Massachusetts is ranked among the top ten states in 10 of 22 categories measured in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation. Not surprisingly, it's also close to the top in the overall ranking, moving up three spots from #9 in 2007 to #6 this year.
The good news:
The bad news:
The state's best and worst category rankings:
See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Massachusetts.
No, Massachusetts does not offer a risk pool for its citizen's who are medically-uninsurable.
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 poolto 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. Find more on risk pools here.
An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.
These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more here.
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.
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.
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.
Associated Press – Here’s a look at the health insurance expansion efforts in Massachusetts and Tennessee.
Boston Globe – The state’s bill for providing healthcare to employees and their families who work for large companies increased 24.6 percent to $793.7 million in the last fiscal year, according to a report released yesterday.
Contact your federal officials. President Obama needs your help to push Congress to make health insurance available, affordable and universal! Read more!
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
Office of the Governor, Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
PHONE: 617-725-4005
FAX: 617.727.9725
More offices
Contact by e-mail
Contact your Massachusetts State Senator
Contact your Massachusetts State Representative
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