There are over half a million Massachusetts residents who are uninsured, but the potential to solve this problem is still within reach. Unlike the majority of states, Massachusetts has a generous safety net as a starting point, and popular opinion supports the focus of legislative, government and health care leaders on solving the problem now.

Seventy-five percent of Massachusetts residents agree that "people who are unemployed and poor should be able to get the same amount and quality of medical services as people who have good jobs and are paying substantial taxes." Blendon et al, The Uninsured in Massachusetts: An Opportunity for Leadership, (October 21, 2003).

Facts about the Uninsured:
Nearly 75% of the uninsured are from low- and moderate-income families.
80% of the uninsured are adults.
Nearly 90% of the uninsured come from working families.
For more facts about the uninsured, please see the chartbook: Health Insurance Coverage and the Uninsured in Massachusetts. (PDF 2.3mb)


For additional sources of research on the uninsured as well as information on developing state and federal policy, please see LINKS and RESOURCES.