title: Have working-age people with disabilities shared in the gains of Massachusetts health reform?
abstract: The Massachusetts health reform, implemented in 2006 and 2007, reduced the uninsurance rate for working-age people with disabilities by nearly half Enrollment in Medicaid and subsidized insurance accounted for most of the gain in insurance coverage. The reduction in uninsurance was greatest among younger adults. The reform also reduced cost-related problems obtaining care; however, cost remains an obstacle, particularly among young adults with disabilities. The Massachusetts outcomes demonstrate that insurance subsidies, Medicaid expansions for low-income adults, individual insurance mandates, and enrollment initiatives can lead to substantial reductions in uninsurance and cost-related problems obtaining care among working-age people with disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewisbury 01545-2732, USA. Jack.Gettens@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gettens
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Alexis D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Himmelstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States