graphic from Mass Budget and Policy Center

The latest census figures on health coverage are out, and the Mass Budget and Policy Center has the results:

Health insurance coverage in Massachusetts far surpasses coverage nationally and in all other states, detailed statistics released by the Census Bureau today confirm. These data, from the American Community Survey, are more detailed and precise than the estimates released earlier this month, and show that 96 percent of residents in the Commonwealth had health insurance coverage in 2010. Nationally, 85 percent of the population had health insurance coverage in 2010. Texas and Nevada show the poorest coverage, with only 76 and 77 percent coverage respectively.

Massachusetts also continues to lead the nation in the percent of children with health care coverage. In 2010, 98.5 percent of children in the Commonwealth had health insurance coverage. Nationally, 92 percent of children had health care coverage in 2010….

Health care coverage for adults tells a similar story, but the success in coverage of adults since the passage of health reform is dramatic. Massachusetts leads the nation in health care coverage for adults under age 65, with health care coverage rates at more than 95 percent. Only Vermont comes close to the Commonwealth, with coverage rates for adults close to 93 percent. Nationally, health care coverage for adults under age 65 is close to 78 percent, and ranges as low as 65 percent in Texas and 67 percent in Nevada. In 2010, Massachusetts also had among the highest rates of employer-based health insurance coverage – both for people who worked full time (86 percent) and for those who worked less than full-time (63 percent).

The ongoing success of reform in advancing coverage, despite the deep recession, is a tribute to the state and all of us who worked to pass and implement Chapter 58. As a friend would say, Yay us!
-Brian Rosman