Massachusetts tops in health insurance coverage

...and we also have some of the highest taxes also.

Well...Duh. Massachusetts REQUIRES every citizen to have health insurance, which is paid (for the most part) by the employers of the commonwealth. Every mom and pop business to corporate-level employer is required to kick in a percentage, or pay a hefty fine. Speaking from a personal standpoint, it has caused our marginally profitable, small business, to dive into the red and lay off 1/3 of our staff. Insurance companies are reaping the benefits.

Underemployed? You have to make choices these days, buy gas, food, or pay your insurance premium. The "middle class" is going the way of the dinosaur, while the corporate executives get multi-million dollar bonuses to send our jobs to India and China, and the undocumented aliens get a free ride.

Where is the happy medium? What can we do to fix this state and fix this country? We are spinning out of control.

I don't think this data is enough information to know if the Massachusetts experiment is "succeeding." My definition of success would be if health outcomes improve, not merely having people insured. Show me some data on real outcomes, and I may be willing to talk about success.

I'm a big supporter of mandated insurance/universal coverage, but just increasing enrollment rates isn't a reason to stop evaluating this work and prematurely declare success.

Just because the we are number one doesn't make the program a success! What has the effect been on small business? How much money over budget are we for the plan? If the number was 0% but we were 1 billion over budget would it still be a success?

Nice story...No mention of Romney??? If the likes of Deval or Ted were responsible for such great stats we'd have 3 pages of praises for them...

I concur 100% with Allen. What is worse: 5 employee without health care or 20 employees without a job when the company goes out of business?

Dale Logan:

Posting a lie doesn't make it true. Massachusetts ranks right about the middle of the pack when it comes to both its individual and corporate tax burdens. We can debate whether or not the Massachusetts health care system is worth the costs, but let's try to do so on a factual basis.

Allen:

I'm sorry that your business is struggling - sadly, not an unusual story in these tough economic times. But if, as you suggest, the new law significantly raised your costs, it's only because you were previously shifting the burden of insuring your workforce on to the rest of us. When we stopped underwriting your labor costs, your business model faltered. If you really think that's unfair, you might offer a constructive suggestion on how to fairly allocate health costs across the system. The money has to come from somewhere. It used to be that the costs of the uninsured were borne both by the insured, and by state and federal subsidies to hospitals - in other words, by responsible employers and the taxpaying public. The present system insists that every employer contribute their fair share, along with workers and taxpayers. That strikes me as a good model. If you don't want to pay any of these costs, what would you suggest instead?

You said it Molly!

"...and we also have some of the highest taxes also."

No, that's no longer true. These days, Mass. ranks towards the middle of all U.S. states for its tax burden. Not great but certainly not as bad as many people think.

Mass. Dr's disagree. The following is an excerpt from an open letter from 250 Mass. DRs.

Starting January 1, 2008 Massachusetts residents face fines if they cannot offer proof of insurance. Yet as of December 1, 2007 only 37% of the 657,000 uninsured had gained coverage under the new program. These individuals often feel well served by the reform in that they now have health insurance. However, 79% of these newly insured individuals are very poor people enrolled in Medicaid or similar free plans. Virtually all of them were previously eligible for completely free care funded by the state, but face co-payments under the new plan. In effect, public funds for care of the poor that previously flowed directly to hospitals and clinics now flow through insurers with their higher administrative costs.

Among the near poor uninsured (who are eligible for partial premium subsidies) only 16% had enrolled in the new coverage. And barely 7% of the uninsured individuals with incomes too high to qualify for subsidies had enrolled according to the official state figures. Few can afford premiums for even the skimpiest coverage; the lowest cost plan offered for a couple in their fifties costs $8,200 annually, and carries a $2,000 per person deductible.

Sounds more like a political shell game, than a healthcare success.

I mostly agree with Allen, though I would never consider that illegal immigrants are getting a "free ride."

I always have had a problem with the employer mandate, though not necessarily for the same reasons as the majority of small-business owners. I do think that it's an unfair burden on businesses if we as a people decide that all residents must be covered. I think the society at large needs to cover that. And, yes, that means more taxes. But it's fairer.

What this state lacks in taxes they make up for in fees, tolls, property taxes excise taxes and tickets.
Stop kidding yourself....... this is one of the most expensive places to live on EARTH.
I'm moving out !!

How about some fair competition among health care providers. The so "called" managed health care is a big rip off!! The government is in on this scam. Why are doctors being paid before they even perform a service?

This state doesn't even allow for catastrophic coverage. It will be elimnated in the coming year. There are plenty of people that can pay for the Dr. visits and diagnostic but this state has gone too far requiring a "boat load" of insurance that really effects the self employed.

Those of us that do get coverage through our employers are seeing a lot less for our money. There is blame all around not just for the insurance companies.

Case in point... I had a colonoscopy where I was billed $4K.. yes that is thousand. My HMO covered about $700. The place where I went accepted that. My question is why did he bill so high then and who ends up picking up that cost down the line? There is no equity here.

My two cents...

Amen, Cynic! Thanks for calling the whiners to the carpet.

Mass ranks 23rd in the nation for taxes. Not number 1. We were #2 back in 1981. Some people not only like to complain but they have to complain about the past over and over and over again. Ugh!

And yes, I would think that those of us who are insured shouldn't have to bear all of the costs of the under-insured... It's too bad that some employers have to be compelled to offer their employees health insurance.

I cant afford to pay my rent - but I have health insurance
I cant afford to pay for oil - but I have health insurance
I can't afford gas for my car - but I have health insurance
I can't afford groceries - but I have health insurance
I can't afford my co-pays that come with my health insurance - but I have health ins.
When you threaten to take away and fine people you can force people to pay for things that although it might be important it may not necessarily be a priority at this
what happens when the throw me in the street, take away my car, pipes freeze from no oil and I starve to death. will you go on t.v. and the newspapers and tell everyone that I had health insurance. Health Insurance at what cost.

Big reason Romney will be the VP!!

OMG, Massachusetts is full of whining Democrats who whine but never offer any vision to solve your problems. I live in Florida, where I pay $3,700 in homeowners insurance and pay more for my car insurance than I ever did in Massachusetts. My home here was just as expensive as if I bought in my hometown of Needham. Give me a break! But guess what...I love it here. AND I have health insurance that I pay out of my own pocket. I am happy to pay for it all, thank you. I hope Romney gets the job.

Where are all of these small businesses going under? If that is TRUE you should blame inflation and the recent downturn in our economy. I like the fact that tax payers aren't covering the bill for the uninsured anymore....and I think Dale Logan is still living in the 80"s. Catch up dude!

The idea of required health insurance is good in theory because hospitals (mostly nonprofts) are running into the ground when illegal immigrants and other uninsured get free care. However, illegal immigrants do not pay taxes, so surprise, they still receive free care.

Excuse me MeME, but if you looked into it, the fine of not having health insurance is less expensive than the health insurance, so if you were in such a bad predicament, then perhaps you should drop your health insurance. Additionally, if it is such a burden you should apply for state aid. All of us honest, hard working middle class are paying for everyone else, why not you too? Just another example of how socialism is ruining the country.

It isn't cheap to live here, but you get what you pay for. Try to find somewhere with low taxes and good services - hospitals, culture, environment and education. Move to Chicago where you will pay a 10.25% sales tax on everything and property taxes are higher. And to the complainer about fees, you can thank Mr. Romney. He raised fees rather than taxes. Talk about a shell game.

The bottem line is this new required health care is joke on paper it looks great but im in my low twenties and myslef and many of my firends have health insurance but yet none of us go to the doctor unless its an absolute emergency becuase of the over 1500 dollar average deductable... its a joke and i truely hope sean is being sarcastic....

7.9% is still too high

FYI - Believe that the MA income tax rate for earned income (after exceptions etc) is 5.25%

H/C Penalty - Believe that the fee for not picking up employee h/c was $295 per employee last time I read about it in the Globe - So as noted by another poster earlier, if that makes your company unprofitable then your business model certainly needs a closer look....

To read more about the SCAM that is Massachusetts Healthcare Reform, please visit my Blog pages at:

www.jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/01/massachusetts-mandated-heathcare.html

&

www.jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/02/boston-globe-editorial-idiots.html

Thank you,
Jonathan Melle

There is a difference between health insurance and health care. Guaranteeing the former by force and fiat will only prevent the latter from being available to as many and at as low a price as possible.

To JMF - I have a HMO coverage, had a colonoscopy in Sept 2007 and only paid a deductible of $1500 after the HMO picked up part of the tab. You must be using the wrong HMO and the wrong plan! Try HPHC and the CORERX0H-S plan through Commonwealth Choice.

Health Care is a social issue.Businesses should not have to pay for it.The State has a Health Law that is discrimination based on income.The poor get health care,the wealthy get health care but not the people in the middle.The federal government is responsible for it's citizens.The greedy insurance companies are to blame but nobody blames them!When will this Country wake up and stop being brainwashed?

Bottom line? I am paying about $12K a year for health insurance for me and my family using the money that I planned to spend for my children's college tuition. My employeer just informed me that our health insurance will increase by 25% next year, and I can no longer afford to see the doctor or go to the dentist - literally.

When I was about 6 years old visiting my great grandfather who live to be 102, we would sometimes sit on the front porch while he feed peanuts to the squirrels. The squirrels were used to this and would take the peanuts from his hand. One day he was bit by one of the squirrels but refused to go the doctor. He just washed his finger with soap and water and wrapped it up using strips from a t-shirt and tape. I am beginning to understand my grandfather's wisdom.