How would passing the Health Care reform bill effect MA.?

[Motown_Johnny]

The MSM has been saying that one of the problems in the MA. Senate race is that they already have health care reform there and don't want a tax increase to pay for other states to receive what they already have (gross oversimplification, I know).



My question is,


Are there positives in the Federal Health Care Reform Bill for MA.?

Lower state taxes maybe? If the Federal plan is passed might this remove some of the stress from the state?


Is there anything positive to tell MA. voters about health care reform?

[cap]

1. health care in MA is still very expensive

we had BCBS of MA through my old employer and we were paying about $1000/month . I went on COBRA and we were paying $1700/month for man and wife. Fortunately, my husband switched jobs and we got a good policy from his NY based Fortune 500 company for $200/month.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. So, can the federal bill be presented as a positive to MA voters?

From what I have seen it seems to be perceived as a negative.

[subterranean]

3. That's a very good question.

I don't know the answer, but it seems to me that if the Federal insurance subsidies are more generous than the ones currently provided by Massachusetts, it could remove some of that financial burden from the state. If health insurance reform has any positives for Massachusetts residents, Martha Coakley should be touting them (and maybe she is, for all I know; I'm not there).

[dkf]

4. Since there are high costs I imagine the odds of running into the Cadillac tax are high?

[cap]

5. if we had kids, we would have been paying $2300/month

very close to Cadillac tax ... just because we were picking up on the employer's share of health care.