How do you feel about the 2006 Massachusetts health care reform law?

[Eric J in MN]

Is forcing middle-income people to buy health insurance too much of a financial sacrafice for them?

[rox63]

1. It's a mixed bag

It has resulted in quite a few more people having coverage. But if you don't qualify for subsidies, and you don't get coverage through your employer, you're pretty much screwed. My brother now has decent health insurance because of it. But that's because he's low income, so he gets it for free.

[bluescribbler]

2. Hard 2 say.

I spent 6 months on COBRA last year. Cost me $1053 a month. Didn't need no state law to tell me to maintain it. Not with a wife who has stage 4 melanoma. Income was too high for state subsidy.

Got my money's worth, though. Month before I went on my new employer's group plan, scans showed her cancer had spread to her brain. Doc said, "I want you in surgery on Friday".

She said, "Can I at least have the weekend?"

"OK", he says.

She went in on Monday before Thanksgiving. We brought her home Thanksgiving Day. Bill for the surgery alone, not counting night in ICU or 2 additional nights in hospital, etc., was more than $50,000.

I do feel, however, that the "fee" employers pay if they don't offer insurance to their employees is way too low. It really doesn't encourage them to offer insurance. That's my biggest beef.

[Fearless]

3. When well funded, the program is premiere. When not, it is as all others.

One of my favorite Kennedy photos came from the Boston Globe. He stood in vindication over Mitt Romney's unwilling signing of the bill. If I can find the actual photo again, I'll post it.