Massachusetts Association of Health Plans President Pellegrini Issues Statement on Single Payer Health Care

BOSTON, Oct. 28 (TNSPol) -- Massachusetts Association of Health Plans issued the following statement by President and CEO Lora Pellegrini:

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Since the passage of our state's health care reform law in 2006, MAHP member health plans have worked tirelessly with lawmakers and state officials to expand health care access for Massachusetts residents. We are proud that almost 98 percent of our residents have health insurance coverage today, the highest percentage in the nation.

Mandating a one-size-fits-all, government-run health care system will eliminate health care options for patients and will dramatically increase taxes on residents and businesses across the Commonwealth. At a time when most Massachusetts residents have health insurance coverage, the single payer debate ignores our state's near universal coverage achievements and distracts from the critical work we must do to control health care costs for employers and consumers.

Across the country, single payer health care has been rejected by numerous states that have given it serious study. Vermont's single payer initiative failed because it would have required additional revenue of $2.8 billion to implement. Likewise, a RAND study found that New York would have to spend $139 billion to establish a single-payer program. The significant tax increases needed to support a single payer system would leave states uncompetitive, crippling economic growth and job creation. Nationally, a single payer health care system is estimated to cost $34 trillion in additional federal spending over its first decade in operation.

MAHP member plans are committed to making health care more affordable and we are proud of our commitment to our members and the communities we serve. We look forward to working with lawmakers and all stakeholders to further improve access to high quality health care while meaningfully bending the cost curve to make health care more affordable for residents of the Commonwealth.