Rising Health Care Costs in Massachusetts: What It Means for Consumers

This report analyze several factors that help explain why health care affordability continues to be a challenge in Massachusetts, even after achieving near universal health insurance coverage. Beginning with an analysis of data largely collected through the Massachusetts Health Reform Survey (MHRS), the report provides an overview of the factors influencing health care affordability and summarizes the financial and access to care consequences for consumers struggling with health care costs. The remainder of the report is devoted to sharing the personal stories of four individuals in Massachusetts who have experienced first-hand the challenges and consequences of unmanageable health care costs.