In this section you will find links to important information on Massachusetts Healthcare Reform.
What is MA Healthcare Reform? Click here for Q&A.
Commonwealth Choice Open Enrollment Info
If you adopted a Commonwealth Choice Voluntary Plan to meet the Section 125 Plan requirement of the Health Care Reform Law, you will want to read more...
Massachusetts Uncompensated Care Pool Usage - FY07
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services released the state's fourth annual report identifying employers who had 50 or more employees using publically support health insurance programs. Read more
NEW 2008 EMPLOYEE HIRD FORM RELEASED
When an event that requires an employee to sign the Employee HIRD Form occurs, the employer must provide the employee with the current version of the Employee HIRD form as posted on the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy’s (DHCFP) website on the date of signature. Please be advised that DHCFP has just released on its website a 2008 Employee HIRD Form, which can be downloaded from the the link on their website - Click Here A few of the questions have been reformatted, but there are no substantive changes to the form.
HC 1099 FORM REMINDER:
By January 31, 2008, Massachusetts residents should receive an HC 1099 form that contains the information necessary to complete the new Schedule HC portion of their taxes now required due to Mass Health Care Reform. The HC 1099 will reflect any dates during 2007 that a Massachusetts resident had health insurance coverage, if any dependents were covered, and the TIN (tax identification number) of the insurer. Several insurers, including all Massachusetts HMO’s, will be sending HC 1099’s directly to members who live in Massachusetts. However, you may hear from employees who do not receive an HC 1099 form. In this event, the member can simply complete the Schedule HC to the best of their ability and this should be sufficient, or, they can contact the insurer to request a duplicate HC 1099 (bearing in mind that non-Massachusetts HMO’s may not send out HC 1099 forms to Massachusetts residents on their plans). Members who receive two or more HC 1099 forms because they were covered by more than one plan during the year should use the one that covers them as of 12/31/07.
Click here to download Schedule HC. Click here to download Schedule HC Instructions. Click here to download a blank HC 1099 form
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue issued draft guidelines December 31st on tax penalties for not having health insurance in calendar year 2008. Penalties will apply only to adults who can afford health insurance, based on separate standards established by the Health Connector on an annual basis and subject to hardship appeals. While the 2007 penalty is the loss of the personal exemption worth $219 on an individual’s state tax return, the 2008 penalties will be based on one-half the lowest cost plans available through the Connector as of January 1, 2008. Under the draft guidelines, the penalties will range from zero to $912 for an entire year without coverage. Click to read TIR Health Insurance and 2008 Insurance Penalties.
The Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing has approved another technical corrections bill that amends the Healthcare Reform Law. Read Bill
Employer Healthcare Reform Filing Deadline - November 15, 2007 - Read more
October 1, 2007 - The website https://fsc.detma.org/ is the only way Massachusetts Employers can file their Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure (HIRD) information, and determine if they are subject to the Fair Share Contribution (FSC).
Since some employers may need to register and gather information requested, you should log on to the website as soon as possible to ensure the November 15, 2007 deadline can be met. Employer filing under the FSC Program will be an annual event. Timely filing must take place between October 1 and November 15 each year. The on-line filing system will be available to employers throughout the year.
The information reported by employers will encompass payroll, employment and health insurance coverage data for the 12-month “applicable base period” ending on September 30.
For instructions for filing Fair Share Contributions, go to https://fsc.detma.org/Help/FileInstructions.htm
September 2007 Webinar Presentation
Click here for Presentation
Click here for Form 1099 MA-HC
Click here for Employee HIRD Form
Click here for Schedule HC - Health Care Information form
Click here for Schedule HC Instructions
September 2007 - The Division of Healthcare Finance and Policy issued an Administrative Bulletin that updates the requirements for the Fair Share Calculation. Read bulletin
August 2007 - The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), the Division of Healthcare Finance and Policy (DHCFP and the Connector released important new policy information. Read more
June 29, 2007 - Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority issued an Administrative Information Bulletin to provide guidance in connectiion with the Section 125 cafeteria plan requirements. Read more
June 2007 - On Tuesday, June 5th, the Commonwealth Connector Board voted to finalize the Section 125 Regulations and the Minimum Creditable Coverage Regulations that were previously proposed or in draft form.
Click here to read about Employer Sponsored Health Insurance Access
Click here to read about Minimum Creditable Coverage
June 2007 - MA Healthcare Reform Compliance Alert regarding July 1, 2007 requirements - includes documents and instructions... Read more
May 2007 - On July 1, 2007, more provisions of the new Healthcare Reform law will be effective. This will place added responsibilities on employers, and create some strategic planning challenges and opportunities. Longfellow Benefits hosted an informational webinar to review the additional requirements. Click here to view the presentation and Q&A.
April 2007 - On Thursday, April 12, 2007, The Commonwealth Connector Authority voted to adopt Affordability Guidelines for purposes of determining who is required to purchase insurance on July 1, 2007, or face a penalty. Individuals may be exempt from the individual mandate on the basis of income, family status/size, or the cost of employer sponsored coverage. Read more
April 11, 2007 Bulletin - On April 11, 2007, The Massachusetts Division of Insurance issued Bulletin 2007-4 which, although it is issued to insurers, provides guidance for employers to meet the non-discrimination requirements of the new Massachusetts Healthcare Reform Law, which are effective on July 1, 2007. Read bulletin
February 2007 Bulletin - In an unexpected move, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services recently issued a bulletin withdrawing two regulations implementing key features the Massachusetts health care reform act. Read bulletin
Section 125 Employer Implementation Steps
Helping your employees connect to good health - Section 125 Handbook for Employees
Employers Guide to Massachusetts Healthcare Reform
FAQ's for Employers on Massachusetts Healthcare Reform
Bulletin for Employers - Update on Division's health care reform regulations
Mass Health Care Reform Law
Technical Corrections Bill #1
Technical Corrections Bill #2
Fair Share Contribution Regulation
Free Rider Surcharge Regulations
Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure Regulations
Employee Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure (updated) 2007
Eligibility as a Dependent in an insured Health Plan - January 2007
Free and Uncompensated care Pool Usuage for FY06
Did you adopt a Commonwealth Choice Voluntary Plan to meet the Section 125 Plan requirement of the Health Care Reform Law?