The Massachusetts Universal Health Coverage Law

This morning Governor Romney signed into law a highly publicized Massachusetts bill aimed at providing nearly universal health insurance coverage for the state’s residents by July 1, 2007 (the “MA UHC Law”). The new law mandates that all residents obtain health insurance coverage individually, through various free or subsidized state programs, or from an employer-sponsored plan. It also permits portability of insurance under certain circumstances as individuals move from job to job. Today’s new law covers all employers except those with 10 or fewer employees.