Can This Be True?

For several years, Barbara and I have been covered by Swiss medical insurance. It seems that after a law was passed, we had to do this in order to remain here. Our insurance in Britain was no longer acceptable.

In CH, there is universal health insurance coverage for all persons. All insurance companies in CH have to accept you for the obligatory coverage, no matter what, and this coverage cannot be cancelled, even for non-payment of premiums. If a single person has less than 15,000 CHF income, their premiums are paid by the kanton. I am sure that there is sliding scale for man and wife, couples with children, etc., but I have no reason to know what exactly.

That means that every patient has insurance. The coverage can vary, if you want more bells and whistles, but the basic policy remains the same. For instance, Barbara and I have the highest deductible allowed. We are also covered outside the country (in the USA paid at double the benefits for 6 weeks). If we can't get back to CH in 6 weeks, it likely won't matter for us.

Now, I read about the Massachusetts legislature passing what seems to be the same universal coverage law. Other states are looking at it closely too. Below are the main points taken from the Providence Journal newspaper.
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Key provisions of the Massachusetts health care plan

01:00 AM EDT on Monday, April 10, 2006

As of July 1, 2007, all residents over age 18 must obtain health insurance or face financial penalties. Individuals for whom there is not affordable coverage will not be penalized.

Employers with 11 or more employees who do not provide health insurance will pay $295 per full-time employee per year. Employers will also pay a surcharge to the state if their uninsured employees repeatedly use free care.

Young adults can stay on their parents' insurance plans for two years past the loss of their dependent status or until they turn 25, whichever comes first. People ages 19 to 26 will be eligible for lower-cost, specially designed insurance products.

The state will subsidize health insurance for people who earn less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, with premiums on a sliding scale. The insurance will have no deductibles. People with incomes below 100 percent of the poverty line won't pay premiums.

Children with family incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for Medicaid. Providers will receive rate increases from Medicaid.

A Health Insurance Connector Authority will certify new, lower-cost health-insurance plans that meet its quality standards. Small businesses and individuals will be able to buy these plans with pretax dollars. Individuals can take their insurance with them when they change jobs.

The small group and individual health-insurance markets will be merged, reducing premiums by an estimated 25 percent.

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This seems to make good sense to me. I just have to ask what are the objections by anyone? Why did it take so long?