The goal of universal health care coverage may be realized in Massachusetts thanks to analysis and policy recommendations by an Urban Institute research team. Commissioned by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, we calculated how much was currently being spent on the uninsured and developed several proposals for reform. The state legislature hammered out a bill in spring 2006 drawing, in part, on our policy options, and the governor signed it.

Photo: Miles Middlebrook

In California, another research team is evaluating Healthy Kids Initiatives in three counties that extend health coverage to uninsured, largely undocumented Hispanic children in families that don't qualify for Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Early results from surveys of enrollees' parents reveal that the initiative is boosting children's access to primary care.

A project concluded in 2006 found that premium increases in SCHIP reduced enrollment—at least temporarily—in several states. Further, higher premiums may not generate large savings to states because of the federal matching rate.

Why Do People Lack Health Insurance?, a brief prepared for Cover the Uninsured Week—a nonpartisan effort to promote health insurance for all Americans—examined why 46 million people have no health coverage. Virtually all the uninsured want insurance coverage, but over half say the high cost of coverage is the reason they are uninsured. This timely study was cited in the Washington Post, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Daily Herald, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, and many other papers.

We also estimated what it costs to care for New Yorkers who lack insurance: $2.8 billion, based on cost reports and physician surveys. But, the study also found that there was $3.5 billion in various programs designed to finance care for the uninsured. Some of this money, it is argued, helps hospitals offset low Medicaid payments.

Center Staff
Center Publications