The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) Foundation released a new report by the Urban Institute that analyzes medical care provided to the uninsured – estimated to be 450,000 - 650,000 of Massachusetts residents.

Major findings include:

• In 2004, hospitals, community health centers and physicians provided $1.1 billion in medical care to uninsured patients in the state.
• The annual cost of the medical care the uninsured receive would be equivalent to between $374 and $539 million, if they had access to health coverage.
• This expanded coverage could result in economic and social benefits of $1.2 to $1.7 billion due to improved health; this figure would exceed the incremental medical costs of the coverage by a ratio of 3:1.

Read the full report or the news release.
"Caring for the Uninsured in Massachusetts: What Does it Cost, Who Pays and What Would Full Coverage Add to Medical Spending?" November, 2004.

For more Public Health data and information, please visit the Boston Indicators Report Public Health home page.