Massachusetts Launches Plan for Nearly Universal Health Coverage

Massachusetts has undertaken a plan to achieve nearly universal health coverage in an effort that many people in other states hope will serve as a model for the nation.

The state's officials are tackling the challenge of creating a viable market in affordable insurance policies, so that businesses and individuals will buy the coverage mandated by the bill passed by the legislature on Apr. 10.

State officials say they hope insurers will offer plans that cost only a couple of hundred dollars under the new the new program. No such individual policy exists today.

"Conceptually, this is historic, breakthrough legislation," said Ronald F. Pollack, the executive director of Families USA, a liberal advocacy group in Wahsington. "Now we have to look at the implementation to see, in practice, it is as significant a breakthrough."

Companies that do not offer health insurance to their employees will be required to pay a $295-a-year fee for each worker, and individuals will face tax penalties if they choose not to buy insurance.

The rationale for forcing even healthy people into the plan is to keep premiums lower for everyone.

State officials say they believe individuals will be able to pay a little more than $200 a month, or $2,400 a year.

Today, individuals must pay about $600 a month for a single-person plan and $1,000 or more for a family.

Republican Gov. Mitt Romney is expected to sign the legislation into law.