2007 Comprehensive Health Care Reforms: Side-by-Side Comparisons

The number of people without health insurance has increased over the last 10 years--reaching 46.1 million nonelderly people in 2005, and the number of employers offering insurance to their employees is in decline. In 2000, 66% of non-elderly Americans were insured through the workplace, but by 2004 only 61% were covered by employer sponsored insurance. These trends coupled with improved fiscal conditions in the states and no comprehensive federal reforms created an opportunity for states to lead the way in health care reform.

Health reform is hot in legislatures across the nation. More than 10 states have comprehensive health care reforms bills or proposals under review, it is expected more states will follow. Several additional states have established committees to study health reform.

Massachusetts and Vermont passed laws in 2006 to achieve universal (or nearly universal) coverage as well as to address cost and quality. The new program in Massachusetts requires most people to have health insurance by July 2007. Vermont’s law, which includes access to subsidized or lower cost insurance, relies on voluntary participation.

Many of the 2007 legislative bills and governor / state commissions proposals have similar components. For readability and printability, we have broken our comparison chart into three relevant areas: Market Reforms, Subsidized Health Insurance, and Employer Assessments;Wellness Initiatives, Disease Management, and Quality Initiatives; and Medicaid Expansions.

Below are links to side-by-side comparisons of features of select bills and executive proposals currently being considered in the states.

Market Reforms, Subsidized Health Insurance, and Employer Assessments
Wellness Initiatives, Disease Management, and Quality Initiatives
Medicaid Expansions

NCSL Access to Healthcare and The Uninsured