BOSTON -- Promised healthcare coverage for everyone in Massachusetts by the end of this year remains, just that, a promise.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported Monday that House leaders proposed a plan putting the onus on businesses to provide coverage or be taxed.

Big hospitals like it, most big employers like it and health care advocates calling for universal health care love it.

"The time has come here in Massachusetts for all of us. We must step forward. We must step up, and we must pass this legislation this year," Rep. Sal DiMasi said.

Unlike the governor, DiMasi wants to impose a tax on companies with 10 or more workers that don't offer health insurance or offer policies that are too expensive for their workers. This would raise about $680 million a year.

"Every business that provides health insurance today to their workers saves money in this bill," Health Care for All's John McDonough said. "The ones that don't are not going to be mandated to buy insurance which is more expensive than most of them can afford, but will not be required to pay a much more affordable and lower assessment."

"This is a new tax on employers at a time when the economy is struggling," Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation's Michael Widmer said.

The business lobby also claims this still leaves many companies out of the mix, penalizing too many that are providing some insurance now.

"Ninety-five percent of the companies that don't provide health insurance will be exempt form this new assessment," Associated Industries' Eileen McAnneny said.

For workers, DiMasi wants workers who can afford it to be forced to buy it. They would have to register their health insurance coverage on their income tax form or pay a fine and by 2008 they could lose their driver's license as well.

Young adults could stay on their parent's policy until age 25, while a lower cost product would be available to those under 26 years old.

But the happiest campers are the hospitals, which are now losing hundreds of millions of dollars by providing services to those who don't have insurance.

"It's Halloween and I came to find out if it's a trick or treat, and I've already found out it's a treat," Partners Health Care's Jack Connors said.

The bill also would allow more families to qualify for both Medicaid and Mass Health, a state run program for the working poor.

Those with several part-time jobs could buy a policy to which each of their employers could contribute.

Gov. Mitt Romney said he likes most of DiMasi's bill, but not surprisingly both he and the Senate president don't support the new tax on employers.

The bill will be debated in the House on Thursday.