Life just got a bit harder for Massachusetts college graduates who are dealing with decisions about insurance.
On Apr. 12, a new Massachusetts state healthcare reform bill was signed into law that will require health insurance for all who can pay.
Beginning Jul.1, 2007, all financially able Massachusetts residents over the age of 18 must purchase a minimum level of health insurance.
Those who do not comply by 2007 will lose certain tax exemptions, and after Jan. 1, 2008, they will be denied their state tax refund equal to 50 percent of an affordable health insurance premium.
Healthcare for graduates has also been complicated by another change that amends Massachusetts' state law to prohibit the insurance continuation plans that Tufts used to offer.
According to the legislation, the extensions that used to run six or nine months can now run only until the end of August.
However, Massachusetts' new health insurance law also provides for the creation of family plans that will allow students to remain on their family's policy for two years past the loss of dependent status, up to the age of 25. It will also offer specially designed lower-cost policies for 19 to 26 year-olds.
The law also creates another program that will assist people like recently graduated college students in their search for affordable insurance.
The program, known as the Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Connector, will be available to any state resident that is unemployed or is unable to receive health insurance from his or her employer for any reason.
According to a press release from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of the primary benefits provided by the Connector is that it will allow people to, "purchase affordable plans on a pre-tax basis... [and] will administer premium assistance for low-income individuals."
