- Click here to download a copy of the New Fair Share Changes.
- Click here to download a copy of the Employee HIRD Form.
- Click here to visit the Connector's Web site.
New Massachusetts Fair Share Standards
Effective January 1, 2009
Here are the highlights:
Having listened carefully to all sides, the Division of
Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) is releasing new,
final regulations today. The new DHCFP rules are aimed
at those businesses that have failed to insure their workforce
and have chosen to pay almost nothing towards the reform
by requiring they meet both the 33% premium payment, and
the 25% enrollment standards, with some important exceptions...
First, the new changes recognize the
difficulties that small businesses are facing. The amended
regulations apply only to those firms with over 50 full-time
employees, rather than the initial standard, which applied
them to any business with over 11 full time equivalent
(FTE) workers. This means smaller businesses will not
be impacted by the regulatory changes.
Secondly, any employer that has 75% of
their full-time employees buying insurance, will also
be allowed to live by the current rules. These changes
acknowledge that these businesses are already doing their
fair share. Finally, DHCFP has postponed the start
date of this regulation from October 1, until January
1, saving businesses three months of penalties, and allowing
time for larger employers to adjust to the new regulations.
Get Ready for New Massachusetts Health Insurance Standards
The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law does not require employers to offer specific health benefits. Your employees need insurance that meets new "Minimum Creditable Coverage" standards. Massachusetts adults may face a penalty if they do not have insurance that qualifies.
Today, any health insurance legally sold in Massachusetts meets Minimum Creditable Coverage. Minimum Creditable Coverage will get more specific in January 2009.
Employers can help by offering their employees the benefits that will protect them from penalties in 2009. The time is now. New 12-month insurance contracts will extend into 2009.
Click here for more on Minimum Creditable Coverage.
Important Information for Massachusetts Employers
Regarding Section 125 Plans and the New Massachusetts
Health Reform
Employers with 11 or more full-time-equivalent (FTE)
employees no longer need to complete the Employer Health
Insurance Responsibility Disclosure (HIRD) Form. Instead,
employers will be required to file Fair Share Contribution
(FSC) information with the Division of Unemployment Assistance
(DUA).
[Read More]
Massachusetts –- Fair Share Contribution–-
Effective October 1, 2006
Employers with 11 or more Massachusetts employees need
to make a “"fair and reasonable" premium
contribution or pay $295 assessment per employee.
The Health Connector has postponed the July 1st filing
deadline for employers to send the Connector Section 125
cafeteria plan documents to October 1, 2007. Further,
the Connector will not accept any Section 125 cafeteria
documents until September 1, 2007.
[Read More]
Massachusetts –- Free Rider Surcharge –-
Effective July 1, 2007
Employers with 11 or more Massachusetts employees need to offer a Section 125 Plan that provides access to one or more health care coverage options on a pre-tax basis or pay “free rider” surcharge.
[Read More]
NEWS & UPDATES