Clark Howard's Tips

Massachusetts health care law gets better

April 13, 2006

Clark talked recently about the new law in Massachusetts that requires everyone in the state to have health insurance.

Well, the legislation has been made even stronger because the governor used the "line item veto" power to keep the system in the hands of individuals, not corporations.

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Yes, the government plays a role, but that is okay in Clark's opinion. That's because if everyone has to have insurance, people who pay don't have to cover for the people who don't.

So Massachusetts has offered insurers a giant health market to sell to and has made it more clear what must be covered.

Who knows if it's going to work, but it's a great start in the right direction. Lower-income people who normally wouldn't be able to afford insurance are subsidized by the government so they can afford it.

Still, the responsibility of payment and what coverage you want comes down to the individual. And that is what people in all states need to be doing.

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