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| Health care plans unfolding |
| Moore explains legislation |
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Author: Shaun Moriarty Publication: Southbridge Evening News |
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June 7, 2006...Attempting to clarify some of the confusion surrounding the recently passed Massachusetts comprehensive health reform initiative, state Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, took to the airwaves of a local radio station this week. The health insurance reform bill became effective on April 12 and will be implemented in phases until Jan. 1, 2008 — at that time, legislators hope 90 to 95 percent of the state’s 550,000 uninsured have health insurance coverage. Moore said the 8 percent of Massachusetts residents without health insurance is too high, even though that figure is half the national average of 16 percent. “This is a positive step that will help everybody,” Moore said on Monday’s WESO “The Spirit” 970-AM’s “Sound Off” live talk show with host A.J. Berthiaume. Moore said too many individuals are seeking free health care in hospital emergency rooms for treatment that could otherwise be handled through a regular physician. Moore said illegal immigrants, those living below the poverty level and others who, for whatever reason, are without health insurance have created a drain on the system as the state spends billions of dollars each year on the free care. While the health reform initiative will not eliminate free care, Moore said funds allocated for free treatment would be “significantly less.” Moore added that about “two-thirds” of those seeking free health care are working and may be able to purchase health insurance. “It’s not like they are completely destitute,” Moore said. “They at least have some money coming in.” The healthcare reform passed by the Legislature combines Medicaid expansions with a new program of insurance subsidies, insurance market reforms, employer contributions and an individual mandate. The individual mandate, which becomes effective July 1, 2007, will require that all Massachusetts residents over the age of 18 have health insurance. Additionally, they must indicate on their 2007 tax return whether they have complied. Failure to do so may result in the loss of the individual’s personal tax exemption. Beginning in 2008, a penalty of up to 50 percent of the amount of an affordable health insurance premium will be imposed if the individual has not complied with the new law. Exemptions from the requirements include verification from the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector that no affordable coverage is available and the filing of an affidavit with a tax return stating an individual did not obtain coverage because of a sincerely held religious belief. Moore assured listeners he and his fellow legislators are “working with the health plans” to provide the best deals for the citizens. Employers with 11 or more employees will also face new responsibilities imposed by the act. A “fair share contribution” of up to $295 per full-time employee per year may be assessed on employers who do not make a “fair and reasonable contribution” to the cost of their employees’ health coverage. “It does not require any business to provide insurance,” Moore said. The senator explained the employer’s contribution figure is based on an estimate of the cost paid by the state for the free care used by those employees who are not covered by their employers. Those employers who do provide insurance, Moore said, already contribute to the cost of free care. The contribution is pro-rated for employers with seasonal or part-time employees. He noted that Republican Gov. Mitt Romney vetoed this portion of the reform initiative only for the Legislature to override the veto. Moore said that while the changes may appear confusing to some now, future informational campaigns and announcements should help educate the public in the near future. “The requirement for everyone to have insurance doesn’t take effect until about a year from now,” Moore said. “Over the next year people will learn a lot more about it,” he continued. “The details still have to be filled in by the agencies that will be running the programs.” Moore added, “Information will be coming out in a variety of ways in the next several months.” |