Health Insurance Blog

There is a new state mandate that requires all Massachusetts residents over age 18 to have health insurance. Those still without health insurance coverage at the end of this year today will ring in the New Year with penalties and fines.

Residents who are uninsured will face a $219 penalty when they file their taxes next year, and will accumulate monthly fines if they continue the year without coverage.

Initially many people thought about moving to some other places, instead of being forced to sign up for a plan. State is doing well, wants people to be insured but for that you need to be fined, its not acceptable to many people.

The “young adults plan,” aimed at 18- to 26-year-olds looking for basic coverage, is the cheapest insurance plan the state is offering. Policy prices range from $200 to $400 a month.

This mandate would be hurting for those who are not sound financially.

“I’m worried about the people who don’t have a voice in all this; who don’t have any advocates,” said Ms. Ayala, while having breakfast with friends at the Pickle Barrel Delicatessen on Pleasant Street. “A lot of Spanish-speaking, and low-income people might not know where to turn for help. Dealing with insurance when you actually have it is hard enough; I can’t imagine not being covered and then being punished with fines for it.”

This mandate would again make life difficult for those who cannot afford insurance – low income people, let alone giving fines.

“I think the ultimate goal of the whole thing is to help, not hurt people,” said Princeton resident Alice Swanson, another Pickle Barrel customer. “You’ll end up paying more for care if something happens to you when you’re uninsured, then you’ll pay in fines. We’ll have to see how things go next year.”

The new mandate has been issued by the State to make sure that people should aware of their situations, it has been issued to help those who are not insured and as a result is at a very big risk.