Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney Blog

First, credit cards starting adding annual fees and raising rates. Next, bank accounts started getting more expensive. Now health insurance premiums are on the rise, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. What gives?

Employee healthcare plans went up about 5 percent last year, according to the Associated Press. It's even worse for people who buy their own healthcare - those plans are poised to rise by 50 percent or more. But the worst part isn't that we have to pay more each month for health care - it's that new rates might discourage some of us from paying at all. And that's a risk we can't afford, no matter how appealing the savings.

Americans have a right to affordable health care, whether Uncle Sam is paying for it or not. But meanwhile, canceling our plans to save money won't get us anywhere - except in more debt if the worst happens and we get sick. Fortunately, there are ways to cut back without cutting out your plan.

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The recession might be bad for your spirits, but it turns out it might actually benefit your health.

It appears that periods of recession have the potential to increase lifespan, according to a study recently released by the University of Michigan. Researchers found that people who lived through the Great Depression actually lived longer than previous generations. In case you think it's just a coincidence, researchers found similar results across decades - including recent recessions in the 1980s and 90s - and countries.

They're not sure exactly what leads to the longevity, but it could be that people unwittingly adopt healthier habits when economic growth is slow. During a boom, it's all about keeping up with the Joneses. There's a lot of pressure to put in time at work. You manage to pay for gas and your car loan, so you drive everywhere. Maybe you've got some money to blow on stuff you don't necessarily need, like alcohol and cigarettes. You get the picture.

When times get tough, life is still stressful - maybe even more than before - but it slows down.

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