Massachusetts is facing a daunting goal as it enters the second year of its grand experiment of extending health care coverage to nearly all citizens - reining in spiraling costs that could threaten the landmark law.

For Massachusetts residents deemed able to afford health care, but refuse, that means facing new monthly fines that could total as much as $912 for individuals and $1,824 for couples by the end of the year.

That’s a steep increase. Those who failed to get insured in 2007, the first year of the law, faced the loss of their personal exemption on their tax returns, worth $219.

In case you missed it: That’s MONTHLY fines that could total $912 for individuals and $1,824 for couples in a year’s time. Apparently to be paid M-O-N-T-H-L-Y (i.e., $76 - $152 per month, just to be sure there’s no misunderstanding)?

A new statewide database will track who has health insurance and who doesn’t, they say.