Anthem to Issue 1099-HC Forms to MA Residents
Throughout the past year, Anthem Blue Cross has been analyzing groups that provide health benefits to Massachusetts residents to determine whether or not they comply with the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act requirements for Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC). Health benefit plans that cover adults, who live in Massachusetts, must meet the MCC health benefit standard in order for those Massachusetts residents to avoid state income tax penalties.
In January, Anthem Blue Cross mailed 1099-HC forms to all Massachusetts residents in groups with health coverage that meets MCC requirements. Your Anthem Blue Cross account representative may have notified you if you have client groups that have Massachusetts residents in plans that did not meet the MCC requirements for 2009. Only a few group health plans failed to meet MCC requirements for calendar year 2009. Massachusetts members in those plans will not receive 1099-HC forms.
MCC standards will change for the 2010 calendar year and will likely be modified in subsequent years. We recommend that you and your clients review their health benefits to determine if their plans meet MCC creditability standards under 956 CMR 5.00. Additional information on the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act and MCC requirements is available at www.mahealthconnector.org.
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