01/25/2008
Before Pennsylvanians rush to embrace a big government solution to health care, policymakers and interested parties ought to take note of the impact health care reform has had in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts state budget officials report the price tag for that state's landmark health insurance plan for everyone now costs $245 million more than was first projected. Its costs are expected to grow by at least another $400 million in next year's budget.
The health plan now is one of the most expensive programs in the Massachusetts state budget. The program's biggest cost increase is the unanticipated number of people who are signing-up for the government-subsidized insurance. At the time of its enactment, state officials estimated the state had about 650,000 uninsured. They projected 140,000 would enroll in the state-subsidized plan called Commonwealth Care. Almost 170,000 people already have signed up for the program. Officials now estimate enrollment will climb to 225,000 by June 2009.
Pennsylvania estimates it has 800,000 uninsured.
