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I just looked up Massachusetts' plan and it makes little sense to me. We currently have $10,000 deductible catastrophic coverage for $300 per month which would not qualify in Mass. Instead we would be forced to buy a state approved (low deductible) private insurance plan that would cost between $900 and $1800 per month. If you can show that you can't afford it and the state approves then they will not penalize you to be uninsured. If you are poor (income below $42,000 for a couple) you can get a similar plan from the state for $200 to $300 per month.
Since the poor usually qualify for government assistance anyway, I don't see much benefit in this plan other than to force those in the middle class and above to buy more expensive plans with additional things like drugs covered, etc.. with lower deductibles. I guess there are some couples making less than $42,000 per year and too much for other government programs who will benefit from buying the lower priced state packages. But I bet there are thousands of couples who make more than $42,000 per year who won't be able to afford the state approved private insurance rates.
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