openenrollment.

2020-09-29T12:49:00

(BPT) – October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month is not just about making people aware of metastatic breast cancer and celebrating survivors, it is also about taking action so we can improve the lives of people living with breast cancer.

Despite all our advances, about 42,000 people in the U.S. will die from breast cancer this year alone — and almost all from metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In addition, there are an estimated 168,000 women and an unknown number of men in the U.S. living with metastatic breast cancer today. They are mothers, fathers, daughters, brothers, grandmothers, grandfathers and family members, who just want more time with the people they love.

Unfortunately, we don’t yet have the cures for metastatic breast cancer.

Also called stage IV breast cancer, MBC is the most advanced stage of the disease, where tumor cells have spread (or metastasized) to other parts of the body, most commonly the bones, liver, lungs and brain. Anyone can be diagnosed with MBC. Less than 10% of people diagnosed with MBC have never had breast cancer before, while the majority of people affected have previously gone through treatment for early stage breast cancer.

Current treatment focuses on preventing MBC from spreading and helping patients live longer, better lives. Yet everyone living with MBC knows, that at some point, the treatment they are on will fail and their cancer will progress. That’s why research is so important; it is the only thing that will lead to more and better treatments, and eventually cures.

What can you do to help someone living with MBC?

Everyone can make a difference in the life of someone with the disease.

1. Make a donation to help fund research

Research is needed to better understand the disease, and to develop more and better treatment options, which will eventually lead to the cures. Even if you can only make a small donation, every dollar helps. In the 1970s, only 10% of women survived for five years after their diagnosis of MBC. Today, because of research that has developed new and more effective treatments, approximately 25% of patients are living five years or more after their diagnosis.

The goals of MBC research include:

• Identifying the genes and processes that cause breast cancer cells to metastasize.
• Developing and testing new therapies to both prevent and treat metastatic breast cancer.
• Discovering new methods for predicting the risk of metastasis or detecting metastasis early, using urine or blood tests or body scans.

Donate what you can today at Susan G. Komen.

2. Contact your Member of Congress

Call or write your Member of Congress to urge passage of legislation that will make an immediate difference in the lives of people living with MBC. Insist that they cosponsor the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (H.R.2178/S.1374) to make Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits available right away to patients. They cannot afford to wait out the current months-long wait periods to receive these benefits.

Also urge lawmakers to support the Cancer Drug Parity Act (H.R.1730/S.741) so that the cost of chemotherapy drugs taken orally is covered the same way as chemotherapy received through an IV at a treatment facility. Medications taken orally are often more expensive for patients, making them unaffordable for many. But there are benefits to receiving oral therapies, including the ability to take them at home, and they are often the only option available for people living with MBC.

Whether you know someone who has been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer or not, taking action today will help those who are living with the disease right now.

To learn more about metastatic breast cancer research, treatment and resources, visit Susan G. Komen.

2020-09-29T08:01:01

(BPT) – The economic impact of COVID-19 has hit U.S. employees hard, causing millions to lose their jobs or be furloughed, while others switched to all-remote work — and still others risk their health to stay employed. The pandemic has also affected some sectors much harder than others.

Since the pandemic began, you may be re-evaluating where you are in your career or considering a higher degree. Pursuing a master’s degree involves a significant investment of time and effort, beyond the financial commitment. You have probably wondered: “Is it worth it?”

Especially in these unprecedented times, having a higher degree means you’re more likely to be able to continue to work successfully. A recent publication by the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics examined how different occupations weathered the economic downtown and pandemic, finding that occupations in more professional fields offered the most stability. Positions allowing for an easier pivot to working remotely — largely those requiring higher education — were likely to be both higher-paying and better equipped to withstand unforeseen challenges.

Boost skills and expand knowledge

For those with a bachelor’s degree who may feel stalled in their career or industry, a master’s degree may open new doors by filling in skill gaps and refreshing your knowledge about technological developments. Increasing your skill set allows you to expand the possibilities of your career by helping you gain promotion opportunities at your current company, or making you a more attractive candidate for new organizations.

Are master’s degree programs accessible now?

Fortunately, options are available for anyone seeking a professional edge. Remote learning offers the ability to work toward your degree from anywhere. The key is finding a program that fits your needs.

Here’s what to look for:

• A fully accredited institution
  The school and/or program you apply to should be recognized by a relevant accrediting group. For example, engineering programs are often backed by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, or ABET.
• An online program with an on-campus equivalent
  Select a school that offers its online degree program at the same caliber of its on-campus programs. For example, students of any online degree program at Arizona State University (ASU) are taught by the same world-renowned faculty as the on-ground institution, which includes pioneering researchers, Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners. Online students receive the same degree as students who study on-campus.
• Maximum flexibility
  Online master’s degree programs often allow students to create their own study schedules. Online degree programs can help you advance in your industry or pivot toward another field without taking time away from your current job(s) or responsibilities.
• Cutting-edge program delivery
  Online courses vary in style and scope, so you should select one that meets your needs. Are lectures offered live, or are they recorded? Will you have hands-on experiences, or are all components virtual? For example, ASU Online offers innovative virtual reality and engaging at-home lab kits for many science-based programs.

What master’s degree programs should I consider?

When planning your educational goals, consider your interests, skills, and desired career trajectory. Research programs that prepare you for advanced positions in growing industries, particularly where highly educated workers are in-demand.

Many of those industries may depend upon mastery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills. Nationally, 80% of the fastest-growing occupations are in STEM-related industries, and national growth in STEM jobs is three times greater than non-STEM jobs. The demand isn’t currently being met, with 2.5 million jobs left unfilled today.

A master’s degree in this area can help you gain the knowledge needed to join fast-moving STEM industries. For example, ASU Online recently launched a Social Technologies master’s program that addresses the use, context and ethical implications of data science. Topics like this are particularly useful in the rapidly evolving social network landscape.

Quality online learning

ASU Online is a leader in distance learning, offering over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs with the same curriculum as the on-campus university. With a record 40+ new programs added to their online format in 2020, there are now more paths than ever for you to advance professionally.

Explore ASU Online graduate programs or learn more about the student experience and top-tier faculty at ASUOnline.asu.edu.

2020-09-29T08:01:01

(BPT) – Pets are family. They provide unconditional love and support. Unfortunately, many crucial resources for victims of domestic abuse don’t factor in their pets, creating a heartbreaking dilemma. Stay in an abusive situation, or leave a pet behind. That’s why Purina partnered with RedRover to create the Purple Leash Project, a national initiative to help change the landscape of domestic violence services so that survivors and their pets can leave abuse and heal together.