1. J. Holahan, R. Bovbjerg, and J. Hadley, “Caring for the Uninsured in Massachusetts: What Does It Cost, Who Pays, and What Would Full Coverage Add to Spending?” (Boston: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, November 2004). This calculation requires estimation of the value of a year of healthy life and the effect of health insurance on health. We estimate $2,635 to be the discounted present value of lost health over time as a result of being uninsured and conversely the gain to being insured. Multiplying this amount by approximately 550,000 uninsured people in the state yields economic benefits of about $1.5 billion.