Government
Fewer people in Massachusetts subject to uninsurance penalty
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 21, 2009
More people in Massachusetts are complying with the state's requirement for individuals to have health insurance coverage.
In 2008, about 45,000 adults were subject to the tax penalty for noncompliance, compared with about 60,000 adults in 2007, according to the state's Dept. of Revenue.
Commonwealth Connector, created in 2006 when the state passed health system reform, requires adults who have access to affordable health insurance to obtain coverage. As of Oct. 31, the Dept. of Revenue had collected $12.9 million out of the $16.4 million in assessed penalties against adults lacking insurance in 2008.
Individual penalties are based on income and will range from $234 to $1,068 for 2009. People earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level are exempt from the penalty. About 96% of the Massachusetts population had health insurance coverage for all of 2008.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/12/21/gvbf1221.htm.
