- A newly released survey examined the effects of the health reform bill in Massachusetts, which went into effect in 2006.
- The survey found that 94 percent of the state’s nonelderly (19–64) residents reported being covered in 2010, a significant increase over the 87 percent estimate in 2006.
- The survey also showed first-time reductions in emergency department visits and hospital inpatient stays, as well as improvements in self-reported health status. Additionally, there was a significant increase in premium costs paid by workers.
- The survey also found that more than two-thirds (68 percent) reported coverage through an employer, a significant increase (from 64 percent) over 2006. There is no evidence that employers are dropping coverage under the health reform.
- And while access to care improved, the number of respondents who had reported a general doctor visit declined by 3.5 percentage points between 2009 and 2010, potentially reflecting increases in the use of specialists and preventive care.
- In 2010, 6.1 percent of respondents had out-of-pocket health spending levels that were at least 10 percent of their family income—a decline from 9.8 percent in 2006. Employee premiums costs increased, however, from $1,011 to $1,200 for single coverage and from $3,128 to $3,444 for family coverage.
- The authors concluded that coverage and access to care remain strong in Massachusetts, that health care delivery continues to improve and that affordability remains a challenge as Massachusetts and the rest of the nation continue to struggle with rising health care costs.
- The researchers conducted a randomly sampled telephone survey of approximately 3,000 nonelderly adults in Massachusetts.
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