A Closer Look at Universal Coverage.

The debate of unversal healthcare continues and the steaks are getting higher. People are looking for answers and solutions. We can see examples, in Canada, France, and The U.K. but perhaps we dont have to streatch that far. Maybe we can see it, right here in the states.

Welcome to the state of Masseceusetts. They have placed universal coverage for the people there. But how has it faired them?

Lets take a look:

Cumulative Average Wait Time in Days Average Wait Time
Metro Area per 5 Specialties in Days per 5 Specialties
Boston ..........................................................49.6
Philadelphia ................................................... 27.0
Los Angeles ................................................... 24.2
Houston ........................................................ 23.4
Washington, D.C. .............................................. 22.6
San Diego ...................................................... 20.2
Minneapolis .................................................... 19.8
Dallas ........................................................ 19.2
New York........................................................ 19.2
Denver.......................................................... 15.4
Miami........................................................... 15.4
Portland........................................................ 14.4
Seattl. ........................................................ 14.2
Detroit ........................................................ 12.0
Atlanta ........................................................ 11.2
Total Cumulative Average ....................................... 20.5As these numbers indicate, Boston experiences by far the longest average wait times of any of the 15 metropolitan markets. In addition, wait times in Boston increased in 2009 over 2004 in three of the four specialties where comparisons are possible: dermatology, ob/gyn and orthopedic surgery.

In general, wait times decreased in 2009 relative to 2004 in most metropolitan markets surveyed, with several exceptions. Long wait times in Boston may be driven in part by the healthcare reform initiative that was put in place in Massachusetts in 2006. The initiative succeeded in covering many of the state’s uninsured patients. However, it has been reported that many patients in Massachusetts are encountering difficulty in accessing physicians.

Survey results support these reports. Long appointment wait times in Boston also may signal what could happen nationally in the event that access to healthcare is expanded through healthcare reform. Increased demand resulting from improved access to care for approximately 47 million uninsured people can be expected to extend doctor appointment wait times in many markets.