healthcare

At a time filled with so much uncertainty, it is critical to remember the following mantra: DO NOT PANIC! DO NOT PANIC! DO NOT PANIC!

Say it with me, one more time. DO. NOT. PANIC.

The last few weeks have been nothing short of chaotic due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has swept the globe, infecting over 108,000 people with more than 3,400 deaths. Currently, with more than 500 confirmed cases and 22 deaths in the United States we have moved past containment and have been told to be prepared for disruption to our daily routine.

What does this mean?

It is possible you may have to work from home, and in the event you are exposed to the virus, feel sick or are near someone exhibiting signs of illness, be prepared to self-isolate for up to 14 days. This means having enough food and supplies on hand to cover every member of your household in the event you can't leave. Here is a short list of items to give you an idea of what you should have in case of an emergency or quarantine:

  1. Bottled Water (1 gallon per person for each day you plan to be quarantined)
  2. Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap
  3. Medical Supplies (contact lenses, contact solution, hearing aid batteries)
  4. First Aid Kit (bandages, disinfectant)
  5. Prescription Medication (30 day supply) plus any OTC (over the counter) meds you might need like Advil, Tylenol etc.
  6. Canned Foods (meat, vegetables, in liquid that can be used for cooking)
  7. Cereal, Rice, Beans, Oats (oatmeal, grains)
  8. Batteries
  9. Chocolate or some type of alternate sweet (studies show the importance on maintaining optimal mental health)
  10. Latex gloves, N95 face masks (respirators)
The New York State Department of Health has set up a toll free hotline to address all issues related to the novel Coronavirus and can be reached at (888) 364-3065.

You can also follow the latest news regarding Coronavirus in New York state here.

Why does this seem so bad?

Lack of preparation, transparency from the CDC, clear direction from the government, and a President who fails to inspire confidence in the American people has caused panic across the country in the form of unnecessary hoarding of household supplies like toilet paper and bottled water, xenophobic discrimination and hate crimes against people of Asian descent. It has also rocked the global financial markets as traders desperately seek answers and a bottom to the rout.

By 10pm EST yesterday, it was clear that the world was in for another rough week. U.S. Stock market futures were down near 5% overnight which triggered a halt in trading. Over the years, certain measures were put in place designed to prevent panic from tanking equities markets and give investors time to digest the latest market news. Historically, it has worked exactly as intended and is a critical tool in times of great volatility. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 1,200 points in pre-market trading and global markets were in a free-fall for the rest of the night.

And then the market opened......

For the first time since 1997 trading was halted on the New York Stock Exchange this morning for 15 minutes following a 7% drop in the S&P 500. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was also down over 1,900 points when the 'circuit' was broken. Designed to prevent a free fall in equities, 3 "circuit breakers" were put in place in the event certain benchmarks were hit, the first of which occurred at 9:35am EST (only 4 minutes after the opening bell!). Trading resumed at 9:49am. If stocks continue to fall and hit a 13% drop for the day, another 15 minute pause will take place. In the event that stocks retreat more than 20%, the market would be closed for the rest of the day.

Oil War For the Ages??

More bad news originating from last week's failed OPEC+ alliance meeting sent oil prices plummeting as a price war broke out in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has announced a massive price cut for their oil, while sources claim they plan to simultaneously increase production to more than 10,000,000 barrels per day with the possibility of exceeding 12,000,000 barrels on some days. This "Shock & Awe" tactic is a desperate attempt by the Saudi's to increase marketshare worldwide. In response, Russia has indicated they will also increase their production to maximum levels. And the price war has begun.

The last time a price war this serious broke out was during the first Gulf War in 1991. As of the opening bell this morning, the price of a barrel of oil dropped more than 30% ($27).

What does this mean for the west?

Quite possibly the end of the U.S. Shale market, for starters. With the price of oil below $30 a barrel, oil wells in West Texas are now operating at a loss.

Since 2014 the price of oil has been subject to wild volatility as the west became one of the largest exporters of shale oil in the world and price manipulation out of Saudi Arabia saw the price of oil drop from $100/barrel to less than $40. Despite a few brief periods of upswings, it still has not returned to normal levels and is showing no signs of recovery.

Now What?

It is important to remind yourself that things will get better. Do not panic. Life will get better, the world will come to its senses and you just have to give it time.

Hang in there.

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Someone like equity-firm director Gary Sernovitz might consider losing money in a restaurant to be part of the thrilling charm, but some people (maybe yourself) might want to invest in things that actually make them money or don't fail. Every good thing comes from an idea and every idea needs money. Here are five things that might make you money and make the world a better place!

Health Care!

It takes a lot of work to get any kind of medical certification and the dream is generally to open a private practice, usually in a community where the practitioner services a particular need that not many people consider optional. If you have to get braces, you get braces and the profit margins show. Before taxes, dentist offices make, on average, a 15.4% profit margin, outpatient care centers make 14.8%, and general physician practices make a solid 15.5%. Here's Modern Healthcare Magazine on more reasons why more and more people are investing in medical practitioners.

And you're also investing in an essential part of many communities and are in a place to use that profit margin to actually change people's lives.

Food Trucks!

While the brick-and-mortar establishments ebb and flow with vast amounts of money lost in between, their more mobile cousins have been shown to be more resilient. In fact, according to Josh Tang, founder of mobile food behemoth Mobi Munch, the failure rate for food trucks is only between 10 and 20 percent (compared to 60-90% for restaurants, with much geographical variety). With widely popular street vendors The Halal Guys set to become the 'Middle Eastern Chipotle' and minting out franchises and other studies predicting that food truck revenue will hit $2.7 billion by the end of 2017, it's time to hit the street with your hot cash.

Women-Focused Platforms!

With theresults of last Tuesday's election still very much on our minds, people are already turning toward the private sector for the kinds of leadership and administration that people have good reason to believe a Trump White House and a Republican-controlled Congress will provide. Election results or no, both 2015 and '16 have been great years for companies geared toward that underrepresented half of the human race. Back in September, tennis superstar Venus Williams and Mellody Hobson, lesser-known investment superstar, invested big in the Finnish startup Ellevest, a digital wealth management service that focuses explicitly on the needs of female investors, taking into account factors like the longer life expectancy of women.

Also big: new health services and companies that are taking the taboo out of women's healthcare products. Companies like thinx, icon, and the flex have made a place for themselves in the marketplace by aiming directly at women and no one else. Investment, I'm sure, they'll take from anyone.

Hip Retail!

While foodie waves ebb and flow in an impossible-to-keep-track-of litany, retail is a bit easier to follow. But what's yesterday's fashion in New York and L.A. can remain popular in Midland, USA for decades! And there's no better time to get into the world of selling product like 2016: with the snap, the 'gram, and Pinterest still flowing, it's easier than ever for businesses to get oodles of free advertising that's just a click away from a purchase. And the money's there: the Dow Jones U.S. Retail Index has consistently outperformed the more glamorous S&P 500 over the past decade. People, at the very least, are always buying things.

Spot the next new thing?

Buy it!

Religion!

While investing in faith-based organizations may seem counterintuitive, Entrepreneur magazine writes, "being not-for-profit doesn't mean your goal shouldn't be." If you want a good place to invest good money that won't just be a sinkhole for operating costs, religious organizations are known to, on average, pull ahead and into the black. Last year, religious nonprofits netted, on average, a solid 12.41% margin. Not a bad profit for a nonprofit!

Any of these industries is a solid place to start for the investing beginner, or a good place to diversify for the investing pro.

WalletHub, a personal finance website just released an in-depth analysis of the highest and lowest uninsured rates by city andstate for 2016.

With the national uninsured rate for health coverage at a record low of 8.6% as per WalletHub, it's time to take a closer look into this trend and where the uninsured rates are the highest and lowest to make changes nationwide.

This topic is of great interest these days more than ever, due in part to the presidential campaigns and debates. Voters care about the future of healthcare and how they can get better coverage for themselves and their families.

Here is a summary of WalletHub's findings which was determined by city population size, age group, race/ethnicity, and household income, and was collected from the United States Census Bureau. Is your city or state featured as the highest or lowest when it comes to uninsured rates? If so, does your personal situation match the analytic findings?

States with the Lowest Uninsured Rates:

1. Massachusetts (2.82%)

2. Vermont (3.82%)

3. Hawaii (3.97%)

4. Minnesota (4.51%)

5. Iowa (5.03%)

6. Wisconsin (5.66%)

7. Rhode Island (5.71%)

8. Delaware (5.85%)

9. Connecticut (5.95%)

10. West Virginia (5.95%)

States with the Highest Uninsured Rates:

41. Wyoming (11.53%)

42. Montana (11.65%)

43. Louisiana (11.95%)

44. Nevada (12.28%)

45. Mississippi (12.69%)

46. Florida (13.33%)

47. Georgia (13.85%)

48. Oklahoma (13.90%)

49. Alaska (14.86%)

50. Texas (17.10%)

See all state findings here.

Cities with the Lowest Uninsured Rates:

1. Pleasanton, CA (1.17%)

2. Cambridge, MA (1.30%)

3. Naperville, IL (1.44%)

4. Highlands Ranch, CO (1.45%)

5. Newton, MA (1.47%)

6. Fishers, IN (1.57%)

7. Quincy, MA (1.62%)

8. Milpitas, CA (1.98%)

9. Alameda, CA (2.20%)

10. Waldorf, MD (2.33%)

Cities with the Highest Uninsured Rates:

539. Mesquite, TX (23.88%)

540. Pasadena, TX (24.64%)

541. Mission, TX (24.75%)

542. Edinburg, TX (24.76%)

543. McAllen, TX (25.05%)

545. Laredo, TX (26.01%)

546. Union City, NJ (26.41%)

547. Brownsville, TX (29.36%)

548. Pharr, TX (33.68%)

See all city results here.

These results are important due to the rising costs of healthcare and the burden many families without coverage are facing. Does your family have health insurance? You can find a health plan that's quality and affordable thanks to the Affordable Care Act, AKA ObamaCare.

Learn more about it and how you can help protect yourself and your family.