Mass. health reform agency set to decide coverages
Posted On: May. 30, 2007 12:00 AM CSTBOSTON--The board of the Massachusetts agency charged with implementing key parts of the state's sweeping health care reform law is scheduled to make a decision next week on the breadth of health care coverage that state residents must have.
Unless they receive a special waiver or the cost is considered unaffordable based on their income, individuals must be enrolled by Jan. 1, 2009, in plans that meet state design requirements. State residents who do not enroll face significant financial penalties.
The requirements for plans to be considered as meeting minimum coverage, which the board of directors of the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority proposed earlier, include:
Additionally, high-deductible health insurance plans linked to health savings accounts automatically would be considered minimum creditable coverage.
The board is scheduled to make its final decision on June 6.
The goal of the 2006 law is to achieve near-universal health care coverage within a few years. State officials said they believe they are on track to meeting that objective.