Mark Davis, longtime Connecticut TV political reporter, dies at 76
Davis died on Monday, WTNH-TV announced on Tuesday. He worked at the station for 36 years and retired in 2020 as chief Capitol correspondent. The cause of death was not disclosed. He had surgery last year for bladder cancer, the station previously reported.
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Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Health savings accounts get small tweaks in tax bill
Health savings accounts were poised to get a big boost in Trump's signature tax package. That didn't happen. While the House version of the bill included several changes to enhance the use and benefits of health savings accounts (HSAs), the version that ultimately passed made only three changes, Kaye L. Pestaina, vice president and director of KFF's program on patient and consumer protection, told Yahoo Finance. 'It expands HSAs with new things people can use their HSA dollars for,' she said. Here's a rundown of the provisions included in the legislation that will be effective Jan. 2, 2026. Read more: What is a health savings account (HSA)? Concierge medical care qualifies. A Direct Primary Care (DPC) plan, often called a concierge healthcare plan, offers personalized, top-drawer healthcare services for a membership fee paid directly to a physician or practice for access to services. 'There had been some open questions about whether a consumer getting care from a DPC entity still was able to have a qualified HSA," she said. 'This will expand HSA holders' incentive to use DPC.' Under current law, many of these arrangements are not eligible to be paid for with your HSA money. In the new bill, certain DPC fees would be HSA eligible if the fee does not exceed $150 monthly for individuals, or $300 monthly where more than one individual is covered. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy More health insurance plans can provide HSAs. Individual marketplace bronze and catastrophic plans would be treated as HSA-qualified high-deductible health plans. Under existing law, these plans offered in the individual market are not considered HDHPs, so they're ineligible to be paired with an HSA. To be HSA eligible, consumers must have an HDHP that meets specific IRS rules. Many bronze plans available on the marketplace have a high deductible, but they do not meet all of the IRS requirements (for instance, they have a different out-of-pocket maximum than the IRS requires). Now, all bronze and catastrophic plans would be treated as HSA-qualified HDHPs and allow all consumers with these plans to use their HSA to pay for out-of-pocket costs. 'This would broaden Marketplace plan choices for consumers with HSAs,' Pestaina said. Calling for care. The new legislation will allow those with an HSA to use those funds to pay for telehealth. 'These consumers would be able to access medical care (presumably any type) if provided via telehealth or remote monitoring without having to first pay the high deductible. This adds a benefit for HSA consumers that those with a high deductible plan but without an HSA do not have,' Pestaina said. An HSA offers a triple tax advantage. It's the only account that lets you put money in on a tax-free basis, lets that money build up tax-free, and lets it come out tax-free for qualified healthcare expenses. (Some states assess state taxes.) In order to put money into an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). In those plans, you pay a lower premium per month than other types of health insurance plans, but a heftier annual deductible (the amount you pay for covered medical costs before insurance kicks in). Read more: HSA contribution limits for 2025: Here's how much you can saveFor 2025, that translates to a deductible of at least $1,650 for individual coverage and $3,300 for family coverage. You can also open an HSA as a self-employed freelancer or business owner if you have a qualified high-deductible health plan. Some employers match contributions to HSAs, similar to employer-provided retirement savings accounts. Your contributions roll over year after year and are yours to keep when you retire or change employers. There's a hefty 20% penalty on any withdrawal amount not used toward a qualified medical expense, and you'll pay income tax on the disqualified sum. For anyone 65 or older, the penalty is gone, meaning you can withdraw funds for any purpose and only pay income tax on it if it's not a qualified medical expense. Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work," and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ways to create a dementia-friendly environment during the Fourth of July
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — With the Fourth of July approaching quickly, it's important to remember that fireworks celebrations are not for everyone. This includes pets, veterans and those living with dementia. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) created the 'F.O.U.R.' steps to creating a dementia-friendly Fourth of July. 'Fireworks and loud noises can create challenges for individuals living with dementia, which is why families need to make thoughtful, proactive adjustments to help their loved ones with dementia celebrate and enjoy Independence Day,' said Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, SIFI, senior director of educational and social services at AFA. 'Being prepared and adaptable are the best ways caregivers can create a dementia-friendly 4th of July for their loved ones.' If someone is a war veteran, AFA says the noises that come from fireworks can be triggering and mistaken for gunshots or bombs. Being inside at times when they are likely to hear fireworks is a good precaution. 'Even if that person is inside, they still may be in an area where fireworks are going off,' Chris Schneider, director of media relations at AFA said. 'That can be leaving the air conditioning on, getting a white noise machine or playing soothing, familiar music. All of that can help muffle some of those sounds.' It can also be helpful to check in on your loved one throughout the night if they live with you. Large crowds can be overwhelming for someone living with dementia. If you are hosting a gathering, limit guests to a few family members and close friends. AFA says name tags could be beneficial. 'Structure the celebration around the person's routine,' Schneider said. 'Routine disruptions can be troubling for someone living with dementia. If they normally eat at a certain time, build that into the day. If they usually take a nap at a certain time, build that into the day.' The AFA says to revise how you celebrate. The organization mentions that living with dementia shouldn't limit how someone celebrates Independence Day. Caregivers could make patriotic decorations and crafts, or look through a family album with pictures of previous Fourth of July celebrations. Both are dementia-friendly activities. Schneider says anyone looking for additional guidance can do so on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Staying Hydrated May Lower Stroke Risk by 25%—Find Out How Much You Should Be Drinking
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RDA new study found that drinking at least 6 cups of water a day significantly lowers stroke risk. Being well-hydrated helps blood flow more easily and lowers blood sugar. If you're not drinking enough water, swap other beverages for plain water throughout the well-hydrated has many benefits beyond quenching thirst. Hydration is necessary for your body to function properly, and you can't survive more than about three days without hydration. Your brain is also highly dependent on water. Even slight dehydration can negatively impact mood, memory and concentration. Studies have shown a link between hydration status and blood flow. Essentially, when we're dehydrated, our blood is thicker and doesn't flow as easily through our blood vessels. This also increases the chances of it being 'clumpy.' And clumpy blood has been linked to stroke and heart attacks, the No. 1 killer of American adults. Researchers also point out evidence that drinking enough water is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Plus, there's even a link between adequate water intake and lower levels of inflammation. Researchers from China wanted to know if drinking enough plain water could reduce stroke risk, and if so, what threshold of water intake makes a difference. They took a closer look at data from a long-term American study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), to find answers and published their findings in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. Let's break down what they found. Researchers pulled data from the years 1999 to 2020 of NHANES. They included adults over the age of 20 at baseline, with an average age of 49. More than 29,000 people were included in this analysis, and about 48% were male. For NHANES, participants completed 24-hour diet recalls that included daily water intake. Since recalling what we ate the previous day leaves room for error, researchers took the average of two 24-hour recalls for increased accuracy. Participants were then placed into one of four quartiles (groups) based on their water intake. Those in quartile 1 (Q1) had the lowest water intake, and those in Q4 had the highest. Information on stroke was gathered from participants answering the question, 'Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you had a stroke?' Almost 1,300 participants answered yes. Variables that would be adjusted for during statistical analyses included age, sex, ethnicity/race, education and income levels, smoking status, alcohol intake, BMI, physical activity, calorie consumption, hydration consumption, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. After adjusting for all relevant demographic variables—plus total calorie and hydration consumption—the group that drank the most water had a 25% lower risk of stroke compared to those who drank the least. Researchers also found an association between stroke risk and the amount of plain water intake. Those who drank less than approximately 1,400 mL of water per day—which is equal to about 6 cups or 47 fluid ounces of water—had a significantly higher risk of stroke. Some limitations of this study include the 24-hour dietary recalls, which, as previously mentioned, leave room for error and bias in participants recalling what they ate. Also, because NHANES is an observational study, researchers cannot establish causation, just that there is an association between those who drink more plain water and a lower risk of stroke. Lastly, only plain water was considered, so it's unknown if other types of water, like sparkling water, might have the same associations with stroke risk as plain water. The amount of water needed for each person depends on several factors, including sex, age, activity levels and medications. And while it is person-dependent, there are some general guidelines to provide a framework for you. For example, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends that men drink 15.5 cups of water per day and women drink 11.5 cups per day. Eating hydrating foods can also add to your hydration status. Nosh on watermelon, cucumbers, apples, grapefruit, okra, tomatoes and plain Greek yogurt to help stay hydrated. If your blood sugar tends to run on the high side, consider your hydrating habits. When blood is thicker and more viscous, blood sugar is more concentrated. Drinking plenty of water helps thin it out and can help lower blood sugar levels. With that said, too much of a good thing is, well, too much, and you can overhydrate. Referred to as hyponatremia or water intoxication, flooding your body with too much water dilutes the body's electrolytes. And while rare, it can lead to death. Some signs you might be over imbibing on the H2O include clear urine, bloating, nausea, brain fog, headache and confusion. Do an assessment of your water intake. It can help to track it over several days and take the average of them. Are you coming close to the recommended 11.5 to 15.5 cups a day? It also helps to assess the color of your urine. Ideally, it's about the color of diluted lemonade. This color suggests that you're getting enough water into you. If it's dark yellow or amber, it's a sign that you're not and are dehydrated, so drink up. It's important to note that certain medications, supplements and foods can affect urine color. For example, if you've eaten beets, your urine might be red-tinged. And supplements that contain B vitamins can give you bright yellow pee. One strategy to get you started is to swap one of your typical drinks for water. So if you tend to grab soda throughout the day, start by exchanging one soda a day with water. Next week, swap out two sodas and so on. If you can't stomach all that plain water, try flavoring it with fruits, vegetables and herbs. Lemon, Cucumber and Mint Infused Water is clean and refreshing on the palate. Or add berries or a splash of 100% juice to up the flavor quotient of plain water. Another trick is to try the water at different temperatures. Some people can tolerate it better when it's ice cold. Besides staying well-hydrated, there are other lifestyle factors that may help lower your stroke risk, too. Following a heart-healthy diet plan or an eating style like the Mediterranean diet will go a long way toward getting the nutrients you need for a healthy heart and brain. So stock up on plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats. Engaging in regular physical activity, dealing with what's stressing you out and getting plenty of quality sleep also play large, connected roles in preventing diseases like stroke. According to this study, drinking less than 6 cups a day of plain water increases your risk of stroke. It is unknown whether plain carbonated waters, like sparkling water, reduce stroke risk, but they do contribute to overall hydration. Flavor your water with fruit, veggies and herbs if you have a difficult time imbibing plain water. Also consider your whole-health picture and other lifestyle habits that contribute to heart and brain health, which play a role in stroke prevention. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
