In 2006, Massachusetts enacted a law requiring all Massachusetts residents to have health insurance. At the time the law was passed, there were about 500,000 uninsured residents who would be required to buy health insurance. Low-income residents’ insurance would be paid for or subsidized by the state. The law required all residents to obtain health insurance by July 1, 2007. Those who did not comply with the law would face financial penalties. The Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Board has proposed basic coverage that must provide benefits for hospitalization, primary care, emergency services, and mental health services, and has no limit on coverage per sickness, number of years, or lifetime benefits. Deductibles are capped at $2,000 for in-network care for an individual. At least three preventive-care doctor office visits are required before the deductible takes effect. Plans currently include prescription drug coverage and have a separate maximum deductible of $250 per individual. Insurance companies developed plans that include all the minimum requirements and that cost about $380 per month per person. The estimated cost of the plans to the state is about $1 billion to $1.5 billion.

Is it likely that the health care costs incurred by the State of Massachusetts will be about the same?