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Massachusetts
Health Care Mandate |
| From the law: |
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[http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/111m-2.htm] PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT TITLE XVI. PUBLIC HEALTH CHAPTER 111M. INDIVIDUAL HEALTH COVERAGE Chapter 111M: Section 2. Duty for certain adults to obtain and maintain creditable coverage; reporting of coverage on tax return; penalties for violation Section 2. (a) As of July 1, 2007, the following individuals age 18 and over shall obtain and maintain creditable coverage so long as it is deemed affordable under the schedule set by the board of the connector, established by chapter 176Q: (1) residents of the commonwealth; or (2) individuals who become residents of the commonwealth within 63 days, in the aggregate. Residents who within 63 days have terminated any prior creditable coverage, shall obtain and maintain creditable coverage within 63 days of such termination. [ Subsection (b) effective until November 29, 2007. For text effective November 29, 2007, see below.] (b) Every person who files an individual return as a resident of the commonwealth, either separately or jointly with a spouse, shall indicate on the return, in a manner prescribed by the commissioner of revenue, whether such person, as of the last day of the taxable year for which the return is filed, (i) had creditable coverage in force as required under paragraph (a) whether covered as an individual or as a named beneficiary of a policy covering multiple individuals, (ii) claims an exemption under section 3, or (iii) had a certificate issued under section 3 of chapter 176Q. If the person does not so indicate, or indicates that he did not have such coverage in force, then the tax shall be computed on the return without benefit of the personal exemption set forth in paragraph (b) of Part B of section 3 of chapter 62, or, in the case of a person who files jointly with a spouse, without benefit of one-half of the personal exemption set forth in such paragraph. If the person indicates that he had such coverage in force but the commissioner determines, based on the information available to him, that such requirement of paragraph (a) was not met, then the commissioner shall compute the tax for the taxable year without benefit of the personal exemption set forth in paragraph (b) of Part B of section 3 of chapter 62, or, in the case of a person who files jointly with a spouse, without benefit of one-half of the personal exemption set forth in such paragraph, first giving notice to such person of his intent to do so and an opportunity for a hearing, under rules prescribed by the commissioner. The commonwealth shall have all enforcement and collection procedures available under chapter 62C to collect any penalties assessed under this section. [ Subsection (b) as amended by 2007, 205, Sec. 13 effective November 29, 2007 until January 1, 2008. For text effective until November 29, 2007, see above. For text effective January 1, 2008, see below.] (b) Every person who files or is required to file an individual return as a resident of the commonwealth, either separately or jointly with a spouse, shall indicate on the return, in a manner prescribed by the commissioner of revenue, whether such person, as of the last day of the taxable year for which the return is filed: (i) had creditable coverage in force as required under paragraph (a) whether covered as an individual or as a named beneficiary of a policy covering multiple individuals; (ii) claims an exemption under section 3; or (iii) had a certificate issued under section 3 of chapter 176Q. If the person does not so indicate, or indicates that he did not have such coverage in force, then the tax shall be computed on the return without benefit of the personal exemption set forth in paragraph (b) of Part B of section 3 of chapter 62, or, in the case of a person who files jointly with a spouse, without benefit of one-half of the personal exemption set forth in said paragraph (b). If the person indicates that he had such creditable coverage in force but the commissioner determines, based on the information available to him, that the requirement of paragraph (a) was not met, then the commissioner shall compute the tax for the taxable year without benefit of the personal exemption set forth in said paragraph (b) of said Part B of said section 3 of said chapter 62, or, in the case of a person who files jointly with a spouse, without benefit of one-half of the personal exemption set forth in said paragraph (b). The commissioner shall first give notice to such person of his intent to do so and provide an opportunity for a hearing, under rules prescribed by the commissioner. Whenever, under this section, the tax is computed without benefit of the personal exemption, or without benefit of one-half of the personal exemption, the difference between the tax so computed and the tax that would be computed in the absence of this section shall constitute a penalty assessed under this section. The commissioner shall have all enforcement and collection procedures available under chapter 62C to collect the penalty assessed under this section. [ Subsection (b) as amended by 2006, 58, Sec. 13; 2007, 205, Sec. 14 and 2007, 228, Sec. 7 effective January 1, 2008. See 2006, 58, Sec. 147; 2007, 205, Sec. 47 and 2007, 228, Sec. 24. For text effective until January 1, 2008, see above.] (b) Every person who files or is required to file an individual income tax return as a resident of the commonwealth, either separately or jointly with a spouse, shall indicate on the return, in a manner prescribed by the commissioner of revenue, whether such person (i) had creditable coverage in force for each of the 12 months of the taxable year for which the return is filed as required under paragraph (a) whether covered as an individual or as a named beneficiary of a policy covering multiple individuals, (ii) claims an exemption under section 3, or (iii) had a certificate issued under section 3 of chapter 176Q. If the person fails to indicate or indicates that he did not have such coverage in force, then a penalty shall be assessed on the return. If the person indicates that he had such coverage in force but the commissioner determines, based on the information available to him, that such requirement of paragraph (a) was not met, then the commissioner shall assess the penalty. If in any taxable year, in whole or in part, a taxpayer does not comply with the requirement of paragraph (a), the commissioner shall retain any amount overpaid by the taxpayer for purposes of making payments described in paragraph (c); provided, however, that the amount retained shall not exceed 50 per cent of the minimum insurance premium for creditable coverage available through the commonwealth health insurance connector for which the individual would have qualified during the previous year. The penalty shall be assessed for each of the months the individual did not meet the requirement of paragraph (a); provided, that any lapse in coverage of 63 days or less shall not be counted in calculating the penalty; and, provided further, that nothing in this paragraph shall be considered to authorize the commissioner to retain any amount for such purposes that otherwise would be paid to a claimant agency or agencies as debts described in clauses (i) to (vii), inclusive, of section 13 of chapter 62D. If the amount retained is insufficient to meet the penalty assessed, the commissioner shall notify the taxpayer of the balance due on the penalty and related interest. The commonwealth shall have all enforcement and collection procedures available under chapter 62C to collect any penalties assessed under this section. [ Subsection (c) effective until November 29, 2007. For text effective November 29, 2007, see below.] (c) The commissioner shall deposit all penalties collected into the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, established by section 2OOO of chapter 29. [ Subsection (c) as amended by 2007, 205, Sec. 15 effective November 29, 2007. For text effective until November 29, 2007, see above.] (c) The commissioner shall deposit all penalties assessed under this section that he collects into the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, established by section 2OOO of chapter 29. Chapter 111M: Section 3. Exemption for refusal of coverage based upon sincerely held religious belief - [http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/111m-3.htm] [ Text of section as amended by 2007, 205, Sec. 16 effective November 29, 2007. For text effective until November 29, 2007, see above.] Section 3. An individual shall be exempt from section 2 if he files a sworn affidavit with his income tax return stating that he did not have creditable coverage and that his sincerely held religious beliefs are the basis of his refusal to obtain and maintain creditable coverage during the 12 months of the taxable year for which the return was filed. Any individual who claimed an exemption but received medical health care during the taxable year for which the return is filed shall be liable for providing or arranging for full payment for the medical health care and be subject to the penalty assessed under section 2. |
| From the tax form: |
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A religious exemption is available for anyone who has a sincere religious belief that is the basis of refusal to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage. Fill in the Yes oval(s) if you (and/or your spouse if married filing a joint return) are claiming a religious exemption from the requirement to purchase health insurance based on your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you (and/or your spouse if married filing a joint return) answer Yes, go to line 4b. If you (and your spouse if married filing a joint return) answer No, go to line 5. Line 4b. If you (or your spouse if married filing a joint return) are claiming the religious exemption but you (or your spouse if married filing a joint return) received medical health care during tax year 2008, such as, treatment during an emergency room visit, you may not be entitled to your personal exemption if it is determined that you could have afforded health insurance. If you (and your spouse if married filing a joint return) answer No to line 4b, enter one of the following amounts on line 2a of Form 1 or line 4a of Form 1-NR/PY: $4,125 if single or married filing a separate return; $6,375 if head of household; or $8,250 if married filing a joint return. Skip the remainder of Schedule HC and continue completing your tax return. If you are filing a joint return and one spouse either has health insurance or answers No to line 4b but the other spouse answers Yes to line 4b, the spouse who answered Yes must go to line 5. If both answers are Yes to line 4b, go to line 5. |
| From [http://www.mass.gov/Ador/docs/dor/health%20care/HC%20instructions.pdf] |
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