Spending on Massachusetts Healthcare Law Much Lower Than Predicted

Massachusetts has spent just $91 million more a year to cover the uninsured since its health coverage law was passed in 2006, according to a report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation reported in Kaiser Health News.

According to the report, the sum amounts to 1.4 percent of the state budget — a "very tiny additional cost to taxpayers for huge benefits," according to Michael Widmer, president of the MTF.

Massachusetts was already spending around $1 billion per year on care for uninsured residents who received free care at hospitals and clinics before the law was passed. Much of that money now funds free and subsidized healthcare coverage for low- and moderate-income residents.

This data comes in opposition to the numbers presented by critics of the law. Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum said during a primary debate in January that the law would cost $8 billion more than the previous law.

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