Massachusetts Health Care Reform and What It Means to You...

Effective July 1, 2007, the new Massachusetts Health Care Reform law requires all state residents who are 18 or older to have health insurance. If you decide to waive health insurance coverage, as a benefits eligible employee of Tufts University, you will be required to complete a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure Form (HIRD)  as part of the open enrollment process. This form requests information on alternative medical coverage that you have, if any, and also requests your acknowledgement of the requirements to have medical coverage and the penalties for non-compliance. For additional information please access the following website:

http://www.mahealthconnector.org

Extended Dependent Definition Adopted

Effective January 1, 2009 the University has made the decision to voluntarily comply with Massachusetts Health Care Reform’s definition of dependent eligibility. Your dependent child may qualify for coverage on the medical, dental and vision plans to age 26. You will be required to complete an ‘Affidavit of IRS Dependent Status’ in order for the Benefits Office to make a determination, according to rules set forth by the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, as to whether your child (age 19 or over by the end of 2009) may enroll or continue to be enrolled in the Tufts University group medical, dental and/or vision plans and whether the cost of that dependent’s medical, dental and/or vision coverage will be included in your gross income for federal income tax purposes.