The Uninsured and the Debate Over the Repeal of the Massachusetts Universal Health Care Law

Abstract

The debate in Massachusetts over the repeal of the first state-based "pay or play" universal health plan is discussed using data from a survey of 1066 Massachusetts households. The survey attempted to measure the problems of the uninsured, to estimate the likelihood that they would buy insurance if offered, and to calculate the proportion of the uninsured who would be covered under an employer mandate. A survey conducted in person and by telephone in 1066 households, with an oversample of uninsured households, using stratification, clustering, disproportionate sampling, and poststatistical weighting. Adults aged 18 years and older who were knowledgeable about the insurance status of persons in their household. Insurance status, employment status, access to and use of health services, and willingness to purchase health insurance. First, the present system of hospital-based uncompensated care in Massachusetts is inadequate by itself to meet the needs of uninsured residents. Uninsured persons are less likely than insured ones to seek medical care for chronic health problems and serious symptoms requiring evaluation. Second, 83% of uninsured families and 24% of uninsured individual respondents would purchase one of several insurance options with 30% of the cost subsidized. Last, the employer mandate provisions of the legislation would cover 43% of the uninsured in Massachusetts. In the current economic climate, the political viability of the universal health care plan and similar national initiatives is uncertain given the intractable conflict between perceptions of the financial stability of small businesses that do not offer insurance and the health care needs of uninsured individuals.