Healthcare affordability figures updated in Massachusetts

A Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector has updated standards that will be used to decide who faces fines for failing to have health insurance in Massachusetts. The new rules increase the monthly premium considered affordable about 10 percent from 2007 levels. Insurance premiums have been increasing at about that rate statewide, although the connector was able to negotiate an average increase of about 5 percent for the nonsubsidized plans it offers the public. The rules also use a sliding scale based on income and family size to indicate if the state considers premiums affordable.