Feds OK Mass. Universal Health Insurance

[Judi Lynn]

Feds OK Mass. Universal Health Insurance
Feds Approve Massachusetts New First-In-The-Nation Universal Health Insurance Program

By GLEN JOHNSON

BOSTON Jul 26, 2006 (AP)— The federal government has given its approval to a first-in-the-nation program in Massachusetts that will require everyone to carry health insurance, officials announced Wednesday.

The state's universal health insurance program will use a combination of subsidies and penalties to make coverage more affordable and to encourage people to buy it.

"Our ability to now insure every Massachusetts citizen is a historic achievement for both the commonwealth and the nation," Gov. Mitt Romney said in a statement.

Romney, a Republican considering a 2008 White House campaign, signed the state's new health care law in April, and since then it has been under review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., lauded the announcement.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2239669

[ForPeace]

1. Penalties???

I applaud the effort in general but don't like the sound of penalties.

[rurallib]

2. From what I recall this was a great deal for the insurance industry.

Am I recalling correctly. I can't imagine Romney being in favor of something that didn't move money from the poor to the wealthy.

[leesa]

15. This isn't a good thing. This just means you have to buy insurance or pay

fines. It's like mandatory car insurance. It's a huge boon to the insurance industry. It will trap people into crappy, expensive insurance policies that don't cover anything but they HAVE to have them.

[krkaufman]

21. And won't do anything to create a single payer system ...

... that can use leverage to bargain for lower costs. Seems to be another handout to the insurance industry, however laudable the goals.

[JAYJDF]

3. This could be a huge plus for a presidential run in 08

This is one hot topic. He just needs to make it seem like it works.

[tsuki]

4. If an insurance company is involved, you can bet it will end up

a mess.

[mom cat]

7. And filter money from our pockets to the overstuffed vaults of the elite.

[lynne]

5. Sounds scary to me. Note the word "REQUIRE" -

- in the opening sentence:

"The federal government has given its approval to a first-in-the-nation program in Massachusetts that will require everyone to carry health insurance, officials announced Wednesday."

What about those persons who choose NOT to carry health insurance because they can financially bear the risk? Looks like they will be penalized if they decide that they don't want coverage.

:shrug:

[Sherman A1]

6. Not entirely keen on the idea

of required health insurance, but they are at least trying something, which is better than many other states and certainly our boys in DC.

[Deja Q]

8. Oh, so if I don't buy insurance I get penalized - is that it?

Sounds more like a windfall for the insurance companies and HMOs.

This isn't universal. This is bizarro.

BTW: Anyone check the quality of healthcare the last time you saw a quack? Bingo. For what one gets, we pay waaaaaaaaaay too much money.

[LeighAnn]

13. Animals get better health care, and much more affordably

The best health care I've gotten in the 21st century was worse than the worst health care I got in the 20th century. It was at an HCA facility, of course.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. In other words, guaranteed customers for the insurance companies and

subsidies for people who can't afford their outrageous prices (i.e. subsidies to the insurance companies). What's for big business not to like?

[rodeodance]

10. in this case it is the insurance industry that gets the 'for all"

[Vinca]

11. I don't think there are any restrictions on what the insurance

companies can charge. Just telling someone "you have to buy insurance or else" is not a solution. Another bonanza for the insurance companies.

[newscott]

12. This is exactly the kind of soulless idea that Republicans come up with.

It's bullshit. Requiring people to have health insurance or else.

It just says, hey, it's your fault you don't have a good job with benefits. Don't come crying to us. Now pay the f*ck up!

[lynne]

18. You might want to read the rest of the article -

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., lauded the announcement.

"Instead of facing health care cuts, we're well on our way to achieving our longstanding goal of health care for all."

[AnOhioan]

14. If it was "single-payer" universal I would be impressed.

As it is, I am not.

[valerief]

16. The devil shoots and scores! They are evil. All of them. n/t

[mconvente]

17. You think the hardcore Dems in the State Assembly are that stupid??

Massachusetts has some of the most progressive Dems in the nation in their state assembly. They have enough power and numbers to override any Romney veto. So I hope they looked at this closely and saw it was good. But, again, scary concept if the state doesn't provide for it for the poor people.

[IronLionZion]

25. Haha, yeah Taxachusetts is among the most left-wing states in America

And Romney is one of the most powerless and worthless governors. This is not something he did on his own without the support of lots of very liberal Democrats.

I think even Big Teddy supports it.

[Crowdance]

19. I used to want to move to Western Mass to escape the rat race.

Now I know I won't be able to afford it. As a cancer survivor I simply can't afford the extra $30k a year to be insured, and certainly don't want to pay a fine on top of it all. I predict an influx of "health insurance refugees" to neighboring states. (I still LOVE Western Mass.....)

[area51]

20. Gingrich

People may not remember, but it was a wet dream of Newt Gingrich to have a law forcing people to buy health insurance. Being the rich bitch that he is, he thinks that people w/o health insurance are just "too lazy" to buy it. There are you are, Newt, problem solved. Only 49 more states to go.

What the United States needs is to become a civilized, instead of barbaric country & get universal healthcare.

[donkeyotay]

22. Another win for the corps and bush cronies

Required insurance is like another no-bid contract.

[Bush_MUST_Go]

24. There's not much specific info given

I can see this for families with children. I think adults should have a choice whether they want to have insurance.

[mainer]

23. Do you people want everyone covered OR NOT?

The Massachusetts plan is the only way to make sure EVERYONE in the state gets health care coverage. Yes, it mandates coverage. Just like many states mandate that drivers carry insurance. When everyone contributes to the pool, it offers a safety net to everyone, and spreads out the cost of healthcare. It's the same principal as Social Security.

Or are you opposed to that too?

[IronLionZion]

26. how much is health insurance?

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/

And check out this Kiplinger's article on buying your own health insurance.


http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/basics/managing/insurance/healthinsurance.html?

It varies widely by state but was less than I expected in Minnesota.

[depakid]

27. This is going to be a HUGE boondoggle...

That won't come close to addressing either of the critical issues: access to affordable care or annual double digit cost increases.

Here's what two Harvard Medical School professors have to say about it:

"The linchpin of the plan is the false assumption that uninsured people will be able to find affordable health plans. A typical group policy in Massachusetts costs about $4,500 annually for an individual and more than $11,000 for family coverage. Few of the 748,000 uninsured in Massachusetts are young enough (under age 35) to qualify for low-premium plans. Fewer are affluent enough to readily afford them.

The legislation promises that the uninsured will be offered comprehensive, affordable private health plans. But the only way to get cheaper plans is to strip down the coverage, boost co-payments, deductibles, uncovered services, etc.

Hence, the requirement that most of the uninsured purchase coverage will either require them to pay money they don’t have, or buy nearly worthless stripped-down policies that represent coverage in name only.

The legislation will do nothing to contain the skyrocketing costs of care in Massachusetts, already the highest in the world. As rising costs force more and more employers to drop coverage, state coffers will be drained by the continuing cost increases in Medicaid. The program is simply not sustainable over the long — or even medium — term."

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/8941/1/317

[Lars39]

28. Bottom line, if you are paying for health insurance

and actually need to use it, the portion not covered by the insurance has to be paid.
At some point, the premiums and the unpaid portion will be overwhelming, especially if the person has a chronic health problem.

[eggbeater]

29. The way I would understand it

Is that everyone is required to purchase health care insurance.
Now, those that make X number of dollars or more are required to purchase out of their pocket at their own expense a health policy.

those that do not make X number of dollars will be provided either a partial payment or complete payment assistance, depending on where they fall in the income groups.

the state will pick up the tab for those that need the assistance, using taxpayer dollar to provide this service.

so the middle class guy that has insurance through his work yet still has to contribute a few hundred every month for that policy, will also be expected to contribute by way of taxation to cover those that do not have the ability to pay.

The insurance companies are not going to be willing to take a loss to cover the poor. and why should they?

all this amounts to is the state demanding that not only do you pay for your insurance, but also a portion of someone else's.

I see a movement of small companies out of the state coming soon.