Mass Connector Health Plans and new employment

You can ask your potential new employer several questions related to their employment benefits:

• Do they offer health care, and can they give you information about the plan? You are interested in costs, deductibles, co-pays and the like. Some companies have great plans, others not so great plans; some companies pick up none of the cost, some split the costs, others pay the entire premium. They might only give you a one page document, but ask if they have a more detailed document.

• If the plan they offer is bad, or if your cost is expensive, you can ask if they will offer an additional benefit if you decline the coverage. People decline coverage because their spouse has a better plan, or they have one as retired military. I have known companies to give extra vacation days, or pay a monthly stipend if you decline the coverage.

• Other medical things you might be interested in are Health savings account, and Flexible savings accounts. Not all companies offer them, and they have specific rules you have to understand. But you should ask.

Added Information:

So can you keep your plan purchased through the exchange?

Yes you can keep your plan from the exchange, if you want to. The goal of the affordable care act was to get health insurance coverage for everybody. A person/family can get coverage from their employer, or from an exchange, or by contacting an insurance company that sells policies in your state.

One key part of the ACA was to set standards. All plans offered in the exchange meet the standards.

You can pick your insurance based on costs, options, doctors in network...But the cheapest option is likely to be a policy through your employer, but you need to check with your employer.

Income change is new information that you may have to report. An employer offer of health insurance is new information that you may have to report. See this MassHealth link.

As you mentioned, you have no subsidy, so you may be able to keep your current insurance.