Massachusetts Commonwealth Care, the health insurance program for low-income residents, many considered a success. By the end of 2007, there were roughly 170,000 people enrolled in the state-subsidized care — and enrollment is only expected to increase, reported the Boston Globe.
But the state only planned for around 140,000 enrollees. Now, the costs of the program are skyrocketing, wrote the Globe.
To keep the program funded, budget officers and state officials are thinking about raising the premiums and copayments for the state plan.
The proposal would raise premiums $5, $10, or $15 a month based on income. Copayments for doctor’s visits and prescription drugs could go up by $5 or $10.
The premiums increases would affect those who earn more than 150 percent of federal poverty level. Copayments would be upped for anyone making more than the poverty level. All in all, the rate increases would affect about half of those currently covered.
Critics of the proposal say it would price many people out of Commonwealth Care coverage. But the program might collapse under the weight of the rising costs, contend state officials.
Increasing rates could also discourage employers from dropping private health insurance and pushing more people on the state coverage.
“If we’re not only trying to insure the uninsured, but insure the previously insured, that’s going to blow the doors off, ” said Leslie Kirwan, head budget officer and chairperson of the board overseeing Commonwealth Care.