Kaiser reports spotlight Massachusetts consumers and health law

Two new reports on what the Massachusetts health coverage law has meant for consumers were released in Washington today at a forum held by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Consumers’ Experience in Massachusetts: Lessons For National Health Reform and In Pursuit of Affordable Health Care: On the Ground Lessons from Families in Massachusetts look at the availability and affordability of coverage after a 2006 state law mandated near-universal coverage.

Researchers from the Boston-based Access Project working with Kaiser found that although more people have insurance coverage, many people ineligible for state-subsidized insurance are struggling to pay for insurance offered by their employers. Out-of-pocket payments are a burden, particularly for people with chronic conditions, the researchers also found.