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H 1405

An Act establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 62 co-sponsors

Creates the Massachusetts Health Care Trust to finance a universal, single-payer health system with no out-of-pocket costs for every resident.

Reporting date extended to Friday, July 31, 2026
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Bill Summary · H 1405

Summary: H 1405 — An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts

Overview

H 1405, introduced February 27, 2025, seeks to establish a comprehensive, universal health care system in Massachusetts by creating a state Health Care Trust that would finance and administer health care for all residents. The bill envisions a single-payer model with no patient cost sharing and continuous, universal coverage. The current status shows the reporting date extended to March 18, 2026. A related bill is HD 1228 (replaces).

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish equitable access to quality health care for every resident of Massachusetts.
  • Replace or significantly reorganize current financing to ensure universal coverage without out-of-pocket costs (no co-insurance, co-pays, deductibles, or other patient cost sharing).
  • Provide continuous coverage that does not require re-enrollment when employment or plans change.
  • Achieve universal, affordable, high-quality care through a single payer financed by a state mechanism.

Key Provisions

Creation of CHAPTER 175N — Massachusetts Health Care Trust

  • The bill adds a new chapter to the General Laws titled the Massachusetts Health Care Trust.
  • The Trust would be governed by a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director.

Definitions

  • “Health care” includes services by licensed professionals to promote or restore physical and mental health.
  • “Health care provider” covers licensed individuals, groups, facilities, and organizations authorized to deliver care.
  • “Institutional provider” and “Noninstitutional provider” distinguish inpatient facilities from individual practitioners.
  • “Resident” is defined broadly to include individuals living in Massachusetts, with rules for determining residency that acknowledge homelessness, incarceration, or undocumented status.
  • “Trust Fund” refers to the Massachusetts Health Care Trust Fund, the financing mechanism for services.

Policy and Goals

  • Purpose is to guarantee access to health care for all residents without cost sharing.
  • Coverage shall be comprehensive for individuals and families.
  • Coverage and access would be continuous, reducing disruptions due to employment or plan changes.
  • The Trust is tasked with collecting and disbursing funds necessary to provide health care services for every resident.
  • The policy emphasizes universal access, affordability, cost control, and high-quality care.

Who Is Affected

  • All Massachusetts residents, including groups typically underserved or marginalized (homeless individuals, those incarcerated in Massachusetts, and undocumented individuals).
  • Health care providers (hospitals, clinics, professionals, facilities) would operate within the Trust’s financing and delivery framework.

Financing and Administration

  • A dedicated Trust Fund would finance health care services for every resident.
  • The Trust would be administered by a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director, with oversight and governance presumably coordinated with the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
  • Professional advisory committees may be appointed to guide policy and implementation.

Timeline and Legislative Process

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to: Health Care Financing (House).
  • Hearing: Scheduled for June 18, 2025 (Gardner Auditorium).
  • Status update: Reporting date extended to March 18, 2026.
  • Senate concurrence noted in the bill’s history.
  • Related bill: HD 1228 (replaces).

Notes

  • The provided text includes substantial sections up to the “Policy and Goals” portion, with some content truncated. The summary reflects the substantive elements available: creation of the Massachusetts Health Care Trust, universal coverage with no cost sharing, residency definitions, and the Trust’s financing and governance framework.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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