Massachusetts Hospitals Trying To Enroll Residents In State Subsidized Insurance Plans Find Many Don’t Know About Requirement To Purchase Health Insurance

Few uninsured Massachusetts residents are aware of a new state law that requires all residents to obtain health insurance by July 1 or face penalties, the Boston Globe reports. The state is working to enroll in subsidized insurance plans about 100,000 to 150,000 state residents with annual incomes between 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level. Many Massachusetts hospitals and community health clinics are joining a campaign to educate residents about the law, particularly those with low to moderate incomes. Reynold Spadoni, vice president of strategic planning and business development at Quincy Medical Center, said, "We are encountering many people who are completely unaware that there is mandated coverage." Spadoni added, "The general population finds this to be an esoteric, complicated subject, and it's easy to miss." The state has distributed $2.7 million in grants to a variety of health organizations for outreach and education related to the new mandate. According to the Globe, efforts by hospitals and community health centers to market the insurance plans are "crucial" because they have "direct contact with hundreds of thousands of uninsured residents." Adrei Soran, CEO of MetroWest Medical Center, said some individuals who are aware of the mandate might be reluctant to obtain coverage because they are concerned about hidden costs or penalties. In addition, hospital administrators said that the enrollment process is complex and that the online application takes about 20 to 25 minutes to complete with the help of a counselor (Rowland, Boston Globe, 1/4).