Final Paper Outline

Polemic Assignment - Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law

I. History/General Overview

a. Before the bill was passed
i. # of uninsured
ii. health insurance system
iii. cost to care for the uninsured
b. The Statute (Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006)
i. Individual mandate
ii. Employer mandate
iii. Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority
iv. Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program
c. After the statute (now)
i. # of uninsured
ii. statistics on businesses who choose not to provide health insurance still
iii. statistics on individuals who choose to remain uninsured

II. Specific Question

a. Whether or not the new health care law will work
i. Costs
ii. Universal coverage
iii. Surviving through an economic crisis
b. MA vs. other states or the nation
i. Can this plan be implemented in other states?
ii. Can this plan be implemented in the US as a national plan?
c. Thesis
i. Effective law; remain the same
ii. Implement in states with similar health care system and percentage of uninsured as MA
iii. Would not work as a national plan

III. Arguments against Chapter 58

a. Government takeover
b. Limited market
i. Not many insurance providers to choose from
c. Overgenerous subsidies
i. Gives too much to the lower class
ii. Bankrupting the middle class
d. Rising costs of health care
i. Making people pay more (increasing non-compliance)
ii. Increasing burden on businesses


IV. Arguments in favor of Chapter 58

a. # of uninsured has dropped dramatically
b. Accessibility
i. Easier to access health insurance (employer or individual)
c. Portability
i. Able to take from job to job
ii. Able to combine insurance for people with multiple jobs
d. Money saver
i. Less paid towards hospitals for care of uninsured
ii. Competition lowers costs