Bills introduced for single-payer healthcare in MA

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD1228
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD2341

All residents are included (ID cards will be given out), and some exceptions for non-residents like emergencies. The goal is to eliminate private insurance expenses, with one year for implementation. Since funding is always the big question, here are the main points on what's proposed.

(b) The following dedicated health care taxes will replace spending on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket spending for services covered by the Trust. Prior to each state fiscal year of operation, the Trust will prepare for the Legislature a projected budget for the coming fiscal year, with recommendations for rising or declining revenue needs.

(1) An employer payroll tax of 7.5 percent will be assessed on employee W-2 wages, exempting the first $20,000 of payroll per establishment, replacing previous spending by employers on health premiums. An additional employer payroll tax of 0.5 per cent will be assessed on establishments with 100 or more employees;

(2) An employee payroll tax of 2.5 percent will be assessed, exempting the first $20,000 of income, replacing previous spending by employees on health premiums and out-of-pocket expenses; all W-2 wages will be combined for each taxpayer and one $20,000 exemption will be allowed; (this could also be covered by employers)

(3) A 10 percent payroll tax on the self-employed, including general partnership income and other income subject to self-employment tax for Federal purposes, will be assessed, exempting the first $20,000 of payroll per self-employed taxpayer; income from all sources subject to tax in this section shall be combined and allowed one $20,000 exemption per taxpayer; and

(4) For the purposes of sections (2) and (3) above, each taxpayer will combine all income reported on from IRS Form W-2s and self-employment income and be allowed one $20,000 exemption. The exemption will apply first to W-2 income and then to self-employment income.

Read the text and let your representative know what you think!