Stop the Rise of Health Insurance Premiums in Maryland
According to a new March report by Covered California, Maryland was ranked as a high-risk state with the potential for further health insurance premium increases of 50%. That’s on top of the already high premiums!
There are several bills introduced by Delegates in the House that will address this increase:
House Bill 1795 Maryland Health Benefit Exchange – Establishment of a Reinsurance Program. This is one of two emergency bills. The Reinsurance Program is a vital component of the ACA and it is no longer being supported by Trump. It protects insurance companies from catastrophic costs, which then results in their ability to lower insurance premiums. To compensate, this bill establishes a state reinsurance program. It also allows the state to apply for a Federal 1332 Waiver which will allow any healthcare savings to be passed through to the state. This bill is out of Committee. It will then be sent to the House Floor for passage.
House Bill 1782 Health Care Access Program – Establishment (Maryland Health Care Access Act of 2018). This is one of two emergency bills. Besides establishing a State Reinsurance Program, this bill also calls for a state mandate to replace the federal mandate removed by Trump. It is still in the Health and Government Operations (HGO) committee.
House Bill 1312 – Medicaid Buy-in Task Force. This could lead to Marylanders being allowed to “buy in” to the Medicaid program. For those struggling middle-class Marylanders, including small business owners, who are increasingly unable to afford ever-climbing premiums and out-of-pocket costs, this is an alternative. This bill, sponsored by Del. Kelly, passed the Senate and is now in the House and Government Operations (HGO) Committee.
ACTION: Contact your representatives and ask them to support HB 1782, HB 1795, and HB 1312, and let them know you are looking to the state to stabilize premiums with the enactment of these bills. Find your representative here
If you have a representative in the HGO Committee, it is especially important to let them know you support these bills:
- For District 16, contact Del. Ariana Kelly, 301-858-3642 kelly@house.state.md.us
- For District 17, contact Del. Andrew Platt, 410-841-3037 Platt@house.state.md.us
- For District 19 contact both De. Bonnie Cullison 301-858-3883, culllison@house.state.md.us and
Del. Marice Morales 301-858-3528, Marice.Morales@house.state.md.us
For more information on these bill, please look at the Consumer Health First Website