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The New Mass. Healthcare Regulations - Q & A |
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Written by Gary Fradin
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Wednesday, 01 August 2007 10:46 |
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Registering Your Business with the Connector
The new Massachusetts healthcare regulations offer employers the option of registering their business with the Connector. Which is the new state agency that is overseeing the new healthcare reform. Here are some questions and answers about that process.
Q: Must I register my business with the Connector?
No. There is no legal requirement to register your business with the Connector.
Q: Are there advantages to registering my business with the Connector?
Yes, there are 3 major administrative advantages to Connector registration:
Reason #1: If you register, the Connector will contact your part time employees (by email only) and help them obtain health insurance.
Reason #2: Once you register with the Connector you will get a Connector ID number and password. Simply give this information to your employees and they can obtain their own insurance coverage from the Connector website; you do not need to be involved.
Reason #3: If you register and your part time employees purchase health insurance from the Connector (using your Section 125 Plan), then the Connector will send you one monthly bill for all employees. This is potentially a big administrative saving.
Q: Why would my employees want to use my Section 125 Plan for their health insurance purchases?
Employees - both full and parttime - can purchase health insurance pre-tax through payroll deduction using the employer's Section 125 Plan. Pre-taxing saves the employee income taxes on their health insurance premiums. Total tax savings represent about 30%+ of their health insurance premium.
Q: How do I register?
To register, submit the Connector Census Form and Connector Terms and Conditions Form to the Connector. You can download the forms or register on-line at the Connector website,
www.mahealthconnector.org.
Q: What should I tell my part time or uninsured employees?
Once you have registered with the Connector and received your Connector ID number and password, you can give this to your employees. They can purchase their own health coverage directly from the Connector. The Connector will inform you (the employer) to begin payroll deductions. The Connector will send you one monthly bill for all your employees who purchase health insurance this way.
Any questions about this process? Visit the Connector website www.mahealthconnector.org for additional information. You can also use NBT's (Northeast Business Trust) free advisory service. The Connector Enrollment Team can be reached at 800-464-0039 x 242.
The Massachusetts healthcare regulations continue to evolve. This Q & A is not comprehensive. You should consult your own advisor on Connector compliance issues.
Gary Fradin is the author of "Moral Hazard in American Healthcare" and is the owner of INSURANCE for MEMBERS in South Easton. Gary can be reached at
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 April 2008 10:53 )
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