Current Events in January 2022

A trip to the mailbox this month may not be so pleasant since there is a greater chance of finding a big credit card bill from the holidays.

CNBC recently reported that the average U.S. consumer spent $1,249 on the holidays, using credit cards for many of those purchases. With the holiday decorations now put away, consumers have to find ways to pay off that debt, a task made harder by rising inflation.

"If your credit card debt has grown out of control, the key to paying this credit card debt off as quickly as possible in this economy may be to consolidate your debt which can reduce your monthly payments as well as your interest rates," said Gary Herman, president of Consolidated Credit. "Higher prices may be leaving little room in consumers' budgets to pay off credit card debt. So, people need to find a solution to reduce their payments."

Herman’s firm offers a debt consolidation service, which some consumers may find helpful. In fact, there are a number of companies that promote different ways to pay down debt. For example, Sergio, of Mesquite, Texas, worked with JG Wentworth to get his finances on track and credits the help he received in the company’s program with helping him qualify for a credit card.

“I’m really satisfied with the program, and hopefully, I can finish soon,” Sergio wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “If only they can decrease the bi-weekly payment, depending on my overall balance, because it’s going down. Nonetheless, they have good customer service and they communicate.”

Bess, of Franklin, Tenn., turned to Freedom Debt Relief to get on a plan. She tells us the advisers she worked with were helpful.

“I have had several questions that involve projections and they have the tools to make good advice,” Bess told ConsumerAffairs. “It has been a huge relief to know I am making headway on getting rid of debt.”

Credit counseling

Annette, of Annapolis, Md., worked with Cambridge Credit Counseling, which she says helped her budget her money.

“Anytime I call them about a concern about a bill or a payment, they're very helpful,” Annette wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “I can keep track of what's been paid and how much my balance is.”

Non-profit credit counselors may provide a low-cost way to get a handle on money. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling is made up of non-profit credit counselors around the country. The foundation’s website can help consumers find help in their local area.

Consumers with good credit may also consider applying for a balance transfer credit card that offers a lengthy introductory period of 0% interest. That way the entire monthly payment goes to paying off the balance and none goes to interest.

ConsumerAffairs reviews some of the best credit cards, including the best balance transfer cards.

The Red Cross says it is facing its worst blood shortage in more than 10 years. To help, Krispy Kreme is offering free donuts to people who make a blood donation between now and the end of the month.

People who donate blood through the end of January can receive a free Original Glazed dozen donuts by showing either their donation sticker received when they donated or confirmation of their donation on the Red Cross blood donor app.

“We’re grateful for all that the American Red Cross does for our country and we want to help them,” said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme’s chief marketing officer.

Skena said the company is encouraging all of its employees who are able to donate blood to do so. Blood supplies have dropped sharply since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic because many blood drives were canceled.

The Red Cross says blood donations are down 10% since March 2020, and that high school and college blood drives have plunged by 62% during the pandemic.

Recently, winter storms in many parts of the country have made it harder to hold blood drives, contributing to the growing shortage. That’s forced the Red Cross to limit certain blood product distributions to hospitals depending on current inventories.

Not enough blood to meet demand

Doctors have been forced to make hard decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who goes on the waiting list. First in line are trauma patients and those battling chronic illnesses like cancer and sickle cell disease. 

”The Red Cross is grateful to Krispy Kreme for helping us thank our generous blood donors who are stepping up to help restock hospital shelves for patients in need during this historic crisis,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Donor Services for the American Red Cross. 

It’s not the first time the donut franchise has offered consumers an incentive to promote health. Last year, Krispy Kreme offered a free glazed donut to customers who showed proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

But to sweeten the deal, that offer was good for the entire year – meaning consumers could a free donut every day until Dec. 31.

A new study conducted by researchers from New York University explored a unique trend that’s been occurring among online grocery retailers. Their findings showed that many online stores aren’t consistent with showing consumers food labels. 

“Our study shows that the online food shopping environment today is a bit of a ‘Wild West,’ with incomplete and inconsistent provision of required nutrition information to consumers,” said researcher Dariush Mozaffarian.

“Online shopping will only continue to grow, and this creates an excellent opportunity to positively influence consumers to make healthy and safe choices. We need to leverage this change to help make progress against the nutrition-related health crisis in this country.” 

Gaps in nutrition labeling

To better understand what nutritional information is available to consumers from online retailers, the researchers analyzed information available from nine major online grocers on 10 different food products. Most of the items involved in the study were packaged goods, which typically are required to have an ingredients list, a full nutrition breakdown, and a common allergy warning. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that there were a lot of inconsistencies with these food labels. Overall, nutrition facts were only found on roughly 46% of all the items assessed, while ingredient lists were found on more than 54% of the items involved in the study. 

However, on average, this information was only consistent across the different stores and food items 36.5% of the time. The researchers found that allergy warnings only appeared on just over 11% of the items involved in the study. 

“Our findings highlight the current failure of both regulations and industry practice to provide a consistent environment in which online consumers can access information that is required in conventional stores,” said researcher Sean Cash. “With the expectation that online grocery sales could top $100 billion for 2021, the requirements to provide consumers with information need to keep up with the evolving marketplace.” 

Helping consumers make smart decisions

The researchers also looked at what regulations exist when it comes to food labeling and what can be done to help consumers make the best food choices for their health and wellness. They found that the FDA, FTC, and USDA can all work to make food labeling more consistent among online grocery retailers.

This is particularly important when thinking about consumers who rely on these labels for important nutrition information, like allergy warnings or sugar or carb levels. 

“Labeling requirements are intended to protect consumers who are largely unable to protect themselves,” said researcher Jennifer Pomeranz. “This is even more salient for online where consumers cannot directly inspect products. At a minimum, the entire required nutritional information panel should be made visible and legible for consumers shopping for their groceries online.” 

While several studies have explored how social media use can impact consumers’ mental health, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Buffalo explored the physical health toll associated with screen time. 

According to their findings, frequent social media use may increase consumers’ risk for a number of physical health concerns, including inflammation, a higher risk of disease, and a greater likelihood of doctors’ visits. 

“Social media use has become an integral part of many young adults’ daily lives,” said researcher Dr. David Lee. “It’s critical that we understand how engagement across these platforms contributes to physical health.” 

Social media poses a health risk

The researchers had over 250 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 participate in the study. They answered questions about their social media use and physical health and also provided blood samples. 

Using that information, the researchers identified a link between social media use and physical symptoms. The participants’ blood samples showed that more time on social media was associated with higher levels of the C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a biomarker closely associated with inflammation throughout the body. Over time, CRP can increase the risk for disease, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. 

“By looking at a biological marker in the blood, we were able to find a relatively more objective association between social media usage and physical health, but this correlational finding can’t rule out the possibility that poor health impacts social media usage,” Dr. Lee said. 

Participants who spent the most time on social media also more frequently reported experiencing headaches and back pains. These participants also visited their doctors with more regularity than participants who spent less time on social media. 

As the researchers hope that more work is done in this area, the team wonders if healthy consumers are less likely to spend lots of time on social media, whereas those with health issues are more frequent social media users. 

“There’s still work to be done,” Dr. Lee said. “But right now, I wanted to get the word out there that social media use may have a link to important physical health outcomes.” 

Ford Motor Company is recalling 199,085 model year 2014-2015 Fusions, Lincoln MKZs, and model year 2015 Mustangs originally sold or ever registered in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Hawaii.

Exposure to certain environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high humidity, and salt air can cause the brake pedal bumper to corrode and separate from the brake pedal.

A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.

On automatic transmission vehicles, a missing brake pedal bumper can allow the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to roll away and increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will replace the brake pedal bumpers and clutch pedal bumpers free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on March 3, 2022.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S02.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 70,716,716 (69,495,875)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 866,621 (865,969)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 352,266,210 (349,507,365)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,598,651 (5,592,934)‌

FDA expands use of treatment drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken two actions to expand the use of the antiviral drug remdesivir for some adults and pediatric patients for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The agency said it acted to reduce the risk of hospitalization. 

"On the heels of the FDA's recent authorization of two oral antiviral drugs, today's actions bolster the arsenal of therapeutics to treat COVID-19 and respond to the surge of the omicron variant," said Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. 

The FDA said remdesivir, one of the first treatments approved in the early days of the pandemic, is not a substitute for vaccination. Officials repeated their pleas for people to get a vaccination and booster shot. 

Pandemic is affecting food shipments

Empty spaces on grocery store shelves have appeared once again, and economists say the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is to blame. Employee illnesses at production centers, transportation companies, and supermarkets have reduced the workforce.

In Arizona, the Wall Street Journal reports that one in 10 processing plant and distribution workers at a major produce company were off the job because of illness in recent days. In Massachusetts, supermarkets and restaurants have fewer fish because of illnesses in that supply chain.

Unlike shortages early in the pandemic that were mostly caused by hoarding, economists say empty shelves now are the result of not enough workers. They say the situation is likely to continue for a while.

Nurses say they are facing burnout

Food industry workers are not the only ones feeling the stress from COVID-19. In hospitals across America, nurses on the front lines of the pandemic say they are facing burnout and need their employers to do more to help them cope.

Erin Williams is among 39 respiratory therapists at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. She told the Wall Street Journal her team had about 64 workers before the pandemic. The smaller team, she says, is dealing with double its normal case load.

“It’s an overwhelmed, heartbreak feeling,” Williams told the newspaper. “You know that you’re not able to give all the time that you want to and that just eats away at you as a caregiver.”

Around the nation

• Texas: The Texas Health Department has released data that it says makes a convincing case for people to be vaccinated. A new department webpage shows that unvaccinated Texans are 16 times more likely to die from coronavirus-related illnesses than people who are fully vaccinated.

• Maine: State health officials say the backlog of unprocessed COVID-19 tests is giving Maine an artificially low case count. They say that’s a problem because the low official numbers mean federal authorities have reduced the state’s allotment of a life-saving drug to treat the virus in high-risk patients.

• Tennessee: Schools in Bristol are closed today and for the next two Mondays as a way to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the Northeastern part of the state. “By closing on Mondays, part-time educational assistants will work full days on Tuesdays-Fridays of these weeks,” the school system said in an announcement.

• Utah: State lawmakers have done an about-face, reversing the statewide “test to stay” program for public schools. The program would have required all students at a school to be tested for COVID-19 if a certain number of students contracted the virus. Under the new law, individual schools are free to implement “test to stay” rules.

• Georgia: At least sixty teachers and school staff members across the state have died of COVID-19 since the start of the 2021-2022 school year, according to a report by WSB-TV in Atlanta. The youngest was 24-years-old.

It’s tax season. Forms are in the mail, and soon it will be time to file 2021 tax returns. 

Most Americans turn to a professional for help. Of the national tax preparation services, Intuit-TurboTax, Jackson Hewitt, and H&R Block are among the most widely used.

But which is the best? An analysis of ConsumerAffairs reviews of these three companies shows remarkable parity. In our 5-star system, all three are rated 3.8 stars.

We decided to do a deeper dive to see what sets the companies apart and what customers like and don’t like about them.

Intuit-TurboTax

TurboTax is an online software that allows taxpayers to prepare their returns themselves. It offers a 100% accuracy guarantee and promises to help users get the fastest refund possible.

Randall, of Porter, Texas, used TurboTax last year, but then he decided to have a CPA redo his filing because it was more complicated than in previous years.

“While TurboTax would have been $40.00 to complete and electronically send in, this CPA charged me $897.00 for the exact same outcome that Turbo Tax figured my taxes would have been,” Randall wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “Needless to say I won't be back to a CPA. Also took a month to get back from the CPA while Turbo Tax I was done in 2 hours.” 

TurboTax offers four plans, including one that’s free. The top-tier plan is for self-employed individuals and costs $120.

Jackson Hewitt

Jackson Hewitt is a nationwide tax service company with offices in most cities. It specializes in tax preparation, tax filing, and debt resolution. 

Taxpayers can use the company to file taxes online, but they can opt to have one of the company’s tax preparers fill out the return. Jessica, of Douglasville, Ga., says she had a good experience.

“It was a fast and pleasant experience she (the tax preparer) was very friendly and professional and made sure I got every tax credit I could and made my experience very nice,” Jessica wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “I will most definitely be back in the near future.”

Jackson Hewitt has three plans for taxpayers. Like TurboTax, it has a free plan and two plans that include filing state returns.

H&R Block

H&R Block operates on a similar basis as Jackson Hewitt. It may have an office nearby, but it also offers plenty of self-service features online. William,  of Ooltewah, Tenn., tells us he has used H&R Block the last five tax seasons.

“I opt to pay the extra $29.95 and have access to my last seven years' tax filings,” William wrote in his review. “I always get confirmations when my tax filing is accepted by the IRS and I do not get an excessive amount of email solicitations from them. Very professional and respectful company.”

H&R Block offers customers several different options. Fees for working with the company’s tax professionals using the document upload option start at $49, while the drop-off and in-office services start at $69. Additional fees may apply, including a $44.99 fee for filing state taxes.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh explored how children can be affected by COVID-19. Their findings showed that when children are hospitalized with the virus, they may have an increased risk of neurological symptoms, including headaches or seizures. 

“The SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect pediatric patients in different ways: it can cause acute disease, where symptomatic illness comes on soon after infection, or children may develop an inflammatory condition called MIS-C weeks after clearing the virus,” explained researcher Dr. Ericka Fink.

Children’s neurological risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,500 children who were hospitalized with COVID-19 in 30 hospitals across the country. The team evaluated the children’s medical records to better understand how the virus affected them. 

They learned that 44% of the children developed at least one neurological-related symptom as a result of COVID-19. Another 14% of the children were also diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after becoming infected with the virus. Headaches and acute encephalopathy were the two most common neurological symptoms for all of the children involved in the study. 

Children who developed MIS-C had a higher risk of neurological symptoms, and they were more likely than other children to develop multiple neurological symptoms. 

“Thankfully, mortality rates in children are low for both acute SARS-CoV-2 and MIS-C,” Dr. Fink said. “But this study shows that the frequency of neurological manifestations is high – and it may actually be higher than what we found because these symptoms are not always documented in the medical record or assessable. For example, we can’t know if a baby is having a headache.” 

The team hopes to do more work in this area to better understand if these neurological symptoms are likely to impact children long-term. 

“Another long-term goal of this study is to build a database that tracks neurological manifestations over time – not just for SARS-CoV-2, but for other types of infections as well,” said Dr. Fink. “Some countries have excellent databases that allow them to easily track and compare children who are hospitalized, but we don’t have such a resource in the U.S.” 

If you’re one of the tens of millions of consumers who use Venmo, American Express, Robinhood, Ally Financial, Capital One, Citi, Rocket Loans, TD Ameritrade, Venmo, or Wells Fargo apps to make banking transactions, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

Plaid – a California-based data transfer network that powers fintech and digital finance products – will be paying $58 million to users to settle charges that it took more financial data than was needed by a user’s app. 

On top of getting more personal financial data than necessary, the company is alleged to have obtained log-in credentials through the app’s “Plaid Link” interface. Regulators say the interface mimicked the look and feel of users' own bank account login screen, leading people to believe that the data they were sharing was really with the bank and not a third-party source. The plaintiffs in the class action suit alleged that Plaid then used that information to access and sell transaction histories. 

Major settlement in the fintech market

Consumers flocked to digital banking during the pandemic, and federal regulators started raising concerns. Early last year, the Justice Department stepped in to oppose Visa's efforts to acquire Plaid, saying that the deal was anti-competitive. This latest settlement could be monumentally important when it comes to policing the fintech market.

"This is a major settlement in the fintech privacy area, as the collection and use of consumer data has become more scrutinized in the past few years, especially amidst the wave of fintech and money transfer apps that have become popular with consumers," said attorney Jeffrey D. Neuburger, co-head of Proskauer’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group. 

Plaid might be out $58 million, but it’s remaining steadfast about its innocence. 

“We don’t share your personal information without your permission,” the company stated on its website. It also denies any wrongdoing and claims that it adequately disclosed and maintained transparency about its practices to consumers.

This is real, not a hoax

Snopes reports that earlier this month, Google users went on the hunt to find out if an email for Plaid’s class action settlement was a “scam or legit,” as people frequently do after receiving such notices. But this is real, and consumers have already started to receive a Notice of Settlement either by postal mail or email.

However, anyone who's due some money as part of this settlement might want to hold off on making any big plans with their check. The suit likely includes "tens of millions" of plaintiffs, so the payouts may not wind up being that big. 

Nonetheless, if you want to find out if you're eligible for some part of the settlement money, the settlement website has a complete searchable list of the companies linked to the Plaid app. You can also call the settlement administrator toll-free at 855-645-1115 to find out whether or not you are a class member.

Anyone who feels their data was misappropriated by Plaid has until April 28, 2022, to file a claim. Full settlement details and the consumer’s legal rights are available here.

The 2008 financial crisis was marked by a tidal wave of home foreclosures that devastated the housing market for years.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 hammered the economy and cost millions of jobs, but foreclosures remained surprisingly low. In fact, Black Knight, a housing data firm, reports that 2021 ended with a record low number of home foreclosures.

The company reports that just 0.24% of mortgage loans were in active foreclosure in December. Economists looking for a reason for the drop in foreclosures usually point to mortgage forbearance programs that the government put in place at the start of the pandemic. Those forbearance programs ended months ago, yet foreclosures keep falling. 

Unlike during the financial crisis, mortgage companies appear to be taking proactive steps to help their customers avoid losing their homes. Barbara, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, tells us her mortgage company, PHH, helped her family obtain a mortgage modification and get out of foreclosure.

“We have been able to stay current with our mortgage payments since then,” Barbara wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. "The agents we worked with were very helpful in guiding us through this process."

Helpful mortgage agent

Diane, of Firestone, Colo., works for a builder who took steps to help a resident who was critically ill. This allowed the homeowner to sell his home before it fell into foreclosure. She credits the lender, 21st Mortgage Corp., and one of its employees with saving the man’s home.

“I was working with Shavronna and I want to let you know she went above and beyond to help get this deal through!” Diane told ConsumerAffairs. “I could not have helped this resident without her help on 21st' end.”

In the future, more help may be required from lenders. Black Knight reports that over half a million serious delinquencies remain on the books. The number of borrowers who are 90 or more days past due on their mortgages, including those in active forbearance, is more than twice as high when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Louisiana is the state with the highest percentage of non-current home loans, at more than 7%. Mississippi is second at 6.91%, and West Virginia is third at 5.37%.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Arkansas explored some of the benefits associated with exercising in later life.

According to their findings, exercising into older age may help consumers stay young. Their work showed that regular physical activity can have a positive effect on the aging process from a cellular level. 

“There are functional benefits to exercise in muscle, even when performed late in life, but the contributions of epigenetic factors to late-life exercise adaptation are poorly defined,” the researchers wrote. “These data provide a molecular basis for exercise as a therapy to attenuate skeletal muscle aging.”  

Staying young into older age

The researchers conducted their study on aging mice. They had the mice run on a weighted wheel as often as they wanted to for two months and compared their health outcomes with mice of the same age who had a sedentary routine. 

To understand the effect of exercise on cellular aging, the researchers analyzed the DNA process of methylation. This is a process in which groups of cells cluster outside of genes, and it ultimately affects the ability to produce certain proteins. As the body ages, this process happens more frequently. 

“DNA methylation changes in a lifespan tend to happen in a somewhat systematic fashion, to the point where you can look at someone’s DNA from a given tissue sample and with a fair degree of accuracy predict their chronological age,” said researcher Kevin Murach. 

The study findings showed that the mice who ran on the weighted wheel for two months were eight weeks younger on a cellular level than sedentary mice of the same chronological age. The researchers explained that these findings are significant because many of these mice don’t live beyond two years old, and they had reached that benchmark by the end of the study. With regular exercise, the mice were able to slow down their biological aging. 

Though the study was conducted on mice, the researchers believe the findings also hold up for humans. They hope the message is especially clear for older consumers who don't exercise frequently: it’s never too late to start. Adopting an exercise routine, even at an older age, can have long-term benefits on the biological aging process. 

Vee Tyre and Rubber Co. is recalling 1,782 Tri-Ace Pioneer A/T III tires, sizes LT245/70R17 and LT235/85R16, with DOT codes 4718 through 1819.

Due to a manufacturing issue, the sidewall may separate from the tire.

Sidewall separation can lead to tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Vee Tyre will notify and reimburse owners for the cost of the tires and any service fees.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 21, 2022.

Owners may contact Vee Tyre customer service at (212) 564-7575. Vee Tyre's numbers for this recall are 16MBCMJBL & 16MJEMHBL.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 151 JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for model year 2007-2021 Tundras and model year 2008-2022 Sequoias, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121.

The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 21, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 93 model year 2021 Mustangs.

The side curtain airbag inflators may have been manufactured with the incorrect amount of compressed gas, which can result in improper inflation.

An airbag that does not inflate properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the side curtain airbags free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 1, 2022.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C37.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 69,366,460 (68,578,066)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 860,564 (857,781)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 343,385,893 (338,375,610)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,577,111 (5,567,534)‌

Analysis suggests COVID-19 cases are declining

After a month-long surge, new cases of COVID-19 are in decline over wide stretches of the U.S. that were hardest hit by the highly-transmissible Omicron variant. An analysis conducted by Reuters suggests that the virus, at least for now, could be fading out.

The analysis shows that new cases of COVID-19 have fallen in 15 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. In Northeastern states, new cases are down 36% compared to last week. For the first time in weeks, health professionals are expressing some optimism.

"Certainly it bodes well for us in terms of the trajectory of Omicron," said Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University in New York City.

Getting reimbursed for COVID-19 tests not easy, some consumers say

The federal government is requiring private health insurance providers to reimburse policyholders for the purchase of COVID-19 tests. Some policyholders say it’s a complicated process.

According to a report by Vox, which analyzed social media comments, many Americans are baffled by the process, especially if they are required to print a piece of paper that resembles an IRS form, fill it out, and then either send it to their insurer through the mail or by fax.

“Our health care system is mind-numbingly complex,” Larry Levitt, executive vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told Vox. “That complexity takes its toll on patients in terms of time, access, and affordability.”

Drug company ramping up Omicron treatment

GlaxoSmithKline, working with its partner Vir Biotechnology, is working overtime to meet the increasing demand for a COVID-19 antibody drug. The reason? The drug, sotrovimab, appears to be in a class by itself. It’s the only approved U.S. drug that works against the Omicron variant.

The two drug firms say they have taken steps to ramp up the production of sotrovimab. They hope to double the number of doses they can deliver in the first three months of the year to 600,000.

Even before they are produced, those doses have already been allotted. The U.S. government has agreed to purchase all 600,000 doses and distribute them to state health agencies based on need.

Around the nation

• Alabama: It’s been a rough week for children with COVID-19. State health officials say 97 Alabama children were hospitalized with the coronavirus this week. Fourteen of the young patients were in the intensive care unit (ICU) and four were on ventilators.

• South Carolina: The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is sounding the alarm over the pace of test results in the state. Officials say some people are waiting more than a week for results due to the increasing number of tests being performed. DHEC calls the delays “unacceptable.”

• Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont has issued an executive order directing all nursing homes in the state to require visitors to either show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recently tested negative for the virus in order to enter. “We know that some of the people who are most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19 include those who live in nursing homes, which is why we need to be doing everything we can to protect them from this virus,” Lamont said. 

• Iowa: The Iowa Restaurant Association is sending up a distress signal by reporting that last year’s aid for eateries impacted by COVID-19 wasn’t enough. The group is asking the state’s congressional delegation to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

• Florida: Orange County Health Director Dr. Raul Pino has been placed on administrative leave after he sent out an email urging staff members to get vaccinated. “I have a hard time understanding how we can be in public health and not practice it!” he wrote.

Is Peloton heading the way of the dinosaur? Things certainly don’t look good for the company after CEO John Foley announced Thursday that the company was making “significant corrective actions to improve profitability outlook.”

Foley said that the company’s reset will center mostly on improving profitability and optimizing costs in hopes of returning with a more focused Peloton.

“This work is still underway and we expect to have more details to share when we report earnings on February 8, 2022," said Foley.

According to documents reviewed by CNBC, Peloton’s halt is temporary, with the company pausing Bike production for two months. It's a move that follows a stop in production on the pricier Bike+ in December. The company is also stopping the production of its Tread treadmill machine for six weeks, beginning in February, and doesn’t anticipate producing any Tread+ machines in fiscal 2022.

"Notably, we’ve found ourselves in the middle of a once-in-a-hundred year event with the COVID-19 pandemic, and what we anticipated would happen over the course of three years happened in months during 2020, and into 2021," Foley stated in a company release.

"We feel good about right-sizing our production, and, as we evolve to more seasonal demand curves, we are resetting our production levels for sustainable growth."

Losing revenue

As people were forced to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fitness market was one of the lucky niches to grow. Peloton saw its global revenue zoom from around $734 million in 2019 to $3.15 billion in 2021.

But with gyms reopening and demand for home fitness equipment considerably lower, Peloton’s losses are now mounting. The company has also landed in hot water with government regulators over the mishandling of a recall. Reports circulated that adult users, children, pets, and/or objects had been pulled under the rear of the company's treadmill, causing third-degree abrasions, broken bones, and even a fatality.

Then came Peloton’s unfortunate placement in the TV show "Sex and the City." When the new season premiered on Dec. 9, 2021, it brought with it the epic fail tale of Mr. Big, who suffers a fatal heart attack after a Peloton workout. The company’s stock dropped by more than 11% the day after the episode aired and even further the day after, adding to a single-year drop of more than 80%.

Consumers cite problems with equipment

The company might also have to take a closer look at how its customers value the return on investment they’re getting for their $39/mo. subscription.

“Customer service is terrible and several of them were very rude and never got back to me as they said they would,” Craig from Pawtucket, R.I., recently wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review.

Alexandra of Renton, Wash., wrote about being told by her doctor that an injury she suffered was connected, in part, to the stiffness of the pedals of her Peloton. She said the company would only reimburse her for about half of what she paid for the bike and not for any of the $2,000 in medical bills she incurred. 

“I sent them all my proof of medical bills and letters and asked if I could return the bike and be refunded only for what I still owed on the bike. … I purchased it for $2,500 and still owe $2,100. They refused and said they would only pay me $1,300. So I would have to eat another $800 on top of what I already paid, not to count the thousands in medical bills for nerve damage caused by the machine!” she wrote.

Used cars have gotten historically expensive. There are plenty of stories about people selling their late-model used cars for more money than they paid for them new.

That’s great if you have a car to trade in but not so good if you must purchase a car or truck and can’t put it off until supplies increase and prices fall. To help navigate the used car buying process, iSeeCars, an online automotive marketplace, analyzed over 12 million cars and narrowed down the “best used cars for the money” across all vehicle types.

The company also determined the best cars at various pricing levels -- such as under $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, and $25,000 -- to help consumers find the best used cars within their budget.

Older, with more miles

When looking at the cars on these lists, one thing stands out. On the list of used cars you can purchase for $15,000 or less, nearly all are 2013 models. Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com, says that’s older than you might have considered in the past.

“Compared to a year or two ago, the age or the mileage of the vehicle you are going to get at the previous price points are going to be older and higher in terms of age and mileage,” Brauer told ConsumerAffairs.

Many older used cars will have a lot of miles on them, but Brauer says there is some good news for used car shoppers. Some of these older vehicles still pack a lot of value.

“Cars keep getting more durable and reliable,” he said. “A car with 90,000 miles from the last five years is probably about as reliable as a 50,000-mile car from 2000 to 2010.”

Vehicles made the various lists based on three primary factors: value retention, durability, and safety. Only one car – the 2013 Kia Soul – makes the list of cars available for under $10,000.

Toyota, Subaru, and Honda

When the price point is raised to $15,000, there are a lot more choices. Three Toyotas, three Subarus, and two Honda models make the list – three brands with a reputation for quality. In fact, Toyota is well-represented on the other lists of cars available at different price points.

“Not surprisingly, when value retention and durability are major factors, Toyota and its Lexus division are going to do rather well,” Brauer said.

Despite these brands’ reputation for quality, Brauer said it is reasonable for anyone buying an older vehicle to have it inspected by an independent mechanic. While that might not be possible before the sale, there may be opportunities after the papers have been signed if you choose the right dealer.

“Take Carvana, a digital online retailer, you can’t get near the vehicle until after you purchase it,” Brauer said. “But it allows a seven-day period in which you can return the vehicle for a refund.”

He says consumers purchasing an older, higher-mileage used car should buy from a dealer that gives you time – even seven days – to drive the car to make sure you like it. He says buyers should also take advantage of that time to get a mechanic to look it over.

After onboard cases of COVID-19 rocketed in December and subsequently forced cruise lines to cancel voyages, two of the largest companies – Royal Caribbean and Carnival – are increasing their efforts to protect cruisers against the spread of the virus. 

Both companies are also changing several itineraries because ports have implemented new testing requirements for guests.

According to a report by RoyalCaribbeanBlog, the cruise line has put new mask rules in place that will remain in effect through February 14, 2022. In an email, Royal Caribbean pinned the extension of the mask rules on the Omicron variant. 

"With the recent uptick of COVID-19 in the world and added Omicron variant concerns, we feel it prudent to temporarily tighten our onboard health protocols to require masks indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking while seated,” the company stated.

Royal Caribbean passengers will also be required to wear face masks while indoors (except when drinking or eating) whether they’ve been vaccinated or not, and the cruise line is curtailing smoking in the casino.

Carnival to use app for COVID-19 verifications

Carnival officials believe they've found a COVID-19 "solution" for its operations from U.S. homeports. In an email to ConsumerAffairs, the company stated that it will begin a pilot program at its Port Canaveral, Fla., port using an app called VeriFLY starting Jan. 22. Carnival said using the app will allow Carnival guests to upload their proof of vaccination and testing information so that it can be verified before sailing.

The upshot of that should be a more streamlined embarkation experience at the terminal. Once the pilot at Port Canaveral is complete, Carnival intends to move quickly to implement the solution across its fleet.

Carnival is also expanding its in-terminal testing capabilities for vaccinated guests prior to embarkation for 3- and 4-day voyages. The company said it will continue to operate under its current protocols -- which include sailing vaccinated voyages, requiring pre-embarkation testing, and following onboard indoor mask requirements -- until further notice.

There's some good news for Carnival fans, though. On Jan. 13, Carnival restarted operations and returned to its year-round schedule from Charleston, S.C. To date, Carnival has 19 of its 22 U.S.-based ships in guest operation, sailing from eight homeports on the Atlantic, Gulf, and West coasts.

Itinerary changes

CruiseHive reports that Norwegian Cruise Line recently notified travel agents that two ships were forced to change their itineraries.

“Destinations may suddenly modify their travel requirements and restrictions, requiring us to revise our itineraries and potentially skip scheduled ports of call. Furthermore, under certain circumstances onboard services may be impacted or limited to provide the safest environment possible,” the message read.

“As always, we will do our very best to communicate any changes with you as soon as the information becomes available, however, many of these modifications may come at very short notice, or even during the voyage.”

Carnival has itinerary changes of its own that travelers should know about. The local government of Grand Cayman has severely limited the number of incoming passengers to protect the health and safety of visitors and its own citizens. Until the country feels safe about its chances, it’s forcing ships to reduce capacity to 1,600 people, about 60% for most ships.