Massachusetts Healthcare Reform

Name

Instructor 's name

Course

Date

MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH CARE REFORM

Background

The United States is said to have reached a stage where the status of health care is precarious , primarily because of it is simply not sustainable anymore in an environment where there are just under 50 million US citizens uninsured , out of which Massachusetts alone accounts for a figure of about half million such cases . There are many business units , mostly the small ones , which are forced to drop out of the health care safety net because

they cannot afford the costs

The yearly rise of insurance premiums and the lack of clarity on product availability and suitable product mixes also prevent many first time insurance buyers from buying into health care benefits . These include part time workers and many who work at different jobs . What is more hospitals are obliged to offer health care services free of cost to those unable to afford insurance , Therefore the costs are prohibitive for both those who seek care and those institutions which provide it (McDonough , 2000

The state of Massachusetts alone bore the brunt of almost 1 .5 billion toward health care bills . So , when the State of Massachusetts voted in a bill making it mandatory for citizens to buy insurance cover , it was only recognizing the fact that insurance reforms are a conduit for health care benefits at affordable prices and a well insured population also helps to bring costs down . Governor Mitt Romney ensured that over 500 million people in his state would be insured through the first ever law-stipulating individuals should obtain health care benefits

In effect , Governor Romney knew what he was doing . The uninsured in Massachusetts number some way under 10 but once the entire population was covered , the benefits would roll out . Some of these would be the provisions for Medicaid m insurance at affordable premiums and exposure to various products would result , and the population would enjoy the cumulative benefits of a transparent program , which would be accessible by all

The state promised to bring those with low incomes , ease of access to products and to bring in an environment where everyone was into the insurance habit . The highlights of the reforms included the introduction of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector . There were hugely subsidizing insurance costs to those who were uninsured at the poverty line levels . Coverage for all children from low to very low income groups to under the Medicaid program . The facility of Fair Share Assessment under which 295 per year would be ensured by the employers hiring over 10 employees but not providing insurance cover . This last feature was unacceptable to the legislature , which made Governor Romney 's resolve to make it reality , stronger (McKenzie , 2007

The reforms

Residents will have to reveal whether they have insurance coverage and will be assessed on affordability levels . Those not insured but easily able to afford health insurance would be penalized to the extent of foregoing exemption status on personal taxes . It is...