Bill > H4068

This bill establishes a "fair share employer contribution" mechanism to help distribute healthcare costs for uninsured residents in Massachusetts. The law applies to employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees who do not already provide a qualifying group health plan. Such employers may be required to pay a per-employee contribution, which will be calculated annually by the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority based on complex formulas that consider uncompensated care costs, hospital liability, and healthcare service expenses. The contribution rate is capped at $295 per employee annually and can be paid in a single payment or in semi-annual or quarterly installments. Employers who already provide health insurance, those with employees already covered by other qualifying insurance plans (like spouse's, parent's, Medicare, or veteran's plans), will be exempt. The bill includes provisions for employers to appeal determinations, protects employers during appeal processes, and ensures confidentiality during assistance requests. The law will only take effect after specific federal healthcare mandates are repealed or no longer enforced, specifically related to the Affordable Care Act's employer coverage requirements. The goal is to ensure more equitable distribution of healthcare costs and reduce the financial burden of uncompensated care on the healthcare system.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4068