Is applying for health care coverage on your holiday to-do list this year? If so, having the right financial documents on hand will make the process easier.

The state Health Insurance Marketplaces opened on Nov. 15 and stay open through Feb. 15, 2015. This will be your only chance to enroll in or change your plan until next year (with a few exceptions, such as if you lose other coverage midyear).

Your eligibility for financial help to pay for health insurance depends on your projected household income for 2015, which encompasses the same financial information you report on your annual tax return. (Here’s a cheat sheet we created that shows exactly what goes into the calculation.)

You'll need these documents and data to fill out your application.

• Your most recent income tax return
• Recent pay stubs
• Social Security number and birth dates for everyone in your household who’s going to be buying insurance with you
• Log in and password for your marketplace account, if you already have one
• If you’re self-employed or didn’t file taxes last year, whatever information you have on your income and business expenses
• Information on other income sources, such as alimony, capital gains, investments, pensions, rental properties, Social Security, and unemployment compensation

Submit a question to Consumer Reports' health insurance expert. Be sure to include the state you live in so we can provide a more-detailed answer.

More health insurance information

To find out how to apply for, select, and use health insurance, including Medicare, visit our main health insurance page.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Q. Is it safe to use teeth-whitening mouthwash every day?

A. Hydrogen-peroxide levels in those products are too low to harm gums or oral tissue. But many rinses and whitening products may increase tooth sensitivity. And those with alcohol can cause mouth dryness or irritation, says Gigi Meinecke, D.M.D., a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

Also, mouthwash alone has only modest whitening results: In a recent 45-day study, researchers found “some degree of whitening” after dunking yellowed teeth in teeth-whitening mouthwashes twice a day for 1 minute, then rinsing with water. If a product irritates your mouth, try whitening strips and a whitening fluoride toothpaste instead.

Respondents to Consumer Reports' 2012 survey who bleached their teeth at home using a tray made by their dentist were more satisfied than those who had their teeth whitened in a dentist’s office. Readers paid an average of about $260 for a custom tray and spent an average of about $250 for an ultraviolet in-office whitening treatment. Over-the-counter whitening kits cost considerably less. Our tests found that whitening strips produce the best results. But make sure you don't overdo it.

Check our toothbrush buying guide.

This article also appeared in the October 2014 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Just ahead of the LA Auto Show, Toyota rolled out the Mirai sedan, its first production-ready hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (FCV). It looks like Toyota is making the sort of big bet on hydrogen that it did with the Prius back in 2000, a move that started the hybrid-car wave. We drove a prototype of the Mirai last winter and liked it fairly well.

The Mirai is based on a modified Lexus HS platform, a car that’s a bit smaller than a Toyota Camry. Power is rated at 153 horsepower and acceleration is claimed to be 9 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. That’s not a quick sprint time and unlike other electric cars, the Mirai doesn’t feel so eager to gather speed. Once rolling, though, it glides quietly and effortlessly. You do hear a distinctive whine while accelerating with this example. The Toyota rep who joined me on our ride told me that that comes from a compressor sucking outside air into the fuel stack where the chemical reaction producing the electricity takes place, and he advised that it would be muted prior to production.

Otherwise, the ride is unobtrusive in a Toyota kind of way. The suspension soaks up bumps well. Handling is nothing to write home about and in truth not that much different from a Prius. The high-tech interior has two display screens and a sci-fi ambience. Fit and finish looks and feels appropriately upscale. Unfortunately, the Mirai seats only four; in lieu of a center rear seat there’s a covered storage bin.

Two tanks with a combined volume of 122 liters (about 33 gallons) hold 5 kilograms of high-pressure hydrogen gas good for a driving range of about 300 miles, Toyota says. The tanks take five minutes to refill. While the price of hydrogen at yet-to-be-built fueling stations is not established, current estimates are that it ought to be about $10 per kilogram, which works out to about $50 to get 300 miles of driving.

Toyota says the Mirai will go on sale in small numbers by the end of 2015. Only about 200 will be available at first, but U.S. allocation will grow to 3,000 by 2017. The initial price will be $57,500, reduced to about $45,000 after various clean-energy incentives. But Toyota expects that about 90 percent of customers will lease one instead, for $499 a month including three years of free maintenance and most crucially, complementary hydrogen fill-ups. That’s definitely the way to do it as the technology advances rapidly.

Visit our guide to alternative fuels and vehicles.  

Fuel-cell vehicles, just to remind everyone, are electric cars that generate electricity on board rather than hauling around a big heavy battery needing frequent recharges. With hydrogen the underlying fuel, the only byproduct is water vapor.

Some obstacles remain. The first is a lack of hydrogen fueling structure. And for right now, the cheapest way to harvest hydrogen is to extract it from natural gas, meaning that fossil fuels still play a role. There are, of course, cleaner ways to make hydrogen, such as using solar or wind power to hydrolyze water, but today that’s a lot costlier.

To address the lack of hydrogen filling stations Toyota has made a partnership with the state of California to build hydrogen stations in that state, and has a deal with a compressed-gas company, Air Liquide, to build stations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

We stopped at a hydrogen filling station in Fountain Valley, California, and the process of attaching the hose to the filler neck was almost as simple as pumping gasoline.

The Mirai seems like a high-tech wizard of a car, and it delivers an unobtrusive driving experience albeit with some sacrifices in practicality, performance and range. The 300 miles you get on full tanks looks good compared with currently available EVs but is no match for the 400-plus mile range of many conventional gasoline cars. And by the time the Mirai is widely available, it will face competition from the battery-electric Tesla Model 3, due out in 2017, which may have a comparable range, size, and price point, if not the fast-fueling capability.

—Gabe Shenhar

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Following the hype parade regarding Apple’s CarPlay system arriving soon in the automotive infotainment space, Google will be entering the arena in late 2015 with Android Auto.

At the LA Auto Show, Google reps showed off beta-test versions of Android Auto connected to a Hyundai Genesis. About 52 percent of the smart phone market uses Android devices, according to ComScore. That means lots of heathens who don’t worship Apple products also need a way to more intuitively connect their phones to their cars.

Much like CarPlay’s iPhone-like interface, Android Auto works by mating your Google-based phone to your car’s USB port and turning the central screen into a larger monitor. The interface uses Android 5.0 Lollipop software to place most of your phone’s apps and services on the car’s central screen. Note: that’s most apps. Android won’t let you stream YouTube or play Flappy Bird in the car.

But if it’s listening to Google Music or Spotify, navigating by Google Maps, or even responding to emails, Android Auto has it covered with a minimum of driver distraction.

Tour the complete LA Auto Show coverage.

Upon connecting, the screen display is basic and straightforward. The large-type, large-button home screen displays a navigation square of your surroundings, your immediate upcoming events, and the weather. A virtual dock at the bottom of the screen allows you to quickly leap to navigation, phone, mail, and music.

One frustration for many car-phone connections involves music. Many times, the playlist you were listening to on your phone reverts to the first song once you connect to your car. And, really, haven’t we had enough of “All Out of Love” by Air Supply? But Android Auto continues playing whatever you were listening to before you got in the car.

To address driver distraction, Android Auto puts texting, email, and third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp into speech-to-text mode. Incoming messages are read to you by Google’s speech interface. You can respond by pressing your vehicle’s voice command button on the steering wheel, and the interface will turn your words into text.

“People are already using their devices in the cars. They know it’s unsafe, but they are doing it anyway. Android Auto keeps people safe because it keeps things familiar,” says Andy Brenner, Android project manager for Google.

Like Apple’s Siri search function, Talk to Google allows searches via steering wheel buttons. It is remarkably intuitive. An example: You are driving in Los Angeles, but ask about the weather in San Diego. You then ask about the hours at the zoo (without mentioning which city), and Talk to Google intuits that you are asking about the San Diego Zoo, not the Los Angeles Zoo.

Google wants Android Auto to work alongside the car’s native interface, rather than turn the central screen into a “dumb” terminal. So if you like your car’s navigation system, but want to listen to Spotify on your phone and display it on the center screen, Brenner says Android Auto should be able to perform both functions simultaneously.

­—Mark Rechtin and Seung Min Yu

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

About 7.8 million vehicles, made by 10 different automakers, have been recalled to replace frontal air bags on the driver’s side or passenger’s side, or both. The air bags, made by a major parts supplier, Takata, were installed in cars from model year 2002 through 2008. Some of those air bags could deploy explosively, injuring or even killing car occupants.

The different automakers’ notices to their customers have varied, depending on how many Takata air bags they installed and how long they believe it will take them to acquire replacements if they don’t have enough on hand. To provide guidance to car owners, we spoke with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Takata, and most carmakers.

Nissan’s explanation of the issue was one of the clearest: “The propellant could potentially deteriorate over time due to environmental factors [due to many years in high humidity conditions], which could lead to over-aggressive combustion in the event of an air bag deployment. This could create excessive internal pressure within the inflator and could cause the inflator housing to rupture.”

If the air bag housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from the air bag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin—a potentially disastrous outcome from a supposedly life-saving device.

Putting the dangers in perspective

Four fatalities and more than 100 injuries have been linked to the Takata air bags, and in some cases the incidents were horrific, with metal shards penetrating a driver’s face and neck. As awful as they are, such incidents are very rare, and it doesn’t mean that air bags in general are a danger. The Department of Transportation estimates that between 1987 and 2012, frontal air bags have saved 37,000 lives.

Based on information provided by Takata and acting under a special campaign by NHTSA, the involved automakers are responding to this safety risk by recalling all vehicles that have these specific air bags. While the automakers are prioritizing resources by focusing on high-humidity areas, they shouldn’t stop there. We encourage a national approach to the risks, as vehicles tend to travel across state borders, especially in the secondary market.

According to a Nov. 7 New York Times report, Takata was aware of dangerous defects with its air bags years before the company filed paperwork with federal regulators. Based on interviews with two unnamed Takata employees, the Times stated that Takata began secretly testing for air bag defects in 2004—four years before the company claims it started testing for flaws. The Takata sources also told the Times that, after three months of testing in 2004, Takata's internal research was halted and research materials were destroyed.

Update: According to a Nov. 18 statement from NHTSA, the government agency has called for the recalls to be expanded to a national level. NHTSA says the expansion stems from a recent investigation into a vehicle with a driver’s side air bag failure that occurred outside of the regional recall area.

Visit our guide to car safety.

How do I know whether my car is affected by the recall?

There are several ways to check whether your car is affected. For most methods, you’ll need your vehicle identification number. You'll find the VIN in the lower driver-side corner of the windshield (observable from outside the vehicle), as well as on your registration and insurance documents. Punch that number into NHTSA’s online VIN-lookup tool. If your vehicle is affected, the site will tell you so. NHTSA also has a list of vehicles available for a quick review, and the manufacturers have ownership sections of their websites for such information.

How important is that I respond to the recall?

All recalls, by definition, are concerned with safety and should be treated seriously. As with all recalls, we recommend having the work performed as soon as parts are available and the service can be scheduled.

Does it matter where I live?

According to NHTSA, yes. The Takata inflators seem to be vulnerable to persistent high humidity and high temperature conditions, such as in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, the Gulf Coast states, Hawaii, and island territories.

How are repairs being prioritized?

Automakers are getting the replacement parts as fast as they can, and most are sending them to the high-humidity areas first. Northern and less-humid areas might need to wait longer for parts availability, depending on the brand. Contact your dealership to learn how soon the work can be performed.

What if I spend only a certain part of the year in a humid climate?  

People who travel to the higher-risk areas in times of low humidity (such as snowbirds) are not at the same level of risk as those who live in those areas year-round, according to NHTSA.

Are the air bags in my car definitely defective?

It is by no means certain that the air bags in every recalled vehicle are defective. Since 2002 only a very small number of nearly 8 million cars have been involved in these incidents. Still, Takata has told the automakers that a range of manufacturing dates could potentially be defective, and the automakers have recalled certain vehicles and model years out of caution. At this point it looks like there’s no way to be sure whether the potential defects are confined to small batches that weren’t assembled right or to large numbers. Since sustained high humidity is thought to exacerbate the problem, regions of high humidity are the primary focus for recalls right now.  

I’m worried about driving, what should I do until the fix is made?

If the recall on your car involves only the front passenger-side air bag, then don’t let anyone sit in that seat. But if you use the VIN-lookup tool and it says that the problem involves the driver’s side, you should do what you can to minimize your risk. If possible, consider:

• Minimizing your driving.
• Carpooling with someone whose vehicle is not affected by the recall.
• Utilizing public transportation.
• Renting a car.

Renting a car until yours is repaired can prove expensive and ultimately might not be the ideal solution. Asking your dealer whether they will provide one, or a loaner vehicle might be worth a try if it accomplishes nothing else than putting some pressure on the manufacturer. If you do get a rental car, as with any new vehicle or rental, take some time to familiarize yourself with its operation before driving.

What about shutting off air bags until the replacement parts arrive?

Right now only Toyota is recommending this course of action. Each brand is handling the recall in a slightly different manner. Consumer Reports has concerns about the recommendation from a safety standpoint.

Why can’t my dealer just use another supplier’s air bag if the Takata replacement is available?

The recalled air bags were designed specifically for your car, including being sized for the specific packaging, calibrated for the automaker’s performance parameters, and engineered to mate with the car’s sensors and software. There is no handy, off-the-shelf alternative. Besides that, we are told by supply-chain experts that there is very little excess factory capacity and tooling anywhere that could be pressed into service quickly to make these specific parts.

Affected owners in Florida, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico have been prioritized in this recall and will receive parts first. If you live in these regions, make sure to contact your local BMW dealer immediately to schedule an appointment to have your front passenger air bag replaced. The driver’s air bag is not included in the BMW recall. BMW recommends that no one sit in the front passenger seat until that air bag is replaced.

Chrysler is going to replace the air bag in cars based in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is currently working on accumulating a supply of replacement parts, and is contacting customers as they become available.

Chrysler stresses that its vehicles are equipped with inflators that differ from other vehicles. The American automaker is saying that these inflators are not faulty.

Contact your local Ford dealer to schedule an appointment to have the air bag replaced in affected vehicles. Ford states that it has not seen any issues in its vehicles, but under advisement from NHTSA, and with information from Takata, the company is recalling specific vehicles, including the 2004 Ford Ranger and 2005-2007 Mustang.

Double check that your vehicle is actually involved. It was first announced that many Buicks, Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles were affected by the recall. It turns out that was an error in reporting by NHTSA. Most of those vehicles were part of an unrelated recall years ago.

Interestingly, the two remaining vehicles were actually produced by other automakers and rebranded under former GM makes: the 2003-2005 Pontiac Vibe (built alongside the Toyota Matrix) and the 2005 Saab 9-2x (a Subaru-built vehicle rebranded as a Saab).

Honda has the most affected vehicles, with more than five million cars being recalled. If you haven’t already, go to Honda’s recall site and enter your VIN. If your vehicle is included in this recall, the site will provide a description of the problem and instructions on how to proceed.

If you have a vehicle that was first sold in, or is registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands—take immediate action. If you haven’t already received notice in the mail, print out the results of your VIN search and contact your nearest Honda dealer. They have allocated the replacement parts to these high humidity areas and will replace the part once you’ve made an appointment. Honda will be sending notices to other areas on a rolling basis as the parts become available.  

Mazda has focused its recall on vehicles sold or registered in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The automaker will replace the front and/or passenger air bag inflators.

If you see that your car as part of this recall, Mitsubishi advises owners to act immediately in scheduling an appointment to replace it. If the dealer does not have the part yet, they will provide instructions on how best to proceed until the part is available.

Nissan has notified owners of affected vehicles to bring their vehicle in for inspection and potential parts replacement. Extra attention is being paid to “some areas” of Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nissan says they have a sufficient supply of air bags to keep up with demand.

Call your local Subaru dealer and schedule an appointment to have the air bag replaced. There is no wait for parts to arrive and no special emphasis on localized climates or regions. Because second owners may not know where the previous owner of their vehicle lived/drove, Subaru does not want to focus on any particular region.

Immediate action is recommended if your vehicle registered in the coastal areas around the Gulf of Mexico, including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Or if the car is in Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Hawaii.

Toyota will replace the front passenger air bag. If the part is not available, the dealership can disable the front passenger air bag until a replacement part is available, and then recommends that the front passenger seat not be occupied.

Toyota also says that if you do not follow the instructions in the owner letter to have the work performed, then you should not drive your vehicle.

If you must use the seat after air bag deactivation, we advise that extra care should be taken to ensure passengers wear a seatbelt.

Owners outside those areas can likewise contact your Toyota dealer to have them disable the front passenger air bag.

When the parts become available, owners will be notified by mail to bring their vehicle in for the proper fix.

Finally, if you are uncomfortable driving your vehicle to the dealership to have the work performed, contact your local Toyota dealer, and they will arrange to have the vehicle picked up.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Do your kids tune out with their tablets as soon as they hop in the back seat? Do you sometimes arrive at a destination half an hour early with nothing to do? Do you wish you knew your spouse’s real mood before he or she got home from work? In-car apps could soon solve all these problems, according to a panel of speakers at the Connected Car Expo at the LA Auto Show.

Mary Ann de Lares Norris, COO of Oblong Industries, wants to combine existing technologies—such as GPS location services, gesture controls and accessible screens—to turn tablets into tour guides for kids on long drives.

So instead of the kids vegging out watching “Toy Story” for the umpteenth time, the tablet could recognize the child pointing at the St. Louis Gateway Arch and upload a document and movies detailing the Arch’s history and construction.

“It changes the conversation from, ‘Are we there yet?’ to ‘Hey, Mom, did you know?’” de Lares Norris says.

That’s just a starting point. Microsoft is working on mood-sensing software that can intuit kids screaming disruptively in the car and adjust the content of what is being shown on the back-seat screens.

Tour our complete LA Auto Show coverage.

Another possibility: Say your wife typically commutes home sedately listening to Adele. But one night, her driving is much more aggressive, and her smart phone’s Pandora search has been changed to Metallica. The car might text you that your wife might like a candlelit dinner and even pre-place an order for a flower delivery.

Bryan Biniak, Microsoft’s global vice president of developer experience, has seen apps that will use a car’s GPS to allow local vendors to display instant specials. Say your smart-phone calendar knows you have a lunch meeting, but you arrived 40 minutes early. A Groupon special for a half-off chair massage at a nearby spa may appear on your car’s center screen.

One big challenge for parents: Timing the arrival at destination with what the kids are doing in the back seat. Arrive too early, and the kids are annoyed they didn’t see the end of the movie. Run into a traffic snarl, the movie ends and the kids are squalling that they are bored. So-called “travel timed” applications will be synced to your car’s navigation system so that the game or program can be shortened or drawn out so that your arrival coincides with the kids finishing what they are doing with their tablets.

The next step in mobile entertainment is already racing to a dealership near you, in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Check out our coverage from the LA Auto Show.

—Mark Rechtin

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Think Black Friday is competitive? Walmart just turned up the heat by saying it will match some of its competitors' best Black Friday deals on electronics and toys a full week early with a pre-Black Friday sale that runs from Friday Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. through Nov. 27, or as long as the sale items last.

At a media event on Nov. 18 at a Walmart store in North Bergen, N.J., company executives said that significantly more items would be available in its pre-Black Friday sale than last year, adding that the company bought deeper so that stores will have more items in stock. Walmart also recently announced that it is allowing store managers to match online prices from other retailers, including Amazon.

Full details, including model names and exact prices, will be revealed on Walmart.com the evening of Nov. 20. Among the highlighted bigger-ticket items are an unnamed 40-inch LED HDTV, 60-inch TVs from LG and Sony, a Sony PlayStation 4 offer, and a Canon wireless printer. (We imagine that the 40-inch TV will be the 40-inch Element 1080p set we saw advertised by Target for its Black Friday sale or a comparable model.)

See all Consumer Reports Recommended TVs.

Find the right TV with our TV buying guide and Ratings. And learn the best places to shop for electronics. Visit our Holiday Gift Ideas page for more news on deals and advice on ways to save.

Walmart also says that it is moving up some of its Black Friday-like sales during the same shopping period, again with a focus on electronics. Some of the sale items include a 58-inch Samsung smart LED/LCD TV for $698, a 40-inch Samsung LED/LCD TV with “Frozen Sing-Along Edition” for $298, and a new iPad Air 2 (16GB) with Wi-Fi for $489, plus a $100 Walmart gift card.

We can't be sure, but the 58-inch Samsung set could be the UN58H5202AFXZA, a 60Hz 1080 smart TV that Walmart currently sells for $798. The least expensive 40-inch Samsung set we could find at Walmart is the UN40H5003AFXZA, a 60Hz 1080p LED/LCD TV that normally sells for $398. The "Frozen" disc typically sells for about $15.

There are also a several deals on iPhones, including a $75 Walmart gift card with the purchase of an iPhone 6 or 5s. If you're willing to sign a two-year service agreement with AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon, you can get an iPhone 6 for $179 or an iPhone 5s for $79. Both phones will be available for zero money down for AT&T Next or Verizon Edge customers in certain markets.

For those looking to shop on Thanksgiving, Walmart's sales start at 6 p.m., as we previously reported. During an electronics sale that starts at 8 p.m., Walmart has added a new special TV buy, a 60-inch Element TV for $498, a $200 price cut.

Among its online deals is a 55-inch Samung UHD TV for $1,298, a claimed $900 savings. We don't know if it's the same set, but one of Best Buy’s doorbuster specials is the 55-inch UN55HU6830FXZA set, which it will sell for $900. The TV is currently available at Best Buy for $1,400. We assume these will be in limited quantities at Best Buy, so maybe Walmart will have more in stock, though the price is nearly $400 more. We'll update the report if we get more info.

Unlike most retailers, Walmart offers a one-hour guarantee on nine of its popular doorbuster specials for Black Friday. Customers who are in the designated areas of the store between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 are guaranteed they'll get the item, either taking it home from the store that night if it's still available or picking it up from a store at a later date before Christmas. Walmart is providing store maps that show the exact location of the doorbuster specials.

If you're looking to buy a TV or other electronics during the next two weeks, keep checking back for all our Black Friday coverage. And to help you get the best deal, check out our Top 10 Black Friday 2014 shopping tips.

—James K. Willcox

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Winter is striking the nation early this year, with chilly temperatures and inches of snow catch drivers by surprise across the land. The first frost is certain to remind that winter prep is necessary, from basic servicing and stocking the car with a winter roadside emergency kit, to equipping the tire with good all-season or winter tires.

Given a choice, it is always best to avoid to driving in slippery conditions, but when you must go out, keep these tips in mind.

Take the time to thoroughly scrape the windows and brush snow off your entire car, including the roof. It’s not just a courtesy; it’s the law in some states. Visibility is critical, and flying chunks of snow and ice pose a danger. Think of those driving behind you. Imagine seeing a sheet of snow coming off the car ahead.

When starting out on slippery roads, go easy on the gas to avoid wheel spin. Some cars have traction control or a winter mode that helps. If you have an automatic transmission that allows second-gear starts, select that gear for better traction.

Reduce your speed to lessen the likelihood of a skid. Avoid any sudden inputs to the steering, throttle, or brakes. Use lower gears when decelerating, to allow the engine to slow the car. Envision you are driving with an open cup of hot coffee in your lap.

On a dry road, allow 2 or 3 seconds of stopping distance between your car and the one ahead. In slick conditions, increase that interval to 4 seconds or more, depending on the ugliness outside.

Unless you’re driving an older car without antilock brakes, in an emergency use steady pressure and let your car’s antilock brakes do the work. Almost every modern car has ABS, but check your owner’s manual or ask your mechanic if you’re not sure. In some very icy conditions, even ABS may not help; you’re along for the ride until you regain traction.

All- and four-wheel-drive systems provide extra traction while accelerating, but they can’t help much with stopping and turning. That’s the job of the winter tires you should have bought.

—Jim Travers

See our complete guide to winter driving.

This artlcle also appeared in the December 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

If ham is a traditional part of your holiday feasts and you won't have the time to make one from scratch, consider one of the spiral hams we taste-tested. Order your spiral ham early. If you run out of time or don't want to spend for shipping—in one case last year we spent $55 to get a single ham to our headquarters—check company sites for retail stores in your area.

Read about spiral hams that will have you pigging out and best hams for the holidays to find out how we tested spiral hams and learn more about online ordering and delivery. (All prices noted below are the prices as tested.)

Stuck on what to get for everyone in your family? Consumer Reports has you covered, with expert selections for moms, dads, grandparents, kids, and teens. For a comprehensive list, check out our Holiday Gift Ideas page.

HoneyBaked Half ($74)

Our top-rated spiral ham, the HoneyBaked Half is flavorful and complex with balanced tastes of clove, fruit, and brown sugar that complement ham’s natural flavors. Consistently moist and tender. In our tests, it reheated well and didn’t dry out.

Smithfield Brown Sugar Cured and Spiral Siced ($80)

Fairly flavorful; not sweet or complex. Ham flavor complemented by strong salt and smoke. Slightly sour. Texture varied ham to ham.

Applewood Farms Spiral Sliced ($35)

Flavor varied ham to ham, but moist and (at its best) sweet, with fruit and brown-spice flavors. Low smoke, not very complex. Included glaze enhances flavors and balances salt.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Coffee preferences vary from person to person and region to region. So the trick to finding the perfect coffeemaker to give as a gift is to know at least something about the intended recipient. To help, Consumer Reports tests drip, single-serve, and other varieties of coffeemakers. Here are several coffeemakers from our list of top coffeemaker picks as well as a few near-misses to consider as you narrow down your choices—everything from a quick serving on the go to all you need for a discriminating crowd.

Speedy and convenient single-serve coffeemakers

Coffee made in a single-serve (pod) coffeemaker may not please a true coffee aficionado, but for the coffee drinker in a hurry the best of these machines can’t be beat. The DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio EDG455T, $130, has a scroll button for selecting among serving sizes. Cup speed and size consistency are top-notch, and the unit is fairly easy to use. One caveat: Like other DeLonghi Nescafé models, it requires so-called “flavor capsules” (only 18 choices in all), available only from Nescafé.

For Starbucks lovers

If you're a die-hard fan of both Starbucks and the single-serve coffee experience, you can appreciate the Starbucks Verismo 600, $150, which improves on the earlier Verismo 580 for service-size options. First- and second-cup delivery are speedy, and each cup is of uniform size. Where the Starbucks falls short, though, is in its limited options for varying the strength of what you brew. The selection of Starbucks capsules is limited to about 15 so far, though this might suffice if you like Starbucks’ usual flavors.

To fill travel mugs in a hurry

Make 16 ounces of coffee with most pod coffeemakers, and you’ll get an 8 ounce brew with twice the water. The Black & Decker Single Serve CM620B, $35, makes enough standard drip coffee to fill a 16-ounce travel mug. Most of the to-go drip models we tested are fairly barebones, reflected in their convenience scores, but this model brews close to industry guidelines for time and temperature. For even better brew performance, the pricier KitchenAid Architect KCM0402ACS, $100, brews 18 ounces.

For serving a crowd

A machine intended for the weekday-morning dash may not suffice when you’re hosting a party. The Cuisinart Crystal SCC-1000 Limited Edition Perfec Temp, $200, is the only drip model in our tests that can brew a full 14 cups. While it's pricey—this one’s gussied up with Swarovski elements for a jeweled look—it has top-notch brew performance matched by a carafe we found easy to hold and pour from. It's also programmable, with both a small-batch setting and brew-strength control. The Cuisinart Perfec Temp DCC-2800 is similar and costs half as much.

A more affordable drip machine

A CR Best Buy, the 12-cup Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT, $40, is among the best all-around drip coffeemakers we tested. It brews at industry-recommended guidelines, and we found setup, operation, and cleanup fairly easy. Among other attractions for the bargain price are a water filter, special cleaning cycle, and two-hour auto-shutoff.

When serving coffee at a buffet

How about letting guests fill up their mugs at the coffeemaker? The 12-cup brew-and-dispense Cuisinart Coffee on Demand DCC-3000, $100, has top-notch brewing and convenient operation. A gauge tells you how much coffee is left in the tank, the water and coffee reservoirs are removable for cleaning, and an indicator tells you when the machine itself needs cleaning.

When you want to grind your own

For the freshest cup of coffee, grind your beans just before you brew them. The Cuisinart Grind & Brew DGB-700BC, $150, is impressive overall and has auto-shutoff, a water filter, and a permanent, cupcake-style filter basket.

A fun machine that makes a tasty brew

The best performer overall among machines we’ve billed as electric French-press coffeemakers, the iCoffee RCB100-BC12, $150, looks like a drip coffeemaker with a slightly larger basket. Hot-water jets in the basket spritz and circulate the grounds in hot water—similar to a French press—before filling the carafe. Remington says the process eliminates the bitter aftertastes of drip coffee. We liked how easy this unit was to use, and we found the carafe easy to handle, pour from, and empty.

For even more choices. See our coffeemaker Ratings of more than 120 coffee and espresso makers. Need a little more guidance on what to buy? Read our coffeemaker buying guide.

—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)

For more ideas for gifts that did well in Consumer Reports' extensive tests, see the Holiday Planning & Shopping Guide. You'll also find entertainment advice and how to get ready for the holidays without stressing out.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Has Thanksgiving become just another shopping day? This year, more merchants plan to open their doors—or open their doors earlier—to bargain-obsessed shoppers looking to get a jump on Black Friday sales.

According to Thom Blischok, chief retail strategist for the business consultants PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Strategy&, an estimated 35 percent to 40 percent of Americans are expected to shop at walk-in stores on Thanksgiving Day, a trend that began a few years ago, when retailers started dangling some of those Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving evening.

Kmart, which last year caught a lot of flack by announcing a marathon 41-hour shopping event beginning 6 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, will extend the skein by an additional hour. Macy’s plans to open its doors two hours earlier than last year.  And Walmart, which has been conducting business as usual on Thanksgiving since 1988, will continue to do so, according to the company, with most locations open 24 hours. In addition, many stores, including Old Navy, Toys "R" Us, and Best Buy will start letting in shoppers as some people are just sitting down for dinner.

Would you prefer to receive cash, check or a gift card over the holidays? Please take our poll.  Also, check out Consumer Reports' ultimate holiday gift guide.

Protecting the family

Conversely, retailers such as Costco, Nordstrom, and Barnes & Noble steadfastly refuse to surrender to changing times. “We consider ourselves an associate-friendly company, and, we are pleased to give our associates the time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends,” said Colleen Beauregard, communications vice president for The TJX Companies, operator of Marshalls, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Sierra Trading Post stores.

A GameStop spokeswoman, Jackie Smith, expressed similar sentiment. “At GameStop we often use the phrase ‘protect the family’ in reference to our business," she said. "A large part of what that means to us is to not open any of our GameStop, SimplyMac, Spring Mobile, or Cricket Wireless U.S. locations on Thanksgiving Day out of respect for our store associates and their families and friends. We believe it’s the right decision not only for our employees, but also for our customers. Enjoy this time with your loved ones and we’ll see you on Black Friday.” And for GameStop, Black Friday begins at 12:01 am.

Shoppers are divided

In a new study by LoyaltyOne, a retail consulting firm that analyzes consumer behavior, half of all Americans said they’d prefer a blissful shopping-free holiday. They said that all-day shopping hours on Thanksgiving Day are a bad idea that detracts from the traditional celebration. But one-third of respondents loved the idea, while 17 percent didn’t care either way. Millennials, those ages 18 to 34, were the biggest cheerleaders in favor of extended shopping hours on Thanksgiving; those 55 and older, the most vocal critics. Opinions differed by sex as a well, with 37 percent of men and only 29 percent of women in favor of all-day store openings.

For all the grousing, most people have embraced the Thanksgiving Day shopping with open arms, says a retail expert, Fred Thompson, a partner at LoyaltyOne. Thompson says retailers will continue to push the envelope with earlier and earlier openings until it no longer makes economic sense. As of now, though, there’s no letup or serious consumer backlash. “There’s been a change over the past five to 10 years as Black Friday and Cyber Monday became more important,” Thompson said. “Retailers found that they could drive significant traffic earlier and earlier. You’ve got a receptive audience. Consumers are engaging earlier, stores are busy, and people are shopping.”

Holiday happenings at 22 big chains

—Tod Marks

Visit our Holiday Gift Ideas page throughout the season to find the best deals, time-saving advice, and much more.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Based on continued investigation, the government has called for a nationwide recall of vehicles fit with certain Takata driver’s side frontal air bags. The initial wide-reaching recall had focused on particular regions with high humidity, but now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded the scope, while also demanding more detailed information from the supplier and its automaker partners: BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota.

The bulk of the original recall focused on passenger-side air bags, with some driver’s side bags in select models. NHTSA says the expansion of the recall stems from a recent investigation into a vehicle with a driver’s side air bag failure that occurred outside of the regional recall area.

The agency has contacted the supplier, Takata, and the vehicle manufacturers, asking that they expand the recall immediately. According to a statement, if Takata or the automakers do not respond, NHTSA will be forced to “use the full extent of its statutory powers to ensure vehicles that use the same or similar air bag inflator are recalled.”

"We had raised concerns with NHTSA about the limited nature of the recalls, so we are pleased to see the scope of the recalls is being expanded,” said Ellen Bloom, senior director of federal policy for Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. “However, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all drivers and passengers are safe."

Learn more in “Everything You Need to Know About the Takata Air Bag Recall.”

—George Kennedy

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

A great price isn't necessarily a good deal if the vehicle doesn't measure up, so we help you choose a good car at a good price with monthly list of best new car deals. The featured vehicle highlighted below has an attractive incentive that can save you extra money, and it is recommended by Consumer Reports, as are all models detailed below.

Other trims on the vehicles listed may also present good deals. Find the full pricing information in the New Car Price Reports. Then, continue your research by comparing model ratings, reliability, reviews, fuel economy, performance, and much more with our New Car Selector (available to online subscribers). Although incentives all eventually expire, they are often renewed. Check the price reports for the very latest offers and details.

See our full list of this month's best new car deals below. 

Click here to receive an RSS feed with the latest car news and deals.

$2,963 savings available (expires 1/5/15)

The Fusion looks upscale and stylish, and it handles like a really good European sports sedan. We bought three versions: a top-trim Titanium, a mid-trim SE, and the SE Hybrid. All versions provide a composed, civilized ride that's as good as cars costing twice as much. The cabin is blessedly quiet. The Titanium version is the best-handling midsized sedan we've tested. And the Hybrid model posted the best fuel economy we've measured in a midsized sedan: 39 mpg overall. A plug-in version is also available.

Get the Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price on more than 1,100 models.

Get the Bottom Line Price on the vehicles listed below.

Get the Bottom Line Price on the vehicles listed below.

Get the Bottom Line Price on the vehicles listed below.

Get the Bottom Line Price on the vehicles listed below.

Get the Bottom Line Price on the vehicles listed below.

The key to getting the lowest price on a car is to know how much negotiating room you have. That means knowing all of the current sales incentives, including behind-the-scenes dealer perks. That information is what makes the CR Bottom Line Price the best place to begin your new-car negotiations. It's calculated by subtracting any rebates, dealer incentives, or holdback amounts from the dealer-invoice price. That gives you a good idea of how much negotiating room you have below the car's sticker price. Armed with those figures, you can often save thousands of dollars when buying a new car. Get the CR Bottom Line Price on your next new car through Consumer Reports' New Car Price Reports. Learn more about buying a new car and access calculators in our step-by-step guide to new car buying.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

The airwaves are abuzz with door-busting Black Friday deals on the latest gizmos, gadgets, and other things you can simply live without. But there is a product most people need and depend on that can be found at great prices this shopping season: a new car.

Scouring through thousands of current incentives, we found several standout deals that promise thousands off the window sticker. The deals this time around are not as aggressive as we have seen on past holiday weekends, but if you’re looking to save on a new car, this can be a good time to act. And unlike that wall-sized television you're contemplating standing in line overnight for, these offers extend until at least December.  

The new-car model year typically transitions in the fall, leading to some overlap with the outgoing year. This time, inventories on 2014 models is light, causing us to focus strictly on 2015 models. If you find a 2014, think through whether it is the right solution for you. Of course, it will have depreciated a full year’s worth and may not have the latest technology. (Read: “Should I buy an end-of-summer new car?”)

There are abundant savings available for full-sized pickup truck buyers across brands, with some heavy-duty variants showing up to $4,700 off. Surprisingly, even the new 2015 Ford F-150 has $2,000 or more in total available savings. Plus, there are numerous other cars with notable potential savings—including the Dodge Journey, Ford Escape, Fiat 500, Kia Sorento, and Nissan Altima—that just don’t meet our requirements to be recommended.

The cars listed below are all 2015 models. With a nod to the early winter hitting the nation, most selections highlighted are all-wheel-drive, but there are discounts available on other variations. The vehicles listed below are national deals, but extra regional discounts are also available on other models with an additional savings. In addition, there are bonus incentives for returning customers and military personnel available on many models, providing even further discounts.

The models highlighted are just a few of our best new car deals, meaning there are notable discounts on models that meet Consumer Reports criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed at least adequately, if included, in government or insurance-industry safety tests.

When buying a car, in addition to research and reviews, Consumer Reports offers subscribers access to the Build & Buy Car Buying Service at no additional cost. Through this service, a nationwide network of more than 8,600 participating dealers provide upfront pricing information and a certificate to receive guaranteed savings off MSRP (in most states). The pricing information and guaranteed savings includes eligible incentives. Consumer Reports subscribers have saved an average of $2,919 off MSRP with the Build & Buy Car Buying Service.

Buick Enclave

The most luxurious of General Motors’ three-row crossovers, the Enclave is set apart from the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia by nicer interior finish, a quieter cabin, and a softer ride. The large Enclave feels more responsive in corners than some Buick sedans, with quick steering response and decent feedback through the steering wheel. The 288-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine often feels taxed by the Enclave's hefty 5,100-pound weight, but when pushed, it delivers good performance. A notable downside is that it returns just 15 mpg in mixed driving on regular fuel, although this may be offset by available savings. Forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems are available.

Buick Regal

A well-honed and satisfying sports sedan with a European feel, the Regal is based on a design from Opel, GM's German subsidiary. Handling is agile, steering is quick, and the ride is taut and steady. The quiet and nicely furnished interior has firm, well-supporting seats and excellent fit and finish, but the rear seat is snug. A 2014 freshening brought a new 259-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which improved performance and fuel economy. Controls were simplified, the infotainment system upgraded, and all-wheel-drive was made available on all trim lines. Our tested Regal was quick, fairly quiet, and delivered 24 mpg overall. The optional eAssist mild hybrid enhancement could boost that to about 29 mpg. A standard built-in WiFi hotspot is new for 2015.

Chevrolet Malibu

The Malibu stands out for offering an attractive discount on an already affordable, and appealing, midsized sedan. The Malibu is comfortable and very quiet. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a start/stop system is the base engine. A smooth-shifting six-speed automatic is standard. Measured against competing models, the Malibu ride is cushier while handling remains sound, although our testers feel it gets soggy at its limits. Controls are simple and straightforward. Reliability has been average.

Ford Fusion

The stylish Fusion is a delight to drive. All versions feel solid and upscale, with a supple ride, agile handling, and a quiet cabin. The main engines are a 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinders, both mated to a six-speed automatic. We averaged 24 and 22 mpg overall, respectively, which isn't stellar. The 1.5-liter does the job, but the 2.0-liter is punchier. We measured 39 mpg overall in the Hybrid, which is excellent, but far from the EPA's 47 mpg rating. All versions have a nicely finished cabin with comfortable seats, but the rear is somewhat snug. Reliability has been average for all versions.

Ford Taurus

The Taurus puts styling ahead of interior comfort, driver visibility, and ease of use, and the convoluted MyFord Touch control system makes matters worse. Fuel economy from the 3.5-liter V6 is 21 mpg. The six-speed automatic can be slow to shift and is not that smooth. All-wheel drive is offered with the V6. A more fuel-efficient and refined turbo four-cylinder is available. Otherwise, the Taurus is quiet, rides comfortably, and has lots of features. Handling is responsive but not sporty, and the turning circle is wide. The SHO, with standard all-wheel drive, is quick but not that engaging to drive. A rearview camera is standard for 2015. Reliability of the Taurus has improved to average.

GMC Acadia

The Acadia is one of GM's roomy three-row crossovers. It has a spacious and quiet interior, with a third-row seat that's roomy enough for adults. Seating for eight is available. In our tests of its cousin, the Chevrolet Traverse, the smooth and refined 3.6-liter V6 returned 16 mpg overall, but it had to work a bit to haul this heavy SUV. A recent freshening brought the better IntelliLink infotainment system and less intrusive head restraints. Handling is relatively agile and secure, and it steers nicely. The ride is taut yet comfortable and steady. Rear visibility isn't great, but clever extra mirrors reduce side blind spots. Reliability has been average.

Kia Optima

The Optima is Kia's counterpart to the highly rated, previous-generation Hyundai Sonata. Although it falls a little short of the Sonata in ride comfort, braking, and fuel economy, the Georgia-built Optima is still a good choice. The base LX handles very securely, the engine and transmission perform well, and fuel economy is quite respectable. The 200-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivers better than average acceleration and a respectable 25 mpg overall. The coupelike styling detracts from rear visibility, though, and the rear seat is a bit low, but it's still livable. 

—Jeff Bartlett with Todd Young

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Getting knocked out during a colonoscopy might seem like a good idea. After all, being awake as your doctor uses a long, flexible tube to get an inside view of your lower intestines doesn't sound very appealing. To avoid that problem, many doctors now routinely use the drug propofol (Diprivan) during colonoscopy to cause deep sedation in their patients.

But beware: That drug, which was reportedly given to Joan Rivers  soon before she died, might not be the healthiest choice and could put you at risk for some serious complications.

Don’t get the wrong idea: Colonoscopies are usually safe (about 3 out of every 1,000 people suffer a serious complication). And the procedure is proved to prevent colon cancer deaths. So if you’re ages 50 to 75, you should be screened (see our guide, "The Cancer Tests You Really Need," to find out how often you should be screened). 

But deep sedation isn't necessary. Colonoscopy can be done using conscious sedation or even none at all. “You should always try to aim for the lightest level of sedation that you need,” says Consumer Reports' medical adviser, Orly Avitzur, M.D. “The trend toward deep sedation is worrisome because it increases risk.”

For example, propofol increases your risk of aspiration pneumonia (caused by inhaling particles such as vomit, mucus, or saliva) by almost 50 percent, according to a study by Gregory Cooper, M.D., in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. And it can cause a host of other side effects, including confusion, seizures, irregular heart beats, and potentially deadly allergic reactions.  

“For the general population there’s not a lot of good data saying patients have a better outcome with propofol when there’s not a medical indication,” says Cooper, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. “It’s overkill.”

Instead, Cooper says he uses the narcotics fentanyl (Duragesic and others) or meperidine (Demerol) combined with midazolam (Versed) to induce light sedation during colonoscopies.  

And propofol is expensive. Colonoscopies using anesthesia cost about 20 percent more than those done without, according to Cooper. And a 2013 research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine titled, "Propofol for screening colonoscopy: Are we paying too much?" said that the use of propofol typically added $600 to $2,000 to the price tag.

Screening colonoscopies are covered by insurance plans, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, although you might have to pay for part of the anesthesiologist’s fees, bowel prep kit, pathology costs, and a facility fee. But even so, “Somebody’s got to pay for it, whether it’s the insurance company or the patients,” Cooper says, adding that the current system provides a financial motivation for using more anesthesia.

Read more about how to protect yourself from surprise out-of-network medical bills.

But the rising tide of propofol use could be about to ebb. Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, Medicare is changing how it pays anesthesia professionals for colonoscopy care. Gastroenterologists will be paid a set amount that will cover the anesthesia cost, even if an anesthesiologist, for example, administers it. Doctors will then have to decide whether to recommend expensive anesthesia, which could include hiring a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist and pay them out of the same pot, or choose a less pricey option. “There may be a financial disincentive for Medicare doctors to recommend deep sedation,” Avitzur says.

We’ll have to wait to find out if commercial insurers follow Medicare’s lead. If they do, says Cooper, “There will be less cost to the health care system since there won’t be another bill from the anesthesiologist.”

Until then, if you’re gearing up to have a colonoscopy, make sure you discuss your anesthesia options with your doctor before the procedure.

—Lauren Cooper

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

As most people know, the Affordable Care Act says that all Americans must either have health  coverage or pay a penalty for not having health insurance. Here’s how that’s going to work.

In early 2015 people who had health insurance in 2014 will be getting forms from their insurer (including Medicare and Medicaid) verifying that they had coverage, and for what months of the year they had it. They’ll use that information to report their coverage on their tax returns.

Obviously, if you don’t have health insurance, you won’t be getting a form and will have to tell the Internal Revenue Service that you didn’t have insurance. You will either have to provide a valid reason why you didn't have to be covered, or pay a fine.

How big is the fine?

You may have heard that the penalty for not having health insurance is only $95 for the year, but that’s only for certain people. Here’s the full formula. For the 2014 tax year, you’ll pay the greater of these two numbers: A. 1 percent of your household income above $10,000; or  B. $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, up to a family maximum of $285.

In 2015 the penalty gets bigger. It’s going to be 2 percent of your household income or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child up to a family maximum of $975.

To spare you the trouble of doing the math, the Tax Policy Center has a calculator that will figure your penalty for you. For instance, a family of four with an income of $60,000 would pay a penalty of $285 in 2014 and $650 in 2015.

What if I had insurance for part of the year?

If you were uninsured  for less than 3 months, you won’t have to pay anything. But if you were uninsured for longer, your fine will be 1/12^th of the annual total for every month you didn’t have coverage.

How will the government collect it?

It will be part of the income tax that you owe the government. If you are due a refund, the IRS will deduct your penalty from that.

What if I refuse to pay?

The IRS will keep track of what you owe, and the first chance it gets it will withhold it from a future refund. But unlike with other tax obligations, it can’t come after you with a lien or criminal prosecution.

Is anyone excused from these fines?

Yes. “Most people who are uninsured will qualify for an exemption, the government estimates,” says Karen Pollitz, a health insurance expert at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “The question is, will they get it? Until you get your exemption, you can’t file your taxes.”

What are the exemptions?

There's an extensive list, which you can find here. For instance, you don’t have to pay the fine if:

• You earned too little money to be required to file taxes. Right now, the “tax filing threshold” is about $10,000. If you don’t file, the IRS won’t collect your insurance information. (This is the only exemption you can get automatically.)
• The cheapest coverage you can find, even with tax credit premium subsidies, costs more than 8 percent of your household income.
• You are in jail.
• You are living abroad.
• You are not a legal resident of the United States.
  
• You have some kind of hardship. The government has come up with a long list of these, including having crushing medical debt, being homeless, or being the victim of a natural disaster or domestic violence. The biggest hardship category is the people who fall into the “coverage gap” because they make too little to qualify for health insurance premium subsidies but live in a state that’s not expanding Medicaid to cover all low-income residents. Here’s a complete list of eligible hardships.

You can apply for any of these exemptions right now, and probably should so you’ll have them granted by the time you have to file your income taxes. Here’s more information on how to do that.

Submit a question to Consumer Reports' health insurance expert. Be sure to include the state you live in so we can provide a more-detailed answer.

See our complete health insurance information

To find out how to apply for, select, and use health insurance, including Medicare, visit our main health insurance page.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Consumer Reports has suspended its recommendation of the otherwise high-scoring Nissan Quest minivan because it performed very poorly in a small overlap front crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

An IIHS press release stated that the Quest driver’s compartment collapsed so completely that both of the crash-test dummy’s legs were trapped. In fact, to extract the dummy, IIHS technicians “had to cut the entire seat out and then use a crowbar to free the right foot.” The IIHS's Chief Research Officer, David Zuby, is quoted as saying, “A real person experiencing this would be lucky to ever walk normally again.”

The Quest was one of three minivan models tested in the latest round of the IIHS’s tough “small overlap” crash test. The others were the Chrysler Town & Country and its clone, the Dodge Grand Caravan, both of which also scored poor; and the Toyota Sienna.

The Sienna racked up an “Acceptable” score, which, while not impressive, was enough to retain Consumer Reports’ recommendation. The Chrysler minivans were already not recommended, but for other reasons. The Honda Odyssey, tested earlier, is the only minivan to score a Good here and also retains Consumer Reports’ recommendation.  

The small overlap test replicates what happens when just a front corner of the vehicle strikes a pole, tree, or another vehicle straight on. Inaugurated in 2012, this 40-mpg rigid-barrier crash is especially challenging because the crash forces are concentrated in a small area and bypass most of a vehicle’s energy-absorbing structures. In the IIHS’s other frontal crash test, which engages nearly half the vehicle’s front end, most vehicles have done very well in recent years.

The latest small-overlap scores apply to the 2008-2015 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, 2014-2015 Honda Odyssey, 2011-2015 Nissan Quest, and 2015 Toyota Sienna.

Consumer Reports only recommends a vehicle when it does well in our road tests, demonstrates at least average reliability, and preforms at least acceptably in government and IIHS safety tests.

The poor crash showings for the Quest and the Chrysler minivans are a little hard to fathom because automakers have known this test was coming since at least 2010, when the IIHS announced plans to include it with its suite of other crash tests.

At least two automakers, Honda and Toyota, have made improvements to address performance in this challenging test. Notably, Toyota scrambled to reinforce the 2014 Camry after poor IIHS results in the fall of 2013. Consumer Reports withdrew its recommendation for the car in October 2013, but reinstated it in December after Toyota made upgrades and the IIHS had retested it.

Although late in their model cycles, we hope Chrysler and Nissan can make running improvements to increase their crash test performance. Until then, we think shoppers can find great minivans with proven safety records elsewhere.

—Gordon Hard

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

When's the last time you heard anyone describe herself as “completely satisfied” with her cellular service? That’s the kind of feedback we got from customers of several upstart carriers in Consumer Reports National Research Center’s annual cell phone service satisfaction survey. (The survey was fielded in September to 63,352 ConsumerReports.org subscribers.) Among the smaller carriers in our Ratings of traditional (aka postpaid) cell service are Consumer Cellular, which stands out for value, data service, and customer support, and Ting, which scored high for value and data service.

Review see our cell phone service Ratings to see the overall scores for all the companies. Check out our in-depth smart phone ratings and our guide to the best phone plans to save your family money. 

The picture was not so rosy for the major carriers. While Verizon gets very good scores for voice and texting service, it has a very poor rating on value. T-Mobile’s parity with Verizon is a result of a jump in T-Mobile’s overall satisfaction from last year, and a drop in Verizon’s overall score. T-Mobile’s rise in 2014 is largely attributable to a bump in perceived value by customers.

This might be a result of T-Mobile's aggressive "Uncarrier" strategy, which effectively decouples the purchase of your phone with the payment of your plan. Ironically, T-Mobile’s good score for value makes it a standout among the big four carriers; the other three rate very poor. The biggest black eye of our survey is reserved for Sprint, which ranks dead last with a very poor score for value, a poor score on data service, and middling results for voice and text.

National data paints a broad-strokes picture of overall carrier satisfaction, but for detailed results specific to your region, check our Ratings for 26 major metro areas.  

We reached out to several of the carriers in our survey for comment. Elliot Noss, CEO of Ting, was ecstatic. "What we do is actually sort of obvious," he said. "We offer fair, honest pricing that doesn't penalize customers for using too much or too little. Our customers seem to appreciate it and we certainly appreciate this recognition from them."

A Verizon representative said, "The choices Verizon offers on the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network go well beyond price. We'll continue to work to demonstrate value by providing excellent customer experiences." Meanwhile, an AT&T representative said that the company had been investing greatly over the last six years to improve its offerings.

Sprint was understandably disappointed in our survey results, and noted that in the last few months, the company has made "dramatic changes in the two areas that matter most to customers—price and network." Sprint's representative highlighted the company's new pricing plans, and said there had been improvements in voice and data quality.

—Glenn Derene

Check our cell phone service Ratings to see the overall scores for all the companies.

The distinction between prepaid and postpaid plans might be disintegrating. Prepaid plans traditionally have been the best option for customers who value flexibility and want to avoid long-term contracts, but they typically involved paying up front for the phone, with a substandard selection of devices that were often far from the cutting edge.
Now major carriers are offering plans for the latest and greatest phones that decouple the cost of the device from the cost of the service. The plans vary greatly and change often, but the basic deal is essentially this: Pay full price for the phone up front, or pay monthly installments over time until it is paid off—which often amounts to an interest-free loan on your device. Once the phone is paid off, you only pay for service.

Carriers that focus on prepaid service, such as TracFone, Straight Talk, and Net10, still rate quite high in our customer satisfaction survey, with high scores for value. And many of these carriers now offer hot phones such as the Apple iPhone 6, or allow you to use your own phone—provided it's compatible with their network.

Carriers such as Republic and Ting are using new strategies to keep costs down and simplify service options. Republic combines Wi-Fi and cellular service, automatically routing calls over your home Wi-Fi network, then handing off to the cellular network when you're out of range of a hot spot. Ting has perhaps the simplest plan of all—you pay a monthly fee for each device on the plan, then you are billed at the end of the month for the voice minutes and data that you use. The less you use, the less you pay. Both carriers scored high in our Ratings.

Our survey found that most respondents (73 percent) still have traditional (postpaid) plans, with the rest of respondents split fairly evenly between traditional no-contract plans and prepaid plans.

On the whole, we found that customers with traditional no-contract plans were the most satisfied.

—G.D.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

You'd think holiday shoppers would be singing “Happy Days Are Here Again,” with the Great Recession in the rearview mirror, lower unemployment, and more people buying big-ticket items such as homes and automobiles. While the big-picture economic outlook has largely improved, most of us don’t plan to break the bank this season.

If anything, there’s concern over repeating mistakes of the past, such as overspending and drowning in debt. According to the Consumer Reports 2014 Holiday Poll, there’s little doubt that the brighter economy is a key factor driving the decision of many to up their holiday spending this season, even if only modestly. Twenty-three percent attributed their largesse to the fact that they’re feeling more generous now than they did in 2013, 16 percent said they’re more optimistic, 14 percent got a raise, promotion, or better-paying job, and 12 percent have a job after being unemployed last year.

According to the Consumer Reports 2014 Holiday Poll, the first of a series of nationally representative online surveys designed to measure consumer sentiment and shopping behavior, 62 percent of Americans say they’re looking forward to the end-of-year holidays. About one-quarter are really looking forward to the season. But as usual, there are always a few Scrooges: One in 10 of those surveyed said they’re not at all energized about this festive time of year.

Spending plans

When it comes to spending, most respondents, 56 percent, expect to shell out the same amount on gifts as they did last year. Fourteen percent expect to spend more, while 30 percent say they’re cutting back. That’s a similar breakdown to what we’ve seen in recent years. But the percentage of shoppers cutting back on holiday expenses is half what it was during the dark days of the recession in 2008.

Respondents told us they expect to spend about $437 over the holidays this year. Over a quarter of people (28 percent) are expecting to spend $250 to $499 on presents this season; 19 percent are setting aside $500 to $799 for purchases, the same percentage that are counting their pennies and limiting expenditures to $100 to $249. Eighteen percent plan to splurge and spend $1,000 or more.

Perhaps because times have been so tough for so long, more than half of those surveyed say they’re making a budget this season to maintain fiscal discipline. But creating a budget and sticking to it are two separate things. Last year, 38 percent of those who set a budget exceeded it, according to the survey.

Before you do your gift shopping, check our Holiday Gift Ideas page, which has all the advice you need to get through the holiday season.

Mindful of debt

Because online shopping accounts for so much of what we buy these days, Americans are becoming increasingly reliant on credit cards and debit cards. In fact, more than four of 10 respondents who used credit cards during last year’s holiday season lauded them as the easiest vehicle for online payments. Credit-card debt, of course, is a serious concern, especially during the holidays.

Last year, 52 percent of respondents charged at least some purchases, but most were quite responsible at quickly paying off the balance. Sixty-one percent paid their holiday shopping bills completely by the next billing cycle, and by the end of February, three-quarters had done so. But as of this month, 7 percent of those surveyed were still financing their 2013 holiday purchases.

This season, consumers will once again use a combination of cash and plastic for their holiday purchases. Sixty-two plan to include cash in the mix, 45 percent a major credit card such as Visa or American Express, 45 percent a debit card, and 11 percent a store or retailer charge card.

Among those who won’t be charging purchases this holiday season, 40 percent cited a fear of racking up debt, 31 percent cited a desire to better control spending, 11 percent were concerned about data breaches and hackers gaining access to their personal financial information, 5 percent said they had already maxed out their credit cards, and 4 percent don’t want to be reminded about how much they spend. Surprisingly, 34 percent of respondents said they don’t even possess a credit card.

—Tod Marks

Visit our Holiday Gift Ideas page throughout the season to find the best deals, time-saving advice, and much more.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Web retailing has made online shopping as easy as 1-2-3, but choosing from among the many shipping methods for that pair of shoes, tablet computer, or coffeemaker you ordered can be a bit puzzling. If you read the fine print, you’ll realize that delivery times are estimates based on multiple factors. Amazon, for example, leaves open the possibility that your order shipped free of charge might not arrive until a week or so later, so you’re at the company’s mercy.

So how much time will you really save by spending that extra $10 or even $30? Consumer Reports set out to learn about the differences in delivery options to find the sweet spot.

The experiment

On the morning of Monday Oct. 13, we logged on to Amazon.com four times, from the same computer, and placed four separate orders within minutes of one another. All orders were dispatched to the same address. Each consisted of two popular holiday toys: a Disney doll from the hit animated film “Frozen” and a Nickelodeon action figure from the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. The toys were available and in stock.

Check our tips for holiday shipping to save money and stave off disappointment and check out these bargains at big retailers this holiday season.

We paid a lofty $25.58 for next-day service, $12.78 for second-day delivery, and $5.51 for standard shipping (estimated delivery date was Oct. 17). The fourth order qualified for free shipping because we spent the required $35 in eligible purchases. The trade off for free freight? An estimated delivery date between Oct. 21 and Oct. 24. (Note: Amazon automatically selects standard shipping for all orders, unless you sign up for Amazon Prime, at $99 a year, which entitles customers to free 2-day shipping. So if you’re a penny-pincher, it’s up to you to deselect “standard” and click on “free” shipping.)

The results

Predictably, the next-day shipment came first, at 6:24 p.m., on Oct. 14, while the second-day package arrived on Oct. 15 at 11:36 am, about 17 hours later. Then three days passed with no sign of either the standard shipping or the free-shipping orders. After tracking the packages and reading that they had, in fact, been delivered, we ripped into our two boxes and discovered that Amazon, without notifying us, had squeezed our remaining purchases inside the second-day shipment, for which we’d paid $12.78. In effect, Amazon did us a favor: Both orders arrived ahead of schedule. We contacted Amazon for an explanation of their shipping strategy, but didn’t receive a response. (Here, hundreds of shoppers sound off on what they love—and hate—about Amazon.)

The bottom line

Unless you are a world-class procrastinator, there’s little reason to pay a fortune for next-day delivery. Second-day service proved much more cost efficient, with the order arriving just 15 hours after the next-day package. This experience is in line with what we’ve seen over the years. In fact, when we conducted a similar experiment in 2006, the package shipped for free actually beat its costly counterpart to our doorstep.

Of course, there are no guarantees—especially during the peak holiday season, when priority is likely to be given to customers who pay for freight. Hence one more reason to shop and ship early: the question becomes moot.

Which company has the best rates?

All other factors being equal, how do FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service stack up? That’s key if you’re the one doing the shipping. We compared the basic price of sending a 3-pound package in a 18-inch-long x 9-inch-wide x 9-inch-high box from Yonkers, N.Y. (where Consumer Reports' headquarters are), to Plano, Texas. We booked standard-overnight, second-day, and ground shipping, with no extras.*

The rate winner? The good old U.S. Postal Service. See for yourself:

Visit our Holiday Gift Ideas page throughout the season to find the best deals, time-saving advice, and much more.

*The cost of shipping a package has many factors, including box size and total parcel weight, destination, arrival speed, special handling, and delivery date (weekends are pricier). There are also potential extras such as insurance, delivery confirmation, the need for a recipient’s signature, and discounts (prepurchasing a shipping label online, for example, can sometimes translate into savings). Convenience—especially the availability of close-to-home drop-off and pickup options and after-hours deliveries—is another top consideration.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.