Talk Radio Lies

OMG what lies! Laura Ingraham show, interview w/ Betsy McCoy. McCoy claims Massachusetts' healthcare reform (Mitt Romney's plan) has resulted in causing ppl to pay more for coverage than they would've, that premiums are highest in the nation, and that it is an unpopular and disasterous plan.

As a resident of Massachusetts, I can say after several years of this plan, there just isn't any of this dissatisfaction. In fact, the HR director of my company loves it because it has fostered competition among insurers - keeping rising health care premiums in check, well below what they would've been.

Also, I've not heard a single complaint about the system from my friends, family and coworkers. I know some rather wealthy people, many middle class, lots of young adults struggling to survive - not one of them has ever complained about this system.

Also, in terms of MA having the highest premiums - that is true enough. I've found plenty of online references indicating that MA has been at or near the top of states with the highest premiums. BUT - and this is SIGNIFICANT for McCoy's argument - this situation has existed PRIOR to MA healthcare reform in 2006. I found, for example, a reference indicating the Northeast had the highest rates nationwide in the year 2004. Another shows MA at the top in 2003.

So - it was not, as McCoy's statements implied, the enactment of healthcare reform in MA that put our premiums on top. That problem existed previously.

Furthermore - one could argue that the reform didn't do anything to reduce rates. But the plan wasn't so much about reducing rates as it was to provide coverage for all residents. Its primary goal was not to reduce premiums. However, this was a secondary goal - but the plan has only 2 years in place (2007, 2008) for which statistics exist, and this is perhaps not enough time to see significant results.

The anecdotal evidence, however, is there - for example, my HR director's very enthusiastic support for the plan and direct observation that it has fostered competition and kept rates lower than they would've been w/o the plan.