No matter who wins the 2008 presidential election, don’t look for the feds to pass universal health coverage legislation any time soon. But state governments aren’t waiting around for the feds.

There are three states with mandatory coverage laws – and there could soon be many more. Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont now require state residents to have health coverage.

The Massachusetts model is the most burdensome for employers. Employers in the state must either offer workers coverage through the organization, enable employees to affordably purchase their own coverage or else pay into a state fund.There are 10 other states now weighing their own legislation.

New Jersey is the closest to making mandatory coverage a reality. Under the bipartisan proposal, uninsured employees would have access to a state-administered plan. The plan would be phased in over three years. It remains to be seen what employers’ obligations will be.

Nine other states are currently at various stages of creating their own plans: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico and Ohio.

Cause for concern?

Many employers are afraid that if their states pass a universal coverage law, companies’ already sky-high health costs will shoot up even higher. That remains to be seen. However, according to a study by United Benefits Advisors, Massachusetts has the highest average annual health per employee in the country.

The top five, based on the 2007 plan year: Massachusetts ($9,304), Connecticut ($8,865), New Jersey ($8,758), New Hampshire ($8,601) and Michigan ($8,520). Nationally, the average per-employee cost last year was $6,881.