Study Reveals Health Insurance Coverage Rates in Massachusetts Holding Steady at More Than 97%

With continued success of health care reform, Massachusetts again leads nation in coverage rates

BOSTON — The Patrick-Murray Administration announced today that more than 97 percent of Massachusetts residents have health insurance, demonstrating the ongoing success of health care reform in the Commonwealth. According to the state’s annual household survey on health insurance, only 2.7 percent of state residents remain uninsured. Nearly ever major demographic group is within a few percentage points of universal coverage.

"Health care reform is working in Massachusetts," said Governor Deval Patrick. "With more than 97% of our individuals and families enjoying the benefits of affordable, reliable coverage, we are leading the nation."

The report, Health Insurance Coverage in Massachusetts: Results from the 2008 and 2009 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey, shows that only about 171,000 people did not have coverage at the time of the survey, which was conducted between March and June 2009. The study, which is required annually by the Legislature as part of the Chapter 58 health care reform law, shows that Massachusetts has continued to keep its uninsurance rates steady at the lowest rate in the country.

“In just three years, Massachusetts’ achievements in health care reform have been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “With employers, government and individuals all sharing the responsibility of reform, we continue to have the highest insurance rate in the nation. The Massachusetts model may not be exactly the right fit for every state to achieve 97 percent coverage, but our success here demonstrates the impact that meaningful reform can have on improving access to care.”

Sarah Iselin, Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy added, “In addition to achieving near-universal coverage in Massachusetts, public support for our reforms continues to be strong. Moving forward, we are focused on containing the rising costs of health care so that we can sustain the progress we have made.”

The study, conducted by the independent Urban Institute on behalf of the state’s Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, indicates that insurance coverage is very strong for Massachusetts residents at all income levels, ranging from 95 percent for those with family income under 300 percent of the federal poverty level to over 99 percent of those with income above 500 percent of the federal poverty level.

The survey results show that nearly all elderly adults (>99 percent) and children (>98 percent) are insured, as are more than 96 percent of non-elderly adults ages 19 to 64. Looking more closely at the non-elderly adults who are most likely to be uninsured, the survey shows uninsurance is highest among Hispanic residents at 5.1 percent. In contrast, the uninsurance rate for white, non-Hispanic residents is less than three percent.

Seventy-seven percent of survey respondents said they are aware of the individual mandate under Massachusetts’ health care reform initiative, which requires that most adults obtain insurance. In addition, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they support health reform in Massachusetts, up from 64 percent in 2006.

The survey, which was available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, was completed by 4,910 households. The margin of error for these estimates is less than +/-1.54 percentage points. The full report, Health Insurance Coverage in Massachusetts: Results from the 2008 and 2009 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey, is available online at www.mass.gov/dhcfp.

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