State's Medical Insurance Law Continues to Make News

Back in 2006, Massachusetts made national news with a law requiring all citizens to obtain medical insurance.

This law was back in the spotlight recently as the U.S. Congress considered a healthcare reform plan that would bring a similar policy to the rest of the country, although it remains to be seen what provisions will actually be included in the legislation that does end up passing.

However, a lesser known part of that law also requires employers to pay a portion of their workers' costs or to pay financial penalties.

This week, a Boston Globe report noted that many companies in Massachusetts have been found to be in non-compliance with the insurance law, although there is considerable debate underway over whether these employers intentionally failed to meet the state requirements or whether they were confused over what is seen as a very complex set of rules.

Overall, this is the latest example of the difficulties that many companies have when it comes to sustaining the medical insurance benefits they offer their workers, as well as the overall struggles that people face when shopping around for the most affordable coverage available.