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Missouri backs criminal checks for health advisers

By WTOP Staff

DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Despite a federal court order against their current law, Missouri legislators voted Thursday to toughen requirements even further for people seeking to work as insurance guides under President Barack Obama’s health care law.

A bill given final approval by the Republican-led Legislature would require criminal background checks for people applying for state licenses to help consumers sign up for health insurance through a federally run website. Anyone with past convictions involving fraud or dishonesty would be barred from the jobs.

Several other states also have enacted or are pursuing more stringent requirements on so-called navigators and counselors for the health insurance exchanges.

Missouri’s latest effort attracted bipartisan support, passing 27-3 on Thursday after clearing the House 133-14 on Wednesday.

Last year, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill requiring state licensure for the insurance guides. But U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith issued a preliminary injunction against it in January, saying it “constitutes an impermissible obstacle” to the federal law. He said the licensing requirement thus was pre-empted by the federal law under the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat, has appealed that decision. In a court brief filed earlier this month, Koster’s office said the Missouri licensing requirement doesn’t prevent the federal law from being carried out but instead is specifically allowed under a federal provision that requires insurance navigators to “meet any licensing, certification or other standards prescribed” by states.

Though sponsored by Republicans, the new Missouri bill requiring background checks gained support from numerous Democrats.

“I’m OK with some vetting of who the navigators are. It’s just good public policy,” said Democratic Rep. Jill Schupp, of suburban St. Louis.

Nixon has not said whether he will sign or veto the new legislation. He has until mid-July to make a decision.

Advocacy groups that have encouraged people to sign up for health insurance said the latest Missouri measure was unnecessary, saying there have been no reports of navigators with criminal records misleading their customers.

“It just is one more sign that they’ve got their priorities in the wrong place and they’re focusing on the wrong things,” said Jen Bersdale, executive director of Missouri Health Care for All, a St. Louis-based coalition that supports the federal health care law.

The coalition has urged Missouri lawmakers to expand Medicaid eligibility for thousands of lower-income adults under a provision of the federal health care law that would result in billions of additional federal dollars for the state. But Republican lawmakers have repeatedly defeated attempts to expand Medicaid eligibility.

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Insurance navigator bill is SB508.

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.gov

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Follow David A. Lieb at: http://www.twitter.com/DavidALieb

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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