What do Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Wayne Gretzky, Jon Hamm, Vanessa Hudgens, Vince Vaughn, Neil Patrick Harris, Kevin Garnett, Jerry Ferrara, Ryan Seacrest, Conor McGregor, and Neymar Jr. have in common?

1. They are famous and successful,
2. They are considered cool,
3. Kids look up to them and model their behavior, and
4. They have ALL pitched versions of online gambling, which is hurting our youth!

Now that we are past the Super Bowl, where over 67 million Americans wagered roughly $1.76 billion on the game, it’s time to address a crisis nobody seems to want to admit or talk about!!!  Teenage Gambling!!

Children pay attention to everything that goes on, including betting on the Super Bowl by parents, friends, and older siblings!  In my opinion, what has fueled this problem is ‘Proposition Betting” and “Prediction Markets!”

Now, casual fans can wager on the big game without having to know anything about the game.  They can bet the coin toss and what color of Gatorade will be used to douse the winning coach, as is tradition.  There were over 500 prop bets available to the public during the Super Bowl.

These “Prop Bets” cater to those with short attention spans, and with “Prop Bets,” every play can seem like a mini lottery ticket!  There seem to be bets available every few minutes.   What started as a sideshow is now the main event!

Back in the day, gambling was mostly confined to brick-and-mortar casinos, local bookies or Off-Track Betting parlors for horse racing wagering!  It was very difficult for underage teens to place a bet, let alone develop a gambling problem. 

Recently, I was at a St. John’s game at Madison Square Garden, and there were four teenage boys (with no parents) roughly in the 13-16 age range sitting two seats away from me.    While my vision needs correction, my hearing has never been better.  Although they were St. John’s fans, they were fixated on Butler’s #11 Finley Bizjack, whom they NEEDED to score at least 14 points.  I asked if Bizjack was their favorite player, and the response was, “No, we have him in a 3-player parlay bet!” 

Some disturbing “Teen Gambling” facts and statistics from www.Mass.com, the Massachusetts state website:

1. Gambling is illegal for Americans under the age of 18.
2. Gambling disorders can begin in children as young as 10 years old.
3. Problem gambling impacts youths from 4x-8x compared to adults.
4. By the time they get to high school, 60-80% of students reported that they gambled at least once in the past 12 months.
5. 36% of adolescent boys (ages 11-17) reported gambling in the past year.
6. Teens who illegally gamble are more likely to use illegal drugs.
7. Among ALL addictions, gambling is linked to the highest suicide rate.
8. Research shows that the children who are introduced to “harmless betting” by age 12 are 4 times more likely to engage in problem gambling later in life.
9. Gaming.net surveyed 16-year-old boys, and 51% of them reported gambling on sports.

How did this all start?  As legal gambling becomes more common in our society, youngsters are exposed to gambling at an earlier age!  Examples include playing fantasy football, scratching off lottery tickets, and watching or joining adult poker games.  Other types of gambling include playing online video games and even “casino-like” activities like roulette and slot machines, as gambling has been linked to gaming!  90% of teens say they play video games online!

Since the dramatic shift from gambling in brick-and-mortar betting parlors to the digital world of betting on smartphones, barriers of entry have been removed for our youth to make it easier than ever to access gambling platforms!   Tech-savvy kids now can easily set up fake accounts, change their date of birth and proceed to gamble freely on their smartphones! 

Unfortunately, what has happened is that the skyrocketing of gambling has outpaced regulatory frameworks designed to protect vulnerable parts of the population, especially minors! 

As a society, America is way behind the gambling curve in many facets. TV and radio gambling advertising restrictions don’t exist.

This is a CRUCIAL time to check in with your kids and those you care about!  Ask them who they know has a smartphone gambling problem!  Odds are high that they will know at least 1 person who is in trouble and can reach out!

Age-verification platforms and parental guidance resources need to be ramped up immediately!

For decades, pizza has been a staple of American cuisine.  It fed families on Friday nights, enhanced office lunches, and was served at many children’s birthday parties!

In 2023, I wrote a column called “A Slice of Queens” for the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s “This is Queensborough Magazine,” called “Pizza Wars.”   Pizza Wars have been around for decades, mostly versus each other!

At that time, there was a lawsuit between:

1.  Bellucci’s Pizza vs Andrew Bellucci’s Pizza, which are only six blocks away from each other on 30th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. 

2.  In the mid-1990s, it was Ray’s vs Original Ray’s vs Famous Ray’s. 

3.  Patsy’s vs Patsy Grimaldi’s, which evolved into Grimaldi’s vs Julianna’s.

On occasion, pizza wars have led to violence, especially with the alleged thefts of sauce/gravy “secret” recipe formulae over the years.  The 2011 beating of Louis Lombardo, owner of “The Square” in Staten Island, and allegedly beaten for stealing the L&B Spumoni Gardens sauce recipe, comes to mind amongst other incidents.

Back in the day, pizza was inexpensive, filling, and a sure hit with kids of all ages!  For many years, a regular NY-style ‘grab and go’ slice cost the same as a “New York City subway token.”  Then the ‘artisanal pizza boom’ kicked in along with what I call “Pizzaflation”, starting before and during the Covid-19 era through today!

In my opinion, Pizzaflation is when the costs of key ingredients increase much faster than inflation!  For example, the cost of quality flour went up almost 6.6% per year vs 3.2% inflation from 2020-2025.   Inflation pummeled pizzeria owners from all sides, as cheese prices, wheat, rent, utilities, insurance, and increasing minimum wages have all surged simultaneously. 

Pizzeria owners didn’t want to drastically raise prices; however, in most cases, they had to increase prices to remain profitable!!  I know the average consumer cares little about the “business model plight” that pizzeria owners are currently enduring, as they are more concerned about the rising costs of their family meal. 

The new Pizza Wars are now with fast food!   Pizza no longer becomes the “middle ground” between eating at home and going out to dinner. 

Think about the best pizzeria in your neighborhood.  In Manhattan and the other 4 boroughs, a round pie or a square pie can cost anywhere from $25, $30, or even $40 at some places.  Even large chains have raised their prices, and I don’t know if there are any “$1 slice spots remaining?  Think about a $30 pie, plus delivery charges, service fees, suggested tip, or driver gratuity, and pricing can get out of control. 

For budget-conscious families, pizza is no longer an automatic yes or trusted fallback to going out.   Pizza has become a price calculation!!   Instead of a staple, it has become more of a treat, and pizza sales have plummeted accordingly!  Pizza sales have declined by an average of -2.9% per year from 2020-2025 as the market shrank by a total of $8 billion in sales!

Fast food chains look closely at the financial metrics and are prepared to “Price Pounce” to recapture market share from Pizzerias by advertising “value” and leading with price. 

On TV over the holiday weekend, I saw:

Burger King: $4.99 Meal Deal: Double cheeseburger, small fries & Coke

Wendy’s: “Biggie Bites” $4 pick 2 of 6, $6 Biggie Bag, $8 Biggie Bundle

McDonald’s: 2 snack wrap meals for $8

Dunkin’ Donuts: Announces their $6 combo meal is now $5

Taco Bell: New Luxe Menu 10 items for $3 or less

Denny’s: $5.99 “Slammin Meals-Deals

Domino’s: Counters with $9.99 “Specialty Pies!”

If you think about it, for roughly $8-$12, a fast-food customer can walk away with a full stomach that includes a burger, fries, and a drink without waiting, tipping, or paying extra fees.  A family of 4 that buys 2 pies could instead opt for a family burger or a Chinese food restaurant meal for roughly half the price!  Pizza Night is now once per month instead of every Friday night for some families. 

There is a “psychological shift” going on as families are viewing Pizza more as a treat than everyday food!  This has meant that families are not abandoning pizza but eating it much less often. 

Pizza Hut (America’s 2nd-oldest pizza chain, founded in 1958 vs Shakey’s in 1954) has taken notice and is shutting down hundreds of stores.  

It’s not clear where “Pizza Wars” are going as pizzerias must balance prices vs overhead vs quality vs profits.  It does look like pizza prices could come back a little to become more competitive, but at what cost?

This winter is a good time to support your favorite local pizzeria, enjoy!!!

There are many ancillary benefits to travel, such as giving one a different view of the world by observing and having empathy for how the locals in different countries live daily!  Over the past 12 months, I’ve been fortunate to visit Ireland, Portugal, and Iceland. Next is the island nation of Cuba.

For me, travel passion runs deep!  It helps me focus on the weeks before and following my trip, as well as living a more balanced life. 

First, I will mention some new changes that will impact travel in 2026, then list 10 travel tips.  I hope you get to use them next year!

Important FAA Federal Aviation Administration 2026 Changes:

1.  Real ID: Starting February 1^st, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will charge a $45 fee for passengers who arrive at security without a “Real ID Compliant ID” or other acceptable Federal ID, such as a passport, enhanced driver’s license, or trusted traveler card.  The payment can be handled in advance online.

2.  Passenger Rights: Rules named the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024” regarding automatic cash refunds from airlines due to “extended airline-caused delays” were rolled back by the current administration.  This means “flight delay and cancellation” refunds will still be based on airline policies during 2026.

3.  Carry-on Bags: Most airline carriers adhere to the 22 X 14 X 9-inch rule for carry-on bags; however, enforcement will be the name of the game in 2026.  Airlines and airports are rolling out “digital technology” to track your carry-on bag before you roll it to the gate! American Airlines has already removed its “luggage sizers” at the gate.  Bag size, weight, and batteries matter!  TSA agents will be tagging bags “before” folks check in!

Now for my “Top Travel Tips” for 2026:

1.  Consider Packing Cubes: I know this is a common tip; however, I would be remiss to not mention it.  Cubes allow more to be packed into a bag and for easier to organize.  I’m a “clothes roll-up” guy.  Try one or the other, as oxygen is the enemy of space!!!

2.  Consider a Handheld Scale: Airlines have weight policies on checked bags with added fees if overweight.  Weigh bags at home in advance.  Don’t be the person who must unzip their bag at the gate in a panic and pull clothes out with everyone watching! 

3.  Download the Airline App: You can always remove the app after your trip if it’s not your thing.  The app is key, especially for gate and flight changes.  Airlines also give you travel discount offers in the app that can save money and/or get you bonus frequent flyer miles.

4.  Keep the International Service Number Handy:  There have been many airline issues in 2025, causing flight cancellations.  The natural reaction is to either crowd the desk or immediately call the domestic line to change your flight.  Instead, call the international number, be nice, and they will help you, and you can avoid lines or “rotting” on hold. 

5.  Points Path: Go to pointspath.com (or Points Guy if you have an iPhone).  They have a formula to convert points to dollars to help one decide if it’s worth it to use points.  For example, the AA American Airlines program is valued at $1.55 per thousand points.

6.  My Plastic Bag Trick: There are common stores in airports, such as “Hudson News.”  Hudson News operates over 970 stores in 87 airports in the USA and Canada.  Next time you buy mixed nuts and a magazine, keep the bag packed in your carry-on.  Now you have more space as they (TSA Agents) assume you just bought something and will likely not bother you.  TSA agents will be cracking down on “hidden totes” and other methods used to bring more “stuff” on planes. 

7.  Money Saving Tips: Save on domestic flights by booking within a 30-day window and a 6-month window for international flights.  Save roughly 15% by booking your departure on a Wednesday and 30% by booking your return on a Tuesday.  The first flight out in the morning is usually the least expensive and least likely to be delayed!

8.  Consider Travel Insurance on Big Trips Across the Pond: See change #2.  Big trips can cost you big $$ if flights are delayed or cancelled.  Hopefully, the FAA “cash refund rules” will be enacted for 2027. 

9.  Buy a Soft Instead of a Hard-Shell Carry-on Bag: Airlines and the FAA, both domestically and internationally, are serious about enforcement of carry-on rules and want to charge extra for weight.  I suggest a soft outer shell bag that says “FAA or TSA” compliant with spinner wheels.  I prefer the TravelPro.

10. How to Cut Your Jetlag in Half: My father told me years ago that it takes 1 day for every hour of time change to recover from jetlag, and this has proven to be true. 

Solution: Try to get 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight early in the morning for the first several days.  This resets you circadian “sleep rhythm,” and I find it cuts jetlag recovery time roughly in half! 

Every year, usually in November, I write a column for clients, advisors and my loyal monthly e-newsletter readers called (2026), Health Insurance State of the Union!

One of the many things that makes Intelisano & Associates, Inc., different, is that we teach you how insurance companies think and make money! Insurance companies thrive when the public is confused! Once our client (the consumer) understands how insurance companies think, there is what I call “The Visine Effect,” when everything becomes clearer and personal decisions are easier to make.

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Understanding How Insurance Companies Think

Before getting into the nitty gritty of 2026 health insurance, some facts need to be understood about how insurance works and how insurance companies think:

1. Adverse Selection

EVERY insurance company decision is made to AVOID “Adverse Selection!”

Examples of adverse selection:
A. A 22-year-old man paying the same health insurance premium as a 62-year-old man.
B. A heavy cigarette smoker paying the same life insurance rate as a non-smoker at the same age.

2. Insurance Is Regulated by the State

Each state is different. For example:

New York State is Community Rated, meaning a 22-year-old woman pays the same rate as a 62-year-old woman. This means there is “Adverse Selection” built into the NYS model!

New Jersey is Age and Experience Rated, meaning a 22-year-old woman pays LESS premium than a 62-year-old woman, and it’s also based on the past 12 months of claims experience.

3. Group Health Insurance Costs Less Than Individual Insurance

Health insurance companies assume that almost everybody is sick and they need to protect themselves from “Buying a Claim!”

An example of “Buying a Claim” is an individual with no health insurance and pre-existing conditions buying a new individual policy on their home State Exchange to submit a claim the first 30–60 days! With individual health insurance there is NO protection from “Adverse Selection” for the insurance carrier.

This is why they offer BETTER valued policies at better rates for groups!

For example: A new law firm with 10 employees needs health insurance in New York State and decides to apply with Oxford/United Healthcare. Oxford has PROTECTION from “Adverse Selection” in this group because Oxford uses “Participation Requirements”—60% of eligible employees MUST enroll!

Oxford knows there will be 1 or 2 unhealthy employees that will probably “Buy a Claim.” However, with a 60% minimum participation rate, Oxford will have 4 more employees paying premiums to spread out their risk amongst 6 people! The bigger the group, the less risk for the insurance company, which is why bigger companies pay less.

We have a strategy where a small business can connect to a larger company (pool) to get less expensive policies and better value for the premium. More on that later in Solutions!

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Review: Two Key Points Before Q&A

Point 1: New York State Community Rating Impacts

Because New York State is Community Rated (age 22 and 62 pay the same) there is “Adverse Selection” built into the NYS model. This is why health insurance carriers “don’t want” this business.

This is why they have removed ALL PPO plans (in and out of network plans) from the New York State (NYS) marketplace, and this is why health insurance carriers have REMOVED commissions for brokers.

No broker commission means fewer policies written and fewer advocates—leaving the public “exposed and confused,” just the way insurance carriers thrive!!

Point 2: 20 Million+ Americans Face a Broken System

Individuals, sole proprietors and small business owners are in a quandary like never before. Why?

Based on the current timeframe, Congress will be voting twice: once in mid-December to extend Health Insurance subsidies through January, and a second time in mid-January to decide on extending the subsidies (tax credits) for the rest of 2026 or not!

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The Subsidy Problem for Individuals

Individuals, sole proprietors, S corporations and employees whose company does NOT sponsor a group health plan must choose a plan based on a subsidy (tax credit) that might only be there for 1 month. Then the premiums go way up starting on February 1st through year-end!

How do you pick a plan with NO premium guarantee?

I decided to take this a step further (we don’t do business with the exchanges/marketplaces) and went onto the NYS marketplace and plugged in some numbers.

A. A New York–based family of 4 making $100,000 receives $905/month of subsidy. That is $10,860 per year; however, it is more than that! This family, if paying the $905 per month extra on their own, would have to make well over $1,000 per month to NET the $905 after taxes.

B. A NYS individual making $60,000 gets $370 per month in subsidy.

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Q&A on Subsidies and the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

Question for Individuals:

Are they removing 100% of the subsidy and how do I know how it affects me?

Answer:

It is based on income and size of family. The FPL (Federal Poverty Level) for 2025 is:

• $15,650 for individuals
• $20,440 for a family of 2
• $26,650 for 3
• $32,150 for 4

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What Is Expiring?

• Enhanced eligibility for subsidies: The expiration will end subsidies for individuals and families with incomes over 400% of the federal poverty level.
• Larger subsidy amounts: Even for those with incomes below 400% of the poverty level, the amount of the subsidy will be smaller, leading to higher out-of-pocket premium costs.

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Who Will Be Affected?

• Individuals with incomes over 400% of the poverty level: They will lose their subsidies entirely.
• Lower- and middle-income Marketplace enrollees: They will see their monthly premium payments increase.
• Freelancers, Independent Contractors, Self-Employed Individuals: These groups, who often don’t have employer-sponsored health insurance, will be significantly impacted.

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What Happens Without an Extension?

• Increased premiums: Without the enhanced subsidies, the average premiums for Marketplace plans are projected to increase significantly, with some households’ costs more than doubling.
• Loss of coverage: Around 7.3 million people will lose their subsidized health coverage, and millions more will likely become uninsured.
• Impact on healthcare providers: Hospitals and other healthcare providers could face billions in lost revenue.

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For Groups: The Small-Business Landscape

Small groups are the backbone of this country. Usually, health insurance benefits are their 3rd largest cost, after rent and salaries.

Oxford/United Healthcare (they are the same company) has over 70% of the small business market in New York. UnitedHealthcare policyholders will have a 6.8% premium increase as of January 1st, 2026.

On September 3, 2025, The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced the final rate increases for small groups in the 2026 plan year.

Insurers requested an average rate increase of 24.0% in the small group market. DFS cut this average rate increase to 13.0% (a 45.8% reduction).

Group Problem & Solution

Problem:

“We have Oxford/United Healthcare and the premiums have gotten outrageous. My broker says there are no other options. What can we do?”

Solution:

Call your health insurance broker and ask for alternatives. If none…

Call The Insurance Doctor now or later, as we have access to a plethora of non-Obamacare health plans with networks such as the Cigna Open Access Network and the PHCS Multi-Plan network, more reasonably priced—and you can switch into them mid-year.

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Wishing you the best of luck!

My friends and I were recently having a conversation about “value,” comparing tribute (cover) bands versus some of the classic rock bands whose members are in their 70s and 80s today.  Years ago, the best entertainment value was sports games and music concerts. 

Read below as to why those times are long gone!

In September 2025, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), joined by 8 states, filed a landmark lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent, Live Nation!

Accusations include:

1.  Deceptive Business Practices

2.  Tacit Collusion with Ticket Brokers (Scalpers)

3.  Profiting at the Expense of Fans

The same week the lawsuit was filed, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a class-action lawsuit trying to force Live Nation to arbitrate claims about “Rigged Ticket Pricing!”   

Most consumers don’t really care about these legal matters; they care about what happens when they try to purchase tickets with exorbitant charges, such as “handling fees.” 

My question is, what are “handling fees” since all ticket pricing and transactions are handled by a computer algorithm, with paper tickets no longer being accepted at most concert venues and sports arenas?

According to the FTC complaint, Ticketmaster (Live Nation) handles roughly 80% or more of primary ticket sales (A Monopoly?) for major U.S. venues!  Their dominance gives them huge leverage as to how tickets are sold, how many reach customers (end users), and how many get funneled to secondary markets, often at massive markups.

For example, Ticketmaster allows brokers to buy huge blocks of tickets even though there are rules about how many tickets a person can buy!  Ticketmaster gets double fees as the brokers pay a fee to buy their blocks of seats, then Ticketmaster gets a 2^nd fee when the broker resells the ticket!  GREED is NOT GOOD!!!

The complaint stated that a broker bought 772 tickets to a recent Coldplay concert for $81,000, then resold those tickets for over $170,000.  Think about kids crying because they can’t get tickets while the brokers and Ticketmaster are laughing all the way to the bank!

Some of the mechanics of greed include, but are not limited to:

1.  Hidden “junk” Fees: Ticketmaster advertises reasonably priced tickets, then adds extra fees at checkout (can be as high as 44%).

2.  Broker Collusion: Turning a blind eye while brokers violate ticket maximum rules.

3.  Triple Dipping: Ticketmaster makes money on the original sale in addition to the broker resale and again from fees when the tickets are resold on their own resale platform!

4.  Deliberate Under-Disclosure: The complaint asserts that Ticketmaster intentionally resisted systems with ID verification that would curb the ability of brokers to “game” the system.

5.  Bait and Switch: By advertising lower prices and adding fees later, the company is misleading consumers about the “all-in” net price!

Personally, this has a huge effect on my life as I’ve been to over one thousand concerts and continue to frequent concerts and sporting events almost weekly!  We, as consumers, are in the same boat and should be angry about this. 

Some things we fans should be looking for include:

1.  Transparency:  “All-in” pricing on the main screen up front.

2.  Stronger Anti-Bot Controls:  Industry tools that have been available, such as ID verification (2-step), to prevent ticket hoarding!

3.  Alternative Models: Other ways to purchase tickets not from Ticketmaster.

4.  Fee Caps: Ticketmaster should only be allowed a markup of a certain percentage over the ticket face amount.

This will be an interesting Ticketmaster lawsuit, and it could change the way tickets are purchased, we hope!  When they started “Dynamic Pricing” about 3 years ago (meaning charging more per ticket for the Patriots and Bills games), I knew we were heading in this direction.

Stay tuned!

Tariffs are one of the oldest types of taxes, and they are easy to collect.  During America’s “Colonial Period,” when the British ruled the country, tariffs enabled one of the earliest forms of tax evasion: smuggling.  In the north, with its long coastline and many small rivers, Rhode Island became the hub of smuggling to avoid British taxes. 

When Alexander Hamilton became our first Secretary of the Treasury, the USA was in deep debt, so his first order of business was to prepare a schedule of tariffs and excise taxes on extras like alcohol and tobacco.  The Constitution forbids taxing states, which is why tariffs are only on imports!

The 2 Main Objectives for Tariffs are:

1.  Raising Revenue and
2.  Protection of Domestic Industries from Foreign Competition

The garment industry is a good example of protecting the domestic industry.  Many years ago, in the 1950s and 1960s, when my Grandma Anna was a “sample maker” for Diane Von Furstenberg in the “Garment District,” most of our clothing labels said “Made in the USA!”  Now they are made in China, Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh…because these countries have lower wages and much cheaper labor. 

After World War II, much of Western Europe and Japan’s economies were weakened.  Reviving world trade was of paramount importance to the USA and our international trading partners.  For this reason, the USA agreed to “Differential Tariffs,” meaning that we would lower our tariffs more than other countries would lower their tariffs in order to help them recover from the cost of war and boost global trading!

Now, 80 years later, Western Europe and the Far East economies have fully recovered.  Yet in many cases, “Differential Tariffs” still exist!  That is why the current administration has opted to try and level the playing field. 

Tariffs can be tricky, as there are many ripple effects.  They are considered a “consumption tax” which affects the poor disproportionately because they must spend a higher portion of their income on necessities!

Logic tells us that rising imported steel and aluminum prices will cause significant increases in building or rebuilding homes that are affected by inclement weather conditions.  The ripple effects will lead to more increase in homeowners’ insurance premiums.

President Trump recently doubled the import tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%.  This will have an adverse impact on the prices of large, imported items such as cars, trucks, refrigerators, and washing machines.  Smaller items that will be affected include but are not limited to soda, beer, canned soups and vegetables. 

The tariff impacts on cars and trucks include the following:

1.  New Cars and Trucks:  Sales prices of imported cars and trucks are expected to go up by at least the percentage of the import tariffs.  Average costs are expected to rise by $3,000 per vehicle.  The vehicle’s “replacement cost” directly ties into auto rates!

2.  Rising Costs for Auto Parts:  Currently at a 25% tariff, auto parts and repairs make up a portion of your auto insurance rates.  There is also a shortage of “rare-earth” minerals (China controls them and stopped exporting them) that make heat-resistant magnets needed for Electric Vehicles.  A FORD factory in Chicago has already closed.

3.  Replacement Parts: 60% of auto replacement parts come from Mexico, Canada, and China. 

4.  National Projections:  The American Property and Casualty Insurance Association projects annual auto claims could go from $23 billion to $45 billion. 

5.  Impact in New York: The state is expected to see among the highest increases in the country!  On average, residents could face an increase of $489 by the end of this year with $110 of that increase directly tied to tariffs.

This is a difficult situation that will affect all Americans. 

Options to reduce your auto rates are:

1.  Shop your Auto Insurance Now, then go to steps two and three

2.  Take the “Defensive Driver” course for a 10% discount per year, good for 3 years!

3.  Consider the “Safe Driver” monitoring programs that most insurance carriers offer.  Discounts can run between 10%-30%, depending on the insurance carriers and how long they monitor your driving.

The personal genomics giant 23andMe, a household name in the world of direct-to-consumer DNA testing and once a Silicon Valley darling, has filed for bankruptcy!  This could cause a personal information nightmare!

The irony here is that 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy due to not being able to recover from a data breach.  The breach exposed 6.9 million users.  As per USA Today, in 2024, 23andMe agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for $30 million.  The money went to affected users, and 23andMe admitted no wrongdoing!

The makers of home DNA kits, such as 23andMe, are NOT subject to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws, which ensure medical record privacy!

As the company’s financial unraveling plays out, there are many unanswered questions:

1.  What happens to my personal data?

2.  Can 23andMe sell or release my data?

3.  Is there a way of deleting my data?

4.  Is there a way of protecting my data?

These 4 questions and others remain for the over 14 million 23andMe customers. 

For years, companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe advertised on TV and radio, with their flashy ads stimulating the endless possibilities of family curiosity.  Consumers bought “kits” for a few hundred dollars, trustingly mailed off their saliva, and eagerly awaited the results from scientific reports going back in some cases hundreds of years.  In return, many received colorful charts and learned of newfound cousins…

Selling material goods is one thing, as materials can always be replaced.  In this case, consumers trusted 23andMe with something that is irreplaceable, the blueprint of who they are!  Now what?

Let’s take a look at bankruptcy.  Bankruptcy is not just financial collapse, it often means “asset liquidation!”  For a company like 23andMe, their most valuable asset is data, not office equipment or lab space.  With personal details such as health histories, family connections and demographic profiles, this data can be a goldmine or a loaded weapon!

23andMe has stated it would not sell genetic data, and that privacy would remain a priority.  The trust that once permeated their user base is now eroding quickly.  Bankruptcy courts can override corporate promises when creditors are owed, and buyers are circling like sharks!  Even if the data is NOT sold, the risk of leaks, mismanagement, and/or misuse increases dramatically in this type of situation.

The potential abuse or leaked data implications are staggering!  This isn’t like a credit card number, which can be changed after a breach. Released health information can reveal a predisposition to diseases. Family secrets can be exposed, and relatives who never agreed to testing can be implicated.  One can only imagine what could happen should this information end up in the hands of insurance companies, employers, or foreign governments!  The days of blind trust in personal genomics are over!

Law enforcement officials, New York State Attorney General Leticia James’ office, and other state attorneys general offices (experts agree) are encouraging 23andMe customers to protect their privacy by:

1.  Logging in and deleting their data, and…

2.  Requesting the destruction of their DNA samples

At one point, the 23andMe website crashed.  Their directive is to contact your state attorney general’s office after deleting your information and requesting DNA sample destruction.  There should be a confirmation sent out once the deletion/destruction process takes place.