In MA, because we've had mandatory health insurance for years now, we have had a mandatory, state required form that had to be completed IF AND ONLY IF you were declining the employer-offered insurance. This of course did not stop plenty of people from signing it when they didn't have to. But we were also required to follow up with those who did decline and politely ask them again. We would pre-fill the form for them so that all they had to do was check off one box that acknowledged they had other insurance and sign their name. We still would get complaints - why do I have to waste my time filling out this form? I have insurance through my husband/wife/domestic partner and he/she works here too, why don't you KNOW that I have other insurance?
Well, for one thing, we have 17,000 benefits eligible employees and we don't have them cross referenced by family member. For another thing, you and your spouse/domestic partner have different last names so we're supposed to know that you're married how? Finally, you have to fill it out because THE STATE GOVERNMENT SAYS YOU DO. We certainly don't want several thousand pieces of paper that we have to scan into your file that we don't have to, and if you'd clicked on one check box online way back when you were first hired you wouldn't have to. But you didn't, so now get your frickin' rear in gear and sign the frickin' form already?