H 2801 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to health insurance for surviving spouses

This bill amends Massachusetts health insurance laws to change coverage rules for surviving spouses of deceased or retired state employees. It removes language requiring coverage termination upon remarriage (affecting those who remarried before the law took effect) and shifts premium costs: the government now pays half the premium, with the surviving spouse covering the other half. The changes apply only prospectively, meaning no retroactive coverage is provided to those who lost coverage due to remarriage before the bill's effective date. These updates directly impact surviving spouses who were previously required to pay full premiums or lose coverage if they remarried.
Sub-Topics: Insurance
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Sep 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Jun 17, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Sep 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Public Service
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors