GOP touts lower premiums, but other insurance costs to rise

Republicans are touting lower premiums under their health care legislation, but that reflects insurance that would cover a smaller share of the cost of medical bills. Premiums under the Senate bill would average about 30 percent lower in a few years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said in its analysis this week. Overlooked is that the lower premiums envision a switch to "bronze" plans that now come with a $6,000 individual deductible, much higher than the current standard "silver" plan with a $3,600 deductible.

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  Senate GOP health-care bill's tax cuts would be a big boon for the rich, analysis says

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  Senate health care bill takes your breath away

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The richest people on the planet just got even richer, but one country was a standout

The richest people on the planet just added new members to their exclusive club. The world’s ultra-high net worth population — individuals with $30 million or more in assets — grew by 3.5% to 226,450 individuals in 2016 after a sharp fall a year earlier, according to new data by global wealth consultancy Wealth-X. Their combined wealth also increased in 2016 by 1.5% to $27 trillion. There were sharp regional fluctuations in dollar-denominated wealth creation last year, with North America (up 5.1%) recording the only significant rise in wealth, followed by Asia (up 3.5%). “The picture was subdued in Europe, with the ultra wealthy population and its total wealth edging slightly lower, while fortunes