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GIMS e-Alert - Special Open Enrollment
- November 2007
In order
to avoid tax penalties, Massachusetts Health Care Reform (Chapter 58)
requires that all residents of Massachusetts who are over the age of 18
obtain health insurance coverage by December 31, 2007.
The 2007 penalty for non-compliance with the state mandate is currently
$219 for an individual taxpayer. Non-compliance penalties will increase
for 2008.
Many health insurance carriers offering coverage in Massachusetts are
extending or opening a special open enrollment period for accounts that
have employees who, in the past, have declined health coverage
(“opt out’s”).
This special open enrollment period will provide an opportunity for
uninsured employees who are now faced with the potential individual tax
penalty imposed by the Health Care Reform law to elect health coverage.
This special open enrollment bypasses the typical "qualifying event"
requirement for enrollment eligibility.
In most cases, your group will retain its anniversary/renewal date, and
in-force rates will apply, until the time of your group’s
next renewal.
| Carrier |
Eligible Effective Dates |
Enrollment Period Deadlines |
Group Size Availability?
50
or < Small Group
>50
Large Group |
Blue Cross Blue Shield
|
December 1, 2007 |
November 30, 2007 |
All |
Connecticare
|
Not Being Offered |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Fallon Community Health Plan
|
December 1, 2007 |
December 31, 2007 |
All |
 Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare
|
November 1, 2007 or
December 1, 2007 |
December 31, 2007 |
All |
Health New England
|
December 1, 2007 |
November 30, 2007 |
All |
Tufts Health Plan
|
December 1, 2007 |
December 31, 2007 |
Small Group Only |
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