MA may achieve complete healthcare coverage

Massachusetts continues to inch toward 100 percent of residents having healthcare coverage, according to the state's latest numbers.

A recent report from the Center for Health Information and Analysis in Massachusetts noted more than 215,000 residents signed up for health insurance benefits during the last open enrollment period, which resulted in the state achieving more than 99 percent of residents with health insurance. However, NPR reported issues with the state's health insurance exchange website during the open enrollment period still cause many to be concerned about health insurance coverage in the state. According to NPR, there remains a backlog of applications needing to be processed, so many of those who did purchase health plans have not finished their enrollment because they have yet to pay their premiums and are on temporary coverage plans because of it.

Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, said ensuring those on temporary plans have permanent coverage will be important to the state achieving complete healthcare coverage.

"The real challenge is going to be to move these folks from the temporary coverage into the permanent coverage where they belong, and then see if we're able to retain these numbers," Pellegrini said.