Well, the numbers are finally in. And no, I'm not referring to delegate counts — I'll be making no decisions today.
The Washington Post, among others, reports today that a new study from the Urban Institute indicates Massachusetts managed to slash its rolls of uninsured nearly in half.
The non-partisan think tank announced that the state's uninsured fell from about 13 percent to roughly 7 percent in the first year after the controversial health care mandate kicked off two years ago.
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The report also reveals that more of the state's residents are receiving treatment — including preventative care — while paying less out-of-pocket costs.
Great news, right? Best of both worlds, huh?
Not so fast. Not surprisingly, the taxpayer-costs are already at least a third higher than lawmakers originally anticipated. In fact, some estimate the costs could climb to $1 billion total.
And at least 86,000 residents face fines for failing to sign up for coverage.
It's been a noble, if costly, enterprise in Massachusetts. But as we trudge into the general election campaign, where we expect to hear plenty about health care and insurance over the next five months, it's an experiment we need to keep in mind as we hear more about these issues.
Because, last time I checked, taxes are out-of-pocket costs, too.
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