Numbers of uninsured grows in MA

Bad news, and what one would have expected:

The federal Census Bureau reported yesterday that the number of uninsured residents in Massachusetts grew to 748,000 last year, up by 66,000 people from 2003. Massachusetts healthcare organizations and the state have estimated a smaller number of uninsured -- between 460,000 and 532,000 residents last year.

It was brought up in WBUR's report today that the growth in the uninsured may make it more expensive, and therefore more politically difficult, to enact major health care reform. Well, let's be clear: It's extremely expensive not to cover people. They incur more expenses down the road, when untreated symptoms turn into major maladies. Doing nothing costs money.

Good report on 'BUR this morning as well.