A majority of Massachusetts residents enrolled in the state's mandated health insurance programs rely on tax subsidies, a report issued Tuesday said.

Four out of five of the newly insured are counting on taxpayer subsidies to pay their premiums, Health Care News reported.

Of the 293,000 recently covered -- which cut the number of uninsured in the state by half -- many are paying a modest amount or no premium at all, the report said.

The political promise, to have coverage as good as members of Congress have would cost a family of four $23,000 a year, Health Care News reported.

Recent surveys suggest that 59 percent of U.S. adults would agree to health insurance mandates if employers were required to provide coverage, the report said.

But, when asked if insurance should be mandated without mentioning government help, employer contributions or insurance company requirements, the number drops to 47 percent, the report said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International


Publication date: 13 May 2008   

Source: UPI-1-20080513-15024000-bc-us-insurance-mass.xml

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