Health Insurance Law

• Massachusetts health reform legislation called for tax penalties for residents who do not comply with mandatory health insurance requirements and established new health care plans for residents of all economic levels. The legislation called for the state to subsidize medical insurance for citizens with household incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and established new plans for people who do not qualify for insurance offered by their employers.
  
  

Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority

• Health care reform legislation established the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority. The authority certifies health insurance products and operates a website called Health Connector, which offers health insurance plans for Massachusetts residents. Products on the Health Connector feature portability for policyholders, allowing individuals to keep their coverage when they change jobs and enabling multiple employers to contribute to an individual worker's insurance premium.
  
  

MassHealth

• The State of Massachusetts offers Medicaid coverage through its MassHealth program. MassHealth has nine types of coverage for families, children, disabled people, people with HIV and AIDS, pregnant women and residents 65 years of age and older. The program offers coverage for low-income residents at no or low premium costs and each coverage type has its own eligibility requirements. MassHealth benefits include prescription drug coverage, therapy services, substance abuse care, hospital care and doctor visits. Certain services can require copayments.
  
  

Commonwealth Choice

• Commonwealth Choice plans provide unsubsidized health coverage for families, individuals, employers, employees and young adults from 18 to 26 years of age. Private insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Tufts Health, Fallon Community Health, Neighborhood Health, Health New England and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care administer Commonwealth Choice plans. The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority works with each insurance provider to negotiate rates. Each plan features different coverage levels and premium costs.
  
  

Commonwealth Care

• Low-income residents may qualify for a Commonwealth Care plan. Commonwealth Care requires applicants to meet income guidelines and offers subsidized health insurance coverage. Participants can choose their plans and doctors and qualified participants can receive no-cost coverage. Commonwealth Care benefits include doctor visits, pharmacy services, substance abuse care, vision care and dental care. Network Health, Boston Medical Center Health Net, Neighborhood Health and Fallon Community Health administer Commonwealth Care plans.