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Author: Christy Bieber

  • I bought our house before marriage, and it’s not marital property. But now my wife who hasn’t worked in 10 years refuses to sell or leave — even after I asked for separation. What can I do?

    I bought our house before marriage, and it’s not marital property. But now my wife who hasn’t worked in 10 years refuses to sell or leave — even after I asked for separation. What can I do?

    When you are separated or getting divorced, the last thing you probably want is to continue living with your estranged wife.

    If you owned your home before marriage and don’t believe it qualifies as marital property, you might be tempted to kick her out so the home can be yours alone again.

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    However, simply changing the locks or trying to evict your spouse is not a good idea. Doing so could have legal consequences, so you should take the time to understand the law — and ideally consult a lawyer — before taking any action you might regret.

    Here’s what you need to know about how the law treats your home during separation or divorce so you can make informed decisions.

    How does the law treat your home during a separation or divorce?

    The first step in this difficult situation is to determine whether your home isn’t marital property.

    Assets brought into the marriage — such as a home — are generally considered separate property by default, meaning they are not divided in a divorce. This holds true whether your state follows community property rules (which divide assets equally) or equitable distribution rules (which divide property fairly, though not necessarily 50/50).

    However, complications arise if the asset is co-mingled. If your spouse contributed to mortgage payments, helped with renovations, or invested "sweat equity" in the home, it may have been converted into marital property. In such cases, she could have a legal claim to it.

    To protect your exclusive interest in the home, you’ll need to demonstrate that you kept it separate. An experienced attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your case.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    Can you remove your spouse if your house is separate property?

    Even if your home is clearly separate property, you cannot simply lock your spouse out.

    Since you were living there together, the house remains your wife’s legal residence until a court formally determines ownership and issues an order requiring her to leave.

    Additionally, if your spouse has not worked in years, the court may require you to provide financial support — potentially including her attorney’s fees, temporary or permanent alimony and other assistance. This is especially true if she contributed to your career or left her career to care for your children.

    In this situation, negotiating with your spouse is often the best approach, as litigation can become expensive. However, if she’s unreasonable, court intervention may be necessary.

    You don’t necessarily need to file for divorce to seek legal resolution on living arrangements — you can request a legal separation agreement if you are uncertain about ending your marriage.

    Regardless of your next steps, you must follow the proper legal process. Attempting to remove your spouse without legal authority could lead to police involvement and damage your standing in court, potentially jeopardizing your ability to get a fair divorce settlement that fully protects your interests.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Federal Reserve just raised the alarm over 1 key economic indicator — signals 12-year high in ‘consumer distress.’ Here’s the big problem crushing American finances (and how to solve it)

    Federal Reserve just raised the alarm over 1 key economic indicator — signals 12-year high in ‘consumer distress.’ Here’s the big problem crushing American finances (and how to solve it)

    While investors worry about the markets, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is raising the alarm about another economic indicator: credit-card payments.

    According to the central bank, more than one in 10 Americans (11.1%) paid the bare minimum monthly on their credit-card debt in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    That’s a sign of consumer distress, and it’s at a 12-year high.

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    Another distress signal? Credit-card accounts that are three months or more past due, which also hit a record high in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Read on to learn why so many Americans owe so much, what to do if you’re one of them and how to get out and stay out of debt.

    Why are so many Americans in credit card debt?

    It’s no surprise Americans are struggling with debt, given pandemic and post-pandemic inflation.

    The Federal Reserve aims to hold inflation at around 2% annually, but it hit 4.7% in 2021, soared to 8% in 2022; then dipped down to 4.1% in 2023, still double the target.

    Last year, it settled at 2.9% and in March 2025 it fell to 2.4%.

    Unfortunately, Americans’ wallets have not caught up. They’ve been using their credit cards to get by throughout this inflationary era.

    In fact, Debt.com’s 2025 credit card survey reveals that one in three Americans relies on credit cards to make ends meet. Nearly the same number have maxed out their cards in light of rising costs.

    President Trump’s tariffs will likely drive prices up further, which could exacerbate this troubling trend of people turning to cards to cover the basics.

    How to pay off credit-card debt

    If you have consumer debt, don’t skip payments on any of your credit-card balances. That could damage your credit score.

    Mark payment due dates on your calendar and set up reminders to double- or triple-check that the payments go through.

    With the average credit card interest rate coming in at 21.37% as of February 2025, credit card debt is really expensive. Minimum payments barely cover the interest.

    That’s why paying off your credit card balance every month is best, but if you can’t afford that, try to pay more than the minimum.

    To make headway on your debt:

    • Monitor your spending and create a detailed budget that prioritizes paying off debt.
    • Stop charging anything on your credit cards that you can’t pay off immediately.
    • Automate credit-card payments on payday so money goes directly to your creditors.
    • Each month, choose a creditor you want to send additional payments to based on how much you can afford.
    • Once you pay off that creditor’s debt, start sending additional payments to the next debt you want to pay off.
    • Keep going until you are completely debt-free.

    One option — the Snowball Method – is to focus on the debt with the lowest balance first. Finance expert Dave Ramsey recommends this approach. The idea is that you’ll stay more motivated if you score quick wins.

    You could also use the Debt Avalanche system, making additional payments on debt with the highest interest rates first. That means you’d prioritize credit cards over a line of credit, for example. The Debt Avalanche system ensures you’ll stop paying excessive interest sooner.

    You might also consider a debt consolidation loan to pay off your credit-card debt and then pay off the loan (at a lower interest rate) monthly.

    Once you’re debt-free, stay that way by applying the techniques you learned to pay down debt in a new way — building your financial security.

    Keep living on the careful budget you created when you were working on debt payoff — but channel the money you used to pay down debt monthly to build up an emergency fund instead.

    The fund should cover up to six months of living expenses. That will ensure you avoid using credit cards in the event of a layoff or other crisis. If you already have an emergency fund, direct the money toward investing.

    By budgeting, avoiding excessive use of credit cards and being careful about what you spend, you can invest in your future, not your creditors.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • 23andMe faces major crisis: CEO resigns, stock crashes and bankruptcy sparks fears over user data — what it means for millions of customers

    23andMe faces major crisis: CEO resigns, stock crashes and bankruptcy sparks fears over user data — what it means for millions of customers

    Would you trust a company with your most personal data — your DNA — if it was on the brink of collapse? Millions of 23andMe customers are now facing that unsettling reality as the genetic testing company faces an uncertain future.

    The California-based company offers DNA self-testing kits for users to explore their ancestry. It went public in 2021 with a $3.5 billion IPO but has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2023, a major data breach compromised 6.9 million users’ information, leading to a financial settlement. Since then, the company has struggled, with all independent directors resigning in September and a 40% workforce reduction in November.

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    On March 23, 2024, 23andMe announced it was "entering a voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring and sale process." While the company assured users their data remained protected and operations would continue, concerns grew, especially after California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged customers to delete their information.

    "California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data,” Bonta said. “Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.”

    Bonta isn’t the only attorney general to act. Officials from Arizona, South Carolina and New York have all urged consumers to delete their data, providing instructions to do so by logging in, navigating to the Settings section, choosing the 23andMe data option at the bottom of the page and opening the "Delete Data" section to click "Permanently Delete Data."

    However, not all users have been able to successfully remove their information. Here’s what happened when they tried, along with details on the bankruptcy proceedings, their implications for consumers and steps to protect your data.

    CEO steps down and stock plummets as 23andMe enters bankruptcy

    Sunnyvale’s 23andMe reportedly has $214.7 million in debt compared with $277.4 million in assets. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in hopes of selling "substantially all of its assets."

    Chapter 11 allows struggling businesses to restructure debts while continuing operations, with the goal of facilitating a sale. Board Chair Mark Jensen called bankruptcy "the best path forward," as it could reduce costs and resolve legal and leasehold liabilities. Despite this, the company’s stock lost nearly all its value, now trading below below $1 per share.

    As the bankruptcy was announced, CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki also stepped down — but not for the reason assumed.

    "I am supportive of the company and I intend to be a bidder," Wojcicki stated on social media. "I have resigned as CEO of the company so I can be in the best position to pursue the company as an independent bidder."

    The company aims to continue operations, and if Wojcicki successfully acquires the business, it could emerge more financially stable post-restructuring. However, the bankruptcy has severely damaged trust, making recovery an uphill battle for any new owner.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    How to protect your personal information

    With 23andMe looking for a buyer, many consumers fear their private DNA data and other details will be sold, such as payment information, could be sold. Their concerns are rightly placed.

    The company has stated that both it and any future owner must adhere to its privacy policy. However, it also acknowledged that in the event of "bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets, your personal information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction." A new owner could also change the privacy policy going forward.

    Sally, many consumers concerned about this issue went to the website to try to delete their data — but so many people tried to take this action at the same time that the computer system struggled to keep up, and consumers got error messages.

    "This has been a nightmare," Pauline Long of Alabama told BBC. Long worried 23andMe would retain her data and attempted to delete it, but she had to wait two hours to speak with a customer service agent before successfully closing her account. She remains skeptical that her information was fully erased.

    The company claimed the technical issues have been resolved, though users may need to provide additional verification before deletion requests are processed. It also noted "some limited information" would remain. Customers facing issues should contact 23andMe’s Customer Care via [email protected] for help.

    If you are concerned about your DNA privacy, follow the deletion steps online, and if you encounter issues trying online first, and then reaching out via email if necessary. This is especially important because, while financial data breaches can be mitigated through measures like credit freezes, there is no comparable sageguard for genetic falling into the wrong hands.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Scammers are targeting American investors to the tune of $5.7 billion — here are the three signs of a hustle and how to protect yourself from costly scams

    Scammers are targeting American investors to the tune of $5.7 billion — here are the three signs of a hustle and how to protect yourself from costly scams

    Scammers are getting bolder — and consumers are paying the price.

    In 2024 alone, fraud cost Americans more than $12.5 billion, a staggering 25% increase from the previous year, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission.

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    Investment scams were the most costly, accounting for $5.7 billion in losses, a 24% increase from the previous year. In comparison, imposter scams, the second most common type of fraud, cost consumers $2.95 billion.

    So, what kinds of investment scams are causing consumers so much, and how can you protect yourself? Here’s what you need to know.

    Common investment scams

    The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions provides a helpful list of common investment fraud schemes, including:

    • Fraudulent promissory notes – Short-term notes offered by fake companies that promise high returns but fail to deliver.
    • Ponzi or Pyramid schemes – Existing investors are paid money from new investors, while the actual "assets" being invested in either don’t exist or are worth very little.
    • Real estate investment fraud – Scammers convince investors to put money into "hard money loans" or "property flipping" schemes, often misleading them about the risks, potential returns or property values.
    • Cryptocurrency scams – Fraudsters create fake coins, heavily promote them and sell them to investors. Once the price rises, they cash out, leaving the coins worthless.

    The U.S. Secret Service also warns about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build trust with victims before tricking them into investing in fake cryptocurrency projects.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    How can you protect against fraud?

    You don’t want to fall victim to these scams, so watch for three key signs of investment fraud:

    • Impersonation of a trusted source – Scammers may pretend to be government officials, financial advisers or even friends and family members. If you get an unexpected call from a government agency or familiar contact, hang up, look up the phone number and call the agency or your family member yourself.
    • High-pressure tactics and urgency – If you are told you must invest immediately and discouraged from researching the opportunity or consulting others, it’s likely a scam. Legitimate investments don’t require rushed decisions. Always take time to verify information.
    • Untraceable payment methods – Be wary if you’re asked to pay using cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Scammers prefer these payment methods because they are hard to trace, making it nearly impossible to recover the lost funds.

    As a general rule, avoid investing in:

    • Anything you learn about on social media.
    • Opportunities you don’t fully understand.
    • Offers that rely on aggressive sales tactics.

    By staying vigilant, you can avoid losing money and becoming one of the millions targeted by scammers who promise great investments only to disappear with your cash.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • NYC parking enforcement dunned Long Island man for $1,000 over an illegally parked truck he no longer owns. What happened and how to dispute unfair parking tickets

    NYC parking enforcement dunned Long Island man for $1,000 over an illegally parked truck he no longer owns. What happened and how to dispute unfair parking tickets

    Long Island resident Hector Colon rarely goes into Manhattan, so he was surprised to get multiple New York City parking tickets and notices adding up to $1,000.

    Colon told CBS News the truck involved did once belong to him, but that he’d sold it to someone else. New York State’s Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) data confirms ownership of the truck was transferred to another driver long before the violations.

    "I can’t afford $1,000,” Colon said, “for something that I didn’t even do."

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    Unfortunately, New York’s Parking Violation Bureau — which has access to DMV real-time data — didn’t consult the data and charged him anyway.

    Now, thanks to media intervention, his case will be reviewed.

    Here’s what happened to Colon along with tips on how to dispute unfair parking fines.

    New York’s finance department in charge of parking fines

    New York City’s Department of Finance oversees the Parking Violation Bureau, and judges paid by the city’s finance department make decisions on parking violation appeals.

    Retired lawyer Larry Berezin, who runs a blog to inform people about New York City parking tickets, believes this is a conflict.

    “The mission of the Department of Finance is to raise money,” he says.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    The department collected $46 million in parking ticket revenue in 2024. New York City issued 16 million tickets in 2024 for illegal parking and traffic violations.

    But quite a few people appealed their case — 457,000 had their fines dismissed, representing 30% of the parking violation appeals heard in court.

    Unfortunately, when Colon appealed, the judge still found him guilty — despite proof Colon sold the truck, surrendered his license plate and canceled truck insurance. Colon said the judge deemed that “insufficient evidence.”

    He and his wife were concerned Colon’s wages would be garnished to pay for the violations, so his wife paid $600 toward the fines.

    The good news is that when CBS News got involved, the Department of Finance connected Colon with its parking summons case legal advocate. Tse is resolving the case for Colon.

    "Once (the fines are) dismissed, I should receive a refund," Colon said.

    In addition, the DMV has raised concerns with New York City’s Department of Finance about parking ticket violations being based on outdated information. For its part, the finance department said “timing issues” were involved in Colon’s case, but added no further details.

    How to dispute a parking ticket

    You can fight unfair parking tickets, but you need to follow the correct process. Here are some guidelines on the steps involved, which depend on the jurisdiction that issued the ticket.

    Take photographs and gather evidence. If you believe you’ve been ticketed wrongfully, take time-stamped pictures (for example of nearby parking signs nearby). If there are witnesses willing to testify that you were legally parked, get their contact details.

    Establish whether you have a case. The ticket should indicate what ordinance was violated. Consult the law to confirm whether you’ve broken the rules. If the ticket doesn’t indicate which ordinance was violated or state date or time of violation, that is a good reason to appeal. Even If you were in the wrong, you may be able to demonstrate extenuating circumstances that made it necessary for you to park the way you did.

    Read the ticket for guidance on the appeals process. Your ticket should outline how to appeal and the deadline for doing so. This varies by jurisdiction. In New York City, parking disputes go through the Department of Finance; in Philadelphia, they go through the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

    Submit your documentation with your appeal. What happens next will vary depending on jurisdiction, but this process may involve a review by a parking enforcement office, a hearing before a judge and the opportunity to appeal to a state court. With a good case and evidence on your side, your appeal might be granted after a review by an officer.

    If not, you may have to go to court. If that’s the case, consider hiring an advocate to handle paperwork and help make a convincing case on your behalf. That’s where the photos and other evidence you gather, including witnesses, will be crucial. In the meantime, be careful not to pay the ticket because you are afraid you’ve missed the deadline.

    It’s worth the effort if you feel you’ve been wronged. By appealing, you can save money — and your reputation on the road.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • CA Insurance Commissioner travels world while state burns — on hot seat for lavish lifestyle as insurance options dwindle

    CA Insurance Commissioner travels world while state burns — on hot seat for lavish lifestyle as insurance options dwindle

    San Francisco ABC affiliate 7 On Your Side and The San Francisco Standard report that California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has been having a good time on the taxpayers’ dime — during an unprecedented insurance crisis.

    The news outlets reveal that Commissioner Lara used campaign funding to pay for $30,000 in fancy meals and taxpayer dollars to travel to Paris, Bogota and beyond.

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    The state has launched a probe in the wake of the news investigations.

    Lara’s spokesperson has responded to a request for comment by saying the Insurance Commissioner is “laser focused on his job serving Californians as we face unprecedented times and bringing solutions to the insurance crisis.”

    Here’s a look at what the commissioner has been doing and what critics are saying about it.

    What the commissioner is doing versus what he’s supposed to be doing

    According to ABC7, Commissioner Lara has gone on at least 46 cross-country and international trips with taxpayer funds. His office has not revealed the function of the trips.

    He has spent $30,000 at some of the fanciest restaurants in California, dining on lobster salpicón, sea urchin, rack of lamb, and a $16 grapefruit.

    The San Francisco Standard reports that the meals were listed as “campaign meetings” and paid for with funds from a campaign committee he created during his run for lieutenant governor years ago. Even though his run was never publicly announced, he kept collecting campaign donations — coincidentally amounting to $30,000.

    As Insurance Commissioner, Lara’s job is to lead the Department of Insurance, which licenses insurance companies, establishes rate regulations, punishes insurance companies for rule violations and investigates consumer complaints.

    Critics say he’s not doing his job. Since 2019, he’s missed eight of 14 of the state’s insurance hearings. Dozens of insurers have left under his watch — 22 since 2021 according to the management consulting firm Milliman.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    While many insurers are fleeing California due to climate change risks, critics argue that Lara’s actions have worsened the crisis.

    For example, CNBC reports that some insurers have pulled out because California has set strict limits on rate increases.

    Commissioner Lara blocked companies from raising premiums, despite huge losses, in part because of the potential impact of price increases on his re-election chances.

    Now California insurers are being sued for allegedly colluding to limit coverage in high-risk areas. Critics suggest that Lara is too cozy with insurers — especially after he was caught collecting tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations in 2019.

    Californians must deal with the insurance crisis themselves

    If critics are right that Lara’s actions made things worse, Californians are the ones footing the bill.

    “Lara is not serious. It was always a game to him,” political scientist David Letterman told the San Francisco Standard. “And now insurers are leaving. People are being priced out; they can’t get insurance. It’s gone beyond like, ‘Oh, he’s just not up for the job.”

    Many Californians have had to turn to the FAIR Plan.

    FAIR has issued 555,000 home policies in California — double the number in 2020 — covering $458 billion in properties.

    The FAIR Plan was established by statute to make sure everyone could get coverage. Essentially, it’s a high-risk pool. All insurers licensed to sell property and casualty coverage in California come together to cover FAIR plan participants. The insurers share profits, losses, and expenses.

    The problem is that FAIR Plans are costly and provide limited coverage to homeowners.

    With so many homeowners stuck with few choices, it’s no wonder people are mad at the commissioner for living his best life on taxpayer and campaign funds.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘I was not going to give up’: Colorado couple’s insurer denied claim for $94K air ambulance bill after husband had heart attack, needed life-saving surgery. What to do if it happens to you

    ‘I was not going to give up’: Colorado couple’s insurer denied claim for $94K air ambulance bill after husband had heart attack, needed life-saving surgery. What to do if it happens to you

    When Bob and Marjean Taylor went to stay in a friend’s cabin an hour from the nearest hospital back in 2022, neither expected that Bob would have his second heart attack within four months while they were vacationing. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened.

    Marjean took him to the local hospital, but they were told he needed more care than the facility could provide. An air ambulance arrived, transporting him to a medical center where his cardiologist was waiting to repair a stent that had torn. The procedure saved his life, but sadly, Bob’s troubles weren’t over.

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    Soon after they returned home, the Pueblo, Colorado couple received notice that their insurer, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, was denying their claim for the air ambulance, saying the transport wasn’t medically necessary and sticking the Taylors with a bill totaling around $94,000.

    “It gave me a heart attack, almost,” Marjean told Denver7 Investigates of the unexpected bill.

    Unfortunately, air ambulances have become very expensive, and a growing number of insurers are denying claims for them, leaving Americans who’ve suffered medical crises holding the bag. Here’s what you need to know.

    Air ambulances save lives, but at a huge expense

    Air ambulances are helicopters or planes designed to provide timely transport of patients to medical facilities. They’re often used in rural areas where medical care is scarce.

    With an aging population, more people relocating to remote areas during COVID-19, and the increased prevalence of infectious diseases, the market for air ambulances is growing.

    In fact, according to Technavio, a market research group, the air ambulance market saw 9.63% year-over-year growth from 2022 to 2023 and is expected to increase by $6.77 billion between 2024 and 2026.

    Sadly, prices for air ambulances have skyrocketed, as a growing number of private equity firms have moved into the market.

    Insurance companies often don’t want to pay

    One would think that insurance companies would cover the costs of air ambulance services in most cases, since they’re almost always called in an emergency. Unfortunately, data shows a growing number of insurers are denying claims.

    Part of the problem is that when an air ambulance is called, patients aren’t checking if the company is in-network or not. This may not be a high priority when you’re being airlifted to a hospital during a heart attack or in the wake of an accident.

    It shouldn’t matter if the ambulance service is in-network, as starting in 2022, policyholders were supposed to be protected from unexpected bills under the No Surprises Act.

    This act prohibited surprise bills for:

    • Most emergency services, regardless of whether they’re in network or out-of-network
    • Out-of-network services provided when a patient visits an in-network facility (such as anesthesia administered by an out-of-network anesthesiologist at an in-network hospital)

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    However, insurers can still pass on out-of-network costs to claimants if the service isn’t considered medically necessary. Perhaps unsurprisingly, insurers now claim that many ambulance trips aren’t needed. In fact, the National Association of EMS Physicians warned policymakers in a February 2024 letter that they have seen a “spike in denials of claims on the basis of ‘lack of medical necessity.’”

    Being transported to a hospital during a heart attack seems pretty necessary — and yet the Taylors were still told they had to pay. They had to go through multiple appeals over two years and ultimately get the press involved before their insurer finally resolved the issue, blaming unclear communication for the problem.

    Not everyone will be lucky enough to get the press involved, though, and the couple faced a lot of stress in the meantime.

    “I just felt like we were stuck in the middle of all these companies and nobody cared,” said Marjean.

    “After I got off the phone, I said, ‘I cannot believe this is done,’ and I started crying. But I wasn’t giving up. I was not going to give up. I was not paying for it.”

    How can you avoid big health care bills?

    Air ambulance costs are a growing issue, but there are other ways you could find yourself stuck with a hefty bill for health care services.

    Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

    • Get pre-approval for medical services from your insurer in non-emergency situations
    • Know your rights under the No Surprises Act
    • Shop carefully for the right insurance policy that offers comprehensive coverage from a provider with a good reputation
    • Visit in-network providers whenever you have the option
    • Request itemized bills to understand what you’re being charged for
    • Negotiate with providers and the billing department if you think you’re being overcharged
    • Appeal denied claims, and be prepared to provide documentation
    • Hire a medical bill advocate to help you fight unfair bills

    These steps can help you avoid the financial devastation that comes with big medical bills your insurer should pay for, but does everything possible to avoid.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Trump says his tariffs on imported vehicles are ‘vital to protect America’s automobile industry’ — but one lawmaker worries his approach has been akin to hacking with a ‘meat ax’

    Trump says his tariffs on imported vehicles are ‘vital to protect America’s automobile industry’ — but one lawmaker worries his approach has been akin to hacking with a ‘meat ax’

    On March 26, 2025, President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on foreign autos. A fact sheet prepared by the White House said the tariffs would apply to imported passenger cars and light trucks, as well as many auto parts such as engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components.

    The tariffs won’t just apply to cars made by foreign companies, but also vehicles sold by U.S. carmakers but produced overseas. The fact sheet says the tariffs are essential to “protect America’s automobile industry, which is vital to national security and has been undermined by excessive imports threatening America’s domestic industrial base and supply chains.”

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    Although Trump announced a 90-day pause on all of his “reciprocal” tariffs on April 9, that doesn’t apply for several sector-specific tariffs Trump introduced, including the 25% tariff on auto parts. And then on April 15, he floated the idea of providing certain companies with more time to bring their manufacturing arms to the U.S., but didn’t offer any specifics.

    The Trump administration hopes the tariffs, which are essentially taxes on imported goods, will encourage carmakers to bring production back to the U.S. and increase manufacturing jobs. However, there are some concerns that the added costs could adversely impact both auto manufacturers in Michigan, as well as the U.S. car market as a whole.

    How will Michigan auto makers be affected by new tariffs?

    According to the Detroit Regional Chamber, Michigan is the “auto capital of the world.” A total of 21% of all U.S. auto production happened in Michigan in 2022, and 98 of the top 100 U.S. carmakers have a presence in the Great Lakes State, while 65% are headquartered there. Around 20% of the Michigan workforce is also employed by the auto industry, which amounts to 1.1 million jobs.

    Despite these impressive numbers, this is a marked decline from the role the auto industry used to play in Michigan’s economy CNN reports. There’s been a 35% reduction in jobs in Michigan auto plants since 1990, and the number of auto industry jobs has been cut roughly in half since that time.

    Trump is hoping the tariffs could bring some of these jobs back, and there are others who believe he could be on the right track.

    Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell, who represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, said: “I am somebody that believes tariffs are a tool in the toolbox,” and while she hopes the president’s actions could help restore jobs in her state, she also expressed concern that his administration’s actions may have gone too far, comparing it to a “meat ax.”

    The United Auto Workers also called the tariffs a “victory for autoworkers,” and “the beginning of the end of … the free trade disaster,” and released a statement saying: “With these tariffs, thousands of good-paying blue collar auto jobs could be brought back to working-class communities across the United States within a matter of months, simply by adding additional shifts or lines in a number of underutilized auto plants."

    However, those opposed to the tariffs argue that it takes time to build factories and change supply chains, so new jobs won’t be created right away. Instead, they say the immediate effect will be lost jobs. They may have a point, as around 900 workers of a Michigan auto parts factory that exports to Canadian and Mexican plants have already been laid off.

    Additional layoffs could follow as a result of higher costs of importing parts that go into Michigan-made cars, as well as because of reciprocal tariffs other countries may put on U.S.-made autos and auto parts in response to the president’s new tariffs.

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    “The increased costs would cause significant disruption throughout the supply chain and, perhaps most importantly, lead to significant price increases to the cost to American consumers for vehicles,” according to a letter from Detroit Regional Chamber and MichAuto, an automotive and mobility association shared by Reuters.

    How will the car market as a whole be impacted?

    It’s not just autoworkers in Michigan who are likely to be impacted by the president’s actions.

    Around half of all vehicles purchased in the U.S. in 2024 were imported, and even many cars made in America had only 40% to 50% domestically-made parts. As a result, just 25% of all cars sold in the U.S. can actually be considered to be “made in America,” according to the White House.

    Unfortunately, imposing a 25% tariff on cars and car parts could make all the rest of those cars much more expensive. In fact, Dan Ives, of Wedbush Securities, a Wall Street firm, shared he estimates that the average price of cars is expected to increase between $5,000 and $15,000. As new car prices surge, this will increase demand for used cars, driving up prices for these vehicles as well.

    For those who may need a car in the coming months or years but aren’t ready to pull the trigger yet, it’ll be important to find other ways to keep costs down, including downgrading and buying a cheaper vehicle than you might have hoped, sticking to used cars, and arming yourself with the information you need to negotiate effectively on price — such as the latest blue book valuations of vehicles you’re considering.

    Unfortunately, with car prices climbing, there may also be more pressure to take out larger auto loans and auto loans with longer terms. Resist this temptation if you can, as auto loan balances have already hit record highs — as have defaults — and borrowing too much for a car could harm your other financial goals.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘It’s a rigged system’: San Diego becomes the 5th US city to ban the use of AI software to set rent prices — landlords accused of colluding to keep costs ‘artificially high’

    ‘It’s a rigged system’: San Diego becomes the 5th US city to ban the use of AI software to set rent prices — landlords accused of colluding to keep costs ‘artificially high’

    The San Diego City Council recently voted 8-1 to prohibit landlords from using rent price-fixing software that relies on non-public data.

    The measure was introduced by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who claimed the programs are harming tenants by giving landlords an unfair advantage.

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    "It’s a rigged system," Councilmember Elo-Rivera told CBS 8. "We know that these companies are able to coordinate with one another via the software to keep prices artificially high, and sometimes even receive coaching from the software, the platform that says, don’t negotiate, leave units vacant if necessary, to keep these prices high."

    Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Berkeley have all banned the use of such software.

    The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Texas-based RealPage, which controls 80% of the market for rent-setting software, and six of the country’s biggest landlords for “participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters.” Attorneys General of several states have joined the fight.

    If the suit is successful and if bans continue, tenants may soon find some relief from high prices, which could give them much-needed wiggle room in their budgets.

    How is the banned software harming renters?

    San Diego’s ban targets software programs made by companies like RealPage. These companies collect private rental market data from landlords and put the data into a program that uses AI algorithms to recommend rental rates, propose rental price increases, and set occupancy rates.

    Because the programs use sensitive private data there are concerns that they help landlords violate antitrust laws prohibiting competitors from colluding to keep prices higher than they should be. In some cases, the programs even urge landlords to keep units empty or to raise rents. This has consequences. In San Diego, for example, the programs were allegedly causing rental prices to be 2% to 7% higher than they would have been without the programs.

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    "What I pay is $4,200 for rent, it’s almost more than a mortgage for a house," local renter George Medrano told CBS 8. Medrano said his rent has gone from $2,600 in 2020 to the $4,200 he is paying today, and while he acknowledges market forces were a contributing factor, he also thinks collusion on the part of landlords helped push the price of his unit higher.

    Not everyone supports the ban, though. Councilmember Raul Campillo voted against it, expressing concern that it could prevent landlords from doing routine and necessary assessments of their company’s strength against competitors. A group representing local landlords also expressed concern that the rules were too vague

    Another local renter, Rowan Liao, also pointed out that when algorithms set rates, at least they are based on math instead of emotions. "I think when prices are written by people, there’s unavoidable bias introduced, kind of like emotion-based pricing," Liao said to CBS 8.

    Still, with the ban in effect, landlords will need to stop using the software, or they could be sued by tenants for a violation of the new rule.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘No place to call home’: New England properties are being sold out from under homeowners — warns FBI — with losses soaring to $61.5 million in 5 years. Here’s how to stay protected

    ‘No place to call home’: New England properties are being sold out from under homeowners — warns FBI — with losses soaring to $61.5 million in 5 years. Here’s how to stay protected

    Homeowners in New England are at risk from a devastating scam that could destroy their financial security. Massachusetts-based officials from the FBI recently sounded the alarm about the crime, urging people who own property to be on the alert.

    "Folks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home," Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, said in a release on April 1.

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    The scam that residents are falling victim to is known as quitclaim deed fraud, home title fraud, or home title theft. It has been on the uptick in the New England area, and it is devastating because it targets what is, for most people, their most valuable asset: their home.

    Here’s how the scam works, and what you can do to avoid it and keep your own home secure.

    New England homeowners are suffering big losses

    Home title fraud can take different forms, but it often starts with forged documents. Scammers use those documents to show that ownership of a property has changed hands.

    Once they appear on paper to be the owner of the home, scammers may sell the property or vacant land, rent out the property, or take out a mortgage on the property and walk away with the funds without making payments. Often, the homeowner is none the wiser about any of this happening if they don’t live in the house full-time.

    According to the FBI, scammers — called title pirates — usually look through public records to find property that is not mortgaged or that is vacant. In other situations, people target their own family members since they already know details about the property.

    The scammers sometimes involve unsuspecting real estate agents who sell the home without knowing they aren’t dealing with the real owner. Meanwhile, when the real owners eventually find out, they’re forced to go to court to try to recover what’s theirs.

    While it may seem far-fetched that someone could steal a property by changing some paperwork, the reality is that this happens far too often — and cases are on the upswing in the New England area. The FBI’s recent warning to homeowners provided details on just how often home title fraud is happening, and the numbers are shocking.

    Between 2019 and 2023, for example:

    • 262 Maine victims lost $6,253,008 to home title fraud.
    • 1,675 Massachusetts victims lost $46,269,818.
    • 239 New Hampshire victims lost $4,144,467.
    • 224 Rhode Island victims lost $4,852,220.

    Nationwide, during this same period, there were a total of 58,141 victims that reported $1.3 billion in losses. And, things may be even worse than they seem, as not every victim reports it or even realizes they’ve been scammed.

    And, it’s not just homeowners who suffer from these crimes.

    If a defrauded buyer purchases a property that an illegitimate owner sold, they don’t get to keep the house once the issue is discovered — and they may never recover their funds from the scammer who sold the property to them.

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    How to protect yourself from quitclaim deed fraud

    The FBI has some tips for owners and realtors to try to avoid this type of fraud and protect their assets. Specifically, homeowners should:

    • Monitor online property records to make sure no changes to the deed occur.
    • Sign up for title alerts with your county clerk’s office, if they’re offered.
    • Regularly drive by properties you own but don’t living in, or hire a managing company to do the same
    • Ask neighbors living near vacant land or property to notify you if they notice suspicious activity
    • If you stop getting utility bills, contact the providers and find out why

    Meanwhile, real estate professionals are advised to do in-person identity checks, and request copies of documents only the true homeowner would have (like original surveys) and send a certified letter to the address of record on the tax bill when buying or selling properties. Agents should also call to verify if a public notary actually signed documents and they should avoid remote closings when possible.

    By following these best practices, you can help avoid becoming one of the thousands of victims of quitclaim deed fraud who end up suffering huge losses — and dealing with a ton of financial stress and hassle in trying to recover them.

    What to read next

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.