A new report prepared by the Urban Institute for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts has found that Massachusetts remains the state with the lowest rate of uninsured adults between 18 and 64 in the country.
Based on a survey conducted last fall, 95.2 percent of those between 18 and 64 were insured, a figure virtually unchanged from the previous year and up from the 87.5 percent insured in 2006, the year the state's health insurance mandate was signed into law but before its implementation began.
The report notes that "the higher level of insurance coverage in the state has been associated with improvements in access to and use of care, quality of care, and the affordability of care. These important achievements provide evidence that Massachusetts residents are obtaining meaningful, comprehensive coverage."
The study was based on a randon telephone survey of 3,165 adults in October and November of 2009.
To read the entire report, click here. To read the executive summary click here.
DOR will issue its annual report on compliance with the law later this year. For the most recent DOR report click here.
The only reason this law was passed was to give insurers 100% of the market, and that is exactly what it did, do not let anyone kid you.
Of course we have a low percentage of people uninsured; we're threatened with hefty penalties if we don't pay. It DOES NOT mean we have a low percentage of people with access to healthcare. The plans are neither affordable nor are health services accessible.
I am marginally employed at the moment, partly due to a health issue exacerbated by medical negligence from our drug "care" industry. I will now be required to pay $335 a month for a substandard plan that I cannot afford nor will I use. Because the medical industry caused my current health issue, I've divorced myself from the drug "care" industry and prefer eating well (really well, meaning I don't eat pesticides, growth hormones or antibiotics daily anymore, like most other people do, sadly) and using herbal remedies to resolve my health issue, which is finally being resolved through nutrition and herbs.
So as it is, I am forced to pay for something that goes against my beliefs, and at the same time, if I do need real health care, I must pay out of pocket for it.
So for that, I refuse to take part in such coercion and will not pay. I'm prepared to fight this scam, if you'd like to join me, visit http://masshealthlawscam.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Edna | June 28, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Improvements, quality, affordability? I live in Rehoboth, my husband and I pay $16,000.00 a year through the State for our Health Insurance. Many Doctors in the state don't accept our insurance. We are unemployed, that amount is not affordable to us, but we have no choice, we must use our retirement savings. Co-pays and drug costs are ridiculous. Quality, yeah, try looking for a Doctor that is taking on new patients. Ha, Ha, then try Mass Health and there are even fewer Doctors available and most others won't service Mass Health patients.
Posted by: Pamela Christman | June 13, 2010 at 06:07 AM