Health Insurance Reform in Massachusetts

Author:

Jason Fortin, Erica Drazen

In April 2006, Massachusetts enacted landmark healthcare legislation that was designed to ensure all residents in the state had health insurance. The law expanded public programs, increased access to private coverage options, established new responsibilities for employers and required all residents to obtain coverage.

With healthcare reform being a top priority for the new administration, components of the Massachusetts plan have been mentioned as potential models for a national effort. The purpose of this paper is to highlight key components of the Massachusetts legislation, review what has happened as a result of insurance reform and discuss any conclusions that can be drawn about a similar program nationally.

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