President Obama’s call for a new law requiring Americans to carry health insurance or face penalties would be a radical change for most of the country. But in Massachusetts, mandatory health insurance has been in place for 2 1/2 years.
The program, a component of a universal coverage plan devised by former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, requires everyone over the age of 18 to carry insurance or pay a fine of more than $1,000 a year. Those who earn up to three times the federal poverty level — $66,150 for a family of four — are given access to a state-subsidized program with reduced or nonexistent premiums depending on need.
In the beginning, medical and insurance providers liked the new customers and broader pool to spread out risk. Liberals were happy to have government guarantee health care for every resident.
More than 425,000 people have signed up for the program, leaving fewer than 3 percent of state residents without coverage, compared to 13 percent nationwide.
But the Romney plan has turned into a crushing financial weight. Massachusetts will spend nearly $600 million on health insurance this year, 42 percent more than in 2006. There are rising concerns about covering illegal immigrants and unnecessary procedures performed by fee-seeking doctors.
The spiraling costs from new benefits have forced Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick and the Democratic legislature to curtail coverage and consider further cuts amid a brutal budget season.
