Oct 2, 2006 9:48 am US/Eastern
What The New Health Insurance Law Means For Me
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
The Massachusetts health insurance reform bill mandates health insurance for every resident of the Commonwealth. The plan will make health insurance free for the state's poorest families, will subsidize insurance for low income individuals, and make health insurance more affordable for the rest of the state's uninsured.
The law requires every person in the state of Massachusetts to purchase health insurance by July 1, 2007. Parents are responsible for insuring children under the age of 18. If you are not insured by January 1, 2008 you will face income tax penalties.
The first phase of this reform,
Commonwealth Care, takes effect October 1, 2006. It addresses health care insurance for low income families.
Below Federal Poverty LevelThe new law encourages those eligible for Medicaid to sign up. As many as 100,000 of Massachusetts' uninsured will qualify for Medicaid.
Am I eligible for Medicaid?If your household income is below the federal poverty level, you will be able to purchase private health insurance through the Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Connector, but pay no premiums. Sign-ups for those below the federal poverty level begin October 1.
Am I eligible?This health insurance will cover inpatient services, outpatient services and preventative care by participating providers, prescription drugs, inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse services, dental care, including preventative and restorative services, and vision care.
Between 100% and 300% Federal Poverty LevelIf your household income is between 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level, you are eligible for premium assistance, to help you purchase private health insurance. You will purchase the insurance on a pre-tax basis, and pay no deductible. Premiums are assigned on a sliding-scale. Subscribers will have to pay between $18 and $106 a month toward their premiums. Sign-ups for those between 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level begin in January 2007.
The health insurance reform law will ultimately provide more affordable insurance for uninsured individuals with incomes higher than 300% of the federal poverty level, including the unemployed, part-time employees, and the self-employed. Insurance purchased by residents in these groups will not be subsidized by the state, but the program will offer lowers premiums by grouping together individuals who would otherwise have to purchase insurance on their own. The details of this coverage are still being worked out.
If you have quesitons about Commonwealth Care, you can call their Customer Service Center at
1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765) (TTY: 1-877-623-7773 for people with partial
or total hearing loss) between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M., Monday through Friday. You can also check the
Commonwealth Care web site.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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