Run for Food in Chico

It’s the season for giving and our team at Sweeney & Sweeney enjoys finding fun ways to combine charity and exercise. If you’re staying in town for Thanksgiving, we hope you’ll join us for the 9^th annual Run for Food. This 5K run/walk will begin at Bidwell Park’s One Mile Recreation Area on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, November 27^th at 9:00am.

What is now a Chico tradition, the Run for Food began in 2006 when community members and business owners came together to raise money for the Jesus Center. Funded entirely by community support, the Jesus Center helps those in need by providing daily meals, shelter for women and children, and assistance finding housing and work. All proceeds from the Run for Food are donated to the Jesus Center to support their mission.

The event will include both a timed 5K run and an untimed 5k run/walk. The course is paved and free of traffic, making it easily accesible for strollers, wheelchairs, and children. Registration for the event can be completed both online and in person depending on your preference. The cost for participating is as follows:

Untimed Adults – $30
Timed Adults – $35
Children 12 and under, untimed with bib & shirt – $25
Children 12 and under, timed with bib & shirt – $30
Children 12 and under, untimed, no bib or shirt – FREE

For more information, please visit www.runforfood.com.

Chico Christmas Preview

Ready or not, Christmas is coming! The Sweeney & Sweeny team couldn’t be more excited for the holidays. Whether you’re already feeling the holiday cheer or need a little boost to get you in the Christmas spirit, we invite you to join us for the 37^th annual Christmas Preview in downtown Chico. Bring your family and stroll the streets on Sunday, November 23^rd between 4:00pm and 8:00pm as the community comes together to welcome the holidays.

This free event offers something for everyone. Merchants show off their holiday décor inviting guests in for refreshments. Christmas carolers walk the streets filling the air with holiday jingles. Even Santa will be there! Stationed at the corner of 3^rd and Broadway, Santa will stop by to visit and take pictures with the kids.

Business and organizations from all over town will flood the streets with holiday attractions including the following:

Free Train on Wheels rides via Max’s Miracle Ranch
A sneak preview of the play “Believe”
Fun photos on the Snapshots Photo Bus
Christmas Karaoke via Mix 95.1
Santa’s Sleigh Toy Drive sponsored by Mix 95.1 and The Chico Fire Department
Treats from Mary’s Gone Crackers
Holiday family photos at Nantucket Home
Bell-ringers for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Limited edition T-shirts designed by Jake Early
Runaway Prevention info provided by Sixth Street Center for Youth
And much more!

A guaranteed good time for all, this Chico tradition is sure to put a smile on your face and a jingle in your step as you greet the holiday season with cheer. Click here for more information. Hope to see you there!

Health Care Reform: Open Enrollment Update

Some of you may already be aware, but the deadline to have a January 1 start date for the ACA has been bumped to December 23^rd. So, if you need your insurance to start at the beginning of the year, you now have a little over a week longer to get signed up!

However, don’t forget that if you don’t need to have the insurance start immediately, Open Enrollment is going on through March 15^th, so call us to schedule your appointment today!

For each month, signing up by the 15^th gives you a start date of the 1^st of the following month (e.g. If you enroll on February 12^th, 2014, your insurance will start March 1^st ).

Don’t fret! All of your Health Care Reform answers are just a phone call away with one of our Certified agents.

Halloween Safety Tips for Parents to Kids

Some of us have kids that are just hitting the age where they want to go out trick-or-treating by themselves. From the parental side of things, this can be a little scary. To help take some of the stress off your mind, try out these little tips.

Make up a set of ground rules. Have a set time when your kids have to be back make sure they know the areas that they’re allowed to go, and where not to go; don’t stray away from your group of friends; etc.

Remind them to stay on the sidewalks, cross streets only at corners and crosswalks, and double check no cars are coming before crossing.

If your kids don’t already have their own, loan them your cell phone in case of emergency and so they can check in.

If they’re going out after dark, make sure they have glow sticks/necklaces/bracelets or flashlights so that they’re easily visible.

Make sure your kids know what the candy-consumption rules are before heading out, to avoid arguing and upset when they get home with their loot.

Halloween has a tendency to also bring out the crazies, so a refresher lesson in Stranger Danger may be in order.

If your kids have any allergies, remember to send them out with their medicine, just in case they dip into their stash early, and eat the wrong thing.

Even though you’ll still be worrying about your kids the whole time they’re out, try to have fun handing out Halloween candy at home or having a little Halloween get together of your own. We hope these tips help to alleviate some of your fears, and allow everyone to have a happy and safe Halloween, this season!

DIY Halloween Decorations

I’m sure like most of you, I love going to my favourite stores and checking out the new Halloween decorations. Unfortunately, they can often be rather expensive, and I may only be able to find a couple things that are really my taste. This spook season, check out these cool DIY decorations that are totally customizable to your taste and needs.

Scarecrow – With a few scrap pieces of lumber for the body and a ball—or even a balloon—for the head, you can customize your very own lawn ornament to be scary, silly, formal, or down-home; whatever look you want for your home.

Door Wreath – With a simple wire coat hanger formed into a circle, you can pick up a pretty cheap garland from just about anywhere, wrap it around to hide the wire, and add any embellishments you wish for an extra personal touch.

Haunted Hotel Sign – You can pick up an old post and corbel at a reclaimed goods/salvage store and add your own spooky sign. Your choice if you have any vacancies or not …!

Window Silhouettes – Cut out the shape of your choice from some black construction paper, adhere it to your window, and let your figures come alive when the lights come on! For some added effect, create a whole shadow-y scene!

Welcome Mats – If you have some carpet scrap lying around, you can paint a ghostly scene and a message to your visitors. If not, pick up a plain, cheap porch mat, cut out some shapes (i.e. bats, ghosts, cats, barren trees, letters) to stick to the mat, and spray paint over your now-stencils for your very own custom greeting!

Picture Frame Lanterns – Want a cute way to light up the path to your door? Try picking up some cheap picture frames, use some wood glue to form a cube (minus the top and bottom) and then some vellum paper to print some Halloween-tastic pictures and place either real or electric candles on the inside for a fun way to light up the trail to the candy.

Hope you can have fun with some of these and please feel free to share them with us! As always, everyone here at Sweeney & Sweeney hopes you have a fun and safe holiday!

Top 10 ACA Points You Should Know

Are you wondering what the different parts of the ACA really mean? Straight from Blue Shield, here are the top 10 key issues you should know about.

1. Guaranteed Issue – No one will be denied healthcare due to health, age, gender, or other issues including pre-existing conditions.

2. The Individual Mandate – All individuals will be required to have coverage that qualifies as the minimum essential by January 2014, or risk paying a tax penalty.

3. Grandfathered Plans – People who have healthcare plans that were in effect prior to March 23, 2010, can keep their plans if they want. The only caveat is they are not subject to the ACA’s requirements.

4. New Marketplaces – Marketplaces (Exchanges) have been created as a place for people to explore and compare different health plans. You can access this marketplace directly through brokers and individual carriers just as before.

5. Open Enrollment – This Open Enrollment period began on October 1, 2013 and ends March 31, 2014.

6. Essential Health Benefits – All non-grandfathered plans for individuals and small businesses will include the following 10 categories:

Ambulatory patient services
Emergency services
Hospitalization
Maternity and newborn care
Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioural health treatment
Prescription drugs
Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
Laboratory services
Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
Pediatric services, including or and vision care

7. Metal Level Plans – All non-grandfathered health plans offered to individuals and small businesses will be required to provide coverage at a “metal level”—Platinum (90%), Gold (80%), Silver (70%), and Bronze (60%)—based on the actuarial value (E.g. With a gold plan, the Insured pays 20% of health care costs, while the plan covers 80%).

8. Federal Subsidies – Subsidies will be available starting 2014 for those whose annual income is between 134% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and who meet the guidelines. Subsidies will help lower the costs of both premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Those who fall less than 134% below the poverty level may be eligible for Medi-Cal. Tax credits will also continue to be available to small businesses with 25 or less full-time equivalent employees to help cover the costs of providing coverage.

9. ACA Taxes – Taxes covering the ACA will start January 1, 2014. Click here for a downloadable copy of the ACA tax fact sheet

10. Play-or-Pay – As of January 1, 2014, the ACA requires companies over a certain size to offer affordable health coverage to full-time employees and their dependents or face paying a penalty if an employee receives federally-subsidized coverage through the Exchange.

DIY Halloween Costumes for your Kids

Coming up with the perfect costume for your little one can be tough. And if funds are on the tight side, that can make things even tougher. Here are a few quick, simple, and cheap costume ideas for your kiddos.

Spelling Bee – leotard, pipe cleaners, hangers … not much goes into this getup, but it sure is cute!
Rocket Man – We all know your kid is out of this world, so why not show it off with the awesome rocket man costume?
Superhero – Superman, Batman, Spiderman … They’re all so overdone. Make your kid into their very own super hero!
Butterfly – This butterfly costume’s great, especially if you have a great eye for detail. Since you’re making the wings yourself, your munchkin can be any kind of butterfly they want!
Mad Scientist – What’s cuter than a little mad scientist, come on? And really, couldn’t get much easier.
Little Miss Sunshine – Both a great movie and a pretty good adjective for your little one. Very little prep for this costume, too.
Raining Cats and Dogs – If you like concept costumes, this one’s great. All you really need is a little hot glue for the stuffed critters on the umbrella!
Angel – So maybe our kids aren’t always so angelic, but at least they can look the part for a night! These wings are ridiculously easy and look great!
Pig in a Blanket – Another great conceptual costume, I’m thinking this would be the best for kids under 2. If they get worn out from trick-or-treating before you get home, they already have the blanket to snuggle with!

For more information (and pictures!) on how to put together the snazzy costumes featured, check out this awesome site! RealSimple From everyone here at Sweeney & Sweeney, we hope you have a wonderful, safe, and fun Halloween this year!

Health Care Reform: The Bill at a Glance

With the government also shutting down, I think many people have forgotten that Tuesday was also the start of Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act. I know many people have been confused about exactly what the ACA (A.K.A. Obamacare, PPACA, Health Care Reform) is. There has been much confusing media coverage, and people spreading around incorrect information. I just want to take a minute to give you a basic breakdown of what the bill entails.

No one will be turned down for coverage due to pre-existing conditions, any longer.
The age ceiling for young adults being covered on their parents’ health plans has been raised to 26.
You may have the ability to modify the way you pay for your coverage by adjusting your monthly premium payments with your deductible.
You may qualify for a premium tax credit.
Free preventative care.
Choose the best doctor for you within your plan.
Women’s health preventative care is also 100% covered.

These are just a few of the many new changes included with the Affordable Care Act. Call today to schedule your appointment to come in and get enrolled! We’ll help you find the best plan for you and your family or you and your employees! For more information on the Reform, check out our past blogs: Women’s Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Improved Coverage Options, Q & A, Premium Assistance Calculation, Employer Mandate Delayed, Young Adults, Small Business Tax Credits, Individual Tax Credits, Getting Covered, Small Business, Health Insurance Plans at a Glance, Questions Answered, and many more.

Health Care Reform: Small Business Tax Credits

In regards to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, small employers (those who have less than 50 full-time equivalent employees
(FTE)) are not required to offer their employees health coverage. However, an
employer with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees may be eligible for
incentives from the federal government to provide their employees with health
coverage.

Many small employers do not realize they have the
opportunity to claim a federal income tax credit on their annual tax returns.
Unfortunately, a very low percentage of qualified business owners are taking
advantage of this credit. Here are the IRS guidelines to be eligible.

The expenses that an employer can count towards the tax
credit includes the premiums that are paid for each employee. The employer must
contribute at least 50% of the cost of the health care coverage for employees.
Must have less than 25 FTE workers when totaling all
individuals’ hours of employment.
Employers must pay their workers an average of less
than $50,000 per year to qualify. The smaller and lower wage employers will
receive a larger tax credit.

If your business meets these requirements, we encourage you
to contact a Health Care Reform Agent (such as our Health Department here at Sweeney & Sweeney) to verify your options and help you
calculate your eligibility of a tax credit.

Health Care Reform: Individual Tax Credits

Tax credits are
available for individuals and families who meet certain income requirements and
don’t have access to affordable health coverage through their employer. Below
are some key points you should know about tax credits.

The size of the tax credit is
based on a sliding scale, with those who make less money getting larger
financial support to lower their cost of insurance.
Individuals and families who
make between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level- an
individual making up to $44,680 and a family of four making up to $92,200,
are those who are eligible for tax credits and subsidies.
Tax credits lower the cost of
your premium and can be used when you enroll, you do not need to wait
until you file a tax return at the end of the year.
Tax credits are paid to your health plan monthly
by the federal government.

In addition, as always, with any questions you have about Health Care Reform and what that can mean for your family, yourself, or your business, please feel free to either call or set up a meeting at Sweeney & Sweeney and Cheryl, Jamie, Dan, Shannon, Ellen, and/or John would be more than happy to assist with any concerns.