Mass. Premiums Highest In Nation
Health insurance premiums in Massachusetts are nearly double the national average, according to a report by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
The study considered premiums in the individual insurance market in 2010. It found that the national average premium per person was $215 per month while the Massachusetts average was $437, the highest in any state.
The figures represent an average of premiums for both children and adults.
The foundation said factors influencing the numbers include health care costs, state demographics, what benefits are offered, and deductible and co-payment levels. It said the price paid for insurance may be offset by higher patient cost sharing in some states.
The study also said states that have changed insurance requirements to mandate coverage of people with pre-existing conditions, including Massachusetts, may have higher premium levels.
The report said nationwide standards set by federal health care legislation are likely to narrow the gaps among states.
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