Massachusetts has some of the best social insurance programs of any state, but a confusing array of choices and misinformation makes it impossible for many to get the help they need. The process is needlessly complicated, but could be fixed with a checkbox.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about what I've learned about the process of collecting unemployment in Massachusetts. I followed that up with a post about my decision to purchase high-deductible health insurance instead of paying for COBRA.

That plan went awry when I discovered that the insurance policy the agent sold me failed to meet minimum creditable coverage standards in Massachusetts. He refunded my money, but somehow, these policies remain legal to be sold in Massachusetts. Families who purchase such policies will be required to pay the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a penalty that could exceed $1000 when they file their taxes next year.

Since I was laid off on New Year's Eve, my family has postponed our 1 and 3-year old's annual checkups. Last week the entire family was sick with a wheezing cough and nasty cold. If we had been covered by health insurance, we would have paid the $25 co-pay to obtain a little peace of mind. Happily everyone is improving.

Instead of going to the doctor, I spent hours on the phone trying to find out if we were eligible for assistance in paying the $2624 worth of premiums for January and February COBRA. Although I had applied for the coverage in anticipation of my layoff, my application was never processed and eventually lost. An agent qualified me today in about an hour. I also wasted an entire evening being sold a bogus insurance policy and then undoing it. Instead of looking for work and concentrating on the part time work I have found, I spun myself into a fury of frustration against a backdrop of unhappy housebound kids.

All of this could have been easily avoided.

Eligibility for the Massachusetts Medical Security Program is based on income--the past 6 months plus a projection of the next six months. All of this information is available at the time an unemployment claim is filed. In fact the benefits determination that calculates your weekly benefit must verify your salary history. The weekly benefit amount is, presumably your only income source at the time you file your initial claim. Why not add a checkbox: "Apply for Health Care Assistance" to the form?

In fact, because Massachusetts requires residents to maintain health coverage, why make it an option at all? For laid off workers who qualify for MSP Premium assistance, especially those who have families, why not require us to declare our health insurance choice as a condition of benefits? Health insurance is a fundamental requirement. No public purpose is served by giving laid off workers a choice of doing nothing and hoping for the best.

When I filed my initial claim for unemployment, I watched dumbfounded as nearly everyone in the room filled out tax witholding forms to request Massachusetts withold income tax from their unemployment benefits. I plan to file quarterly--there is no reason to give back any cash until absolutely necessary. Instead of witholding taxes, we should be witholding health insurance premiums and ensuring that laid off workers do not go without coverage.

I'm not asking for increased benefits. I'm just asking that the system be made to work.