Universal Health Insurance in Massachusetts:

The Massachusetts Health Security Act is the first universal-access financing legislation in the country, and sets a precedent for providing health coverage for the 600,000 uninsured in the state. The bill is the product of prolonged negotiation among hospitals, business interests, insurers, and advocates of universal access, who debated the extent of benefits, the cost of care, and the system which will monitor and regulate its provision. While the bill represents an important first step in addressing the service requirements of the uninsured, it falls short of meeting the needs of the underinsured, for example, elderly persons unable to afford Medex insurance to supplement Medicare coverage. The article reviews the points of negotiation which led to adoption of the bill.