03-30-2008, 07:02 PM
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Health insurance in MA
New to US and MA and I have been told that MA had a new health insurance law enforced a few years ago. Could anyone give me the real picture?
03-31-2008, 06:17 AM
Location: Sverige och USA
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The law basically forces every resident in Mass. to get health insurance. If you don't, you will be penalized through higher state taxes. Since your employer offers insurance, it won't really affect you. You may even be able to extend your coverage to your mom through your work insurance. This law mainly affects the 600,000 or so people with no insurance currently due to being too poor to afford it or feel that they don't need it because they are young and healthy.
04-02-2008, 02:13 AM
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Thanks ChunkyMonkey
04-02-2008, 04:23 AM
Location: Metrowest, MA
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Can't give you a number...
04-02-2008, 05:21 AM
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I know the cost of medical care is very low in India and so is the quality.
My question was about health insurance.
Let me rephrase,
I chose boston to live because MA is the only state that would offer
regular health insurance to a new immigrant 65+( mom) under its new law. And living anywhere in US with an unisured old parent with multiple medical problems would be potentially catastrophic.
I just wanted to know how high the health insurance costs for my mom would be and would it justify living in boston for that reason.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
smarty
Can't give you a number...
04-02-2008, 07:26 AM
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This site outlines plans available in MA (outside of employer provided plans)
Commonwealth Connector > Home
04-03-2008, 02:01 AM
Location: Sverige och USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
indian1
I read in one of the posts on this forum that boston is an expensive city and that one of the reasons is medical costs. Does that mean health insurance is very high?
I think Mass. is known as a high cost state mainly because of its high housing cost and relatively high taxes. However, it is also one of the wealthiest states because you earn more to compensate for the high standard of living. I don't think Mass. medical insurance is out of line especially since you get excellent care with some of the top research hospitals in the nation if not the world. The question is are you willing to pay more money for better care? High cost is all relative to where you are coming from. If you are from Europe, it is expensive since you don't pay for healthcare. However, you do pay much higher taxes.
The costs also depend on what plans are available from your employer. Most will give you a choice of plans. Some plans are cheaper than others but you don't get as much. For example, some plans force you to primary care physicians of their choice who then refer you to specialists. This often mean that you can't go to the doctor you like or one that is near your home as your primary care. Are you willing to pay more for this convenience and choice?
Costs can also be trimmed if you have a higher deductible. So, it is not a very easy issue to deal with as you have to decide what is right for you and what is worth it for your circumstance.
It is not a black and white issue. Lots of gray area and not to mention extremely confusing. Good luck!
04-03-2008, 12:03 PM
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FYI, According to US News and World Report MA has 3 of the 4 best insurance plans in the country -
Honor Roll - US News and World Report
11-10-2008, 12:55 PM
1 posts, read
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Reputation: 10
Enquiry
Hi, did you find any insurance for your mom? I am also planning to sponsor my mom's Green card and looking for all these things and she will also leave in Boston,MA.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Thanks
kbcusa
Quote:
Originally Posted by
indian1
I know the cost of medical care is very low in India and so is the quality.Let me rephrase,
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Median household income ($)
Median household income (% change since 2000)
Races - White alone (%)
Races - White alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Black alone (%)
Races - Black alone (% change since 2000)
Races - American Indian alone (%)
Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Asian alone (%)
Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Hispanic (%)
Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000)
Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%)
Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Two or more races (%)
Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000)
Races - Other race alone (%)
Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000)
Unemployment (%)
Unemployment (% change since 2000)
Population density (people per square mile)
Likely homosexual households (%)
Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000)
Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%)
Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000)
Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%)
Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000)
Median house or condo value ($)
Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000)
Median resident age
Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes)
Marital status - Never married (%)
Marital status - Now married (%)
Marital status - Separated (%)
Marital status - Widowed (%)
Marital status - Divorced (%)
Owner occupied housing units (%)
Renter occupied housing units (%)
Median gross rent ($)
Median contract rent ($)
Median monthly housing costs ($)
Population - Males (%)
Population - Females (%)
Median family income ($)
Median family income (% change since 2000)
Median non-family income ($)
Median non-family income (% change since 2000)
Median per capita income ($)
Median per capita income (% change since 2000)
Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%)
Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%)
Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%)
Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%)
Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%)
Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%)
Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%)
Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%)
Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%)
Average household size
Vacancy status - For rent (%)
Vacancy status - For sale only (%)
Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%)
Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%)
Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%)
Vacancy status - Other vacant (%)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($)
Household density (households per square mile)
Residents with income below the poverty level (%)
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%)
Children below poverty level (%)
Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%)
Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%)
Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%)
Poverty status for native-born residents (%)
Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%)
Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%)
Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%)
Ancestries Reported - Arab (%)
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Ancestries Reported - United States (%)
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Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Other (%)
Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%)
Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%)
Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%)
Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%)
Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%)
Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%)
Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%)
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School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%)
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School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%)
School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%)
School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%)
School Enrollment - College undergrad (%)
School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%)
School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%)
Houses owner occupied (%)
Houses renter occupied (%)
Houses occupied (%)
Median year house/condo built
Median year apartment built
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
Renter moved in on average (years ago)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
Median number of rooms in apartments
Mortgage status - with mortgage (%)
Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%)
Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%)
Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%)
Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%)
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%)
Average family size
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Households with one or more nonrelatives (%)
Households with no nonrelatives (%)
Population in households (%)
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Family households (%)
Nonfamily households (%)
Population in families (%)
Family households with own children (%)
Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%)
Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%)
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Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%)
Place of birth - Foreign born (%)
Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%)
Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%)
Housing units in structures - 2 (%)
Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%)
Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%)
Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%)
Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%)
Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%)
Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%)
Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%)
Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%)
Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%)
Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%)
Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%)
Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%)
Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%)
Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%)
Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%)
Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%)
Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%)
Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%)
Means of transportation to work - Walked (%)
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Working at home (%)
Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%)
Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%)
Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%)
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Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%)
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Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%)
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Common Occupations - Management, professional, and related occupations (%)
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Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%)
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Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%)
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Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations (%)
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Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers(%)
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Common Occupations - Production occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Transportation and material moving occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers(%)
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People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%)
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People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%)
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People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%)
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People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%)
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People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%)
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People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%)
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People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%)
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People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%)
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People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%)
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People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%)
People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%)
People in Group quarters - On base (%)
People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer) (%)
People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%)
People in Group quarters - Military ships (%)
People in Group quarters - Group homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%)
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People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%)
People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%)
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People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%)
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People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%)
Density of houses
Urban houses (%)
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Residents speaking English at home (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
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Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%)
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Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%)
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Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%)
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Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%)
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House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%)
Median household income ($) - White
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Unemployment (%) - White
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Unemployment (%) - Other
Median house or condo value ($) - White
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Population - Males (%) - White
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Population - Females (%) - Black or African American
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Population - Females (%) - Multirace
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Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%)
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Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($)
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Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other
Median resident age - Males
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Median resident age - Multirace
Median resident age - Other
Median resident age - Males - White
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Median resident age - Males - Multirace
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Average household size - White
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Average household size - Other
Average family size - White
Average family size - Black or African American
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Average family size - Hispanic or Latino
Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native
Average family size - Multirace
Average family size - Other
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