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by Charlie Baker

There’s a lot of health care reform talk in DC about having some kind of national health exchange or connector to facilitate the purchase of health insurance.  This exchange - as yet undefined - is presumed to be modeled on the Massachusetts Connector, and will provide individuals - and maybe small businesses(?) - with access to health insurance products from many different health plans in understandable formats at reasonable prices.  In theory, this exchange will define what a minimum benefits plan should look like, and support the purchase of health insurance by making lots of products available to people who currently have trouble accessing health insurance coverage in the individual - and small group(?) - market.

I remember when this was first being discussed in Massachusetts.  The idea at the time was more affordable options and more choices - and a government middleman of sorts that would serve as a health benefits cafeteria for individuals and employees of small businesses.  At the time, some people  were concerned about the Connector becoming just another regulatory body - putting forth new regulations and requirements, and for all intents and purposes, re-designing the regulatory apparatus of the individual and small group health insurance market.  Supporters said “no” - it would serve primarily as a facilitator - providing access to and supporting the purchase of health insurance for individuals and small businesses.

Three years later, I would describe the Connector Authority’s record in this regard as a mixed bag.  On the one hand, there’s no disputing its success in putting up and managing the state’s subsidized coverage program - also known as “Commonwealth Care.”  That program, which has almost 200,000 enrollees, went up in no time and operates as a step up for low income working people who don’t qualify for Medicaid, but either can’t access coverage where they work, or qualify for some state support to make the premium payment math work.  Bravo.

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