Mother can't afford private coverage

With an annual income of about $34,000, Nancy Bullett, 50, of North Adams, makes too much to qualify for MassHealth, the state's healthcare program for the poor. But she has also decided she can't afford private insurance, which would eat up nearly a fifth of her monthly income. Bullett, a physical therapist, also feels the high cost of health insurance another way: Rapidly rising copayments dissuade some patients from seeing her, which cuts into her income. ''I lose twice, and it's just nonsense," she said. Bullett's two teenage children are covered by the state's Children's Medical Security Plan, which costs her about $100 a month. She pays out of pocket for her own yearly checkups and mammograms. An avid softball player and golfer, Bullett refuses to live her life in fear, but finds the healthcare maze inexplicable. ''There really doesn't seem to be any reason why there can't be a health plan that people who work in small businesses or who are self-employed can buy through the federal government," Bullett said.