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In This Issue:
The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act takes effect July 1. The state government has introduced this law to extend coverage to as many people as possible. Here are some things you should know:
• The act requires state residents age 18 and over to have health insurance by July 1. If you do not have health coverage, you could lose your Massachusetts income tax exemption next year. Additional financial penalties take effect in 2008.
• You can maintain coverage through BWH, if eligible, or through an outside source. If you have insurance through an outside source (such as your spouse’s employer), be sure to monitor updates on the state government website at www.mass.gov to ensure that your coverage continues. Massachusetts has established the Commonwealth Connector to provide health insurance to state residents without coverage through their employers or an outside source. If you work at BWH but do not qualify for employer-sponsored health insurance, you may choose to enroll in a state plan. Information on state-funded insurance is available at www.mass.gov
• The act extends health coverage for your dependents ages 19-26. A dependent child who loses health coverage due to age (19 or over) or loss of full-time student status can continue coverage for up to two calendar years once you can no longer claim him/her as a tax dependent, or until age 26, if earlier. Your child loses coverage if he/she marries, even if under age 26. You must be enrolled in a BWH medical, dental and/or vision plan to add your child. Once your child loses BWH group coverage, he/she is eligible for an additional 36 months of coverage under COBRA at a full premium cost.
• There is no additional payroll deduction when you add your dependent child to your health plan if you are enrolled in BWH family medical coverage. However, if your child is no longer your tax dependent and you provide less than half of his/her support, the cost of adding or continuing your child as an individual medical plan member will be included in your income for tax purposes while he/she has coverage, per federal tax rules.
• The act does not change health coverage for disabled dependents. Unmarried, dependent handicapped children over age 25 still qualify for BWH medical, dental and/or vision coverage, if coverage has been continuous since before age 19.
With questions, contact the Benefits Office at (617) 726-8133 or ibenefits@partners.org