Massachusetts Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is ranked among the top ten states in 11 of 22 categories measured in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation. So this year, it's even closer to the top in the overall ranking, moving up to #3 this year.

The good news:

• Massachusetts was rated Number One in three areas of measurement. The state had the lowest percentage (5.4) of population lacking health insurance, down from 7.9 percent the previous year. The state also recorded the best rate of occupational fatalities (3.1 per 100,000), and best ranking for access to primary care physicians (190 per 100,000 population).

The bad news:

• While the state wasn't ranked among the bottom ten states in any category in 2009, it was ranked 37th twice: for the prevalence of binge drinking and for its rate of preventable hospitalizations.
• The study noted that Massachusetts has recorded a decrease in the prevalence of smoking since 1990, falling from 28.2 percent of the population to 16 percent in 2009.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Occupational fatalities – #1
• Lack of health insurance – #1
• Primary care physicians – #1
• Immunization coverage – #2
• Prevalence of obesity – #2
• Infant mortality – #3
• Premature death – #4
• Geographic disparity – #5
• Public health funding – #6
• Prevalence of smoking – #9
• Cardiovascular deaths – #9
• Violent crime – #31
• Prevalence of binge drinking – #37
• Preventable hospitalizations – #37

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Massachusetts.

Does Massachusetts have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

No, Massachusetts does not offer its own risk pool for its citizens who are medically uninsurable.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Massachusetts will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Massachusetts's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Massachusetts

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Massachusetts and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Massachusetts.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Massachusetts

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Massachusetts.

USNews health insurance rankings for Massachusetts

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Massachusetts.

Official State Goverment Sites with Massachusetts Health Insurance Information

State-provided info on health insurance -- from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Includes info on the Massachusetts Health Care Reform law, under which all citizens 18 and over are required to purchase insurance.

MassHealth Services -- MassHealth pays for health care for certain low- and medium-income people living in the state, including a program for individuals who are HIV positive. MassHealth also manages the Insurance Partnership for small businesses, the Children's Medical Security Plan, Healthy Start, and the Special Kids/Special Care Pilot Program, cosponsored with the Department of Social Services.

Children's Medical Security Plan -- for children under the age of 19 who are Massachusetts residents at any income level, who do not qualify for MassHealth (except MassHealth Limited), and who are uninsured.