Government
Mass. reform board raises health plan affordability standards
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 28, 2008
The Connector Authority, which oversees Massachusetts' comprehensive health system reform program, unanimously agreed April 10 to a 10% increase in standards for health plan premium affordability. The sliding-scale system determines if health plans are affordable to residents and therefore whether they must purchase coverage under the states' individual health insurance mandate.
This means an individual earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level, or $26,016 annually, is now expected to be able to afford premiums of $77 a month in 2008, up $7 from the 2007 affordability level. The calculations do not include co-pays. The move comes a few weeks after the board approved 10% premium hikes for private state-subsidized Commonwealth Connector health plans.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/28/gvbf0428.htm.












