Massachusetts is set to become the first state to set up a system of virtually compulsory health insurance in the only major industrial nation not to have universal care.
The legislation requires that all of the state's population of about 6.3 million people have medical insurance by July 1, 2007.
No new taxes are planned but employers with more than 10 staff -- who do not provide health insurance -- will have to make a contribution of about 295 dollars per worker. The plan will cost about 1.2 billion dollars over three years.
Massachusetts residents who are already covered will see their contributions fall slightly while the poor will receive improved coverage and public subsidies to help them pay.
Those who do not have insurance and refuse to subsribe to health insurance will face mounting tax penalties.
Under the plan, some 515,000 people in the state without health insurance will get it within three years. This represents about 95 percent of the uninsured.
Wisconsin has had a plan in the legislature for some time that the Republicans have not let through. Hopefully this will prove to be a tipping point.
No comments:
Post a Comment