Chat transcript on the Mass. health care proposal with Fawn Phelps
Fawn Phelps with Health Care for All -- a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group for the uninsured -- will chat today at noon about the landmark healthcare legislation that Gov. Romney is planning to sign into law next week. Phelps will answer your questions about this first-in-the-nation attempt to require the purchase of health insurance by everyone. Health Care for All supported the bill on Beacon Hill.
Fawn_Phelps Hi everyone, glad to be here to answer your questions about MA's landmark health care reform legislation. As Campaign Manager for Health Care For All, I helped coordinate a broad coalition of consumers, patients, community and religious organizations, businesses, labor unions, doctors, hospitals, health plans, and community health centers - to make this reform a reality.
Erica As a soon to be single mother with only a part-time job what is going to happen to me? I don't have welfare, food stamps, etc..
Fawn_Phelps Erica, depending on your income level you may be eligible for subsidies to purchase coverage and have no deductible - a family of two with annual income of $8,040 to $39,600 will be eligible for subsidies.
Fawn_Phelps If someone is not eligible for a subsidy, they are only required to by coverage if it is affordable for them.
Erica As a soon to be single mother with only a part-time job what is going to happen to me? I don't have welfare, food stamps, etc..
Massgirl12 My company does not offer any type of health insurance, what happens to me regarding this new bill?
Fawn_Phelps If a company does not offer coverage, an employee may by insurance with pre-tax dollars through the new Insurance Connector. If the employee as an individual makes less than $30,000/year, the employee is eligible for subsidies.
steff How does this new bill address dental health or mental health benfits?
Fawn_Phelps For those on MassHealth and those childless adult individuals below $6,504 annual income, dental coverage and mental health services are included.
self-employedgrl Hi Fawn, What will the new law mean for self-employed professionals?
Fawn_Phelps Self-employed indivudals greatly benefit under this new bill. Individuals buying insurance will now be grouped with small-businesses. We expect this will reduce premiums for self insured folks by 24%. They can also now buy the plans pre-tax.
BostonDotCom Hi Fawn. Can you tell me how part-time workers figure in this new plan? Are they counted by businesses who may want to stay under the 10-employee limit?
Fawn_Phelps Businesses with 10 or fewer full time equivalent employers are exempt from the assessment. If a coffee shop employs 20 half-time workers, they would be exempt from the assessment.
BostonDotCom_2 what measures will be in place to help low-income families purchase this required health insurance?
Fawn_Phelps A low-income family of 4 earning $60,000/year - will have access to MassHealth for their children and access to subsidized, deductible-free, pre-tax health insurance. If they make more than $60,000, the family will only be required to buy coverage if they can afford it.
steve How does the state plan to let people know about the details of the bill given it's so complicated?
Fawn_Phelps This is a complex bill, with some elements still to be decided by state agencies as it is implemented. Health Care For All will work with the State and other consumer advocates to get out the details and help folks enroll. We will also be strong advocates for quality, affordable coverage as the details are decided. Please stay tuned and weigh-in with your state legislators.
confused_and_dazed If an employer gets a "surcharge" of $295 a year per employee if they do not provide health insurance, why wouldn't all employer's opt to pay the surcharge instead of paying the exorbitant cost of providing health coverage?
Fawn_Phelps Right now employers provide coverage voluntarily. Experts expect providing employers' behavior to remain the same after the bill passes. And we hope it encourages non-providing employers to start covering their workers.
ShawnC How vital was Senator Richard T. Moore and his staff to getting this bill completed?
Fawn_Phelps Sen. Moore, other members of the health reform conference committee, Sen. Pres. Travaglini, Speaker DiMasi, and their staff were the key architects of the compromise legislation. MA is very fortunate to have such insightful, committed legislators.
marcus_welby After Romney signs the bill next week, when will it go into effect?
Fawn_Phelps It will be phased in over time. The restoration and expansion of MassHealth benefits will start July 1, 2006. The individual mandate will be phased in over three years.
patty Re: businesses with fewer then 10 full-timers, doesn't that just make it easier for employers to keep people part-time so they don't have to pay benefits? Do those part-timers then have to purchase their own insurance because their employers have finagled the system?
Fawn_Phelps Currently employers are not required to provide health insurance - nor will they be after this bill becomes law.
self-employedgrl How will the state make sure health insurance providers don't skimp on coverage?
Fawn_Phelps Consumers are protected in the new insurance connector with requirements for affordable products that still meet the state's current standards for insurance coverage. bostonvideo what will this mean to sole propreitors?
Fawn_Phelps Self-insured individuals and families will greatly benefit from this bill. Buy allowing individuals to purchase at the same rates as small businesses and do so pre-tax, we expect self-insured, individual premiums to decrease by 24%.
Candy Does the current version of the bill still retrack the infertility laws that have been in place since 1987?
Fawn_Phelps Infertility laws remain as they stand today. No retraction.
Fawn_Phelps Thank you very much for your great questions. Visit our site www.hcfama.org/act for more updates, and check out our blog at www.hcfama.org/blog for the latest behind-the-scenes info.
