The $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, passed by Congress and signed into law on Dec. 27, includes a number of provisions that affect employers and their workers in terms of paid sick leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act provisions.

The legislation also boosts unemployment benefits to out-of-work Americans, as well as reopening and expanding the Paycheck Protection Program that was introduced in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on and many Americans see unmet needs outside of their health insurance, more and more workers are increasingly signing up for the voluntary benefits their employers offer.

While many workers in the past had skipped on voluntary benefits, they have grown concerned that a good group health insurance plan may not be enough to provide all the coverage they need.

Part of the COVID-19 relief package that Congress passed in late December includes a notable provision that bans surprise medical bills when out-of-network doctors work on insureds at in-network hospitals.

This so-called "balance billing" occurs when an out-of-network provider is involved in a patient's care at a hospital that accepts their insurance, often without the patient knowing about it. Patients can end up facing unexpected bills in the tens of thousands of dollars. 

For the nation’s older residents, the stakes can’t be higher when it comes to choosing health-care coverage.

That’s partly because under Medicare — you’re eligible at age 65 — changing plans can be challenging in some circumstances and costly if you get your choices wrong. So whether you’re giving your coverage an annual checkup during open enrollment (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7) or signing up for the first time, financial advisors say there are some key considerations to factor into your decision-making.

Be ready for sticker shock with COBRA, but ACA has a special enrollment period for people who have lost their jobs

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits is staggering. Sadly, these people have not only lost jobs and income but also their health insurance. If you’re among them or will be soon, I’d like to offer my sincere condolences and advice on how to get health insurance after a job loss.

If you’re in the market for life insurance, there are plenty of options available. And if you’re looking for a policy that offers lifelong coverage, one option worth considering is universal life insurance.

With universal life insurance, you can receive lifelong coverage. The life insurance payout, called a death benefit, is paid to your beneficiaries tax-free. Some universal life policies also build cash value, with gains growing tax-free. Universal life policies build cash value, with gains growing tax-free. And there may be flexibility to adjust your premium payments and death benefit, depending on the policy.

Low yields have important implications for retirement strategies. One example is the decision of when to purchase an annuity. Despite the fact that interest in guaranteed income has risen, demand has declined significantly since the onset of the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has many of us thinking about worst case scenarios. It's only natural that people are considering whether, in the event of their absence, their loved ones would be financially protected. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably given it some thought yourself.

"Americans are living longer, but not healthier lives," Mark Williams, CEO of Brokers International, told Business Insider.

Williams noted that industry experts say 50% of Americans will need some type of assistance in retirement.  "If you wait until you start thinking about retirement, you risk your health" and the chance that coverage costs could increase, he said.

Life insurance is an important tool to protect your loved ones financially if you die before financial goals are met.

An ethical, competent insurance agent doesn’t want you “worth more dead than alive” or want your budget so consumed with insurance payments that you can’t meet your financial goals. Knowing what life insurance you need can help your agent meet that need.