Who We Are

For more than four decades, the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) has been the leading voice for health plans in Massachusetts. We are a non-profit organization committed to promoting high-quality, affordable, and equitable health care. MAHP represents 14 health plans and 2 behavioral health organizations, which provide health care coverage to nearly 3 million Massachusetts residents. MAHP is a 501(c)(4) organization.

Our Mission

MAHP’s mission is to promote high-quality, affordable, and equitable health care in Massachusetts through advocacy, education and health policy research. All MAHP members are dedicated to making health care affordable and improving the health of all citizens in the Commonwealth.

Advocacy

MAHP develops and promotes a legislative and regulatory agenda focused on making health care affordable and equitable for employers and consumers. The Association actively participates in the development of health care policy, and works to educate legislators and policy makers about health issues that affect the cost and quality of health care in Massachusetts.

Education

MAHP generates a number of publications to educate and inform the public on issues affecting the cost and quality of health care in Massachusetts. For publications and reports, click on the Publications and Resources tab.

Partnerships

MAHP works with other health organizations to foster progressive partnerships that will help make health care more affordable and improve the quality of care for all residents. We pursue constructive dialogue and joint efforts with providers, government officials, consumers, other health organizations and the business community to promote discussion of current health policy issues.

Our Philosophy of Care

We represent a philosophy of health care that emphasizes active partnerships between patients and their physicians. We believe that comprehensive health care is best provided by networks of health care professionals who are willing to be held accountable for the quality of their services and the satisfaction of their patients. We are committed to high standards of quality and professional ethics, and to the principle that patients come first.

We believe that patients should have the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. This includes comprehensive care for acute and chronic illnesses, as well as preventive care – in the hospital, at the doctor’s office, and at home.

We believe that all health care professionals should be held accountable for the quality of the services they provide and for the satisfaction of their patients.

We believe that patients should have a choice within their health plans of physicians who meet high standards of professional training and experience – and that informed choice, and the freedom to change physicians, are essential to building active partnerships between patients and doctors.

We believe that health care decisions should be the shared responsibility of patients, their families, and health care professionals, and we encourage physicians to share information with patients on their health status, medical conditions, and treatment options.

We believe that consumers have a right to information about health plans and how they work.

We believe working with people to keep them healthy is as important as making them well. We value prevention as a key component of comprehensive care – reducing the risks of illness and helping to treat small problems before they can become more severe.