The Boston Globe reports that the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority voted Thursday to approve a 10% increase in premiums for insurers participating the states Commonwealth Care plan. The insurers had asked for a 15% increase but agreed to take less after weeks of negotiations.

According to state financial officials, the subsidized health care plan will cost 'significantly' more than the $869 million Governor Deval Patrick proposed in his 2009 budget.

There are 176,000 members covered by the plan, although only members with income greater than $15,000 are required to pay premiums. Copayments will also increase, double for some members.

Business' that don't provide health insurance to their employees pay a penalty of $295 per uninsured employee per year, which has raised $6 million and is far less than originally expected.

"Healthcare reform is not sustainable financially and it's also not sustainable politically if the best we can do is more taxpayer money and shifting costs to consumers," said Nancy Turnbull, an associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health and member of the connector board.