On April 10 the Connector Board approved its 2008 Affordability Schedule. The new figures are in effect for calendar year 2008. Affordability is determined by income in three categories – individuals, couples, and families.
Those who do not have access to a premium at or below the maximum amount listed for their income and family size will be exempt from the individual mandate (and will not have to pay penalties with their taxes if they choose to remain uninsured).
Changes from the 2007 guidelines include newly defined income brackets and revised premium maximums. Even if a person's income is the same, their affordability status may have changed.
The Connector is expected to update its online Affordability Tool within the next few months. The tool allows people to enter their own financial information to get a sense of whether they are likely to be penalized if they remain without health insurance.
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME IS THE MEASURE
Please note that it is not Gross Income that is the measure for the
affordability schedule but it is ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME- the info on the Connector
website does not acknowledge this very important fact:
On June 5th, 2007 the Connector Board voted unanimously to change the
definition of Gross Income to Adjusted Gross Income contained in the
Regulations "Determining Affordability for the Individual Mandate [956 CMR 6.00]" These
are the regulations that the MA Department of Revenue will use to determine
if someone is exempt from the individual mandate via the affordabilty schedule.
This was a key important change that not only impacts artists, the
self-employed and those with combination sources of income in this state, but it has
national implications as the entire country is watching our state as the model to
replicate.
Please be aware there has been some misinformation in the press and on some
websites in regard to the Adjusted Gross Income Change- this change is ONLY for
the Individual Mandate NOT for how the state is determining if someone is
eligible for subsidized health care plans such as Commonwealth Care or a
MassHealth Program.
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