SECTION 1. Chapter 118H of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out Section 3(b), and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 3(b)

(1) The board may waive clause (4) of subsection (a) if:

i. The individual?s employer complies with section 110 of chapter 175, section 81/2 of chapter 176A, section 3B of chapter 176B or section 6A of chapter 176G.

ii. The individual is self-employed as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 118G, and the increase in that individual?s private insurance premium exceeds the average premium increase for private insurers in the state, as determined by the division of insurance, by more than 10 percent.

(2) The employer?s health insurance premium contribution for the applying individual, which shall be the cash equivalent of the premium contribution that would otherwise be made by an employer on behalf of the applying individual for the plan and rate basis type for which the individual would be eligible or, in cases where the individual is eligible to participate in more than 1 plan, the cash equivalent of the premium contribution for the most popular plan and rate basis type for which the individual is eligible, shall be paid to the connector. The connector shall use the employer?s health insurance premium contribution payment for the individual to first offset the commonwealth?s premium assistance payment for the individual with any residual amount offsetting the individual.