Healthcare

The Successful Mandate in Massachusetts

In conjunction with the state's healthcare reform law, he health insurance mandate implemented by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts has been wildly successful. Here's Sarah Kliff:

Over the course of five years, insurance coverage in the state has increased, premiums have decreased and virtually everyone has abided by the new requirement. While public opinion is favorable - two-thirds of Massachusetts residents support the law - the state does face challenges ensuring that the law is affordable.

The state's expensive premiums have to do with a 1996 law that banned the denial of coverage for people with pre-existing conditions -- and, of course, that was passed without a mandate. Since the mandate, premiums have dropped. The mandate and pre-existing conditions are inseparable.

Strangely enough, Romney currently wants to keep the pre-existing conditions language of the ACA while repealing the mandate. Idiot. Regardless, the Supreme Court might beat him to the punch as early as Thursday.