1,448 bytes added
, 18:56, December 29, 2006
The Massachusetts plan is a health care law that requires residents of that state to purchase health insurance by July 1, 2007, or else pay a tax penalty. Massachusetts funds the costs for those who cannot afford to purchase the health insurance. Massachusetts is in a better position than most states to pass this type of law because Massachusetts has a billion-dollar fund from tobacco settlements available to defray the costs, and also has fewer uninsured (10%) than the national average (18%). 46 million Americans do not own health insurance nationwide.
In 2007, these states are expected to try to pass similar laws: California, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado and New Mexico, and also the District of Columbia. In 2006 Vermont and Maine are pursuing similar laws already.
This approach of the state requiring its residents to purchase a type of product is contrary to free enterprise. Many people choose "self-insurance" voluntarily, and forcing them to buy a product they do not want is both unusual and probably unhelpful to the economy. Even car insurance, which many people think is mandatory, has exemptions for self-insurance and sometimes religious belief in most states. Also, car insurance laws are justified to protect innocent third parties victimized by accidents, not to protect the owner of the insurance.<ref>http://www.jpands.org/vol11no3/schlafly.pdf</ref>
'''Sources:''' <references/>