Do I Have to Provide Health Benefits for My Employees?
- Massachusetts employers are not required to provide health benefits, but are encouraged to do so. Employers with 11 or more full-time employees are required to make “fair and reasonable” premium contributions for health insurance. If you fail to do so you will be required to pay “Fair Share Contributions” to the state (see page 7). In addition, employers with 11 or more employees are also required to adopt and maintain a Section 125 Plan or be subject to the “Free Rider Surcharge (see page 7).
- The Commonwealth Connector offers tools and services to employers that want to sponsor health benefit plans for their employees. Small employers can purchase health insurance plans through the Connector. The Connector provides information about a choice of qualified plans and their prices, information about Section 125 plans, and other help for small employers. For more information, go to the Connector web site at http://www.mahealthconnector.org/ and click on “Employers” or contact the Commonwealth Connector at (877) MA-ENROLL (623-6765).
