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Health-Plan Sessions Slated as Deadline LoomsBy Tammy Daniels - December 06, 2007
PITTSFIELD - Local lawmakers' claims that Western Massachusetts was being ignored in the state's efforts to make sure citizens know their health plan options is bringing the head of the enrollment efforts to Pittsfield.
Jon Kingsdale, executive director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, will attend two information sessions on Saturday, Dec. 8.
The first "Connect to Health" session will be held from 10 to noon at the Berkshire Athenaeum for Berkshire residents. The second will be held at Greenfield Community College from 2 to 4. These are the only sessions being offered in state's three farthest west counties before the Dec. 31 deadline for enrollment.
"I'm happy and pleased that this opportunity is being offered for residents to get their questions answered," said state Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, on Wednesday.
The deadline for having insurance under the state's landmark health care legislation is Jan. 1. Those who don't have an insurance plan independently or through an employer by that date will lose their $219 personal state tax exemption. After that, the penalties begin piling on.
Guyer and most of the Berkshire delegation and other Western Mass. lawmakers had expressed frustration with the Connector Authority, which is overseeing enrollment in the programs, last month, saying the panel was ignoring outreach efforts in the western end of the state.
Some $3.5 million was appropriated in this year's budget by the Legislature for outreach efforts, such as advertising and Connect to Health information sessions - none of which had occurred in Berkshire, Franklin or Hampshire counties. The closest information session to date has been held in Chicopee.
The lawmakers had sent a letter to Kingsdale asking that more attention be paid to the the three counties, especially since many of their rural towns had limited or no access to the authority's Web-based enrollment and information.
Within days of the lawmakers letter being made public, the Connector Authority announced the information sessions for Pittsfield and Greenfield. The sessions are being sponsored by local lawmakers, including Reps. Christopher N. Speranzo, D-Pittsfield, and William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and the authority.
"We receive many calls regarding the new health care requirements, not only from individuals, but also from small-business owners who want to understand how these new requirements will affect their daily operations. We thought it would be helpful to have those questions addressed," said state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, in a statement. "This will event will be a great opportunity for anyone seeking information or coverage."
Kingsdale will conduct small-business seminars for local businesses interested in learning more about their responsibilities as employers. Local enrollment experts from Advocacy for Access and Ecu-Health Care will also be on hand.
All Massachusetts adults are now required to have health insurance. According to Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray's office, some 300,000 people have enrolled in the mandated plans so far.
Approximately 293,000 people have enrolled in health insurance during the past year, of which roughly 160,000 have enrolled in Commonwealth Care, the subsidized health insurance program offered through the Connector Authority; an additional 70,000 residents have signed up for MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program. In addition, 63,000 have enrolled in private insurance either through the Health Connector or private carriers.
Beginning next year, uninsured residents will be charged half the cost of a year's health insurance. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, an individual pays an average of about $4,000 a year and a family, $11,000.
The state had set a deadline of Nov. 15 to enroll, giving time for insurance carriers to process paperwork in time for the Dec. 31 deadline. However, Murray and State House leaders announced on Wednesday that the enrollment deadline would be extended to the end of the year so residents can avoid the initial $219 penalty.
Anyone who submits an application for MassHealth by Dec. 31 and who is eligible for benefits will be enrolled as of that date and will not be subject to the tax penalty. Massachusetts-based private insurance carriers will continue to enroll people of all ages during the month so their enrollment, also, will be effective no later than Dec. 31. Consumers should check with the individual carriers to determine when their specific deadlines apply.
Guyer noted that the Legislature has already extended the deadline for the health insurance law, which was supposed to take effect last January.
"They've extended the deadline once already. So I don't think they're going to do it again," he said, adding that he strongly encouraged residents and employers to attend the event.
Information and enrollment material is available at www.MAhealthconnector.org or by calling the Health Connector's customer service center weekdays at 1-877-MA-ENROLL. |
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