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Psycheceutical Bioscience, Inc (OTCPK: BWVI) Could Be Revolutionizing Psychedelic Health Care By Developing The First Ever Topical Psychedelic Cream To Treat PTSD

Psycheceutical Bioscience, Inc.

By Julian Richard, Benzinga When the average person thinks about psychedelics, it is easy to conjure up a picture of a trippy experience with hallucinogenic visions, and ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ playing in the background. And if you aren’t familiar with the nuanced discussions that have recently arisen around the use of psychedelics for mental health treatment, you’d be right. Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that change mood, perception and cognitive processes. While psychedelics have a rich history as part of healing ceremonies, especially in indigenous communities, the popular culture connotations associated with psychedelics are firmly planted in getting high. However, in the past few years, there has been a reignited conversation about the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics – especially psilocybin and ketamine – for mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety and depression. The vast majority of studies and products being developed deliver the drugs through oral administration or IVs. While effective, these methods of administration also have a plethora of side effects. Some of the methods of administration require professional observation, which is time-consuming for patients who have to frequent clinics for effective treatment. Side effects such as nausea, headaches, dizziness, disorientation, and confusion are common with oral and IV ketamine routes of administration. This is primarily because both forms of administration require the body to absorb through the bloodstream and digestive tract to receive positive benefits in the brain and nervous system. Additionally, if the dosage is even slightly high or the body has an adverse reaction, patients can experience what is described as a "psychedelic" effect. Ketamine, for example, is known for a specific and scary side effect nicknamed the “k-hole.” Although it's not a common side effect in clinical settings, the “k-hole” leaves users feeling disassociated from themselves and their surroundings resulting in panic or paranoia. Psycheceutical Bioscience, Inc (OTCPK: BWVI) is a biotechnology company developing a new and unique mode of administration that is revolutionizing the psychedelic mental health space. The company is developing topical administration of ketamine which allows the drug to directly target the brain and bypass the gut and liver. This process eliminates the hallucinogenic effects of psychedelic drugs and significantly reduces the toxicity and adverse effects of these compounds. The proprietary patented NeuroDirect™ non-systemic delivery technology system allows for immediate, consistent, safe, and sustained delivery of neuro-active compounds directly to the nervous system. In other words, there is no risk of a “ k-hole” side effect. The NeuroDirect™ Ketamine Topical Delivery System addresses the unmet need for rapid relief of PTSD symptoms within minutes without the requirement to be supervised in the home or spend hours in the clinic and without the side effects associated with oral or IV administration. Topical administration may be an ideal option for patients who fall into higher-risk categories like teenagers, elderly individuals, or people who have experienced previous bad trips and are weary of IV or oral administration. Currently, nothing like this exists in the medical world; Psycheceutical Bioscience is truly an innovator in the mental health care space. Psycheceutical Bioscience has successfully completed its pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which provided positive feedback on the development plans for NeuroDirect™ Ketamine Topical Delivery System for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psycheceutical Bioscience is also partnering with the Australian contract research organization iNGENū Pty Ltd. ("iNGENū") to evaluate Psycheceutical’s patented NeuroDirect™ Ketamine Topical Delivery System in Australian early-phase clinical studies. The Phase 1 study will be the first-in-human study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of The NeuroDirect™ Ketamine Topical Delivery System in 20 healthy volunteers. The subsequent phase 2a study will be conducted on 115 individuals with PTSD and will evaluate the impact of treatment on symptoms of the condition. The phase 2 study has been designed to remove the requirement of a phase 2b trial and, if recognized by the FDA as a “pivotal” study, will allow NeuroDirect™ to proceed directly to phase 3 research. CEO of Psycheceutical, Chad Harman, shares, “We’ve developed a topical application to give people immediate relief and most patients would rather use a topical cream than needles or pills that affect the digestive system. With NeuroDirect™ ketamine, there’s no need to spend multiple hours in a clinic or being supervised at home. NeuroDirect ketamine opens up the benefits of psychedelic compounds to a much greater population, including children, the elderly, and people who don’t have the time, money, or desire to have a full-on psychedelic experience in a clinic or a retreat. Our goal is to remove the barriers and greatly increase access to the benefits of ketamine for everyone suffering from PTSD.” Psycheceutial has taken a decisive step forward in PTSD treatment by submitting an application for the first-ever ketamine topical for provisional United States Patent and Trademark Office. The provisional patent application would bring the topically-applied ketamine formulations and their associated methods in treating PTSD, to the greater global market. “PTSD can be a serious mental health disorder, with no known effective therapeutic solutions currently available. Millions of people suffer each year,” said Chad Harman, CEO of Psycheceutical. “But there is new hope. This patent application supports Psycheceutical's ongoing drug development plans for its revolutionary NeuroDirect™ topical delivery system, that we believe has the potential to provide new solutions and treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions.” The future may look quite promising for NeuroDirect™ with their novel topical ketamine administration. With clear guidance from the FDA on the clinical trial program, IND filing is anticipated by the end of 2023. Bypassing the need to conduct a phase 2b study would accelerate the pathway to FDA approval. Collaboration with Australian contract research organization iNGENū Pty Ltd. ("iNGENū") will facilitate expedited patient access through favorable incentives offered by the Australian federal government, namely the ability to register an FDA clinical trial before opening an investigational new drug application and the rapid initiation of clinical trials. Mental health conditions like PTSD and depression can be truly debilitating and life-threatening. The promise of a topically administered drug that decreases negative side effects, cuts costs and creates a better patient experience could be a game changer for health providers and patients alike. Visit www.psycheceutical.com for more information on the company and its product candidates. This article originally appeared on Benzinga here. Psycheceutical Bioscience, Inc. is developing cutting-edge technologies to advance the safe and effective delivery of psychedelic pharmaceutical medicines. Powered by a team of FDA drug development veterans, biotechnology experts, and top minds in the psychedelic space, Psycheceutical is on a mission to commercialize its precision dosing technologies to provide affordable, life-saving treatments to anyone suffering from mental health disorders or central nervous system diseases. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Kaia Roman, VP Strategy and Communications kaia.roman@psycheceutical.com Company Website https://psycheceutical.com/

March 01, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Standard Time

This BioPharma Is Using Machine Learning To De-Risk Drug Discovery - Offering Everyday Investors A Chance To Own Equity

iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation

By Rachael Green, Benzinga Interested in investing in iMetabolic BioPharma’s campaign? Click here to get started! iMetabolic BioPharma (iMBP) has launched a StartEngine campaign to raise capital and give individual investors a chance to help fund the company’s mission to make more effective, more affordable treatments available to the communities that need them. The early-stage drug discovery company is working on cutting-edge treatments for diseases like cardiometabolic, cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s Disease that desperately need better options. By leveraging a unique tech-driven drug discovery process that uses machine learning and computational engineering, iMBP aims to cut the cost and time it takes to bring a drug to market so those important therapies can reach people faster and be provided at a fraction of the current new therapeutic cost. The StartEngine campaign is meant to raise additional capital to fund further development of its proprietary technology as well as further developmental research of the drug programs already in progress. The campaign also provides a mechanism for everyday people to invest in the exclusive world of early-stage biotech and participate in iMBP’s success The Classical Biopharma Drug Discovery Process Is Slow, Expensive, And Complex The traditional biopharma discovery process begins with identifying a molecular target that causes a disease. Then, researchers generate a library of protein-based drug candidates (biologics) through complex immunization and phage display campaigns. This generated library is then laboriously screened to find the candidates that act on that target. Once a shortlist is identified, researchers intensively refine, optimize and characterize these molecules to select the best lead for the intended purpose of beginning preclinical and clinical trials to test for safety and efficacy. Approximately 90% of drug programs fail to make it to market, meaning they never generate a return on the millions invested in that clinical research. About half of these failures are because the candidate wasn’t able to produce the intended effect and another 30% will fail due to toxicity or side effects. Meanwhile, the average cost of bringing a single drug to market is about $350 million. But that’s just for the drug that makes it to market – when you factor in failed drug programs, large pharmaceutical companies spend an average of $5 billion per new medicine. For patients, that means the price tag on their treatments has to cover not just the cost of developing that specific medicine but also make up for the sunk cost of all those failed drug programs. Life-saving therapies now end up costing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, per patient. In addition to being expensive, the current system can pressure drug developers to push a therapy forward without fully understanding or considering whether its benefits outweigh the potential risks. That doesn’t mean they’re manipulating data, per se, but systematic reviews do show that industry-funded clinical trials, those needed to gain regulatory approval, are more likely to report positive results than publicly-funded post-approval trials. This is, in part, because regulatory approval trials are designed to have primary endpoints, and provide patient support for protocol compliance and stringent patient selection criteria so that the drug candidate has the highest probability to show positive results. This is irrespective even if the endpoints and dosing protocols cannot truly demonstrate a reasonable clinical benefit, cost and/or treatment regimen that can benefit the full spectrum of patients who need the treatment. These industry-funded trials are also more likely to use placebos as their control rather than existing treatments for the disease in question. While there’s nothing wrong with that methodology, that means the drug candidate is effectively only being compared to receiving no treatment at all. But just because it’s better than getting no treatment doesn’t mean it’s better than the current best available treatment. iMBP’s Proprietary Technology Revolutionizes The Classic Discovery Process One reason for the high failure rate of clinical drug programs is that it’s hard to truly control the site of molecular targeting in classical biotechnology approaches. This leaves in question the optimal therapeutic effect or whether the design of this therapeutic candidate is really the best or safest to use. While existing scientific knowledge helps provide a foundation, the actual generation and selection process is really just trial and error, sometimes resulting in significant time delays that could result in a “good enough” selection criteria. By the time researchers realize that a therapeutic candidate is either ineffective or unsafe, the developer may have already sunk millions into preclinical or clinical trials. With the iPlatform ™, iMBP is essentially aiming to fail and iterate faster, meaning it can rule out unlikely therapeutics candidates early on in the process before it’s invested significant time, money, and resources into it. This tech-driven biotechnology approach is the next stage of drug discovery evolution and is now becoming generally referred to as “TechBio”. The approach at iMBP to improve the therapeutic discovery process uses machine learning to analyze molecular interactions allowing for strategic protein engineering to enhance both potential therapeutic action and safety. This very quickly creates a narrow list of the highest value candidates that are most likely to succeed. The patent-pending platform leads to significant savings of both time and money for iMBP, but it provides an innovative approach to design and test therapeutic candidates that could also lead to more effective and more affordable treatments for patients. Instead of drugs that barely meet endpoints, don’t really improve on the existing treatments out there, or do so only alongside a host of harmful side effects, the precision iPlatform ™ provides to the discovery phase enables the company to create therapeutic solutions that are most likely to offer significant clinical benefits. Using TechBio, iMBP is pioneering the field as it has already developed five therapeutic programs targeting a range of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases, as well as Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. These diseases currently affect over 100 million Americans alone. The biopharma also has four more programs in preparation. Now, everyday investors have a chance to invest in iMBP’s innovative approach to drug discovery and the lifesaving treatments it’s aiming to deliver to communities. iMBP is raising capital via a StartEngine campaign where investors can join a community of action and directly support this early-stage innovation and participate in its growth and success. Learn more about the technology and vision as well as the investment terms here. This article was originally published on Benzinga here. iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation (iMBP) is an early-stage drug discovery company innovating at the intersection of technology and biotechnology to develop new, life-saving drugs to fight against some of today's most devastating chronic diseases affecting our loved ones. Currently, we are pre-market, advancing five different disease asset programs, and in the process of developing a proprietary technological platform for the discovery of more effective and less expensive drugs. This will allow us to continuously expand our drug pipeline while increasing company value. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. Benzinga may receive monetary compensation from the issuer, or its agency, for publicizing the offering of the issuer’s securities. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This is a paid ad. Please see 17b disclosure linked in the campaign page for more information. Contact Details Nathan Hyland Info@imbiopharma.com Company Website https://imbiopharma.com/

March 01, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Standard Time

Right On Brands Inc. announces Chief Marketing Officer

Right On Brands, Inc.

McapMediaWire -- Right on Brands, Inc. (OTC: RTON ), a leader and innovator of HEMP DERIVED and WELLNESS products is pleased to announce today that Brock Ellison will join us as our new Chief Marketing Officer and PR officer, “Brock brings an impressive wealth of experience and knowledge to our company, having worked extensively in both digital marketing and small startups positions for over ten years say Jerry Grisaffi CEO.” In Brock's opinion, customer-centric strategies and his expertise lies in product development, digital marketing, and brand Based on his innovative and tailored thinking, companies have become more successful month-over-month after he developed his strategy. Some of those brands include AT&T, Under Armor, MAC Cosmetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center and his own digital agency, The Loyal SEO. Right On Brands Inc. and our subsidiaries truly believe the key to great marketing is understanding customers' needs and building relationships that leave a positive impact on our community. Brock is ready to show us the creativity he will bring to your favorite brand, through improving different marketing initiatives. With his leadership and knowledge, we will achieve even more by driving growth and making a positive impact on our community. On a personal note, Brock is here to help us make a real difference to improve the life of those suffering from chronic pain and illnesses. Prior to Endo Brands, he was a full-time caregiver to his mom, who passed in April 2020 from Stage 4 breast cancer. Furthermore, he has had success in digital marketing for dispensaries as he lived in Colorado from 2016 to 2018. Brock graduated from the University of Houston in 2011 with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing. “We're excited to put his skills to work for our team and the community, so we can build meaningful relationships and promote positive change”, says Grisaffi. Welcome aboard, Brock! Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of All such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results described by the forward-looking statements. Risk factors that could contribute to such differences include those matters more fully disclosed in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date after the date of this press release. If you know anyone that would like to know more about becoming an Endo Dispensary store, please contact us at: jerry@rightonbrands.com About Right on Brands: Right on Brands, Inc., (OTC: RTON) is a Dallas based, consumer goods company specializing in the brand development and distribution of hemp-based foods, beverages, smokables, oils and topical products. Right on Brands, Inc. is a developer of a broad line of hemp-based smokables, beverages, tinctures, and topical products including products infused with CBD, Delta-8, Delta-10, THCV, CBDV, and Delta-9 (below the federal limit) and the all new HHC vapes, gummies and tinctures. About ENDO Brands: ENDO Brands™, Humbly Hemp®, and ENDO Dispensary & Wellness™ Endo Franchise Group Inc, all share the same goal of providing our customers with the best products in the health and wellness space. As the field of health and wellness products expand, Right on Brands will be there with industry leading Food and Beverage and wellness Products. To learn more, please visit: https://rightonbrands.com/ www.endobrands.com www.ENDOdispensaryrowlett.com email: jerry@rightonbrands.com or mike@rightonbrands.com or call Mike Brown (214) 299-9528 ENDO Brands Corporate Store: ENDO Brands at Lakeview Plaza 6501 Dalrock Road Suite 100 Rowlett, Texas 75089 214-299-9528 AUSTIN LOCATION 12412 Limerick Avenue, Austin, Texas 78758 www.endoofaustin.com 512-621-0649 LAREDO LOCATION ENDO Laredo 2413 Jacaman Rd Laredo, Texas www.endolaredo.com 956-568-2300 HOUSTON LOCATION 3301 Louetta Rd Ste 109 Spring, Texas 77388 832-583-5383 (Website coming soon) MIAMI FLORIDA LOCATION 10850 SW 104 th St, Miami, Florida 33156 www.endo-miami.com PLANO LOCATION 601 W. Parker Road, Plano, Texas 75023 469-366-9694 NOW OPEN DALLAS LOCATION 9585 Scyene Road, Dallas. Texas NOW OPEN (Website coming soon) Contact Details Mike Brown mike@rightonbrands.com Company Website https://rightonbrands.com/

March 01, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Ending Pet Obesity

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/c2ScvhOzt_s There’s a weight problem in America and it isn’t just affecting humans. Would it surprise you to know that more than half of dogs and 60 percent of cats are classified as clinically overweight, but 90 percent of pet parents with an overweight pet don’t realize it. With these stats in mind, it is important for pet parents to make health and wellness a top priority. We know that eating properly and maintaining a healthy weight is key to our overall well-being. Well, the same holds true for our beloved pets. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a global leader in science-led nutrition, is on a mission to help end pet obesity and is teaming with Dr. Vernard Hodges and Dr. Terrence Ferguson, stars of Nat Geo show: Critter Fixers: Country Vets, for its annual End Pet Obesity campaign, which was created to help pet parents understand obesity and understand the actions needed to best maintain their pet’s health by providing education, free tools and resources. Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson, stars of stars of Critter Fixers: Country Vets conducted a nationwide media tour earlier this year to discuss the End Pet Obesity campaign. Topics that Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson discussed included: Concerning trends they are seeing in pet health What obesity can mean for a pet Ways a pet parent can best assess if their pet is overweight Tips for weight loss and maintenance For more information, visit endpetobesity.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 01, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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News Release

Predictive Oncology partners with Cvergenx to create new genomics-based AI radiation therapy

Predictive Oncology Inc.

Predictive Oncology CEO Raymond Vennare and Cvergenx CEO Javier Torres-Roca join Natalie Stoberman to share news of their new partnership to develop the first-ever genomics-based approach to precision radiation therapy and drug discovery using artificial intelligence (AI). Vennare said the objective of this collaboration will be to leverage Predictive Oncology’s drug discovery, AI and machine learning capabilities with the Cvergenx precision genomics radiation therapy platform. Contact Details Proactive US +1 347-449-0879 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

March 01, 2023 07:14 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Poolbeg Pharma "really open" to different types of deal for POLB 001

Poolbeg Pharma PLC

Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTCQB:POLBF) VP of Business Development David English speaks to Proactive's Thomas Warner about the work he's doing to progress the clinical stage infectious disease pharmaceutical company's lead asset POLB 001. English says that Poolbeg is "in a good position" for partnering in general, adding that the company is "really open" to different types of deals for lead asset POLB 001. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

March 01, 2023 03:40 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video

Spectral MD releases final results for 2022

Spectral MD Holdings Ltd

Spectral MD Holdings Ltd (AIM:SMD) chief financial officer Nils Windler speaks to Proactive's Thomas Warner after releasing final results for 2022. Windler gives his take on the highlights from the year as well as the post-period and looks ahead to what investors can expect from the predictive analytics company in 2023. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

March 01, 2023 03:32 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Houston-Based Coya Therapeutics To Present Results From ALS Clinical Study Data For Its Investigational Biologic Combination at the 2023 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference in Dallas

Coya Therapeutics Inc.

Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: COYA) recently announced the presentation of results from an academic clinical study in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with Coya’s proprietary investigational biologic combination at the 2023 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference in Dallas, Texas, to be held in-person and virtually from March 19 to March 22, 2023. The proof-of-concept open-label clinical study is the first-of-its-kind evaluating a dual-mechanism immunotherapy for the treatment of ALS. Patients in the study received investigational treatment for 12 consecutive months and were evaluated for safety and tolerability, Treg function, serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and clinical functioning as measured by the ALSFRS-R scale. The dual-mechanism investigational biologic combination combines low dose Interleukin-2 that is intended to enhance anti-inflammatory regulatory T cell function with a fusion protein that is intended to suppresses pro-inflammatory cell function and has been designed to be administered subcutaneously to minimize treatment burden for patients and caregivers. ALS is a disease of the parts of the nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. In ALS, motor neurons (nerve cells that control muscle cells) are gradually lost. As these motor neurons are lost, the muscles they control become weak and then nonfunctional, thus leading to muscle weakness, disability, and eventually death. ALS is the most common form of motor neuron disease. The study was conducted at the Houston Methodist Research Institute (Houston, Texas) by Stanley Appel, M.D., Jason Thonhoff, M.D., Ph.D., and David Beers, Ph.D. Dr. Appel is chair of Coya’s Scientific Advisory Board and is former chair of the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology. He is the director of the Ann Kimball & John W. Johnson Center for Cellular Therapeutics, Professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and the Peggy and Gary Edwards Distinguished Chair for the Treatment and Research of ALS at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Presentation details are: Title: Novel Treg-modulating Immunotherapy Targets Inflammation in ALS. Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 11:00 am CST Conference: 2023 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference ( https://www.mdaconference.org ) This article was originally published on Benzinga here. About Coya Therapeutics, Inc. Headquartered in Houston, TX, Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: COYA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary treatments focused on the biology and potential therapeutic advantages of regulatory T cells (“Tregs”) to target systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. Dysfunctional Tregs underlie numerous conditions including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases, and this cellular dysfunction may lead to a sustained inflammation and oxidative stress resulting in lack of homeostasis of the immune system. Coya’s investigational product candidate pipeline leverages multiple therapeutic modalities aimed at restoring the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions of Tregs. Coya’s therapeutic platforms include Treg-enhancing biologics, Treg-derived exosomes, and autologous Treg cell therapy. Coya’s 300 Series product candidates, COYA 301 and COYA 302, are biologic therapies intended to enhance Treg function and expand Treg numbers. COYA 301 is a cytokine biologic for subcutaneous administration intended to enhance Treg function and expand Treg numbers in vivo, and COYA 302 is a biologic combination for subcutaneous and/or intravenous administration intended to enhance Treg function while depleting T effector function and activated macrophages. These two mechanisms may be additive or synergistic in suppressing inflammation. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice Contact Details David S. Snyder David@coyatherapeutics.com Company Website https://coyatherapeutics.com/

February 28, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

57% of Americans Can’t Cover A $1,000 Emergency With Savings—Here’s How You Can Prepare For Unexpected Costs And Build An Emergency Fund

DentalPlans.com

By Rachael Green, Benzinga According to the 2023 Bankrate survey, just 43% of Americans would be able to cover a $1,000 emergency expense with their savings. Even fewer would be able to cover their full living expenses for at least one month if they unexpectedly lost their primary source of income. For many, inflation and unemployment are the key factors preventing them from saving as much as they would like. But having an emergency fund is an important safety net to ensure that unexpected car repairs, medical emergencies, or job losses don’t completely derail your financial future. Here’s how to figure out how much you should have in your emergency fund and some other tips for protecting yourself and your family from financial hardship. Why Should You Have An Emergency Fund? No matter how much you earn, every household is bound to face an unexpected but unavoidable expense now and then. An emergency fund acts as a safety net so that when those emergencies happen, you can pay for them without going into debt or being forced to make tough financial decisions like tapping into your 401k or downsizing your lifestyle. Typically, the costs an emergency fund is supposed to cover include: Unemployment. Even if you have unemployment insurance, it doesn’t replace your full income. An emergency fund can help cover the gap while you look for another job. Urgent medical procedures Emergency home repairs, like a new roof or foundation repairs that you can’t afford to ignore. Unexpected car repairs Sudden death or disability How Much Should You Save In Your Emergency Fund? Common wisdom states that each household should have somewhere between three to six months’ worth of expenses set aside as an emergency fund. To calculate, you can include only your absolutely essential expenses for the month like rent, utilities, and groceries. If those essentials add up to $2,000 each month, then you should save $6,000 to $12,000 in an emergency fund. If that amount seems unattainable, set a more realistic goal for yourself to start because the bottom line is any emergency savings are better than nothing. Just keep adding what you can to it. Other Ways To Prepare For Emergencies In addition to setting money aside in an emergency fund, you can also better prepare yourself for emergencies by taking steps to either prevent them from happening in the first place or lowering the cost when they do. Here are some high-impact strategies for keeping your unexpected costs down: Keep Up With Home And Car Maintenance Putting off oil changes and ignoring your check engine light can end up costing you $8,000 or more in major engine repairs later and shorten your vehicle's lifespan by as much as 50,000 miles. Putting off annual home inspections and maintenance can lead to similarly hefty repair costs down the road. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and avoiding these routine costs because you just don’t have the cash, there’s a lot you can learn to DIY, like oil changes and filter replacements. Join a Dental Savings Plan One of the biggest unplanned expenses people face is emergency dental work. According to the National Institute of Health, 90% of U.S. adults have some untreated decay in their teeth. But with 77 million Americans living without dental insurance and millions more with limited coverage that rarely covers the cost of even one major dental procedure, many put off treatment because it’s just too costly. With root canals costing anywhere between $1,000 and $4,350 and dentures as expensive as $28,000, even those with a healthy emergency fund can end up taking a huge hit if they need urgent dental care. Fortunately, there is a way to avoid draining your emergency fund or going into debt to take care of your teeth: a dental savings plan. Dental savings plans are membership programs that allow plan members to save 10% to 60% on virtually all dental procedures ranging from routine cleanings to more expensive treatments like root canals and dentures. Those steep discounts can turn an unexpected dental emergency into a much more affordable procedure. Plan members can also get similar discounts on preventative care to lower the risk of needing that more expensive work. Many plans even offer savings on cosmetic and restorative care that may not be covered by your dental insurance. No annual limits (save every time) and no restrictions based on health conditions. To get the discounted prices, you simply have to join a plan that includes the procedure you need and is accepted by a dentist near you. Then, show your membership card to that dentist, and you’ll be billed the lower rate. With over 140,000 dentists participating in a dental savings plan nationwide, it’s easy to find one in your area. On DentalPlans.com, for example, you can search a marketplace of thousands of dental savings plans and filter by location, procedure, or dentist to find one that meets your needs. You can also find plans that offer discounts on vision care and prescription medications to cut costs further. Consider Life Insurance And Disability Insurance In the case of sudden death or disability, even a 3-6-month emergency fund may not be enough to cover the lost income—especially after you factor in funeral expenses or, in the case of disability, the cost of medical care. A life insurance or disability insurance policy can protect your family from financial hardship in those worst-case scenarios. Visit DentalPlans.com for more information. Discount Health Program consumer & provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan. This article was originally published on Benzinga here. DentalPlans.com, founded in 1999, is a leading online marketplace for dental savings plans in the U.S., helping more than a million people to affordably access quality healthcare services. Our mission is to empower consumers with the tools, information, and services that they need to live happier, healthier lives. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Matthew Wong matthew.wong@wpromote.com Company Website https://www.dentalplans.com/

February 28, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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