Massachusetts To Revise State Law Mandating Residents Have Health Insurance

The Massachusetts Legislature more than likely will be looking at making many changes to the state law that required all residents to obtain health insurance coverage. After hearing testimony from health care advocates, medical providers, patients and self-employed residents regarding such issues as the amount employers should be required to contribute toward workers' health care, more than 75 state lawmakers have sponsored a bill to modify the law. There is support for increasing from 33% to 50% the amount employers must contribute to workers' health care to avoid a $295-per-employee penalty. Another proposed change to the law would limit to 10% of income the maximum amount residents would have to pay out of pocket under health insurance, which differs from the current law that bases the limit only on premiums