In late 1999, tired of the cold and snow, I voyaged south to the Sunshine State. I figured lower wages were an acceptable trade off for good weather. I mean come on, no state income tax? Beats the hell out of Tax-a-chusetts right? It did for a while. Then the Massachusetts legislature did something real nice… They came up with a plan for more-or-less universal health coverage.
Under the Massachusetts plan, everyone in the state would be required to carry health insurance, much like auto insurance. Those who don’t will face a fine amounting to about half the cost of the cheapest available health insurance plan. Can’t afford it? Well, if you make less than the federal poverty limit, you only have to pay co-payments when you visit a doctor’s office. If you make up to three times the poverty limit, you qualify for state subsidized insurance plans. The idea in mind is to cap rates at a maximum of $200 - $250 per month for the most expensive plans. Employers who don’t offer insurance would be required to pay $300 per year per uninsured employee into the fund that subsidizes insurance for those who can’t afford it. And if you really just can’t get any insurance at all, there is always a waiver.
But here I am, destitute in Florida with no health coverage. Knowing Massachusetts is the most progressive state in the union, I probably should have just waited it out. Sure, I wouldn’t have had all the great weather, but global warming is at least accelerating.
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