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: Massachusetts Health Insurance Premium Drops Again
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 > Business > Finance > Massachusetts Health Insurance Premium Drops Again
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Massachusetts Health Insurance Premium Drops Again

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

After years of big increases, the premium for my business’s HMO from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts flattened for our September 1, 2012 renewal. The premium actually declined 0.2 percent. We have just received the renewal proposal for the coming year and I’m excited to report that the premium has dropped again, this time by 2 percent.

Here’s what I wrote last year:

After years of big increases, the premium for my business’s HMO from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts flattened for our September 1, 2012 renewal. The premium actually declined 0.2 percent. We have just received the renewal proposal for the coming year and I’m excited to report that the premium has dropped again, this time by 2 percent.

Here’s what I wrote last year:

More Read

Congress Has a Panel on Women’s Health and No Women Were Invited At the House Hearing – ”Default Topics” of Abortions and Birth Control Returned to the Floor
Blogging for National Healthcare Decisions Day: A Rally for Our Loved Ones and Ourselves
Screening Task Force Makes Recommendation on Obesity
Integrative Medicine: All you need to know about this
Navigating Legal Waters: Your Guide to Expert Counsel

I’m cautiously optimistic that we are going to see a few years of premium stability in Massachusetts as providers redesign the provision of care, payers scrutinize contracts and introduce more limited network products, business owners pay more attention to what they’re buying, and consumers learn how to navigate the system more effectively.

Critics of Massachusetts health care reform (mostly from out of state) cite the failure to control cost as one of the major shortcomings. My responses has always been that the idea was to get everyone into coverage first, and then turn toward cost containment as a way to preserve universal coverage. Six years or so after the passage of health reform, we may be turning the corner on costs in Massachusetts. I hope critics of Massachusetts health reform, and its offspring the Affordable Care Act, will reconsider their opposition if the cost trend in the Bay State continues to flatten.

I asked Sharon Torgerson, a BCBS MA spokesperson to comment. She said:

“Premium rates are holding steady thanks to our ability to tightly manage medical costs while keeping administrative costs low. We continue to make progress in our affordability agenda, but we have more work to do. Rising health care costs are still too big of a burden for families and employers and our progress will not be sufficient until we can reliably deliver significant and sustainable premium relief. That will only happen when health care costs grow more modestly and in line with the rest of the economy. Over the past two years, doctors and hospitals have worked with us in a spirit of shared responsibility to create more affordable contracts. We’re hoping that spirit will continue as we renegotiate hospital and physician contracts. “

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for next year.

TAGGED:Massachusetts
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

The Latest Numbers on Exchange Enrollment

January 20, 2014

IPAD Benefits Dementia Patients

December 10, 2011
Image
Health ReformPolicy & Law

Health Reform’s Impact on Benefits Administration

April 17, 2013

Understanding Patient Advocates and Patient Navigators

April 17, 2012
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?