Taxes

Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes – Unraveling the Maze of Forms

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Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes – Unraveling the Maze of Forms

Taxes are complicated. Even if all you file is a 1040EZ, you can still miss things – and when you own your own business, have kids, own rental property, or need to itemize deductions and claim mileage, things can get extremely frustrating.

Having your taxes done by a guy at the local tax preparer can be risky – on average people who do seasonal tax work only get 2 weeks of training. Having an actual CPA can be cost prohibitive!

If you have questions about your taxes, whether you are doing them yourself or want to verify some info when the work is done by a tax season specialist, the Tax Hotline Benefit from 2BenefitU is there to help make sure you don’t miss a deduction or forget to file a crucial form.

Is the Tax Hotline Safe?

All of your information is kept confidential when you use the Tax Hotline Benefit. When you use this benefit, you simply call using a toll-free number during normal business hours. There are no confusing software programs to navigate – just straight up, on-on-one advice and guidance tailored to your specific needs.

Using this tax prep, planning, and advice hotline staffed by actual IRS certified personnel means that all tax and financial advice is backed by a $1 million liability policy. Tax Hotline will also review any notice or letter issued by the IRS and provide professional advice on how to understand and solve the matter, even for members who get audited. The experts will review the IRS audit notification, and help sort out the facts.

The Tax Hotline provides:

  • Free tax return preparation for 1040EZ, 1040A and 1040 households, and review of last year’s return (limit one per household)
  • Free tax return preparation assistance and year-round support from actual tax experts
  • Advice with tax planning and audit assistance to help you avoid mistakes, penalties and interest
  • Services provided by tax attorneys, financial analysts, CPA’s, former auditors and/or Enrolled Agents certified by the IRS
  • Unlimited advice on federal taxes
  • Discounts on other tax forms and schedules
  • A member portal with tax tips, tax law changes, advice and more

Members with this benefit may ask questions covering any aspect of U.S. tax law:

  • Should I open a ROTH IRA?
  • How does the capital gains tax work?
  • Is the money I inherited taxable?
  • Which tax form do I file?
  • Is my Social Security or retirement taxable?
  • Do I get a break for child care expenses?
  • Should I itemize deductions?
  • Which deductions can I take if I have a home-based business?

Your year-end tax preparation can be painless and frustration free with the Tax Hotline Benefit available to you as a 2BenefitU member, along with over 20 other benefit programs for a single monthly fee of just $29.95!

Hear that

Do You Hear That? It’s a Benefit Calling Your Name

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Amazingly, people who need hearing aids often go ten years past the time when they should have gotten them fitted before they give in and acquire their first set. The reasons are many; people associate needing a hearing aid with being “old”, they are too vain for a hearing aid, the cost is prohibitive.

In addition, many doctors don’t start testing hearing in adults until well after they have started suffering hearing loss. This is behind the times – people are losing hearing function at earlier ages than ever due to environmental noise; loud buzzing, screeching, or electronic feedback in the workplace; constant use of earbuds, headphones and Bluetooth devices, and more.

Getting your hearing tested and following up with the hearing aids you need is easy with 2BenefitU’s hearing benefit. When you have this benefit, you get:

  • A free initial hearing screening to help detect signs of hearing loss
  • Up to 35% savings on hearing aids at thousands of provider locations across the country
  • Access to a convenient mail order service where you can save 40 to 60% on over 100 makes of hearing aids, and have them shipped straight to your door.
  • A two year supply of hearing aid batteries
  • A two year warrantee with a one-time replacement  for covered losses and damages
  • Unlimited follow-up care for cleaning and checkups with purchase
  • 100% Service Satisfaction Guarantee during the first 60 days
  • Patient financing options
  • The latest technology in all models, so you can be sure you’re getting the highest quality products available.   

You can use your discount card as many times as needed, for yourself, your spouse, and your legal dependents. Choose your provider from a list of thousands, get your free screenings, and follow up with hearing aids as needed, choosing from six different brands.

Don’t let vanity get in the way of hearing the world in clear surround sound! If your hearing has been damaged or diminished, even if you aren’t a senior citizen, you can take advantage of this benefit and get the crystal clear hearing you deserve.

Like all of our benefits, the hearing aid benefit doesn’t come alone! It’s part of a package with up to 20 other benefits you can use for yourself and your family starting at just $19.95 per month per household.

Have Peace of Mind with Global Travel Assistance

Have Peace of Mind with Global Travel Assistance

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Got a trip planned? Protecting yourself and your loved ones is one of the first thing on your mind. What if someone gets sick or injured? What if passports are lost in a foreign country? What if you need translation and can’t find an interpreter? All of these kinds of situations can be covered under one simple benefit form 2BenefitU.

With Global Travel Assistance, you can have full family coverage anytime you travel 100+ miles from your home*, with a strong, reliable, global network of doctors, assistance personnel and emergency benefits.

2BenefitU has just added this amazing benefit to the Ultimate Plan, which brings the number of benefits up to 23 for monthly plan members. To use the Global Travel Assistance benefit, all you have to do is call the number on the back of your card when you need assistance.

Global Travel Assistance will help with any type of illness or injury, regardless of the severity. The organization has a global network of over 50,000 providers, and their network contains hospitals, clinics and doctors, as well as other providers in the travel insurance industry, such as air ambulances, house call doctors and medical escorts.

A wide range of services are covered for members and their families. You can expect help with any of the following needs:

  • Emergency medical evacuation
  • Monitoring of treatment
  • Replacement of lost or stolen travel documents
  • Transportation to join a family member in the hospital
  • Return of minor children
  • Pre-travel and security information
  • Coordination of hospital payments and insurance
  • Medications and vaccines
  • Transfer of money
  • Translation services
  • Return of mortal remains

Global Travel Assistance members are referred based on the medical specialty or other mode of assistance needed, location, language, office hours, training, etc.

The medical part of this benefit is one of the most helpful, especially compared with the restricted and weak travel plans many people rely on that come with their credit card or AAA membership. With Global Travel Assistance, you can expect:

  • Coordination of all billing and insurance verifications, including settling any guarantees of payment. This ensures that there is no delay or denial of medical treatment because you cannot make the up-front payment or your insurance is not recognized.
  • Monitoring of your care and the details of foreign hospitalizations. They will promptly speak with the treating doctor to assess your condition, treatment plans and whether or not an evacuation is necessary. Global Travel Assistance will update your family, employer and personal doctor as needed.
  • Evacuation if needed due to localized weather emergencies or inadequacy of local facilities. A Global Travel Assistance Regional Medical Advisor will report on the safety of an evacuation, any medical needs you may require en route and evacuation plan details. Global Travel Assistance will consult with all parties involved and fully manage your safe evacuation.**
  • After your medical event, Global Travel Assistance helps you until you have returned home or have received final treatment.

Don’t travel without a robust global travel assistance plan. Sign up for 2BenefitU today and start using this and 22 other benefits immediately!

*Home is defined as the address listed on member’s ID (Driver’s License or Passport)

**Global Travel Assistance cannot help you if you’re traveling against the advice of a physician, need assistance related to a natural disaster or traveling to a country that is not deemed safe for travel.

Alternative Medicine

Frustrated by Lack of Access to Alternative Medicine? Get the Help you Need!

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Alternative medicine is changing the way Americans think about healthcare! While alternative methods can’t cure every condition, they can be extremely helpful with chronic ailments and provide a solid back-up to traditional medicine when needed. For example:

  • Chronic nerve pain can often be reduced and partially managed with alternative medicine when popping pain pills only dampens the issue. Different people react differently, but many find help from massage therapy and acupuncture.
  • Migraines can be mitigated, lessened, and even reduced in occurrence frequency with treatments like aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and acupressure.
  • Back pain can be helped with careful yoga in some cases (make sure your doctor and your class leader are working together for safety)
  • Digestive issues can be helped with nutritional counseling to figure out what your body tolerates and when it needs special coddling.

More and more patients and physicians are choosing to use alternative medicine as a less invasive treatment for a variety of issues, and as a supplementary treatment for major problems that can be treated medically but have numerous side effects.  

With 2BenefitU’s Alternative Medicine benefit, you can save 10 to 30% on treatments such as acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy, aroma therapy, nutritional counseling, and more. It’s easy to use, easy to save and you can choose from among over 43,000 participating providers working in over 40 different specialties nationwide to find a practitioner and a location that’s right for you.

Unlike many benefit programs, you can use this benefit as many times as needed, saving on each appointment as you bring your health into line with your lifestyle. You can try new things at a discounted rate, finding out what works for you and your condition, whether you suffer from constant headaches, live with daily chronic pain in your joints or muscles, are seeking a way to meditate and calm your brain, and more.

Biofeedback for insomnia issues; hypnotherapy to help you lose weight or quit smoking; reflexology to cut down on muscle cramps or other pain, yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates for extra flexibility and better core health are all available.

Don’t give up on the possibilities that alternative medicine may hold just because it’s usually not covered by insurance. Discounts with this special benefit can bring your costs for out-of-pocket treatment down to manageable levels. Start using the alternative medicine benefit today, and start being a healthier, happier you.

The best part of this benefit is it doesn’t come alone. It’s part of a package with up to 20 more amazing benefits starting at just $19.95 a month, helping you stay healthy, grow your wealth, and feel fantastic.

Have a Legal Question- Experts Have Answers!

Have a Legal Question? Experts Have Answers!

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Getting basic legal advice can be hard, and this keeps many people from pursuing action or defending themselves adequately in times of legal trouble.

Consider this: 22% of American adults say they have had a legal issue in the past year that could have warranted hiring a lawyer. However, 50% of Americans with minor children don’t have a will – and 41% of baby boomers don’t, either.

The problem? Lawyers are expensive. In 2012, the average hourly billing rate for a partner in a law firm was $536, and the billing rate for an associate was $370 per hour.

The law is a tricky thing, and knowing the ins and outs of the legal system can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on situations ranging from traffic tickets and real estate closing costs to creating a will or filing for divorce or bankruptcy.

Very few people have thousands of dollars to spend when they end up needing a lawyer, and most have to forgo the help of an experienced attorney simply because they can’t come up with the cold hard cash.

Unless you are lucky enough to have a lawyer in the family to turn to in times of need, you may find yourself woefully underrepresented in times when you really need a savvy, experienced practitioner to back you up.

In many cases, simply knowing the law can put you ahead of the game, whether it’s having the knowledge of the local laws regarding returns of rental deposits to insist on your due, to being able to stand up for yourself against a threat of a lawsuit over the phone from someone posing as a collector.

Legal Care Direct gives you access to legal answers from experienced lawyers at discounted rates. Professional attorneys can help with traffic tickets, bankruptcy, divorce, and spousal and child support. Additional services are also available at no cost to you!

  • Free services* include one-on-one consultations, attorney-made phone calls, help with legal documents, assistance with welfare and INS, representation in small claims court, and a Simple and Living Will.
  • In-plan attorneys only charge a maximum of $125 an hour or 40% off their hourly rate, whichever is greater, for cases that require more than the free services offered.
  • You also can get 10% off all contingency-based cases (cases in which a settlement is expected and the lawyer agrees to represent you and be paid from the settlement, if any, or forgo the fee in case of a loss).
  • You’ll be referred to plan attorneys based your location, language and area of law.

Legal Care Direct is part of 2BenefitU’s Ultimate package – which gives you 23 benefits for one low monthly rate of $29.95. Just a onetime use of an attorney’s services could pay for several months up to a year of the entire range of benefits!

*In certain situations, attorney liability may require plan attorneys to ask for a retainer prior to providing some of the free legal services.

2BenefitU

Get Lab Tests Done at a Discount

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Lab tests are a large out-of-pocket expense for those without adequate insurance coverage – and some lab tests you feel you need may not be covered at all. When you need fast, accurate results being able to select the test you need and have it done quickly and without great expense can be a huge load off of your mind.

The 2BenefitU Direct Labs benefit is one of over 15 benefits you receive at the Plus level plan – and it could pay for your plan all by itself in savings over typical lab costs.

For example, it can be hard to get your doctor to order (or your insurance company to cover) tests like thyroid, fertility, allergies and vitamin levels. When you have the Direct Labs benefit, you can schedule these yourself and pay a low cost that is anywhere from 10-80% off of the typical costs for lab work.

Need liver function checked or an update on cholesterol levels? No problem. Just schedule your test to be done at one of over 1500 major clinical laboratories nationwide, and watch the savings mount up. You can find a location easily and order your test to be done online, or by phone, then all you have to do is show up and pay the discounted rate.

Your results are completely confidential, and you could receive them in as little as 24 hours for most tests. You deserve to know your numbers without worrying about whether or not you are “approved” for that information.

Lab tests can make all the difference when you suspect you may have a condition your doctor has missed. When you can’t get a lab ordered through your ordinary medical team, or feel like you’ve been blown off, you have the option and the right to get your results your own way – and armed with all the information you find, you can insist on a proper diagnosis.

Even if your doctor does order the tests you need, many patients get bogged down when the insurance company decides the reasons aren’t valid enough or the test isn’t covered. With a Direct labs benefit, you can take care of the issue yourself with a direct discount on the tests you need.

Join 2BenefitU as a Plus member today, and enjoy discounts on lab testing, medical devices, vision, hearing, and more. You’ll even have access to a Teladoc™ and Nurseline™ in case you need some advice. It’s the best benefits plan you could hope for, all for one low monthly cost of $19.95.

Diabetes Management Made Simple

Supplies for Diabetes Management Made Simple

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Diabetes can be hard to manage, but big savings on supplies can make life easier. If you or a family member have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or pre-diabetic conditions, you are already aware of the monthly and annual expenses involved in monitoring your blood sugar levels.

From the lancets to prick your finger with, to the strips that collect the test samples, to the machine that analyzes your blood glucose, there are dozens of items needed each week. The associated out of pocket expenses for your supplies for diabetes management can be overwhelming – especially if your insurance plan refuses to cover everything you need on a monthly basis.

When you have a 2BenefitU Plus membership plan, your out of pocket diabetic supply costs can be cut significantly. The savings for just one family member who needs daily monitoring can be huge.

Many doctors wish their diabetes patients could test their blood glucose more often, but insurance companies won’t approve coverage for the recommended testing schedules. With access to inexpensive supplies, you can monitor your diabetes as closely as your doctor suggests, and prevent additional complications from diabetes by detecting changes in your levels early.

With a Plus plan from 2BenefitU, diabetes management supplies are just one of over 15 benefits included in the plan. You can start saving instantly, getting 60% off average retail prices plus free shipping on all packages, and an extra 15% off any single order item.

Qualifying packages include a premier glucose meter, control solution, test strips, lancets and lancing device, so you’ll always have everything you need to manage your diabetes safely and accurately.  

Packages range in size and cost from $29.99 per month to $169.99 per month. You can choose the package that fits your needs- whether you are being forced to cover all of your diabetic supplies costs yourself, or your insurance company fails to approve the necessary amount of supplies you really need to keep your condition under control.

You’ll never run out of supplies or wait in long lines to get refills for lancets or strips only to be told the pharmacy or superstore is out of your brand. This benefit offers easy ordering, regular shipments and convenient home delivery that is fast and discreet, so you can live your life without worrying over running out or missing a glucose spike because you didn’t have enough supplies to test regularly.

Sign up for a Plus package today, and enjoy savings on diabetic supplies as well as all the other benefits you qualify for.

We all Need Help Sometimes, but Getting it can be Hard

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Emotional and relationship issues can be overwhelming! Sometimes life just seems to turn into a series of difficulties, and our mental, emotional, and psychological state can take a beating.

Of course, personal problems are as treatable as any other health concern if you know where to turn. Getting counseling seems like a no-brainer – the right therapist can help almost any issue with a compassionate yet removed from the situation unbiased eye. Sadly, many people feel stigmatized just for needing help, and that’s not OK. Everyone deserves great mental and emotional health!

Most of us try to put on a brave face and just hope that things get better. Some help would be nice, but who has time and money to schedule counseling sessions, attend them, and then try to implement the advice given – especially when it could take weeks or months to even secure an appointment when you need help NOW?

With a counseling benefit provided by APS Healthcare through 2BenefitU, you can have access to counselors by phone anytime, day or night. All it takes is a quick call to the number on your membership card, and you’ll be connected to a counselor with a master’s degree and at least 5 years of experience, who will help you no matter what your problem is. The best part is, you pay $0 for your counseling session.

You can talk with a counselor about:

  • Depression, anxiety and stress
  • Loss, grief, or transition
  • Physical, emotional, mental or substance abuse
  • Family based issues, including parental and marital problems
  • Work based issues
  • … and more

Every conversation is 100% confidential (except in cases when reporting is mandated by law, as in cases of child abuse). You don’t have to feel awkward or ill at ease – the counselor will be discreet, compassionate, and non-judgmental, so you can open up about your problem and get real help.

If needed, our counselors can even refer you for further help to a local, licensed counselor in your area for treatment (costs not included in free phone counseling). If that’s not necessary, your on-the-phone counselor will provide assessment and short term resolution suggestions, and even follow up with you and check in to make sure you are OK later.  
With this counseling benefit, a happier, more fulfilling life is just a phone call away. It’s included along with up to 20 other benefits when you subscribe monthly for packages starting at just $15.95 per month.

Durable Medical Equipment Shouldn’t Be Unaffordable

Durable Medical Equipment Shouldn’t Be Unaffordable

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Maybe you or a loved have experienced an accident that requires you to use a pair of crutches or a walker for a while. Perhaps an elderly family member needs a power scooter or a hospital bed to make their lives more comfortable and their care easier. You or a child could even have an ongoing medical conditions like Type 1 Diabetes, and need constant supplies for health management.

Durable medical equipment and other medical supplies can be cripplingly expensive, and insurance doesn’t always cover the costs. In some states, even diabetes testing strips, lancets, and other critical, potentially life-saving supplies aren’t covered.

Paying out of pocket gets expensive fast, and going through your local pharmacy or medical supply company can make costs add up fast. There are lots of companies you can order from online – but how do you know you are getting the best price?

Allegro Durable Medical Equipment provides a fast, easy, and cost effective way to get the supplies you need shipped right to your home, discreetly and at the best price. All it takes is a call with your membership card in hand, and you’ll get hefty discounts (typically 20-50%) on all of the following:

  • Wheelchairs and power scooters
  • Medical beds and automatic chairs
  • Orthopedic supplies
  • Walkers and crutches
  • Bathroom bars and seats for safety
  • Diabetes supplies (machines, test strips, lancets and delivery systems)
  • Blood pressure devices
  • … and more.

In addition to the massive discounts on products you can use every day, you get convenient home delivery and extra savings of $5 off of orders of $100 or more. Stop making multiple trips around town trying to find the lowest pricing on your durable medical supplies and other medical needs – you can do it all from the comfort of your home in minutes with 2BenefitU’s Durable Medical benefit!

Best of all, this benefit (which could conceivably pay for itself in just a month or two) comes bundled with up to 20 more ways to save big starting at just $19.95 per month. Check out our healthcare and lifestyle benefit plans today and see what a difference it can make in your life.

Are you Aware of the Health / Wealth Connection?

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In a recent study by the CDC, it was shown that 75% of healthcare costs are due to chronic illness, and over 80% of chronic illnesses are due to stress.

Have stress headaches, stomach trouble, shoulder, neck and back pain, dental problems caused by grinding or clenching your teeth, fatigue, sleeplessness, and other stress related or exacerbated issues? Your stress could be making you sick!

This means your everyday level of anxiety over things like your financial situation, your job, your work or school situation, and your family, kids, or pets could be contributing to how you feel physically. If your day to day worries are increasing your stress levels, this may be costing you more than you think, and it can be difficult to know where to turn for help.

That’s where the Health Wealth Connection comes in. When you are able to set things right in your financial world, often your physical problems can be alleviated – at least, the ones that are made visible and worsened by stress can.  

This benefit gives you a wide range of simple solutions you can use to manage both your physical health and personal finances. It’s a fully customizable approach to your needs, yielding the benefits of the following in an easy to use, automated package:

  • A health coach with tips for better sleep cycles, exercises you can do even if you are super busy, and reminders about recommended checkups and wellness visits as well as screenings at key points in your life
  • A financial planner that can help you balance your budget, save money, plan for the future, get rid of debt, and more
  • A nutritionist which delivers meal suggestions, dietary tips, guidance on managing your calorie intake, and even lose weight safely
  • A counselor to help mitigate anxiety, frustration, stress, and depression.

The Health Wealth Connection will help you reach your goals, giving you quick, easy access to a vast library full of exclusive videos and in-depth articles. You can also get weekly tips on health, money, and managing stress by experts in the field, and it’s all included along with up to 20 other benefits starting at just $15.95 a month.