Foundation Backs Universal Coverage Proposal
Massachusetts might be able to achieve universal access to health coverage with a relatively modest public investment.[@@]
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts, Boston, has released an analysis predicting that the state could cover all of its uninsured residents for between $700 million and $900 million in new government spending.
Ultimately, $1.5 billion in economic and social benefits would accrue due to improved health and other positive effects on the state's economy, according to the health finance researchers who wrote the analysis.
"Massachusetts is well-positioned to achieve universal coverage," the researchers write. "The state already has a strong base of employer and public coverage and a relatively low uninsurance rate."
Massachusetts spends more than $1 billion per year to provide care for the uninsured, the researchers report.
