Hello

  1. Free Legal Help, Legal Forms and Lawyers. TheLaw.com has been providing free legal assistance online since 1995. Our most popular destinations for legal help are below. It only takes a minute to join our legal community!

    Dismiss Notice

Must everyone have a health insurance package?

Discussion in 'Health Insurance, HMO, HIPAA & Disability' started by sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Nov 8, 2011 #1
    sunnymoon

    sunnymoon Law Topic Starter New Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I am an international student. I had health insurance while I was studying at my school because it was a requirement for the school. I graduated from college in May 2011. I am working under an OPT term this year, so I do not have to buy health insurance for school. I understand that it is better to have a health insurance package, but it is just too expensive for me right now when I do not have discount for student. My friends said that everyone needed to have a health insurance plan in the US.

    Is it legal to live in the US without any health insurance at all?
     
    sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011
    sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011
    #1
  2. Nov 8, 2011 #2
    cbg

    cbg Super Moderator

    Messages:
    8,918
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Trophy Points:
    113

    There is Federal law, and there is state law.

    There is CURRENTLY no Federal law that requires that you have health insurance, though there will be within a couple of years.

    There IS a Massachusetts state law that that requires all residents to have health insurance.

    So if you do not have health insurance you are not (yet) in violation of Federal law, but you are in violation of Massachusetts state law.
     
    cbg, Nov 8, 2011
    cbg, Nov 8, 2011
    #2
  3. Nov 8, 2011 #3
    sunnymoon

    sunnymoon Law Topic Starter New Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Thanks so much for a really useful reply cbg. I would like to have some more questions:

    I applied for Masshealth, but they rejected Masshealth. In stead, they offer me Heath Safety Net program. Can I use Health Safety Net program from Commonwealth of Massachusetts to replace for Health insurance?

    Do I have to pay fine for the time that I did not have health insurance?
     
    sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011
    sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011
    #3
  4. Nov 8, 2011 #4
    army judge

    army judge Super Moderator

    Messages:
    35,381
    Likes Received:
    6,232
    Trophy Points:
    113

    OP, check with the state Gestapo agency that enforces mandated health coverage or your university.

    As an international student, I think the university is mandated to provide your health insurance.
     
    army judge, Nov 8, 2011
    army judge, Nov 8, 2011
    #4
  5. Nov 8, 2011 #5
    cbg

    cbg Super Moderator

    Messages:
    8,918
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Trophy Points:
    113

    Yes, the Health Safety Net is an acceptable program under MA law.

    You may have to pay a penalty for not having health insurance. If so, you will pay it when you file your taxes. How much it will be and whether the state will assess it at all will depend on how long you were without insurance. It is usually assessed by the means of making you ineligible for certain tax credits.
     
    cbg, Nov 8, 2011
    cbg, Nov 8, 2011
    #5
  6. Nov 8, 2011 #6
    sunnymoon

    sunnymoon Law Topic Starter New Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Oh, I get it. Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciated.
     
    sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011
    sunnymoon, Nov 8, 2011
    #6

Share This Page

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Welcome to TheLaw.com! Please take a moment and Register today!