In this release issued by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts, the organization's annual report on the 2006 health reform's effect in the Commonwealth is analyzed for the year 2009.  Referencing meaningful statistics like 67% approval for Massachusetts' reform, which was principally created by Senator Moore, the information offers important details on the current and future directions of health reform in the Commonwealth.  View the release below:

The rate of uninsured remained at historic lows despite the recession

§ 4.8 percent of working-aged adults in Massachusetts were uninsured at the time of the survey in fall 2009. Uninsured adults in Massachusetts were disproportionately young, male, single, and healthy.

§ In fall 2009, nearly all (98%) non-elderly adults had health insurance at some point over the prior year. 90% of non-elderly adults had insurance for all of the prior year. 

§ Lower-income adults experienced the strongest gains in insurance coverage.

§ Employer-sponsored coverage increased by 2.7 percentage points between fall 2006 and fall 2009. No evidence of public coverage “crowding-out” employer-sponsored insurance coverage for non-elderly adults. 

§ Health insurance coverage was stable overall between 2008 and 2009, but employer-sponsored insurance coverage decreased by 2.1 percentage points. The strong system of public coverage in Massachusetts has offset declines in employer-sponsored coverage, however. 

Improvements in access to care were maintained

§ Non-elderly adults were more likely to receive care—including general doctor visits, preventive care visits, and dental care—in fall 2009, as compared to prior to reform.

§ Non-elderly adults were less likely to report unmet need for care in fall 2009, as compared to prior to reform. Unmet need for specialist care decreased 2.5 percentage points; unmet need for medical tests, treatment, and follow-up care decreased 1.9 percentage points. 

§ Lower-income adults and adults with a chronic health condition reported some of the strongest gains in access under health reform. 

Unmet need for care due to costs has decreased, but affordability problems persist

§ Non-elderly adults were less likely to report high out-of-pocket (OOP) health care spending in fall 2009, as compared to prior to reform.

§ Non-elderly adults were less likely to report overall unmet need for care due to cost in fall 2009. Reductions in unmet need due to cost also seen for specific types of care examined (doctor care; specialist care; medical tests, treatment, or follow-up care; preventive care screenings; prescription drugs; and dental care). 

§ No change seen in the percentages of adults reporting problems with medical bills or medical debt between fall 2006 and fall 2009. About one in five adults in 2009 reported problems paying medical bills. Cost remained a key barrier to obtaining coverage for the uninsured in 2009.

Racial and ethnic minorities experience fewer disparities under health reform

§ Racial/ethnic minority adults were just as likely as white, non-Hispanic adults to have insurance coverage in fall 2009, as compared to a significant disparity in coverage prior to reform. In fall 2009, 95 percent of both minority adults and white, non-Hispanic adults were insured.

§ In fall 2009, minority adults reported stronger reductions in the share paying medical bills over time and in unmet need for preventive care due to costs than did white adults. 

§ In 2009, minority adults were less likely to report unmet need for care because of costs than were white, non-Hispanic adults. 

§ Disparities in emergency department use and in ratings of quality of care remain.
Two of three adults support Massachusetts health reform

§ Support for health reform remains high at 67.0 percent in fall 2009 across all populations.