Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Massachusetts Cuts Back on Health Coverage to Immigrant

Massachusetts's state health insurance is often put forward as a model of the national health care reform President Barack Obama is proposing for the nation. The program is the closest thing to universal coverage -- all but 2.7% of the population -- and includes legal immigrants. While there are some limits to immigrants' coverage, the benefits are rather generous. Now, because of the recession and a state budget deficit, Governor Deval Patrick proposes to cut some benefits, such as dental or hospice care. Immigrant will still qualify for a rather good basic package, but the reorganization will create such hardships as changing doctors. (See New York Times article.)

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