More expected to appeal penalties for lack of insurance
By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff
State regulators said today they expect more than a three-fold increase in the number of Massachusetts residents who will appeal penalties in the next year for failing to have state-mandated health insurance.
The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority set aside $3.3 million -- nearly 10 percent of its $39 million 2009 fiscal year budget, which it finalized today -- for the 8,000 appeals the board expects to process. In the year that ended June 30, there were an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 appeals, the board said.
Board members said a steep hike in the penalty for not having insurance, from $219 per person this year to a maximum of $912 next year, is part of the reason for the expected increase. Also, the board is considering proposed regulations that would set a minimum standard for what kind of coverage individuals must buy, and members said that is likely to also raise the price of coverage, tempting some residents to forego insurance.
Included in the regulations the board is debating is what services should be required in a core package offered in all insurance plans, with no limits placed on those services. Among the issues being discussed is the minimum number of doctors visits patients will be guaranteed before having to pay a deductible.
"A generous package of core services may be too expensive for some," said Jon Kingsdale, the board's executive director. "So much of this is a balancing act."
The board has scheduled a public hearing September 12 on its proposed new regulations and plans to vote on a final package in October. The new rules would go into effect on January 1.
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Why must I be forced to buy insurance if I am a healthy male who takes good care of myself.? Where did our freedom go? I am for one who could use the extra money for things more important like Food , rent , clothing and Gas! Why should I have to pay a fine? Its really unjust and uncall for. For example what if you make over the minium requirement to get the cheap insurance? Any one who makes over $50k a year are required to pay over 500 dollars every month!! All that extra money wasted because i am a healthy male and beening penalized! I feel if the state is going to force the people to get insurance then make it so all pay the same price for insurance. Having this bracket on who pays more or who pays less is seriouly WRONG. If I work harder , longer hours and earning more money , does that also translate i should give my hard earn money away to the one say at mcdonalds so they can have the same life style as me? This health insurance is bogus and i hope people fight it.
how about the undeniable freedom in the bill of rights that should make it YOUR CHOICE to have insurance or not. Oh wait, this is the money grubbing, do nothing state of Massachusetts, where your rights are safe unless it infringes on the politicians' desires to spend more money!!!!!
If you don't want mandatory insurance because you claim you're young and healthy, do you have the financial resources to pay your own way if you break your arm, get a concussion , have an appendectomy, etc? You may be in good health, but stuff happens. You don't get insurance AFTER you need it; you can't buy fire insurance AFTER your home burns down. If you could, no one would buy insurance and no one would be crazy enought to offer it because there would be no funds available to pay claims. So get off the "I am invincible" rant.
Massachusetts health reform law is sham.The state is forcing citizens into buying into bad insurance plans.They should call it the shame law.If the state cared about the citizens instead of the insurance companies we would have health clinics and a flat rate we could all afford..This is a form of brainwashing from Beacon Hill and the insurance industry.There are only five insurance companies to choose from and with the high dedutables the plans are a rip-off!! In my age group 58 years old I must pay double and they call this reasonable?The lawmakers have sold us out and there's nothing we can do but vote them out come November.
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