Health Insurance Saves Lives

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine by Benjamin Sommers, Sharon Long, and Katherine Baicker concludes that the 2006 Massachusetts health insurance reform reduced overall mortality by 2.9 percent over four years, and mortality amenable to health care by 4.5 percent.  The implication is that the Affordable Care Act will achieve similar results.  Fewer deaths isn't the only measure of success, but it is reasonable to suggest overall healthcare would improve with expanded coverage.

It remains inexplicable to me why states have opted out of Medicaid expansion and why the Supreme Court allowed that to happen.