Mass. Lawmakers OK Mandatory Health Bill

[kpete]

Mass. Lawmakers OK Mandatory Health Bill By STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON - Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill Tuesday that would make Massachusetts the first state to require that all its citizens have some form of health insurance.

The plan — approved just 24 hours after the final details were released — would use a combination of financial incentives and penalties to dramatically expand access to health care over the next three years and extend coverage to the state's estimated 500,000 uninsured.

If all goes as planned, poor people will be offered free or heavily subsidized coverage; those who can afford insurance but refuse to get it will face increasing tax penalties until they obtain coverage; and those already insured will see a modest drop in their premiums.

The measure does not call for new taxes but would require businesses that do not offer insurance to pay a $295 annual fee per employee.

The cost was put at $316 million in the first year, and more than a $1 billion by the third year, with much of that money coming from federal reimbursements and existing state spending, officials said.

The House approved the bill on a 154-2 vote. The Senate endorsed it 37-0.

more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060404/ap_on_he_me/massachusetts_health

[baldguy]

1. Employers choice: $1000+/yr for corporate ins -or- $300/yr for State ins.

[YankeyMCC]

4. My thoughts exactly

Also, individual mandated auto insurance hasn't exactly led to an optimal system. It's become the bane of us Mass auto owners. So even if this works, in that most people end up with insurance, it's likely to become a regulatory and market nightmare for consumers and insurance companies.

Not to mention the "affordable" plans will what most of us end up with and they'll be much less than what most of the insured get today.

Maybe I'm being pessimistic I can imagine it all shaking out I suppose, but an individual mandate without clear standards of what is truly beneficial plan and the retreat of union membership (I would think that perhaps groups of people would do better to go through a union than a corporation for group health plans and get the price breaks that come with them) I think this could turn out to be a very painful experiment.

I wonder if I have an plan from my employeer 3 years from now.

[Jim Warren]

2. I don't know about this

Maybe it'll be a great thing, I'll be affected for sure.

Thing is, so far I've heard that it'll be pegged to filling state income tax. It was explained it will be like registering a car, can't get plates wo an insurance stamp. They'll be penalties? What's up with that. It was said the legislature built in a 5% non-compliance factor (Ma. pop. what? 7Mil)
and this 5% will slip through the cracks because they don't file state taxes.

Mmmm, one thing certain, the bill contains 145 pages, it'll take a little time to sort this out.

[etherealtruth]

3. NPR had a really good segment on "All Things Considered"

At least I thought it was ...but, It's fund raising time so segments may not be as they were intended

[paineinthearse]

5. Conyers weighs in

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000418.htm

Massachusetts to Offer Universal Health Care

I wanted to call your attention to a development in Massachusetts that is very encouraging. The legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has approved a universal health care program to provide health care to all its citizens. I do not know the details of this legislation, but will be looking closely into it.

I have long been a proponent of universal health care and have consistently advanced legislation to ensure that all Americans have access to health care. A great society should never deprive someone of medical necessities because of their financial situation. I have introduced H.R. 676 to provide universal health insurance to all Americans and have attracted 68 cosponsors. Caring for the health and safety of our citizens is a critical role of government and I will use this space to highlight this issue and actions we can take to make a difference.