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I just finished reading the Mass. law requiring everyone to be covered by this July. Some very interesting reading:
*For the tax year of 2007 everyone who files must list the health insurance they have had by July of 2007 on their state tax return.
*Anyone who does not have coverage must have a certificate from Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector - for example if they don't have coverage due to religious reasons.
*Anyone in violation will lose their personal exemption - worth $3,600 and be responsible in 2008 for half of what their premium would have been. Failure to remit this fine could result on a wage levy.
*Anyone over 300% of the federal poverty level must have health insurance. If a company doesn't provide it you must pay the premium in full. 300% of FPL for a family of 4 is $60,000. So by July if you're a family of 4 making over $60,000 in household income you're either buying health insurance or you're in for some steep fines. (Maybe they'll rethink that plasma TV.)
*Anyone from 100% to 300% of the FPL will apply for assistance to the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority which will determine the level of assistance. After the level of assistance is determined you are required to maintain coverage.
*Anyone 100% or below will get free "basic" coverage.
*All employers with 10 or more full time employee will be required to offer health insurance - even if it's a cafeteria plan. Failure to comply will mean a $295 per employee assessment. Also, if your employees use $50,000 or more of the state's free healthcare the employer will be fined from 10% to 100% of the state's medical costs. New tax breaks will be given to employers offering health insurance to off-set the cost of insurance.
*State will have a website publishing all health insurance premiums along with the costs doctor, hospital and pharmacies charge for their services as well as quality info. Every doctor will be required to submit their charges for basic care servies. That info will be published to people can search for doctors and hospitals based on what they charge.
EXTREMELY interesting stuff! Very well thought out.
*For the tax year of 2007 everyone who files must list the health insurance they have had by July of 2007 on their state tax return.
*Anyone who does not have coverage must have a certificate from Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector - for example if they don't have coverage due to religious reasons.
*Anyone in violation will lose their personal exemption - worth $3,600 and be responsible in 2008 for half of what their premium would have been. Failure to remit this fine could result on a wage levy.
*Anyone over 300% of the federal poverty level must have health insurance. If a company doesn't provide it you must pay the premium in full. 300% of FPL for a family of 4 is $60,000. So by July if you're a family of 4 making over $60,000 in household income you're either buying health insurance or you're in for some steep fines. (Maybe they'll rethink that plasma TV.)
*Anyone from 100% to 300% of the FPL will apply for assistance to the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority which will determine the level of assistance. After the level of assistance is determined you are required to maintain coverage.
*Anyone 100% or below will get free "basic" coverage.
*All employers with 10 or more full time employee will be required to offer health insurance - even if it's a cafeteria plan. Failure to comply will mean a $295 per employee assessment. Also, if your employees use $50,000 or more of the state's free healthcare the employer will be fined from 10% to 100% of the state's medical costs. New tax breaks will be given to employers offering health insurance to off-set the cost of insurance.
*State will have a website publishing all health insurance premiums along with the costs doctor, hospital and pharmacies charge for their services as well as quality info. Every doctor will be required to submit their charges for basic care servies. That info will be published to people can search for doctors and hospitals based on what they charge.
EXTREMELY interesting stuff! Very well thought out.