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
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Ireland Reveals Its Patient Stories
    August 13, 2015
    CMS delays final rule
    CMS Delays 2014 Final Rule
    November 25, 2013
    Can An Medication Reminder App Boost Adherence?
    September 28, 2020
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Massachusetts: Land of Affordable Health Insurance
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 > Massachusetts: Land of Affordable Health Insurance
Policy & Law

Massachusetts: Land of Affordable Health Insurance

DavidEWilliams
Last updated: November 18, 2011 9:54 am
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

The Commonwealth Fund just released a sobering analysis (State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003–2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs) revealing that total premiums for family coverage increased 50 percent over the past seven years, with big increases in every state. It probably won’t surprise you that insurance costs in Massachusetts are among the highest in the nation.

The Commonwealth Fund just released a sobering analysis (State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003–2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs) revealing that total premiums for family coverage increased 50 percent over the past seven years, with big increases in every state. It probably won’t surprise you that insurance costs in Massachusetts are among the highest in the nation. If you are an opponent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) you’ll probably also be eager to point to Massachusetts as the evil place where it all started and the harbinger of doom for the rest of the country as PPACA is implemented.

Health insurance costs have always been high in Massachusetts, and while so-called RomneyCare hasn’t fixed the problem, it also hasn’t made Massachusetts worse relative to other states. Meanwhile the cost of health insurance shouldn’t be looked at in a vacuum. Massachusetts is also expensive on other dimensions such as housing and education.

Luckily, thanks largely to the state’s investment in education and infrastructure, and its open minded populace, Massachusetts is also a place with a modern, knowledge based economy that offers high wages. The Commonwealth Fund’s analysis reveals that health insurance in Massachusetts is significantly more affordable relative to income than it is in other states. Not only that, but the situation is improving over time relative to the rest of the country.

More Read

European Diabetes Market
Due Diligence in Community Health Screening
ACA: Why Repeal and Replace Is a Joke
Colbert Talks to a Harvard Doctor – Video
Clinical Trials Could Get More Help From Social Media

In 2003, the average health insurance premium as a percent of median household income for the under-65 population nationwide was 14.9%. In Massachusetts it was 12.6% –or 2.3 percentage points better.

By 2010 the national average had jumped to 20.3% of income. In Massachusetts it moved up, too, but only to 15.9% –now 4.4 percentage points better than average. Only Connecticut (15.5% ) and New Jersey (15.4%) are more affordable. By way of comparison, health insurance in Texas consumes 24.5% of median income, which goes a long way toward explaining why so many people are unemployed there.

Don’t get me wrong, Massachusetts has a big health insurance cost problem and it needs to be tackled. But thanks to health care reform and a high-wage economy we have a better chance than most to deal with it.

 


TAGGED:MassachusettsPPACA
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Healthcare at the GOP debate

November 3, 2015

RAM (Remote Area Medical) Free Clinic in Virginia Sees Over 4000 Patients

July 25, 2011

HSAs vs. HRAs: Which is Better?

May 19, 2011

Promising Nursing Careers Beyond the Bedside

February 6, 2014
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?