title: Coverage, access, and affordability under health reform: learning from the Massachusetts model.
abstract: While the impacts of the Affordable Care Act will vary across the states given their different circumstances, Massachusetts' 2006 reform initiative, the template for national reform, provides a preview of the potential gains in insurance coverage, access to and use of care, and health care affordability for the rest of the nation. Under reform, uninsurance in Massachusetts dropped by more than 50%, due, in part, to an increase in employer-sponsored coverage. Gains in health care access and affordability were widespread, including a 28% decline in unmet need for doctor care and a 38% decline in high out-of-pocket costs.
authors.affiliation: Urban Institute, 2100 M St. N.W, Washington, DC 20037, USA. SLong@urban.org
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stockley
authors.forename: Kate Willrich
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Nordahl
mesh_terms: D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data