By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Health Insurance Coverage for Legal Immigrants in Massachusetts: Doing the Right Thing and the Smart Thing
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Insurance Coverage for Legal Immigrants in Massachusetts: Doing the Right Thing and the Smart Thing
Policy & Law

Health Insurance Coverage for Legal Immigrants in Massachusetts: Doing the Right Thing and the Smart Thing

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Legal immigrants will enjoy the same rights to subsidized health insurance coverage as citizens of Massachusetts, thanks to a ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court. Although it will be painful for the state to fund the approximately $150 million hit to the budget, it’s the right thing to do and also a smart thing.

Legal immigrants will enjoy the same rights to subsidized health insurance coverage as citizens of Massachusetts, thanks to a ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court. Although it will be painful for the state to fund the approximately $150 million hit to the budget, it’s the right thing to do and also a smart thing.

Massachusetts has achieved near-universal coverage thanks to its health reform law. Although health insurance costs are among the highest in the nation, Massachusetts can afford to have everyone in coverage. That’s because Massachusetts has a modern, knowledge based economy with high wages, thanks largely to the state’s investment in education and infrastructure, and its open minded populace.

Still, high and rising costs are a burden and universal coverage places a strain on the state’s finances. In 2009 the state legislature shaved $130 million from the budget by going after an easy target: subsidies to legal immigrants.

More Read

Posner: Details of Ryan Plan Don’t Matter
Government Wants Patients to Report Medical Mistakes – Is This a Mistake?
Do Specialists Have to Meet All Meaningful Use Objectives?
What You Should Understand About Medical Negligence
Loss Of Health Insurance and Medications Cited as Potential Motive For Shootings

This was a bad idea for three reasons. First, it undermined one of the tenets of health reform: getting everyone into coverage. It’s important to have everyone in the system so that providers don’t have to deal with uncompensated care and residents don’t miss out on services that could help them and make them more productive.

Second, the system’s costs should be addressed by improving value, performance and efficiency, not by kicking people out or weakening benefits. It’s best for us to face up to the cost challenge and do something about its root causes, rather than foisting pain on vulnerable segments of the population.

Third, it’s vitally important that the state continue to be attractive to immigrants, who are crucial to the dynamism of the economy and the culture. Take a look around the state and the country as a whole and you’ll find that immigrants are strong engines of economic growth. If I had to place a bet, I’d put my money on immigrants rather than the “top 1%” as the best job creators.

So I’m glad to see Massachusetts doing the right thing, and the Supreme Judicial Court playing a constructive role in the process.


TAGGED:health insurancelegal immigrants
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

food education
Public HealthWellness

Bring Food Education Back!

September 14, 2013

Innovating The Nurse Practitioner Role in Chronic Disease Management

August 26, 2012
importance of self-care for your body
FitnessHealth careNewsWellness

Taking Care of Your Body is Absolutely Essential to Stay Healthy

June 7, 2021
injury
CareerMedical EducationMedical Innovations

Clinical Medical Assistant Careers: Why You Should Consider It

April 8, 2024
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?