4/20/06-Gov. Mitt Romney has signed a bill to make health insurance coverage mandatory. It could affect a lot of truckers in the state.
A key provision in the plan – H4479 – requires all residents to be insured starting July 1, 2007.
Romney, however, used his line-item veto power to remove a provision that would have required businesses that don’t offer insurance – and have more than 10 workers – to pay $295 a year, per employee.
As approved by the governor, a combination of financial incentives and penalties will be used to expand access to health care during the next three years. Coverage also will be extended to the state’s estimated 550,000 uninsured.
Poor people will get free – or heavily subsidized coverage. Those who can afford insurance but don’t purchase it will face increasing tax penalties while those already insured will see a drop in their premiums.

4/6/06-The House approved an effort on a 155-2 vote April 4 that would make the state the first in the nation to make health insurance coverage mandatory. It could affect a lot of truckers in the state.
H4479, which the Senate endorsed by unanimous consent later the same day, now heads to Gov. Mitt Romney’s desk, who has expressed support for the bill.
A key provision in the plan would require all residents to be insured starting July 1, 2007. Residents would be required to either purchase insurance directly or obtain it through their employer.
A combination of financial incentives and penalties would be used to expand access to health care during the next three years. Coverage also would be extended to the state’s estimated 500,000 uninsured.
Poor people would get free – or heavily subsidized coverage. Those who can afford insurance but don’t purchase it would face increasing tax penalties while those already insured would see a drop in their premiums.
Businesses with more than 10 workers that don’t offer insurance would pay $295 a year, per employee.
For bill status, call (617) 722-2356.