The first major study of Massachusetts' new law making health insurance coverage mandatory (pdf) found big changes in the first year it took effect. The number of uninsured adults dropped from 13 percent in 2006 to 7 percent in 2007. Some $9.7 million in fines levied on residents who did not buy health insurance will help pay for the program. The New York Times reports state lawmakers are also considering increasing the tobacco tax.

With health care reform among the issues on the presidential campaign trail, a series of CBS News/New York Times polls shows many Americans worry about health care costs, want major changes in the health care system, but are divided on what kind of changes to make. Eighty-eight percent of participants in a 2007 poll said the health care system needs either fundamental changes or should be completely rebuilt.

Americans clearly support expanding health care to cover more Americans, but support for such proposals varies according to the wording of questions on the issue – an indication that opinion on this subject is still evolving. Sixty percent in another CBS News/New York Times poll (pdf) last year said they'd be willing to pay higher taxes so that all Americans could have health insurance they could not lose; 34 percent said they would not be willing. Asked if it would be fair to require all Americans to participate in a taxpayer-funded national health care plan, 48 percent said "unfair" and 43 percent said "fair."

In March and April of this year (pdf), 42 percent told pollsters they were "very concerned" about not having enough money to pay for their current health care costs, 29 percent said they were "somewhat concerned" and 28 percent said "not at all concerned." Even so, in another April survey, health care did not lead the list of topics survey participants said they'd most like to hear discussed by the presidential candidates. Forty-three percent said the economy and jobs, 17 percent said the war in Iraq, 9 percent said health care/Medicare/Medicaid, and 7 percent said gas prices.