Search Results for: massachusetts families

Massachusetts Bill Will Strengthen Mental Health Services

In Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick has created a bill that, if it becomes law, would help strengthen mental health services in the state. It is part of the gun control legislation he recently filed. The Governor feels treating mental health is critical to reducing gun violence. The gun control bill that Governor Deval Patrick has several different parts to it. It is the first I have heard of that will, if passed into law, require gun owners to purchase gun liability insurance. for their firearms. It also has some portions that are intended to strengthen access to mental health treatment. … Continue reading →

Massachusetts Considers Requiring Gun Liability Insurance

How can we prevent gun violence? One of the ideas that has been suggested by many people is to require gun owners to purchase liability insurance on their guns. Most of what I have read on this has been theoretical, until now. Massachusetts might actually require gun liability insurance. Shocked and saddened by the tragedy that happened in Newtown, Connecticut, people started writing, and blogging, and tweeting, their ideas about how to prevent gun violence. One of the ideas involved requiring gun owners to purchase liability insurance on all of their guns. I wrote a blog that compiled several people’s … Continue reading →

Massachusetts Genealogy Resources

Massachusetts is called “the Bay State”. Are you looking for information about your ancestors who once lived in the state of Massachusetts? Here are a bunch of online genealogy resources that can help you. Most of them are free to use. Internment.net has cemetery records online. You can start by putting your ancestor’s name into the search engine at the top of the page. Or, you can select one of the counties in Massachusetts that you want to browse through. Most counties have a link that connects to records from cemeteries within the county. If there is no link, it … Continue reading →

Medicaid in Massachusetts was Model for ACA

The Medicaid program in Massachusetts was a landmark law that was passed in 2006 under Governor Mitt Romney. This is the Medicaid program that was used as a model for the Affordable Care Act that was signed by President Barack Obama in 2010. Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It is designed to cover individuals and families who are low income and who cannot afford to buy a health plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also funded by the government of an individual state. … Continue reading →

Massachusetts Residents Are About to Receive Rebates

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If you are a resident of Massachusetts, and you have health insurance coverage, you might be getting an insurance rebate soon! This is thanks to the Affordable Care Act that requires health insurance companies to spend at least 80% of the money they get from premiums on actual health care for their customers. Insurers who failed to do that have to send out rebates. The medical loss ratio, or MLR, is a regulation that is part of the Affordable Care Act. It went into effect in 2011. The purpose of the law was to prevent insurance companies from spending the … Continue reading →

Hospital Chain in Massachusetts Become Health Insurer

A hospital chain in Massachusetts is trying something different. They have created a health insurance policy that costs less than what many other insurers are charging for premiums. The “catch” is that the insurance is only usable for care and treatment that was given in one of their hospitals. Could this be the future of health insurance? Right now, hospitals and insurance companies are completely different entitles. They work closely together, but they are legally and financially separate from each other. You apply for health insurance through an insurance company. If the insurer approves your application, then you can use … Continue reading →

Jewish Cemeteries of Massachusetts

When I lived in Massachusetts as a teenager, I had the good fortune of getting a great first job at a wonderful place. The Worcester Jewish Community Center was not only a great place to work; it was a place where I made many friends during the ten years that I worked there and a place where I learned a great deal about Judaism. Massachusetts has quite a few large Jewish communities, and as a result, quite a few Jewish cemeteries. Today I decided to learn a little bit about the Jewish cemeteries of Massachusetts. The first Jewish cemetery was … Continue reading →

Cranberry Madness In Massachusetts

Did you know 27% of the world’s cranberries come from Massachusetts? It’s not exactly the best-known statistic around, but it’s a fact residents of the state are proud of nonetheless. The cranberry industry is Massachusetts’ number one agricultural crop, according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association. What’s more, leaders of the growers association maintain that Massachusetts is where the cranberry industry was born. Which means if you plan to visit the area during harvest season you are in for a real treat. In the early autumn months the New England state best known for its ties to American history … Continue reading →

Homeschool Groups and Resources in Massachusetts

Involvement with other homeschoolers is very important to a family’s success in homeschooling. Joining a homeschool network or support group in your area will make a difference in your homeschooling journey. This installment is for Massachusetts. About Our Kids Home Learners (A-OK) is a Boston area group intent on forming new ones and strengthening old ones, both for kids and parents. Athol-Orange Homeschooling Group is an inclusive group serving Royalston, Warwick, New Salem, Phillipston, Templeton, Wendell, Gill, Erving, Gardner, Barre. Petersham Attleboro Area Homeschooling Group has Monthly parent meetings Park days, field trips, classes, book groups,and Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts. Belchertown … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Something for Mom in Massachusetts

In my previous blog I encouraged moms to earmark sometime on their annual family vacations to indulge in one of their favorite activities—-be it shopping, horseback riding, getting pampered at a spa, etc. Easier said than done, I know. But, thanks to some creative marketing folks at hotels around the country, travel packages designed specifically for overworked moms are ripe for the picking right now. If you plan to be in Massachusetts sometime in the next few weeks consider taking advantage of these great deals: BOSTON The Boston Marriott is offering a “Baseball and Shopping” package for moms who want … Continue reading →