Would like the story on healthcare in MA (Boston: health insurance, home)

[lookinforhorseparadise]

Hello, I am a disabled chronically ill person who can not afford private health insurance where I live now. I am considering moving to MA because I am told I would receive free health care and prescriptions there with no waiting period.
Is this the real deal?
What are the drawbacks to the allegedly free health plans?
I can't drive so I would need to know where to live that would have the following:
easy access to medical specialists
safety (not willing to live in an especially dangerous neighborhood)
culture
cabs, buses, walkability
Would I have to live in Boston for the above or is there a cheaper option?
Thanks
PS I am under my old login "lookinforhorseparadise" I am no longer looking for horse paradise, due to the disabilities I had to sell my horse

[theh]

If you make under a certain amount a year or are unemployed, you would qualify for free healthcare. Otherwise you need to pay a small stipend according to your income, and you can't make more than $32k (or something around that--I forget the exact cut-off). Coverage is decent. There aren't really any drawbacks other than their customer service is a complete joke. But isn't that everywhere?

[LeavingMA]

Healthcare will be cheaper in safer areas and outside of cities. Please beware that MA's healthcare is quite expensive if you have to purchase it.

Also, there is no such thing as free health care. If still has to be paid for through taxes. Someone still has to pay for it. The cost of healthcare is getting inflated enough for the people who do have to pay for their insurance.

[ThinkingThinking]

If you want free healthcare, you still have to move to Canada. (yes yes, taxes pay for it, etc.)

[houstoner]

This link should help answer some of your questions.

Health Care Programs in Massachusetts

[lookinforhorseparadise]

Thanks, I can understand the bitterness you may feel about your hard earned tax dollars going to pay for health care for someone else....Believe me, I would much rather be able to work and pay to help someone else than to be disabled and in need of charity. I worked hard my whole life and had a great job. I paid a lot of taxes. Through no fault of my own I became disabled. I have lost the ability to work or drive a car. I had to sell my beloved horse and move out of the town I called home for many years. Every day I live with chronic pain and illness. So please think about this before you judge. I never expected to be disabled at age 42. It can happen to anyone.

[theh]

Actually, less tax dollars are used now that the emergency rooms are no longer flooded with uninsured patients who have no way of paying their medical bills and can't legally be left to die.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by lookinforhorseparadise

Thanks, I can understand the bitterness you may feel about your hard earned tax dollars going to pay for health care for someone else....Believe me, I would much rather be able to work and pay to help someone else than to be disabled and in need of charity. I worked hard my whole life and had a great job. I paid a lot of taxes. Through no fault of my own I became disabled. I have lost the ability to work or drive a car. I had to sell my beloved horse and move out of the town I called home for many years. Every day I live with chronic pain and illness. So please think about this before you judge. I never expected to be disabled at age 42. It can happen to anyone.

I agree with you 100% and you deserve health insurance. What bothers me (and I'm sure many others) is that you lived in a state where you paid your taxes and were a contributing member of society but you are being forced to relocate somewhere else and sorry, but the reality is your only choice is to become a burden on the taxpayers of that place.

It's not fair to you and not fair for the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.

Most people will not begrudge you and I am one of them. Best wishes to you on your move and welcome to the Bay State.

[acentre]

I am planning to retire to Western MA in order to benefit from the less expensive health care premiums and property taxes than NY.
I will have less than $40k income for a married couple. What would be the premiums for my income and what typically are the property taxes on a $150,000 home in Western MA.

[FutureSoxFan?]

Here's a word of caution: Before you all start rushing here for the "free/cheap" health care, please realize that "low cost health care" translates to "doctors leaving the state due to low payments." This has led to a significant physician shortage, and MA has one of the worst waiting times in the country to see a primary care physician, and specialty visits are not much better. The wait for doctor visits is months in most cases, especially once you get out of the medically-saturated Boston area. Western Mass, which one poster was considering moving to, is particularly bad in this regard; there are few physicians there to begin with and the numbers are shrinking.

While all those people crowding the ERs may now have insurance, there are just as many, if not more of them, there than before because they can't get in to see an outpatient physician despite having insurance.

Think before you move. Low insurance payments aren't much good if you can't get care in a timely fashion.