Massachusetts health insurance mandate does not include children

The new Massachusetts health insurance law "contains a little-known loophole: The mandate that all residents have coverage by next summer does not include children," the Boston Globe reports.

The law requires residents ages 18 and older to obtain health insurance by July 1, 2007, or be penalized on their income taxes. Officials with the administration of Gov. Mitt Romney (R) have said it was an oversight that the exclusion was not addressed sooner, and the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services has asked the Legislature to make "technical corrections" to the law that would expand the mandate to include children and make other changes. Leaders in the state Legislature "said they are willing to review the issue, but [added] that forcing parents to insure their children may be unenforceable and unnecessary, because most parents voluntarily insure their children when they buy coverage for themselves," the Globe reports. However, middle-class parents could opt to not cover their children because doing so can cost "hundreds of dollars extra a month," according to the Globe. State Rep. Patricia Walrath (D), who co-chaired the legislative committee that finalized the bill, said, "Normally, parents insure their kids before they insure themselves, so it didn't seem at the time one of those big issues we needed to address." She added that if many parents do not voluntarily purchase coverage for their children, lawmakers will have to re-examine the issue (Kowalczyk, Boston Globe, 10/2).

Enrollment Begins Monday

In related news, the first phase of enrollment for the Massachusetts law began Monday, the Globe reports. An estimated 62,000 residents with annual incomes lower than the federal poverty level -- about $9,800 for an individual -- will either be enrolled automatically by the state or will be able to sign up for health coverage at community centers or hospitals. The majority of the residents eligible for the initial enrollment period will pay no out-of-pocket costs for health care premiums and will make small copayments. The second enrollment phase begins in January 2007 for residents with annual incomes between 100% and 300% of the poverty level. Residents in this category will be required to pay a portion of their monthly premiums depending on their income. The third phase begins in July 2007, when all residents will be required to have health insurance or face tax penalties (LeBlanc, Boston Globe, 10/1).

Editorial

"Leadership from the next governor" and "continued support from the Legislature" will "be essential" to the success of the Massachusetts health insurance mandate, a Globe editorial states. The Globe writes that changes to the law "will be necessary as experience dictates," adding, "But so far, progress in implementing it has been impressive." If "politically diverse" leaders in the state "can stay united on the same goal -- covering the uninsured -- this law has good prospects for success," the editorial concludes (Boston Globe, 10/3).