News
Policy Points: Takeaways from the 2026 Medicaid Summit
1+ hour, 49+ min ago (810+ words) Common Wealth Beacon MASSHEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE LESS than seven months to prepare for federal upheaval, as eligibility changes and work requirements reshape how and whether low-income residents can access public insurance. As the agency navigates how to minimize coverage losses,…...
Health insurers seek double-digit premium hikes on small businesses, again
2+ week, 5+ day ago (746+ words) by Chris Lisinski, Common Wealth Beacon May 22, 2026 HEALTH INSURERS are once again asking small businesses to shoulder hefty premium hikes, tightening the vise of the affordability debate that's consumed state government heading into election season. Insurers collectively want to increase…...
Chapter 58 has made health care unaffordable for families and small businesses
2+ mon, 3+ day ago (529+ words) by Jeffrey Gold and Jon Hurst, Common Wealth Beacon April 8, 2026 THIS MONTH MARKS the 20th anniversary of the Massachusetts health care reform law, Chapter 58, which became the model for the federal Affordable Care Act enacted four years later. The goal of…...
The Massachusetts Health Connector has been a resilient " and flexible -- foundation for a bold experiment
2+ mon, 3+ day ago (419+ words) by Audrey Morse Gasteier, Common Wealth Beacon April 8, 2026 TWENTY YEARS AGO this month, Massachusetts set out to tackle one of the most vexing health care policy challenges of its time " the problem of the uninsured. A solution to the problem…...
Regulating insurance as health care costs surge
4+ mon, 2+ day ago (290+ words) You are free to republish the text of this article both online and in print. We ask that you follow some simple guidelines: by Common Wealth Beacon staff, Common Wealth Beacon February 9, 2026 MANY PEOPLE TRYING to get health care services…...
Report: Health insurers denied one in five claims in 2024
4+ mon, 6+ day ago (613+ words) Commercial insurers denied roughly one out of every five claims submitted in 2024, with administrative issues driving a large chunk of those blocked coverage requests, according to a new analysis from state health policy officials. Out of 45. 9 million total claims in…...
Growing health care pressure drives up spending in Healey's annual budget
4+ mon, 2+ week ago (1010+ words) You are free to republish the text of this article both online and in print. We ask that you follow some simple guidelines: by Chris Lisinski, Common Wealth Beacon January 28, 2026 HEALEY BUDGET CHIEF Matt Gorzkowicz had a split-second answer ready…...