Tag Archives: utah

Making a Point with Colored Plastic Balls

Utah is one of the states that does not require private health insurance companies to cover the cost of autism treatment in a health plan. This could change if a bill designed to help families afford the treatment their child requires is passed into law. Advocates made their point about how badly this bill was needed by using brightly colored plastic balls to represent each child it would help. In Utah, there is a bill called SB55. It was released by Senator Brian Shiozawa. The bill was endorsed by Autism Speaks, a national advocacy group. If passed into law, it … Continue reading →

Utah Bill Would Require Coverage for Autism Treatment

Utah is one of the states that does not require private health insurance companies to cover the cost of treatment for autism. That could change, thanks to a new bill that would require private health plans to cover it. This is in response to pilot programs that failed to provide adequate coverage. Right now, there are 32 states that require all health insurance plans to cover the cost of autism treatment. Typically, this means that the insurance plan will cover applied behavioral analysis, (ABA). It is an ongoing form of treatment that can require 25 to 40 hours a week. … Continue reading →

Seven More States Gain Approval for Exchanges

California was not the only state to gain approval for its health insurance exchange today. There were seven other states who also got their exchanges approved by the federal government. This brings the total up to 20! The Affordable Care Act is great big health reform law that has many parts. One requirement is that all states will have a health insurance exchange that is functional and accessible by January 1, 2014. Although the Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010, it is only recently that some states have completed the appropriate work involved to have their exchanges approved by … Continue reading →

Utah Genealogy Resources

The state of Utah has the nickname “The Beehive State”. According to USA Fact Book, early Mormon settlers had been described as carrying “swarms of bees” with them. Are you looking for more information about your ancestors who once lived in Utah? Try some of these Utah genealogy resources. FamilySearch has a Wiki page about the state of Utah. You can click on a link for each and every county in the state. Doing so will bring you to a FamilySearch Wiki page specifically about that county. You can also find links that have information about major repositories of Utah … Continue reading →

Utah’s Avenue H and the Affordable Care Act

Governor Gary Herbert wants the Obama administration to approve Avenue H, Utah’s version of a health insurance exchange. While it fits some of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, Avenue H does not meet all of the standards for state-based exchanges. The Governor is intending to go forward with Avenue H even if it is not approved. The Affordable Care Act requires all states to have a health insurance exchange. There are three options. One option is to run a state-based exchange. Another option is to have an exchange that is a partnership between a state government and the … Continue reading →

Save on a Winter Ski Vacation

I much prefer sunbathing on a tropical island than skiing down an icy slope. However, the deals being offered by ski resorts across the nation right now are so incredible, they actually made me reconsider my upcoming Hawaiian vacation… for like 30 seconds. If you are aching to feel the rush of flying down the face of a mountain at highway speeds, without having to drain your wallet, then you might consider the following fabulous winter ski deals: COLORADO If you are a serious skier, then you can save big by purchasing Vail Resorts’ $599 Epic Pass. The deal offers … Continue reading →

Who is Daniel Suelo and Why Hasn’t He Spent Money in the Past Nine Years?

Yes, you read the title of this blog correctly – Daniel Suelo hasn’t spent any money in the past nine years. None. You have heard of a zero carbon footprint, but Daniel is more about a zero currency footprint. In fact, the name of his blog is Zero Currency. Of course, that in turn leaves a zero carbon footprint. So who is Daniel and why is he doing this? Daniel isn’t a bum – he graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in anthropology in 1987. He worked as a lab assistant for a few years then joined … Continue reading →

Super Summer Savings to Salt Lake City

The mountainous city and well-known skiing destination wants you to experience its summer side. If you are a family of adventure seekers that love to swim, fish, hike, picnic, or bike, Salt Lake City is waiting for you. And to help you get there without breaking the bank JetBlue is offering a package deal that includes airfare and hotel accommodations. The “Salt Lake City Getaway” is good through the month of July and includes round-trip airfare and three nights’ accommodations from $295 per person when departing from Long Beach, California (add $170 to-from New York City, $220 to/from D.C., and … Continue reading →

Bathing Suit Brouhaha

First, it was the guy who got ticketed for wearing a Speedo at a beach (of all places). Now, city leaders in Kanab, Utah (the community sits just north of the Arizona state line) are banning bikinis at area pools. Perhaps it would be best if we all just tanned in our own backyards from now on. Actually, the ban on bikinis at Kanab’s municipal pool has been around for a while… long enough for two-piece swimsuit fans to raise a stink strong enough for city leaders to reconsider the prohibition on the popular pool attire. The city council member … Continue reading →

Travel Tales: Kids Rebel Against High Gas Prices

My daughter is far too young to understand that skyrocketing gas prices are just one of the reasons we can’t afford to drive to Chicago everyday to see her finned friends at the aquarium. And even if she did comprehend what gas prices have done to our household budget I’m still not convinced she would take on the project two sisters in Salt Lake City did recently. Nine-year-old Sadie and 7-year-old Pyper Vance are rebelling against record high gas prices. The sisters aren’t even old enough to have their learner’s permit, yet they say they are as sick of the … Continue reading →