June 28, 2012
Andrew Dreyfus' Statement
"Today's ruling is a validation of decades of work here in Massachusetts to expand health care coverage to all of our citizens. All Americans will now have the same health care benefits and protections that Massachusetts residents have known for years. In addition, this decision will preserve hundreds of millions of dollars per year in federal funding for Massachusetts health reform.
We also know that expanding health care coverage alone is not enough. As we've learned in the six years since our reform law passed, the coverage must also be affordable. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and recommit ourselves to the community's shared goal of making quality health care both accessible and affordable for the people and employers of Massachusetts."
Additional Information
Today's decision by the United States Supreme Court means that the nation will now turn its attention to fully implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and following Massachusetts' lead in ensuring that all residents have access to high quality and affordable medical care.
Blue Cross Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a leader in health care reform efforts in Massachusetts, was the only health plan to file an amicus, or "friend of the court" brief in support of the federal health reform law, specifically, in support of the law's individual mandate which the company said was critical to successful implementation.
Earlier this month, the health plan announced that, regardless of the Court's decision, it would voluntarily continue to offer key provisions from the ACA that went beyond Massachusetts' 2006 health reform law.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. Celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2012, we are committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with our corporate promise to always put our 2.8 million members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.