Continuing on Yuval’s thread, this comes from David Broder’s column yesterday:

Last year, Massachusetts, with Republican Gov. Mitt Romney and the Democratic legislature collaborating, devised a plan to provide coverage for all its residents. Now, the first cost estimates have come in, and monthly premiums are projected to be almost twice as expensive as Romney predicted. It’s not clear whether the plan can go forward.

UPDATE:

An e-mail:

You have to remember Romney’s cooperation with the legislature ended with Romney’s veto of the employer mandate-surcharge, a veto which was over-ridden by the Democrat legislature.
Today, the Globe reported premiums available much more in line with the Romney estimates:
Universal plan can cost under $300, insurers say Monthly price is closer to goalBy Alice Dembner, Globe Staff | February 5, 2007 Many state residents will probably be able to buy basic health insurance for less than $300 a month to meet the new state mandate that everyone obtain coverage, insurers and observers said last week. Although it might still be too expensive for some people, that would bring the price closer to what the Legislature envisioned when it passed the universal health insurance law last April…