This section is dedicated to breaking important news on Massachusetts Health Care Reform and beyond.
It is important to understand the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law is a work in progress and things are very fluid and are changing....
*PLEASE be aware that the rules for when someone can purchase insurances as an individual on the private market has drastically changed. There is now an annual open enrollment period and if you miss that enrollement period and you do not have what is called a "qualifying event"- you can't buy insurance! More on this in the issue on this page and what you an do: Private Insurance Rules.*
Also the Connector has Young Adult Plans (YAP) for those who are 18-26 years of age. The YAP plans can only be purchased through the Connector. Please make sure you read our buyer beware information on the YAP Plans in our Health Care Options Available section of our Guide for Artists. Note the same applies on the YAP plans as it does in the private insurance market place see: Private Insurance Rules.*
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Breaking news....
We recommend the below sites for up to date news on the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law:
A Healthy Blog on Health Care for All's web site
The News section on Community Partners web site.
Common Health a new blog on WBUR's web site
Press:
6.27.07 Artist Town Meetings Promote Empowerment
6.15.07 Thoughtful advocacy yields positive results
PAST IMPORTANT NEWS ....
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE INCOME MEASURE FOR THE PENALTIES AND THE MANDATE IS YOUR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.
We recommend that you first find out if you are exempt from the mandate. To find out if you are exempt from having to purchase health insurance, see our individual mandate section. Remember you can also appeal the financial penalties through the Connector.
October 2007
There have been changes to what was called the Free Care Pool. It is now called the Health Safety Net (HSN) and there are new eligibility requirements. Please see our the Health Safety Net section.
Young Adult Plans (YAP) are now available to those 18-26 years old (before the age eligibility was 19-26 years old). Remember to check to see what these plans cover and what their annual benefit caps are before you purchase them. See our health care options section.
6/5/07 On June 5th, 2007 the Connector Board voted unanimously to change the definition of Gross Income to Adjusted Gross Income contained in the Regulations "Determining Affordability for the Individual Mandate [956 CMR 6.00]" These are the regulations that the MA Department of Revenue will use to determine if someone is exempt from the individual mandate - the mandate that requires people to have health insurance. The Connector Authority Staff (this included Executive Director Jon Kingsdale, Jamie Katz Chief Counsel and other key connector staff) recommended the change to the board. This was a key important change that not only impacts artists, the self-employed and those with combination sources of income in this state, but it has national implications as the entire country is watching our state as the model to replicate.Thank you to all of the artists who testified at the three public hearings and to all of those artists, artist run organizations, and artist supporters who sent in letters. We collected over 40 letters on this issue (non form letters -so each letter was written in the artists own voice- which is key!). Connector Staff mentioned at the June 5th Connector Meeting that at all three of the hearings it was made clear by those testifying that Adjusted Gross Income was the fair and equitable way to measure income for the individual mandate. One Connector Board Member, Celia Wcislo, who was at all three of the public hearings, made the case of the need to switch to Adjusted Gross Income for the Individual Mandate to another board member by saying "that artists had real businesses expenses- i.e. brushes, paint, studio space, that were not counted in Gross Income" . Clearly the Connector Authority not only heard our request but implemented it. Several of the Connector Staff teased the AF Executive Director at the June 5th meeting that they were thinking of naming/dedicating the definition to her (so as you can see the AF was really focused on this key issue). (Special thanks to the ACT II Coalition and Health Care for All for their support and to the artists on this issue as well!)
Please be aware there has been some misinformation in the press and on some websites in regard to the Adjusted Gross Income Change- this change is ONLY for the Individual Mandate NOT for how the state is determining if someone is eligible for subsidized health care plans such as Commonwealth Care or a MassHealth Program.
To find out more about how this regulation change impacts you see our section on the individual mandate.