1. Massachusetts Health Care Reform Connector Update Rosemarie Day Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer The 2nd National Congress on the Un- and Under-insured September 23, 2008 Renaissance Hotel, Washington DC

2. Massachusetts Health Care Reform: Shared Responsibility

3. Role of the Connector Standardized benefit plans and
1. Establish and administer Commonwealth Care, subsidized coverage for low-income, uninsured adults.
2. Establish and administer Commonwealth Choice, a commercial insurance “exchange”:
Standardized benefit plans and
More affordable coverage options (complements small-group/non-group market merger)
3. Make policy decisions as authorized by Health Care Reform Law:
Definition of Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC)
Schedule of Affordability
4. Conduct outreach and advertising efforts to inform public of new opportunities and responsibilities.

4. Implementation Milestone: Launched Commonwealth Care – Oct ‘06
Commonwealth Care is a government-subsidized, comprehensive health insurance for uninsured individuals with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL)
Coverage is through a choice of four private health insurance plans – Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MMCOS)
Sliding fee scale with least expensive enrollee contributions ranging from $0 to $116 per month:
Commonwealth Care minimum monthly premiums – effective July 1, 2008
Income (% of FPL)
Income ($)
Min. monthly premium %
$0 - $15,612 $0
150.1% - 200%
$15,613 - $20,808
$39
200.1% - 250%
$20,809 - $26,016
$77
250.1% - 300%
$26,017 - $31,212
$116

5. Implementation Milestone: Launched Commonwealth Choice – May ‘07
Indiv.& Families
Voluntary Plans
Young Adults
Small Biz.
Making the market work better:
Set standards
Increase transparency
Simplify consumer experience
Create more affordable options
Standardize benefit plans

6. Implementation Milestone: Launched website with shopping functionality – May ‘07

7. Implementation Milestone: Launched advertising and outreach campaigns – Summer ’07 and continuously since
“I got it” advertising campaign
Strategic partnerships
Grassroots efforts
Postcards from the Department of Revenue

8. Implementation Milestone: Individual Mandate – July 1, 2007

9. Results: 439,000 Newly Insured as of March 2008

10. Results: Current Population Survey Shows Steep Decline in Number of Uninsured…

11. Results: As did a 2006-2007 survey conducted by the Urban Institute/BCBS Foundation of MA…

12. Results: As did Massachusetts state income tax returns for 2007…
Source: Mass Department of Revenue, June 2008

13. Results: Commonwealth Care enrollment (quarterly)

14. Results: Commonwealth Choice enrollment (quarterly)

15. Results: A majority of the newly insured with private, non-group coverage obtained it through Commonwealth Choice (as of March 2008)

16. Results: Declining Reliance on Free Care
-37%
UCP: Uncompensated Care Pool
HSN: Health Safety Net

17. Results: Public support continues to climb