Uninsured Mass. residents could get health coverage for as little as $175/mo.

[Purveyor]

BOSTON – The average uninsured Massachusetts resident could obtain health care coverage for as little as $175 a month under the state's insurance law, less than half of earlier estimates, officials said Saturday.

The plans are a critical piece of the state's landmark insurance initiative, which requires all state residents to have health coverage by July 1 or face tax penalties. Some insurers had suggested earlier that the premium would be $380 a month.

“This is a big improvement from the first round of bids and a big step forward for health care reform,” Gov. Deval Patrick said as he released the results of negotiations with health insurers in the state. “The health security that was the point of health care reform will be delivered at an affordable price.”

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The minimum plan detailed by Patrick would cover the average uninsured Massachusetts resident, who is typically around 37 years old. It includes prescription drug coverage and covers basic medical care, such as emergency room visits and outpatient medical care.

Lower cost plans would be available to young adults. Prices would also rise and fall depending on the age of the person seeking insurance and where they live.

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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070303-1831-massachusettshealthcare.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. So is this for people who are too rich for medicaid but too poor for insurance?

Are there people here in that bracket who can say whether or not this is a number they can handle?

[Lady Effingbroke]

2. $175 a month - too much for me.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. It would be for me too, but we get medicaid for now

[Cobalt Violet]

4. No, It's for people above 300% of the poverty level.

For people 100% or under it would free. For people between 100%-300% it would be subsidized.

[Redstone]

3. Time for us to move there; we pay almsot $2,000 per month for health insurance.

Remember that the next time you envy someone who owns his or her own business.

Redstone

[KoKo]

5. We pay $22,000 per year...and we are glad to have it with only ONE PROVIDER

Blue Cross/Blue Shield...here in NC.

We have a small business and that's the only way we could get health insurance ...yet we are TOO SMALL to get GROUP PLAN....So, it's individual...

[Matariki]

6. gee - groceries? health insurance? winter coat? health insurance?

$175 a month? That's supposed to be a favor to people?

And isn't Massachusetts the state that 'solved' the health insurance problem by making it mandatory?

[dddem]

8. For the record,

I live in Massachusetts, and when my husband was laid off, we went without health insurance for over a year (we have 2 children) because I couldn't afford both my mortgage and health insurance. Both were approximately $1,000.00 per month. So, honestly, $175.00 per month really doesn't sound so bad.

[Cobalt Violet]

9. For a family of 4 if your income was below $60,012...

You would pay less because you would quailify for the subsidy. If you didn't have insurance through work.

[Matariki]

10. The problem is - if you are living from paycheck to paycheck

$175 might as well be $1000. And health insurance would come at the bottom of a long list of more immediate needs.